The short and wonderfully inexpensive taxi ride from the airport to my hotel in Mendoza, Argentina, brought me along some of the city’s lovely tree-lined streets. More than 100,000 trees—nearly one for every person in the city—keep it cool and comfortable, and I was quickly being charmed by this city in western Argentina that snuggles up to the Andes Mountains.

My taxi deposited me in front of my destination, the Amérian Executive Mendoza Hotel. It’s a modern affair, architecturally pleasing if not exceptionally remarkable. Despite that, this accommodation has many assets that make it such a desirable place to stay.

As soon as I walked under the wide marquee and entered the bright lobby, I was impressed, struck by the polished marble floors, dark wood furniture, white coffered ceiling, and huge, beautiful chandelier that’s quite a work of art. Check-in was made even more pleasant when I received an upgrade to a larger room on one of the upper floors of the 17-story building.

Down the hall on my floor, I passed by framed enlarged photos of everything Malbec, the wine that has brought Mendoza and its surrounding region great fame in the vinous world, from pictures of grapes and the nearby vineyards and wineries (or fincas) to labels of wine bottles.

I had been upgraded only once before, at Hotel Bellotto in Warsaw, Poland, and this second time proved to be just as welcome. My very spacious room had two queen-sized beds, polished hardwood floors, and a terrific view of the city in one direction and the Andes in the other. Quiet and comfortable, with every amenity you need, this would indeed be a wonderful place to stay for three days.

A surprisingly bountiful buffet breakfast awaited me the next morning—a tremendous spread in an elegant setting that fortifies you for your day of exploring the region’s wineries or strolling through the city and roaming around its welcoming plazas. And when you return from your activities at the end of the day, you can be pampered in the wellness center or, better yet, take a swim in the rooftop pool that boasts 360-degree views of the entire city.

The Executive’s location stands out as another of the hotel’s assets. Plaza Italia unfolds directly across the street, a green space with monuments, fountains, and pergolas where you can sit and relax in the shade while absorbing the history and contributions of Italian immigrants to the region and its wine industry, and looking up at the 77-room hotel soaring above the treetops. From here, an easy walk takes you to some of Mendoza’s museums and theaters, plenty of restaurants, and the rest of the city’s quintet of famous plazas, where you can lie in the sun, lounge on some of the world’s most beautiful benches, and purchase yerba maté and striking deep-pink rhodochrosite jewelry handmade by local vendors at an outdoor market.

Amérian Executive Mendoza Hotel provides that dual experience of being in the heart of a cosmopolitan city where everything is at your doorstep yet feeling like you’re miles away from it. It’s a delight that everyone traveling to Mendoza should experience.