cjg said:
... and would love to gather some info. ... but also Salta if possible.
In Salta, which I know as a very pleasant small town, I can recommend 3-star Hotel Mar Charbel, very nice with friendly staff (Spanish only), where I have stayed 3 times.
Prices have been as follows (
per person): AR$ 90 (2008.11) 80 (2008.05) 70 (2007.08) - reduction if 3 or 4 in one room,
http://www.hotelmarcharbel.com.ar/tarifas.asp
It is located on a corner with some street noise, busses to some extent, but mostly the parking chap with his whistle, 1 block from San Martín and 2 resp. 3 blocks from the two pedestrian streets, the main shopping area.
Add: If you are staying at Mar Charbel, make sure to get one of the corner rooms with a long balcony.
I also recommend the restaurant in Hotel Salta on a corner of Plaza 9 de Julio, resturant a few meter down the side street - best meat I have ever had, fit to be eaten by a spoon.
Make sure to make an excursion to the 'Tren a las Nubes' - and make sure your driver has
at least two spare tires, rough (and very dusty) road. Viaducto la Polvorilla at 4,200 m above sea level is an interesting structure, one of the highest positioned train viaducts in the world.
My notes say that San Antonio de los Cobres village is worth exactly
one visit per life time. If you go there and the begging children are bothering you, stretch out a hand and ask "¿tienes una moneda para mí?" - makes the little buggers laugh.
IMO Jujuy is a boring town, but your experience may be different.
BTW: Expect a strict drug control (luggage check and sniffing dogs), when you pass the carabiñeros post on your way from Salta.