Malargüe’s accommodations are improving, but still, for many of them, their primary goal is to cram the maximum number of shoestring skiers (who can’t afford ritzy Las Leñas) into each room (the average is about three beds each). Peak rates are in winter; summer is substantially cheaper, and the shoulder seasons are almost giveaways. The following are summer rates.

Unquestionably cheapest is the Camping Municipal Malargüe (Alfonso Capdevila s/n, tel. 02627/47-0691, US$5 per tent for up to five people), at the north end of town.

In quiet farm-style surroundings four kilometers south of town, the HI affiliate Hostel Internacional Malargüe (tel. 02627/15-40-2439, www.hostelmalargue.net, US$8–10 pp dorm, US$20–26 s, US$23–32 d) has dorm quadruples with radiant floor heating and a country-style breakfast included; the toilet and shower are conveniently separate in the private baths. It has also added singles and doubles with private baths and has expanded common areas, including a new bar. Transport to and from the bus terminal is free, as are loaner bikes.

Under the same management, the former Hotel Andysol is now the Hostel City (Rufino Ortega 158, tel. 02627/47-0391, www.hostelmalargue.net, US$8–10 pp dorm, US$23–29 s, US$28–35 d). It will need some work to live up to its parent hostel’s facilities, but the prognosis is good.

Hotel Rioma (Fray Inalicán 68, tel. 02627/47-1065, hotelrioma [at] rucared [dot] com [dot] ar, US$41 s, US$48 d) has greater amenities but is not dramatically better than the hostel. For the same price, El Cisne Hotel (General Villegas and Emilio Civit, tel. 02627/47-1350, hotelelcisne [at] hotmail [dot] com, US$41 s, US$48 d) is a better value, but it fills up quickly.

On the northern outskirts of town, the Río Grande Hotel (RN 40 s/n, tel. 02627/47-1589, hotelriogrande [at] infovia [dot] com [dot] ar, US$42 s, US$55 d) has ample rooms with comfortable beds, but the hot water takes a while to reach the showers at the back of the building. Breakfast and cable TV are available.

Malargüe’s best new choice is the Maggio Hotel (Álvarez and Ruibal, tel. 02624/42-7496, www.maggiohotel.com, US$47 s, US$62 d), a minimalist design-style hotel that’s a bargain compared with its counterparts in other, more touristed areas.

La Posta (Avenida Roca 374, tel. 02627/47-1306) has an extensive Argentine menu; its specialties are trout and chivito (grilled goat), but the latter is not always available. It has recently added accommodations at Hostería La Posta (Avenida San Martín 646, tel. 02627/47-2079, laposta_malargue [at] yahoo [dot] com [dot] ar, US$16 s, US$22 d).

Decorated with a sophisticated rusticity, El Bodegón de María (Rufino Ortega and Villegas, tel. 02627/47-1655) serves light-crusted empanadas with several vegetarian options, with entrées (meats, trout, and pastas) in the range of US$8 or less. Directly across the street, La Rotisería del Bodegón has much of the same menu in takeaway form.