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thetalkingrainbow · 5 years

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Maldives Travel Guide for First Timers

Even before we got married, my then fiancé now husband (Jamal) promised to travel with me to different countries– Maldives on top of the list. True to his word, after two years of our marriage, he took me to my dream destination.

I had various reasons why I wanted to visit this country. For one thing, it’s considered by many as “Paradise on Earth” and it’s undeniably true to me– after swimming in the clear, turquoise waters, walking around a local island with sparkling beaches and palm fringes, running on a white sandbar, and seeing aesthetic coral reefs that are home to plenty of marine species. Second, it’s a 100% Muslim country, and it was an exciting thought to beach bum without seeing too much nakedness. Haha. Indeed, if heaven on earth exists, it is definitely in Maldives!

I used to imagine visiting the tropical paradise as an exceptionally luxurious trip– accessible only if I have millions of pesos on my bank balance. I thought of it as a place I will never have the capacity to visit in this lifetime. I may be right years back, but things have changed now. Maldives is now reachable for budget travelers like me, despite it being a luxury destination. Thanks to the government allowing Maldivians to operate guesthouses, staying in a resort is just an option today.

ABOUT THE COUNTRY Maldives is an Islamic country located in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka and India. It consists of 1,192 gemlike islands grouped in clusters called “atolls” but only 200+ are inhabited. Its capital and most populous city, Malé, is geographically located at the Kaafu Atoll and is a ferry-away from the airport island, Hulhule.

Below are some of the local islands near Malé which are accessible by local ferry:

Maafushi Island

Hulhumale Island

Villingili

Gulhi

Guraidhoo

Fulidhoo

You can choose which island you want to stay in but I recommend Maafushi Island based on experience, and Fulidhoo Island based on positive reviews I have read across the internet.

VISA

Filipinos do not need a pre-arrival Visa to enter Maldives. You will be issued a 30-day free Visa upon arrival provided that your passport is valid and will not expire for the next six months from the entry date.

WHERE TO BOOK FLIGHTS Flights to Maldives normally cost around ₱20,000 to ₱25,000 with a layover either in Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand. There are several low-cost carriers servicing the Manila to Malé route—you can try Scoot Air, AirAsia or Cebu Pacific. In our case, we took the MNL-SG-MLE and vice versa flights via Scoot Air for P14,000 ONLY per pax inclusive of a 15kg check-in baggage. I honestly thought I scored the cheapest with the said amount, but unfortunately, several weeks subsequent to booking, I came across Scoot Air’s promotional flight of just ₱8,000 for MNL-MLE round-trip flights. There are times that AirAsia offers the same promo. Insane, right? You simply have to be always on the lookout for these unusual promo fares. It’s a different story if you have the moolah to splurge though.

For more info on how I usually score cheapest golden flights, read here.

HOW TO GET AROUND You might be wondering just how you should be getting around Maldives. Well, there are few methods of transport you can avail depending on your preference and based on factors such as convenience, budget, and safety.

From the Airport Right after stepping outside the arrival hall, you will see a number of booths and their respective staff scattered around the area. If you are expecting your hotel or resort’s staff to welcome you there, just look for a placard with your name on it.

To Resorts or other Local Islands – If no one shows up for you at the airport (insert sad smiley), you may consider taking a speedboat to your preferred resort or local island. Rate depends but it typically starts at 25 USD ~ 1,315 PHP per pax. You also have the option to take a seaplane that costs a lot more than my two kidneys combined. hahajk

To Malé City – If you’re on a budget plan, walk past the booths and locate the public ferry counter to purchase a ticket to Malé City for only 10 MVR ~ 34 PHP. The ride should only take 15 minutes and you’ll arrive at Hulhumale Ferry Terminal.

Ferry Schedule: FROM MALE CITY TO AIRPORT Every 10 minutes from morning 06:00 AM to 02:30 AM Every 30 minutes from morning 02:30 AM to 04:00 AM Every 15 minutes from morning 04:00 AM to 06:00 AM FROM AIRPORT TO MALE CITY Every 10 minutes from morning 06:00 AM to 02:30 AM Every 30 minutes from morning 02:30 AM to 04:00 AM Every 15 minutes from morning 04:00 AM to 06:00 AM

On Fridays, ferries operate every 10 minutes from the morning at 06:00 AM to 00:00 AM.

Conversely, you can ride a speedboat for your convenience. Within two minutes, you’ll reach the northeast part of Malé City.

Because I booked our hotel in Malé within a day before our arrival and because I did not communicate with them our arrival time, no one showed up for us. Wala kaming placard, jusko napaka-dukha feels. Haha. But they were supposed to greet us at the airport since we paid for that one-way airport transfer. Ang tanga ko lang talagang kausap. hehe

Around the City of Malé Arriving at the ferry terminal, you can take a taxi or a mini pickup truck to bring you either to your hotel (if you intend to stay at Malé) or to Villingili Ferry Terminal (if you want to go directly to a local island of your choice). Also, there are bus lines running a circular route around the small city. The downside is—if your hotel is not within their routes, you still have to walk after getting off on the nearest bus stop.

To our Hotel – We rode a mini pickup truck to reach our hotel. Pahirapan kumuha ng taxi, mga bes kaya nagpaka- Megan Young and Mikael Daez kami ni Jamal. Haha. We were charged 50 MVR by the driver. Minimum fare for taxis is 20 MVR per pax during the day and 25 MVR during the night.

To Maafushi Island From Villingili Ferry Terminal, the ride to Maafushi Island will only take about an hour and a half. Ticket price is only 53 MVR ~ 3.50 USD ~ 190 PHP.

Ferry Schedule:

For an updated schedule, click here.

After spending the night at Malé, we went to Maafushi Island where we planned to stay for 5D4N. From our hotel, a staff hailed a taxi for us (and paid for it because of their utang to us) and instructed the driver of our destination.

Since we arrived at the terminal early, we went to a food court nearby and had milkshake while waiting. Sobrang init, mga bes.

Around Maafushi Island From the terminal, getting to your hotel will be either through your hotel’s private vehicle or rickshaw. Yup, rickshaw. Maafushi is a very small island (1.275km x 0.260km) that you can see the entire island within two hours of walking. Some hotels and guesthouses offer a rental bike service for 5 USD per hour. A bit pricey. You can see the locals using motorcycles as a mode of transportation as well, though I am not sure if they are up for lease.

WHERE TO STAY There are a limited number of budget sleeps in Maldives. Unlike in any other Asian country where you will find a 30 USD per night accommodation for two, in Maldives, budget hotels or guesthouses usually cost no less than 60 USD. If you’re lucky, you may come across huge discounts in Agoda. Make sure to constantly browse the app, you might come across a crazy deal like what happened to us.

Or better yet, sign up on Airbnb using this link to earn ₱1,600 travel credit. Or get a 10% refund on your first transaction at Booking.com when you use this unique link.

For high-end tourists, exclusive resorts are the place to be but allot at least 600 USD per night.

The Melrose Hotel – It’s a 450m-walk from Hulhumale Ferry Terminal. We spent our first night here for just 30 USD. It’s the cheapest we could find on Agoda that serves breakfast. Our booking was inclusive of taxes, environmental fees, a welcome drink, one-way airport transfer, and free breakfast. The staffs were friendly and helpful; the receptionist is Pinay, yaay! Our room was small, enough for a 9-hour stay, but very clean. It has toiletries, coffee and tea sachets, iron, and a flat-screen TV among others.

