But before you do that, don’t forget to relive the World Cup moments which made fans all over the world fall in love with football even more.

Next step? Get your own World Cup jersey. And by the way: if your lady friend is a major football fan, you can buy her a lovely women’s jersey as well.

Now it’s time to start planning your vacation. Argentina’s matches take place in Johannesburg (June 12 and 17) and Polokwane (June 22). Getting to Johannesburg by plane from Buenos Aires is not very hard but it surely is pricey. A round trip flight starts at $2833USD per person so it’s time to keep the eyes on the deals available out there. Lufthansa, Air France and South African Airways are just some of the airlines flying between the two cities. As for the domestic flight (Johannesburg to Polokwane) plan to spend at least $400USD round trip.

Make sure to book your hotel in advance as well. Typically, for such events the hotels book up very quickly and the cheaper the place, the faster it will fill up. On some websites it’s impossible to find any room left already. And when you do manage to find hotels in Johannesburg, room rates start at $92USD per night (3-star). Hostels are cheaper but many of them are already fully booked. If you do find openings, expect to pay at least $66USD for a bed in a private room. So, be prepared to pay slightly more or have a back plan, such as packing your sleeping bag and choose to camp instead of staying in a hotel. Plus you can always go on day trips between the matches.

In case you aren’t able to travel to the World Cup in South Africa to watch the matches live, you should keep an eye on the Argentina World Cup news.

Imagine spending your days strolling arm and arm beneath the ornate facades of buildings like the Teatro Colon or wandering through the largest Japanese Garden outside of Japan. Shop for sexy tango shoes in the Palermo neighborhood, or browse antiques at the San Temlo Sunday market. At night, feast on heaping platters of tender beef and glasses of Argentine wine, all for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere, and then spend your nights tango dancing at a local milonga.

Thanks to a very favorable exchange rate, Argentina is a cheap destination for travelers from North America and Europe. Airfare to Buenos Aires can be on the expensive side (about $800-$1000 from most places in the US) but the savings you’ll experience once you arrive will offset the extra cost of airfare. You’ll find no shortage of cheap hotels in Buenos Aires as well, with even the most lavish, luxurios properties charging less than what you would pay in other parts of the world.

And once you’ve seen the city, there are plenty of places to get away to – taste wine in Mendoza, take a short boat ride to the charming small town of Colonial de Sacremento in Urugauy or head up to Rio de Janeiro to relax on the beach.

Photo by Natalia Romay

Although popular among tourists, Cafayate is definitely one of the South America highlights , especially if you are looking to taste the traditional wines of Argentina. Most wines in Argentina are red but the white wine produced only from the grapes grown in this region will give you a unique taste of the country.

The best way to explore the area is to rent a bike for a day and tour the wineries on your own (of course, skip the bike when you are tipsy, you really don’t need accidents to happen during your vacation, do you?). Keep in mind that summer is the best time to visit the city.

The city is about 3.5 hours south of Salta. Flying into Salta is the easiest way to get so when you look for airfare to Argentina , check the fares directly into Saltra or into the capital and then look for a domestic flight into Salta. It’s not a bad idea to spend several days here exploring the impressive buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th and early 20th centuries.

Cheap hotels in Argentina are not hard to find especially if you visit cities such as Cafayate. It is filled with affordable places to stay and some of them even have a pool. There are many excellent restaurants clustered around the main square. There are luxury hotels in the city as well and they can be an excellent choice for a romantic holiday (prices start at $250 per night and include breakfast daily and champagne upon arrival).

Photo credit

The Spanish you learned at school helps some but what would you do if you don’t speak any word? No problem, learn it while in Argentina! There are literally hundreds of schools which offer classes. Thanks to so many classes available, the prices are affordable and the quality is high.

Also, nowadays, many young travelers want to learn a new language by spending time and studying in the country where the language is spoken. That insures a very easy way to grasp at least the basic knowledge. Plus, nothing can beat the sightseeing you get to do while in Argentina.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular Spanish classes you can attend while in Argentina.

University of Buenos Aires

The University offers both regular and intensity classes, for students who haven’t studied Spanish before and for those who already have some Spanish knowledge. The standard is high and the prices are low but the courses are better suited for those who will spend a longer period in Argentina.

>>website
>>price:1039 Argentine peso (US$328) , 1 month, 15 hours per week for new students

Cultural Exchange Group of Argentina

The group offers intensive Spanish courses in Buenos Aires, Patagonia and Mendoza. Some of the courses are in partnership with universities (including the above mentioned UBA). A good choice for those who need a flexible schedule is the intensity course which starts each week in Buenos Aires. The prices always include accommodation, a free cell phone, airport pickup and cultural activities.

>>website
>>price: US$660, 2 weeks, 4 hrs per day Monday to Friday, homestay

American British Institute

The institute is located in Buenos Aires and offers two levels of courses: basic and advanced. They can also help with finding accommodation. The general course include 20 lessons per week and the groups are small (4 to 6) which insures a high level of education.

>>website
>>price: N/A (email for details)

Academia Buenos Aires

They offer several types of courses for all skill levels. All classes are in Spanish and are specially designed for foreign students. There is some flexibility as you can choose the length of the course and the level. Also, specially customized classes are available.

>>website
>>price: US$380, 2 weeks (email for details)

ABLE Spanish

The school is located in Cordoba and courses begin every Monday and are designed on 6 levels. The groups are small (5) which allows for a high level of education. You can choose the type of course and basically customize it according to your needs. If you need to grasp just the basic knowledge, the Spanish for Travelers course (US$13 per hour) is highly recommended. They can also help with accommodation and meals.

>>website
>>price: US$290, 2 weeks (email for details)