Seven Corals Guesthouse – This was our home in Maafushi for 5D4N. I loved it! The staffs were friendly and attentive, the room was spacious and snug, food was in a variety, and the ambiance was cozy and relaxing. Not to mention the long list of inclusions on our ₱16,500 deal:

Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)

Welcome drink

Afternoon tea

Express check-in

Fruit basket

Selected watersports (i.e. Jetski, but the schedule was in conflict with ours)

Free local mobile SIM card

Complimentary snacks

Night Fishing

Sunset Cruise

Dolphin Cruise (No dolphins on our cruise huhu)

Snorkeling Excursion

Sandbank Picnic

Taxes and other fees

We tried looking for another guesthouse/hotel that offers the same but only Seven Corals does. Highly recommended to keep an eye on a deal like this.

Adaaran Prestige Vadoo (optional) – One-night rate starts at ~1,000 USD inclusive of breakfast and taxes/fees. Additional of at least ~200 USD per pax for the roundtrip transfers. It can hurt your pocket but recommended to stay if you have the cash. OR- here’s the catch, you can ask a Maldivian in the local island where you stay to contact any resort you prefer and ask them if you’re allowed to arrange your roundtrip speedboat transfer. The local quoted us 100 USD (2 pax; 2-way transfer) only, 400 USD less than the quoted price on Agoda.

Novina Hotel – another great hotel centrally located in Malé City for ~70 USD only inclusive of a welcome drink, buffet breakfast, and airport transfer. Just like our room in The Melrose, it was small but well maintained. The floor was carpeted and there’s a mini-fridge, too. They served decent food which was great. I love the omelette. Staffs were very welcoming and friendly that they let us stay in the lobby after check-out while waiting for our evening flight.

PLACES TO VISIT IN MALE CITY

Masjid Al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al-Auzam

Fish Market

Republic Square

National Museum

Tsunami Monument

ACTIVITIES TO TRY

MONEY SAVING TIPS

If you have a layover in Singapore for at least 5.5 hours to 24 hours, join the FREE 2.5-hour guided tours of Changi Airport. More info about the tours here.

Visit during the low season (June to November) to score off-season rates on activities, accommodation, and flights. Prices tend to drop insanely plus, there are fewer tourists traveling.

Last minute deals exist, just be smart enough to plan your trip.

Currency exchange shops in Malé City offers better rates than those in the Airport.

Bring USD with you preferably in 100s or 50s. Usual buying rate for 50-100 USD is 15 MVR per USD while for denominations below is around 12 MVR per USD.

Resorts and guesthouses only accept Dollars while local restaurants and street side shops need Rufiyaa.

Local Ferry >>> Speedboat

STAY. ON. A. LOCAL. ISLAND.

If you’re into luxury resorts, choose those closer to Malé or to the island you’re staying at.

Get not just a full board stay, but an all-inclusive package. It’s very reasonable than bringing with you your wallet all the time.

Haggle like a pro. Be it souvenirs or activities, bargain a better price.

Pack chips and biscuits.

Do not forget your swimming essentials. Sunscreen lotions and rashies in the local islands are expensive.

For our ultimate travel hacks mostly on how to save on your next trip abroad, check these tips on our previous blog.

SAMPLE 6D5N ITINERARY

OPTIONAL: Stay on a high-end resort.

EXPENSES

*The amounts do not reflect our actual expenditures.

#maldives #travel #travels #explore #maafushi

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bookingbuys-blog · 5 years

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How to Visit the Seychelles on a Budget

Posted: 8/1/2019 | August 1st, 2019 In this guest post, Ellie Hopgood from Endlessly Restless offers some handy tips on how you can visit the Seychelles on a budget! This is a destination I’ve always dreamed of visiting so I was excited to have her write some tips for the country! It’s always viewed as one of the most expensive in the world but, as this post shows, it’s possible to visit on a budget! The Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands off the east coast of Africa, are known for being extremely beautiful — and extremely expensive. The pristine turquoise water and white-sand beaches come with a hefty price tag. If you want to drop serious money on a holiday, the Seychelles definitely have plenty of places perfect for an eye-wateringly expensive trip, with high-end rooms at the Madame Zabre Spa Resort on Desroches Island going for almost $15,000 USD per night, as well as a plethora of rooms available in the $500-$1,000-per-night range. There are even whole islands commandeered by one resort, such as Cerf Island, which consists solely of the 24 villas that make up the aptly named Cerf Island Resort. But even though fancy resorts like that were way out of my budget, I was determined to visit these islands — and do so frugally, with a backpacker’s budget in mind. After spotting an obscenely cheap and convenient flight deal — and desperate to get out there and explore these beautiful islands — I booked round-trip flights from London without much research (though I don’t necessarily recommend this approach to travel planning). I typically travel in Europe (often in Eastern Europe), so my idea of what constitutes a cheap trip might be distorted. Paying over $15 for my share of a night’s accommodation pains me. So my eyes widened when I saw the average cost in the Seychelles. But the flights were booked, so I had no choice but to figure out how to see the islands on a budget. I set to work, reading blogs and forums furiously, but there was very limited information available. After securing some affordable accommodation, I braced myself for a painfully expensive trip — but in the end, to my surprise, it was so much easier to be budget-conscious than I imagined. Were the Seychelles the cheapest destination? No. But, I learned, they don’t have to be prohibitively expensive either. So, how do you save money in the Seychelles? Here’s how you can take an affordable trip to paradise: 1. Find cheap flights (they do exist!) We found round-trip flights from London with British Airways for just over $600, a deal so good that it sparked the whole trip. I always use Skyscanner, as that’s where I reliably find the best flight deals. As always, you’ll typically find cheaper flights if you travel in shoulder season; are flexible with exact dates, times, and layovers; and avoid school vacation periods. Some tips on how to save on your flight: Look at deal websites – Deal websites like Holiday Pirates, Scott’s Cheap Flights, and The Flight Deal often have great last minute fares and package deals to the islands. Search the main cheap flight websites – Skyscanner and Momondo let you compare prices and see if there are any budget carriers flying the route. Be flexible with your dates – Airline ticket prices vary depending on the day of the week, time of year, and upcoming holidays. Moreover, it’s always cheaper to fly during the middle of the week than on a weekend, because most people travel on the weekends and airlines hike their prices then. If you zig when others zag, you are going to find better deals. Travel hack – This is the best way to get cheap flights..because it gives you free flights. Airline rewards programs are a great way to get free flights, free upgrades, and free companion tickets. Points = free flights. Through credit card sign up bonuses, everyday spending, contests, online promotions, bonus points, and so much more, you can easily gain hundreds of thousands of points per year without ever spending extra money! To learn how to do this, check out this post! For more tips on how to find a cheap flight, check out this post! 2. Stick to cheap guesthouses (that serve breakfast)

The Seychelles don’t yet have a lot of budget accommodations, but I was able to find affordable rooms using Airbnb, though similar rooms are also available through Booking.com. There are also a number of small guesthouses and hotels that offer rooms for $60–100 USD per night. While some of these places have their own websites, like our La Digue guesthouse Liane de Mai, others can only be booked through platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com, like our self-catered accommodation on Mahé via CAMEC apartments. The best thing to do is to go onto your favorite budget accommodation site and put in the island you plan to stay on. That should show you a selection of accommodations so you can choose something in your price range. To keep costs even lower, try to stay somewhere that offers self-catering facilities or that serves breakfast. Self-catering allows you to save by preparing your own meals, while an included breakfast takes care of a third of your meals and lets you fill up on delicious fruit, toast, yogurt, and eggs that will keep you going for hours. You can also take a few snacks from breakfast, like rolls or bananas, for later in the day when you need a boost of energy. All the places we stayed made clear in their Airbnb profile whether a kitchen was available or if breakfast was included, though you could also email and ask. There is also a small Couchsurfing community in the Seychelles, with most of the hosts based on Mahé. Nothing is cheaper than free — so if you are fond of couch surfing and happy to stay on the main island, this might be a good option. Check out our comprehensive resource section for more tips on finding cheap accommodation! 3. Eat take-out Eating out in restaurants in the Seychelles is painfully pricey for fairly average food. A simple bowl of tomato pasta can easily run you $20 USD, while a three-course meal with alcohol will set you back $70–80 USD per person. However, the Seychelles is also full of places to get take-out, small establishments, and mobile food vans all over the islands, directly alongside main roads or signposted clearly, serving up local dishes for incredibly low prices. These are where many of the locals eat dinner, along with visitors who are looking for delicious and cheap eats. For only $3–5 USD, you can buy two main courses with a generous serving of rice and salad. These meals tend to be fresh, Seychellois dishes that change every day, typically curries made with fish, chicken, beef, or vegetables, served with rice and salad. There are also often Chinese-takeout-type dishes like fried noodles and rice. My favorite find was Mi Mum’s on La Digue, which served the most delicious chicken “zye zye” curry with rice and salad for the unbeatable price of $4 USD. 4. Take the bus

Taxis are insanely expensive — think $20 USD for a trip of only a couple of kilometers — and are not a viable option for anyone trying to travel on a budget. You can rent a car for around $40 USD per day, which may be manageable if you are traveling in a group or splitting the cost with someone, but still expensive compared to the cheapest option: the bus. (As a bonus, the bus is as much an activity as it is a convenient transport option, as the bus bounces up and down hills on a road bordering the ocean!) On both Praslin and Mahé, you buy a flat-rate ticket as you get on and travel as far as you need to, whether that is one stop or ten. On Praslin, a bus ticket costs 7 SCR (50 US cents) while tickets are 6 SCR (45 US cents) on Mahé. The buses come infrequently, so it is worth consulting the timetable. I was given a Praslin timetable at my accommodation (though you can also find it online), and you can download Mahé’s extensive schedule here. La Digue has very few cars and no buses, so walking and biking are the best options, which is also true for all of the smaller islands. 5. Stick to beach-hopping

While a small minority of beaches are only accessible if you are a guest of a specific resort, for the most part, the most glorious part of visiting the Seychelles (going to the beach) is completely free. You can enjoy the pristine white sand and blue water; watch the birds, bats, and tortoises move around the island; and explore the amazing undersea wildlife straight from the beach — and it won’t cost you a dime. My favorite free beaches are Anse Coco on La Digue, Anse Lazio on Praslin, and Beau Vallon on Mahé. One big exception to the free beaches rule is that Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue, which is one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, charges you for entry. The cost is 100 SCR ($7 USD) for a single entry, so go when you have time to spend the whole afternoon (or day!) enjoying the beach and its unusual rock formations. If you want to avoid the charge, then you can swim or walk through the ocean from just outside the entrance to the park and enter the beach that way. However, you’ll have to swim back out, as park rangers often check your ticket as you leave! 6. Bring enough sunscreen! An easy way to save a few bucks is to bring more sunscreen than you think you’ll need. Sunscreen is very expensive ($15 USD for a small bottle) but also very necessary, given the blazing equatorial sun that can burn skin in minutes. I was woefully underprepared for the amount of sunscreen I would need, so much so that within two days I had to shell out a small fortune for a big enough bottle to get me through the rest of the trip. If you can avoid buying this necessary item on the islands, then do. 7. Move slowly To get between the islands, you can fly or take a ferry. Neither way is particularly cheap. A return flight from Mahé to Praslin (which only takes about 15 minutes!) will likely cost $150–200 USD. Ferries are marginally cheaper: about $60 USD each way between Mahé and Praslin and around $20 USD each way between Praslin and La Digue. There is only one ferry provider serving each of the main routes between the three major islands, making you a captive audience for their high prices. So unless you’re Michael Phelps, you’re stuck paying whatever Cat Cocos (between Mahé and Praslin) and Cat Rose (between Praslin and La Digue) charge for the tickets. The less you travel between the islands, the cheaper your total transport bill will stay. 8. Minimize cash withdrawals (and use the right ATMs)

As in many other places, there are heavy charges levied on withdrawals at cash machines, to the tune of 100 SCR ($7 USD) per withdrawal. These withdrawal fees are fixed by the ATM and are different than foreign exchange fees. Charles Schwab and Fidelity offer cards that refund these ATM fees, though Fidelity does charge a 1% foreign exchange fee. However, a simpler solution than opening a new checking account is to be vigilant about which ATM you use. Barclays ATMs levy the withdrawal charge, while MCB ATMs tend to have no fee. A full list of MCB ATMs can be found by clicking here. ATMs will only give you rupees, though most prices are quoted in euros. You can bring euros with you or change them at the airport and banks for no charge. The Seychelles are largely cash-only, so figuring out how to get cash without incurring charges is important. For more tips on avoiding ATM fees, check out our comprehensive article on how to avoid fees when traveling! 9. Drink the tap water (or at least bring a bottle with a filter) While most online information says that the water in the Seychelles is not safe to drink, I quickly started drinking the tap water and was completely fine. Given the extreme heat and humidity, you will need to drink a lot of water, which adds up fast if you have to keep buying plastic bottles (not to mention the environmental impact of that much disposable plastic). If you don’t feel comfortable drinking the tap water, then I’d recommend bringing a bottle with a built-in filter or buying a SteriPEN or Lifestraw. Not constantly buying bottled water will help keep both your costs low and the environment clean. 10. Bring your own mask and snorkel

Unlike many beach paradises, you don’t need to go out on a boat to get to prime snorkeling territory. You can swim straight off the beach onto a reef and see rays, sharks, eels, fish, and more. I swam out from Anse Source d’Argent and was greeted by a friendly ray who let me follow him for half an hour in perfect peace. It was magical. However, renting a snorkel and mask often can get expensive. Snorkel rentals go for $10 USD a day or more. Bring your own to save money! *** By following the above advice, it should be possible to take a trip to the Seychelles that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg (maybe just a hand). If you stay in small guesthouses that serve breakfast, eat takeout for most of your meals, spend most of your time exploring the beaches, and hunt for a good flight deal, you’ll spend between $120–140 USD per day (less if you are traveling with someone and can split accommodation costs), though it’s also good to leave some wiggle room for putting money in the hands of any Seychellois guides or vendors who really make a difference to your trip. If you are willing to shell out more, then the sky’s the limit, but if splurging, I would recommend a guided tour through the jungle (it’s typically not safe to venture out alone) or diving, as the Seychelles are home to some world-famous dive sites. A whole day’s guided hike, including lunch and entrance to world-famous beach Anse Source d’Argent, costs about $70 USD, and each dive with Octopus Dive Centre was around $60 USD (less if you have your own equipment). I did both of these activities and they were completely worth it. I firmly believe that the Seychelles is one of the world’s most beautiful places and should be on the bucket list of any avid traveler. And, hopefully, these budget tips will allow you to visit the Seychelles without breaking the bank! Ellie Hopgood is an investment writer in London, covering topics in economics, politics and global finance. She writes about travel, politics and photography on her blog Endlessly Restless. She spends a borderline unhealthy amount of time editing photos and checking the cost of flights to places she has no immediate intention to visit. You can find her on Twitter (@elliemhopgood). P.S. – Did you know I wrote a new book? It’s called “Ten Years a Nomad” and it’s all about the lessons I’ve learned from a life of travel. It features tons of stories and misadventures I’ve never told on this blog as well! Click here to learn more and grab your copy today! (I’m doing a book tour too! I’ll be in Austin, Houston, Denver, and San Diego next week!) Book Your Trip to the Seychelles: Logistical Tips and Tricks Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are: World Nomads (for everyone below 70) Insure My Trip (for those over 70) Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too! Looking for more information on visiting the Seychelles? Check out my in-depth destination guide to the Seychelles with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more! The post How to Visit the Seychelles on a Budget appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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trekadvisers · 5 years

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A Vinicultural Retreat: Reviewing Las Alcobas in Napa Valley, California

Courtesy of The Points Guy by Zach Griff

On the heels of Marriott’s introduction of (the dreaded) Category 8 award tier, TPG wanted to review some of the most aspirational properties in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Having recently reviewed the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park and the Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina, next up was Las Alcobas — a Luxury Collection Hotel that has been on our radar for a while.

Would the hotel’s rooms, facilities, and service make the property worth 85,000 points or $800+ per night? Well, as I found out, there wasn’t a simple answer to that question.

In This Post

Booking

Because I was traveling on a quiet weekend, room rates at Las Alcobas were a bit lower than normal, hovering around $725 per night. We booked right before the introduction of Category 8, so we only paid 60,000 points per night — worth roughly $480 according to TPG‘s April valuations. To sweeten the already fantastic deal, as a Marriott Ambassador Elite member, I was eligible for a space-available upgrade (up to a suite), free breakfast, and guaranteed 4pm late checkout.

With Las Alcobas having moved into Category 8, it now requires 85,000 points per night for a free night. When Marriott launches peak and off-peak pricing later in 2019, the nightly points rate will jump to 100,000 points in peak season and drop to 70,000 points during off-peak times.

We still don’t know which dates will qualify for peak and off-peak rates, but I’d venture to guess that there will be lots of peak dates, particularly over busy weekends. So if you’re thinking of booking a trip to Napa during a busy time period (holiday season, spring break, summer long weekends), it would be best to book now before rates jump by 15,000 points per night.

If you were considering paying cash for a stay at this property, you could replicate the same perks as top-tier Marriott status by booking through the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which you can access through The Platinum Card® from American Express. Plus, you’d also receive a $100 spa credit to be used during the stay.

Location

Las Alcobas is located in St. Helena in California’s Napa Valley. The resort is about a 40-minute drive from Sonoma County Airport (STS) and an hour and a half from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) without traffic. Since traffic across the Bay Bridge is an almost 24/7 reality, I’d recommend budgeting closer to 2-2.5 hours for the drive from SFO. Sonoma County has daily commercial flights on Alaska, American, Allegiant, and United from various cities on the West Coast, but SFO is the arrival airport of choice from points outside the West Coast.

There isn’t much public transportation in the area, so taking a ride share or renting a car are the only viable options for getting to the resort. Just make sure to leave the keys to the rental at the hotel while you’re out enjoying a wine tasting.

I arrived into STS airport from LAX and ordered a Lyft for the 40-minute drive to Las Alcobas. I chose Lyft because Uber only offers its pricey Black cars in Sonoma County, which meant that by using Lyft I saved $80 ($45 for Lyft vs. $125 for Uber).

The hotel is located on Main Street in St. Helena, a 15-minute walk from the center of town. You don’t have to go far for the wine, however, as the hotel neighbors the Beringer Winery and actually overlooks a portion of the Beringer vineyards.

Check-in

Upon arriving at the hotel, I was greeted by a friendly bellman who introduced me to a front-desk associate, who was already standing outside waiting to welcome me to the property. The associate asked for my credit card, confirmed my stay details, and escorted me to the room for an in-room check-in. He welcomed me to my upgraded top floor room overlooking the Beringer vineyards and explained many of the room’s features.

After the brief orientation, he opened the mini bar and offered me a half bottle of sparkling wine as the welcome amenity. While I certainly could’ve used some cheese and crackers with the champagne (confession: I’m a lightweight …), overall, my check-in experience started to convince me that this property does deserve its place in Category 8.

Room

The room, and especially the incredible balcony and view, further validated Las Alcobas’ premier Category 8 rating.

The hotel has 68 guest rooms, and about 10 of those are junior and one-bedroom suites. The hotel’s rooms are located in four buildings; two buildings overlooking the vineyards separated by the hotel pool, one building overlooking the Beringer estate.

The fourth building, called the Acacia House, located by the entrance of the hotel, is a renovated rustic barn that houses the hotel’s restaurant and tiny reception area.

I was given a Vineyard View 2 queen guest room in one of the hotel’s two main buildings. For a hotel with 68 rooms, there are lots of rooms categories — 12 total!

The hotel assigns room categories based on which building you are in, as well as what level your room is on. Technically, I received a three-category upgrade from a Superior Guest Room, but the only real difference was that I had a better view on a higher floor.

The room was stunning, and the minimalist decor blended naturally with the outdoorsy feel of the hotel.

The beds were super comfortable and the linens were crisp and fresh.

There were two outlets and USB ports located behind the nightstand for easy charging of all of my devices.

The minibar was located in the corner of the room and featured a complimentary French press, along with bottled water that was restocked daily.

Near the entrance hallway was the closet and bathroom. The closet was large enough to fit all my hanging clothes, plus the two oversize plush bathrobes that were already hanging there.

The bathroom was split into two separate rooms, one with a toilet and sink and the other with a shower/tub combo and sink.

Since I was traveling with a friend, this set up proved to be ideal. He could shower, while I used the sink.

The toilet was a Japanese Toto electronic toilet that welcomed me to the bathroom by automatically opening the toilet seat — and then it automatically closed when I left.

The highlight of the room was the outdoor deck with fire pit overlooking the incredible view of the vineyards. The balcony proved to be the best place to relax and enjoy some wine.

The sofa and chairs were extremely inviting and comfortable, and the fire pit was heavenly on cool evenings. Fortunately, almost 95% of the rooms feature a fire pit, so you don’t need to rely on an upgrade to get one of them.

Food and Beverage

The hotel has one on-site restaurant called the Acacia House. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. On weekdays, breakfast is served from 7-10:30am; on the weekend, breakfast hours are extended to 2pm to accommodate late risers (read: hungover lightweights).

The restaurant decor matched that of the hotel and was quite fitting for a California farm-to-table restaurant.

Breakfast is served a la carte, and my Marriott Ambassador Elite membership granted my friend and me two continental breakfasts listed at $39 per person. In practice, we were able to apply the credit to any dish we ordered.

On the first morning, I ordered the omelette ($19), which was quite tasty. I then decided to order toast ($5) and breakfast potatoes ($9).

The following morning, I ordered the cured smoked salmon ($18), followed, once again, by the toast and potatoes … my favorite hangover remedy. I also ate dinner one evening at the Acacia House. The restaurant was crowded with non-hotel guests, but I didn’t have to wait too long for a table.

To start, I ordered an endive and apples salad ($15) and finished with the whole roasted acorn squash ($24). While the salad tasted fresh and light, the squash was completely overcooked and under seasoned.

My friend enjoyed his hamachi crudo ($21) and English pea soup ($13).

Outside the restaurant is a bar area with indoor and outdoor seating. While I didn’t spend time at the bar during my stay, I observed that many guests enjoyed a drink or two (or three) in the afternoons.

Overall, the food was above average, but it didn’t feel up to the promises of a Category 8 property. My recommendation is to use your breakfast credit at the hotel restaurant and go elsewhere for your other meals. After all, this is Napa and The French Laundry is only a 15-minute drive away.

Amenities

Las Alcobas definitely has enough five-star amenities to warrant its Category 8 rating. Even though the hotel was almost completely full during our stay (I overheard someone say that it was running at 95% occupancy), I never felt that it was too crowded.

While the grounds aren’t all that expansive, the hotel does have a few different areas for activities that helped spread out the crowds.

The main sitting/relaxing area was the hotel’s long rectangular pool located between two of the main buildings.

There were many yellow lounge chairs set up by the pool, which was heated to 84 degrees, but I forgot my bathing suit, so I stuck to relaxing beside the pool.

Next to the pool were a few outdoor couches and chairs set up around a large fire pit overlooking the vineyards.

Sitting out here was very relaxing, and my dermatologist father would definitely appreciate that the hotel offers free sunscreen at the pool. Surprisingly, there wasn’t any water available near the pool or outdoor couches, so come hydrated.

Back near the center of the resort was the hotel’s spa called Atrio. With 60-minute massages starting at $180 before tax and tip, I passed on a spa treatment.

I did check out the other spa facilities, which include a locker room, steam room, and relaxation area. It definitely would have been nice if the hotel also added a sauna or jacuzzi to the spa area (especially considering the low nighttime temperatures).

The relaxation room was nice, though the highlight was definitely the complimentary mixed nuts and dried fruits, hot beverages, and flavored waters.

The gym was located on the ground floor of one of the guest room buildings. It overlooks the Beringer estate and featured plenty of modern equipment that further helped me sweat out both my hangover and those potatoes I ate to combat that hangover.

In addition to the cardio and weight area, there was a yoga studio where the hotel offers complimentary yoga and TRX classes every morning.

The hotel set up some mountain bikes for rental outside of the gym, but I wasn’t sure where exactly they expected guests to ride, since the main road near the hotel was a two-lane highway.

Wi-Fi across the property was fast, free, and much needed. Cell phone reception (on Verizon and T-Mobile) was quite spotty across the property and the surrounding area, so my girlfriend back home appreciated my Wi-Fi connection almost as much as I did. Download speeds were around 50 mbps and upload speeds at 10 mbps.

Service

Although the service was promising when I checked in, it actually proved to be the most disappointing aspect of this stay.

We asked the hotel about local transportation options other than Uber/Lyft and were excited to hear that a house car was available to hotel guests. They informed us that we’d just need to call down a few minutes before to request the car. When we called to request the car, we were told that it had been pre-booked for the entire evening. Why advertise a service that isn’t actually available for use? And, if we needed to make reservations for the car, why not tell us?

Furthermore, I needed to wash clothes that I had used earlier in my trip. I brought my laundry bag to the reception area on Saturday morning and was told that the hotel outsources their laundry service and it had been already been picked up for the day. What five-star hotel doesn’t offer expedited and readily available laundry service?

Finally, the most egregious service failure occurred the morning we checked out. I called down to the front desk and asked to reconfirm our 4pm guaranteed late checkout thanks to my Ambassador Elite membership. The front-desk manager profusely apologized, but told me that Las Alcobas is considered a resort and therefore does not guarantee 4pm late checkout to elite members. I took out my phone, browsed Marriott’s resort listings, and noticed that Las Alcobas was not listed as a resort, and I’d therefore be guaranteed a 4pm late checkout. Armed with the new information, I called back down to the front desk manager, who told me that Marriott’s website was wrong, but he offered a 4pm checkout as a one-time courtesy. Then, at 3pm, a full hour before our checkout, housekeeping knocked and opened our door(!) asking us why we haven’t yet checked out. #Bonvoyed

Overall Impression

Does this property deserve its Category 8 placement? It’s not an easy answer.

Las Alcobas is certainly a gorgeous property in California’s Napa Valley. The hotel features a stunning design and blends perfectly into the nearby vineyards. The rooms, especially the balcony and firepits, could be featured on the cover of luxe travel magazines. However, what lay hidden beneath the glamorous façade were some serious service failures and miscommunications. If some of the service elements could be improved, then I’d definitely consider Las Alcobas worthy of inclusion among the 62 Category 8 hotels in Marriott’s Bonvoy program.

Original Article: https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/las-alcobas-napa-valley-ca/

Check out the original post here: http://www.jamcosolutionsllc.com/a-vinicultural-retreat-reviewing-las-alcobas-in-napa-valley-california/

#travel #traveler #traveladdict #travelblog #travellife

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cecphotos · 4 years

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Deadly Light in Death Valley (Group Workshop)

Price: $950, $250 dollar deposit required, Optional Post-Processing After Workshop for $125 More details on pricing and deposit below.

5 Participant Limit - Book Now!

Join me Nov 13-15, 2020 in Death Valley for a multi-day immersive experience in one of the most unique landscapes in the world. Spend 4 Golden Hours and 2 nights exploring the vast arid landscapes that the park has to offer. As one of my favorite areas to photograph, I truly hope you’ll join me for an unforgettable photographic experience this fall.

Scroll down for all the details

About The Workshop

Join me in Death Valley for a multi-day immersive experience in one of the most unique landscapes in the world. Spend 4 Golden Hours and 2 nights exploring the vast arid landscapes that the park has to offer. During this workshop we’ll explore some of the most interesting areas of the park, some well known and some hidden gems. Rippled sand dunes, multi-colored badlands and salt flats of surprising patterns are just a few of the incredible opportunities for translating emotion and vision through our photographic medium. I am dedicated to providing the best instruction on all aspects of the art of landscape photography and no level of experience is necessary for participants of this workshop. Whether you are just beginning or are a seasoned pro, I am ready to help you move forward with your photography.

As one of my favorite areas to photograph, I truly hope you’ll join me for an unforgettable photographic experience this fall. Scroll down for some of my favorite images and more information about the workshop.

Itinerary

Tentative Schedule: Since this is a field workshop, we will remain flexible to weather and light conditions. The final itinerary with exact times will be made available on Day 1. Lodging, airfare, transportation, park fees and most meals are the responsibility of the attendee.

DAY 1: Friday, November 13 12:00 PM Meet in Parking Lot of Furnace Creek Visitor Center 1:00 PM Depart for Sunset Shoot, Blue Hour, and Quick Night Photography Session 6:30 PM Depart back to Dinner/Hotel on own (Not included in workshop fee)

DAY 2: Saturday, November 14

5:00 AM Meet in Parking Lot of Furnace Creek Visitor Center 9:00 AM Return To Furnace Creek for Breakfast (included in workshop fee) 10:00 AM Q&A Session and Work Review (1 on 1 Time) 12:00 PM Lunch on own (Not included in workshop fee) 1:00 PM Meet in Parking Lot of Furnace Creek Visitor Center 1:30 PM Depart for Sunset Shoot/Night Photography Session 7:30 PM Return to hotel; Dinner on own (Not included in workshop fee) (Option to extend Night Photography Session for those interested)

DAY 3: Sunday, November 15

5:00 AM Meet in Parking Lot of Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes 9:00 AM Breakfast Review and conclusion at StovePipe Wells (Breakfast included in workshop fee) 11:00 AM Workshop concludes

Transportation

No Transportation will be provided to, from or during the workshop. All attendees are responsible for arranging their own transportation. Any car will be sufficient for our outings, but a vehicle with higher clearance may allow you more ease on some roads throughout the park.

Airports

• The nearest airport is in Las Vegas. McCarran International Airport (LAS) is about two hours away from Furnace Creek. • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is about five hours away from Furnace Creek.

Rental Cars

Many options are available for renting a vehicle of any kind from either airport listed above. Any car will be sufficient for our outings, but a vehicle with higher clearance could make driving easier on some roads in the park.

Accomodation

Hotels:

The most convenient location to stay is with the Oasis at Death Valley in the Furnace Creek area for both the Ranch and the Inn, but rooms at the Ranch are priced lower. There are also room available in StovePipe Wells, which is about a 20-30 minute drive to the north of Furnace Creek.

Camping:

Camping can be quite comfortable at this time of year. Furnace Creek Campground is conveniently located and it takes reservations in advance online and by phone. There are options for backcountry camping nearby if your vehicle has at least 9 inches of clearance, 4x4 not necessary. There is also camping available at the StovePipe Wells Campground. RV Camping is available at both Furnace Creek and StovePipe Wells. Showers are usually available for $10 per person at the Furnace Creek Resort.

Things to Bring

It’s always good to know what equipment you need. If you have any questions about the necessities I’m here to help, but here is a list of essentials and recommendations for the trip:

Equipment:

DSLR / Mirrorless camera and lenses

DSLR or Mirrorless camera is an essential tool to get the most out of the workshop and your photos

Wide Angle Lens - 12-24mm (Faster lenses are better for night photography, but not essential)

Mid to Long Range Zoom - 24-70, 70-200, 100-400 are great ranges to capture intimate scenes

Tripod (Sturdy as the Fall months can have very strong winds)

All filters you might have, a Circular Polarizer is a great tool

Remote / cable camera shutter

Needed for tack sharp images and long exposures

Several memory cards

You never want to run out of space for pictures. Bring several or empty at the end of the day

Spare camera batteries

Another thing you never want to run out of in the field. Bring several fully charged with you and charge over night

Head torch (for any night or low light walking and shooting)

Raincover for camera and camera bag cold come in handy in some rare cases of rain or high wind!

Small Camping Chair or Stool for comfort

Clothing Items:

Many layers - It can be quite cold in the morning hours, but usually mild to warm in the middle of the day. I’ll have more on the weather 1 week prior to our meeting date

Gloves, Warm Hat, warm socks

Sunglasses, Large Brim hat, and Sunscreen are recommended for the daytime

Hiking Shoes\Boots are recommended

FOOD:

Food, Water, and all other essentials. No Food or water will be provided before, during or after workshop; unless otherwise stated in the itinerary.

Plan ahead and have plenty of water available as it is very dry and can warm quickly on clear days.

Physical Requirements

Some hiking will be required, but the hikes will be around 1-2 miles at most. The Sand Dunes and Badlands provide the most strenuous of the hikes, but are moderate at best. Typically shooting is done within a mile of the car and most hiking should be flat in elevation. We’ll be sure to move at a fair pace and no student will be left behind.

What is Included and Not Included

INCLUDED:

• Tuition • Breakfast on Day 2 and 3 • Expert instruction in the field with Chris Ewen Crosby • Video Introduction and Presentation Prior to Workshop • Guidance to key compositional attributes throughout the park

NOT INCLUDED:

• Flights and transportation • Lodging • Meals not mentioned above • Park entrance fees • Travel and cancellation insurance

Payment, Fees and Terms

COST: The cost of the workshop is $950 and includes everything listed in the “What’s Included” Section

PAYMENT: A non-refundable deposit of $250 is required to reserve a space on this workshop. The final balance of $950 is due and payable 60 days before the workshop begins. Full payment is due at that time or thereafter, and there will be no refunds on the full amount owed if you cancel after final payment. However, if another client happens to fill your space, you will receive a full refund, minus your non-refundable deposit. Payment(s) can be made using the Add To Cart button of this web page using a credit card via Paypal and Stripe. If you would like to pay by another method, use the contact form on this page to ask Chris about options for sending a personal check or bank transfer.

INDEMNITY & COVID WAIVER: All participants are required to sign a standard workshop indemnity waiver

Indemnity Waiver

CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations require me to re-open enrollment and/or to engage in additional promotional efforts to fill the workshop on a short notice, therefore, my policy is that there will be no refunds of the deposit. The balance (minus the non-refundable deposit) is refundable up to the 60-day deadline. Thereafter, the balance is also non-refundable, with one exception: if we find participants to fill all canceled spaces and the workshop is ultimately full when it begins, then you will receive a refund of the balance within two weeks of the workshop’s conclusion. The deposit remains non-refundable. All refunds are subject to a 6% processing fee. I highly recommend that you obtain travel/cancellation insurance for all workshops to protect yourself against unusual circumstances.

PARK FEES: All attendees of the workshop are required to pay the National Park Entrance fees upon entry to the park and are not included in Workshop Fee. Further instruction will be provided to students prior to their visit.

Death Valley Entrance Fee - per vehicle - $30.00

This permit allows all persons traveling with the permit holder in one single private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van) to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.

Death Valley Entrance Fee - per motorcycle - $25.00

This permit allows persons traveling on one motorcycle to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.

Death Valley Entrance Fee - per individual - $15.00

This permit allows a single individual traveling on foot or individuals traveling on one bicycle to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.

Death Valley Annual Pass - $55.00

Annual pass providing free entrance to Death Valley for 12 months from the date of purchase

Curriculum

Curriculum will be catered to each individual’s skill level and may vary from student to student. Below you’ll find some common topics based upon different skill levels.

BEGINNER-INTERMEDIATE

I am a big believer in fundamentals in the development of any skill, photography is no different. I start all my workshops by ensuring that we have a good foundation to build on. Below you’ll find some sample topics:

Shooting in Manual Mode

Understand The Exposure Triangle and how each affects the image (aperture, ISO, shutter speed)

How to Meter and Expose for best results

Using light for better captures

Compositions made simple and easy

Understanding and using camera settings and menu options

ND’s, Polarizer and Grads - Which to use and when to use it

Tips and Tricks for easier workflows and shooting experience in the field

INTERMEDIATE - ADVANCED

Those who have a greater understanding of their cameras will get some more advanced shooting techniques to focus on light, location and making good decisions to make the most of the variables. Some advanced topics are listed below:

Exposure bracketing and blending

Focus stacking for depth of field and sharpness

Creative blending to bring the vision to life

Composing for interest, depth and focus

Conclusions and Expectations

SUMMARY

Your satisfaction, enjoyment and educational experience is important to me. The goal of this workshop is to allow you to further understand your camera, composition and artistic expression while using the amazing landscapes of Death Valley. I want to ensure that everyone comes away with great instruction as well as a great experience in nature. Most importantly, we are going to have fun! Having fun is a critical part of any good photography adventure. When you have fun, your mind is free to expand and learn.

POST PROCESSING

Post Processing is not included with this workshop. You can purchase an additional 3 hours of post processing instruction with this workshop that will be completed following the workshop. Editing is done via group video session in the following weeks from the workshop. It is recorded and available for download shortly after the session is complete. Instruction is given in both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Topics of post processing will vary upon your skill level. Common topics below:

Lightroom and Photoshop Workflows

Maximizing your RAW captures

Keys to clean editing

Stacking for depth of field and noise

Use of Luminosity Masks

Blending methods

Finishing an Image

and much more...

Learn More About Chris

Chris is a photographer and educator based in Long Beach, CA. It is a desire to teach, love for the outdoors, and photography which resulted in his role as a landscape photographer and educator. When not sharing his photography knowledge he can be found exploring nature’s beauty in his endless search for perfect light and discovery.

Learn More About Chris’s Workshops

Chris’s workshops cover a wide-range of photographic instruction and all its aspects, but also put an emphasis on having fun to enable creativity to thrive. Chris puts the emphasis your development as a photographer, incorporating infield fundamentals and cutting edge techniques to help you find your vision and bring it to life in post-processing. Whether you are just beginning or a blooming professional, Chris will help you to create meaningful and inspiring photographs while leading you down a path towards finding your own creativity.

#Death Valley #Workshop #Group Workshop #Photo Tour #Photo Adventure #2020 #Landscape #Photography #Photography Workshop #Desert #Sand Dunes #Salt Flats

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verbalists · 4 years

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Berlin is a great place to learn German! This city has often been called European Youth Capital, and if you join our active BERLIN–Berlin College Program, you’ll see why it is also called Europe’s capital of cool. We promise: you’ll learn a lot! You’ll have fun!! And you’ll get a taste of Berlin, the capital of cool 🙂

The Verbalists Language Network brings you Berlin College Program in partnership with GLS, the leading German language school, which was awarded by Study Travel Magazine five times the “best German language school in Germany” award. The program is designed for 16-18 old students who want to combine German courses with lots of fun activities in Berlin.

COVID-19, VERBALISTS NO RISK BOOKING: We are on for this summer! Nevertheless, we know that some students might be nervous about booking & traveling in the near future due to the Covid-19 situation. Our Flexible Guarantee allows students to cancel or postpone their booking without incurring any tuition or accommodation cancellation fees. The guarantee is available to those who book during the period 16th March-30th June 2020. In addition, the booking can be made without needing to pay a deposit. We just need all payment to be received 7 days prior to the student’s arrival date.

Learning will be safe – GLS school strictly observes public health rules as defined by the German government.

GLS (German Language School)

When we first visited our long-term partner in 2006 we were impressed with its facilities in the historic center of Berlin. GLS has a 16,000 square meter park-like campus located on Kastanienallee Street, in the trendy area of Prenzlauer Berg. This street is nicknamed casting ally, because there are so many films and fashion shootings there. Media have described it as “Berlin´s coolest boulevard”. More than 40 bars, cafes and fashion stores featuring Berlin designers, are only some of the attractions that can be found next to GLS.

GLS is more like a mini-university campus than language school. The fantastic campus is comprised of 60 classrooms, two student residences with 50 apartments, luxury hotel, beautiful park-like garden, lounge, restaurant, and café. Address: Kastanienallee 82, 10435 Berlin

GLS is a test-center for TestDaF and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, the language certificates for university studies in Germany. GLS is an IH-certified Teacher Training Center and prepares for the IH Certificate for Teaching German as a Foreign Language. The schools is also accredited by EAQUALS, which conducts rigorous inspections of its members every 4 years.

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Program

Age: 16-18 year olds

active BERLIN-Berlin College Program is a combination of German courses and action packed activities and excursions. Every year the program is attended by 200 students from up to 60 countries, making it ideal for a fast German learning in a multicultural environment.

German classes take place in the afternoon – in the mornings and evenings Verbalists explore Berlin

All GLS teachers are German native speakers with university degrees in German language or literature. They are both teacher and coach for you – please let them know whenever you need additional feed-back or advice.

German is the only language spoken in class, and the method used is the communicative approach. This means that you will get all the corrections, grammar and vocabulary you need, but the priority is on active speaking.

Prior to course start you will take a placement test, so that GLS teachers can assess your level of German and place you in an appropriate group.

Every day you will experience a different part of Berlin – you´ll get to see all the highlights, like Museumsinsel or the Berlin Wall. The German courses start in the afternoon, while Berlin sightseeing and activities takes place before and after the course.

German course:

20 lessons/week each 45 minutes long, with a max of 12 students per class – lessons in the afternoon 3:30 pm – 7 pm

All levels A1 to C2 (except complete beginners)

International classes with students from the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Spain, France, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, Denmark, Russia, Norway, England, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and many other countries.

Activities & Excursions:

2 activities daily: sightseeing in Berlin, sports, socializing (one activity in the morning, one after class, in the evening)

1 full-day excursion per week to places outside Berlin, i.e., Potsdam, Dresden, Lake Zeuthen

This is what a week at the Berlin Summer College may look like:

Day Morning Afternoon Evening SUN arrival until 5 pm, introduction and language test, welcome evening MON – Walking tour in Berlin – Topographie des Terrors 4 German lessons – Open air cinema – Billiard (Kulturbrauerei) TUE – Literatur-Café (from level B1 – Climbing on Mount Mitte 4 German lessons – East Side Gallery – Government district WED – Swimming in Lake Wannsee – Boat trip on River Spree 4 German lessons – Beach volleyball – Photography workshop THU – Museum island – Street art workshop 4 German lessons – Debating club – Beach bar in Berlin Mitte FRI – Cycling tour: Berlin Wall Way – Museum for Technology 4 German lessons – Night out in Kreuzberg – Games evening SAT Full-day excursion to Potsdam, Castle Sanssoucil – Pub tour – Salsa on River Spree SUN departure or visit at flea-market on “Strasse des 17. Juni” Free evening

Accommodation

Student residence, which is either on campus or within a short walking distance (about 10 min) to the GLS campus. Students are accommodated in 2-5 bedded rooms, with own bathroom. Please see below for a more detailed description of the accommodation options.

Program is delivered on a half board basis, with breakfast and dinner included (the restaurant is on the campus).

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Dates and prices

28 JUN – 16 AUG 2020 Arrival / departure: SUN

1 week 2 weeks 3 weeks additional week Accommodation A + B 970 € 1.680 € 2.490 € 810 € Accommodation C 880 € 1.520 € 2.250 € 730 €

Accommodation A, B, C:

A = on campus, 3 – 5 bed room, own bathroom, TV

B = hostel in walking distance, 2 bed room, own bathroom, TV (Hotel4Youth – distance on a Google map)

C = hostel in walking distance, 3 – 5 bed room bed room, own bathroom, TV (Meininger – distance on a map)

Included in the price:

transfer from Berlin airports and stations on Sundays 8 am – 10 pm

20 German lessons/week, from 3.30 – 7 pm

max. 12 per class, levels elementary, intermediate, advanced

2 activities/day in Berlin, entrance fees included

1 excursion/week to places outside Berlin, i.e. Potsdam

accommodation incl. half board (breakfast and dinner)

insurance (medical, liability, luggage)

Not included

public transportation 2 to 4 weeks: ca. 60/80 EUR

extra day: 100 EUR

extra transfer out of schedule: 80 EUR one way

Application process

Please note that filling out the PRODIREKT Application Form and Terms & Conditions does not secure a place on the program, nor does it mean you are under obligation that your child attends the course you are inquiring about. It is simply the first step in the application process, so that we can give you precise program details and check program/accommodation availability. A contract is signed directly with the school, and a place is confirmed after a deposit or the whole course fee is settled. Please fill out and sign:

Application Form (download here) and

Terms and Conditions (download here), and send back to [email protected]

The Verbalists Language Network is part of the PRODIREKT Education Group, which is a certified representative and partner of prestigious schools and colleges in world renowned university centers. When you enroll for foreign language study abroad with the Verbalists you are not only getting the expert advice, guidance and dependability of an accredited organization and a world-leading language network, but you also enjoy special privileges, such as:

scholarships offered only to PRODIREKT/Verbalists students and our International Ambassadors;

special discounts – you often pay less than what a school charges for the same program;

enrollment advantages – faster processing, lower or no deposits, no charge when you change your booking;

priority in reserving your residential or home stay accommodation;

less strict cancellation policy;

free visa application assistance;

travel and airport transfer arrangements;

in case of some young learner programs, guidance and care of our staff and group leaders during the duration of a program.

PRODIREKT and its Verbalists Language Network are accredited by the leading language travel and higher education associations – English UK, Alphe UK, FEDELE Spain, FELTOM Malta, ICEF Germany, and many more. You will find more information about our international accreditation here.

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We at the Verbalists Language Network have more than 30 years of experience in the organization of language learning and studying abroad. Take advantage of our commitment, experience and competence by enrolling in the active BERLIN-Berlin College with us.

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German summer courses for young learners, active BERLIN-Berlin College Berlin is a great place to learn German! This city has often been called European Youth Capital, and if you join our…

#German

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charllieeldridge · 4 years

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Backpacking Colombia: The Ultimate Travel Guide

Backpacking Colombia was once considered dangerous, but its international stigma is slowly wearing off and more and more travellers are realizing that Colombia is one of the most diverse, welcoming and rewarding travel destinations on Earth.

Medellín is no longer a murder capital, Bogotá is now a place to be explored, not feared and with a peace agreement finally reached between the Nobel Peace Prize winning President Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC (a violent guerrilla group), the country is slowly climbing out of its tumultuous past and looking towards a bright and safe future.

When backpacking Colombia, you’ll find that the people here are extremely friendly and hospitable, the food is tasty (especially around the coast), and thanks to a 2014 and 2015 crash of the peso, it’s now more affordable than ever.

We spent 6 weeks backpacking Colombia and have used our travel knowledge, plus information we gained from expats and local Colombians to put together this epic free guide. You won’t find a more in-depth backpacking guide to Colombia anywhere else online. There are endless things to do in Colombia, and it’s one of our favourite countries to date!

Our Travel Guides cover everything from travel budgets and transportation options, to off the beaten path destinations and mobile data plans. If you’re planning on backpacking Colombia, you’ve come to the right place.

This Colombia travel blog article is geared towards budget travellers, but we’ll also touch on some of the mid-range options as well.

Please note that we did not work with any hotels, airlines or tour companies in Colombia and this post is not sponsored in any way. Any recommendations we make in this guide is our honest opinion and we paid for all of our travels in the country just like you.

How Much Will Backpacking Colombia Cost?

Budget: $60/day for 2 people or $40 / day for 1 person

This is one of the most budget-friendly destinations in South America and it offers some of the coolest hostels in the entire region. If you’re backpacking Colombia on the budget end, staying in the cheapest hostel rooms, eating local food, taking local transport and limiting your tours and activities, then the budget above will be sufficient.

If, like us, you like to step it up a little bit, stay in nicer hostel double rooms or midrange hotels, drink wine, eat a mix of street food and restaurant fare and enjoy quite a few tours and activities, then expect to spend around $100 / day for 2 people or $65 for 1 person.

At the top-end range, the sky is the limit. There are expensive hotels and luxury restaurants and if you want to treat yourself, you definitely can. The top end traveller could spend $250 / day per couple ($175 per person) or more.

Budget Accommodation: (Average $30 / night)

Hostels for Backpacking Colombia:

For a nice double room in a hostel you’ll likely spend around $30 – $40 / night including breakfast. Hostels are a great option when backpacking Colombia because their rooms are often nicer than the midrange hotels in the same price range and they have a much better atmosphere.

If you normally stay away from hostels because you picture cramped dorm rooms, parties and dirty bathrooms, think again. Colombia’s hostels are as clean and comfortable as most nice hotels. There are always dorms in hostels, but there are also very nice double rooms, some of which even have king-size beds and jacuzzis!

Dorms are commonly available throughout Colombia and usually range from $8 – $15 and often include breakfast.

Apartments for Backpacking Colombia:

AirBnB also has some great accommodation options throughout Colombia, but to be honest, the hostels are so much fun and have such a great atmosphere. When travelling Colombia, you’d be missing out on a lot of fun by staying in apartments the whole time.

If you’re planning to live somewhere for a month or more, then AirBnB is definitely a good option. You can also Google local rental agencies to find apartments and avoid the expensive AirBnB fees.

Our Favourite Accommodation Options in Colombia Include:

*Note: Booking.com is our favourite booking engine – their prices are usually lower, and they often have free cancellation options.

Maloka Hostel – Medellin

La Serrana Hostel – Salento

Viaggio Hotel – Bogotá

Hospederia Villa Palva – Villa de Leyva

SAMs VIP Hostel – San Gil

Patio de Gistimani – Cartegena

Masaya Hostel – Santa Marta

Tayrona Tented Lodge – Costeño Beach

Where to Stay When Backpacking Colombia

There are numerous accommodation options in Colombia. We listed the ones that we personally stayed at above, but if you want to stay somewhere else, check the options below:

☞ Click Here to compare prices and see reviews on all accommodation in Colombia on Booking.com

Eating: ($2- $10 / meal)

Meals are definitely of great value when travelling Colombia. You can get street empanadas or buñuelos for around $0.50 each and a few of these things can fill you up. Street food is definitely the most affordable route, but as much of this food is deep-fried, you’ll probably want to go to restaurants as well.

We ate at all types of restaurants, from tiny hole-in-the-wall joints to nicer lounges and boutique eateries. Luckily all of them are affordable with most places having meals for under $10. A nice sit down traditional meal in Colombia won’t normally cost more than $6 and oftentimes the portions are so large that two people can share. A fancy dinner can be $20 but not usually much more than that.

If you decide to buy groceries and cook at your apartment or hostel, you can save even more money as groceries are good value in Colombia.

When booking your hotel or hostel, look out for free breakfasts. Most do offer it, but sometimes you arrive and find out that you’re on your own for breaky. You can save a few bucks on your daily food budget by only booking hotels, hostels and B&Bs that offer breakfast.

Entrance Fees: (Free – $5/person)

Entrance fees are also generally cheap in Colombia. Most museum entrances will come in at around $5 (don’t miss the Gold Museum in Bogotá), and while many hiking trails and national parks are free, you do have to pay for some of them. These costs are still usually low at around $4 – $8 each.

Some touristy bars have a cover charge (like Havana Bar in Cartagena). These are usually low but can be as much as $10 USD per person.

Alcohol:

When backpacking Colombia, you’ll find that alcohol is very cheap. There are limited varieties of wine (when compared to places like Chile and Argentina), but there are a lot of different beers including some great craft breweries.

If you’re going for the cheapest local beer in a restaurant or bar you’ll usually pay around $2 / bottle. The craft beers at places like Bogotá Beer Company are a bit more coming in at $3.50 / pint, while you can get bottles of beer in the grocery store for around $1.

You can often find bottles of wine in restaurants for as little as $10 and the same bottle would be around $6 or $7 in the grocery store. You can find really cheap bottles of wine for around $3 on some shops. A glass of wine in a restaurant is usually around $3 – $4.

Cocktails range depending on the type of place you’re going to. If you’re in a fancy restaurant or a popular bar (like Havana in Cartagena), then a normal cocktail will be between $6 – $10. At a normal restaurant (even nice Italian ones), you won’t likely spend more than $5 for a good cocktail. The cheapest cocktails we found were about $3 and at happy hour they were only $1.50 each!

For all of these costs you can usually find discounts at happy hour. Many restaurants and bars have signs posted out front where you can get 2 for 1 or buy one get the second half off. Keep your eye out for these signs and you can save quite a bit on your alcohol bill.

Tipping:

Generally a 10% tip (or a bit less) is expected for decent service in Colombia. Many times it’s added to the bill and if it is, don’t bother tipping anything extra. If the service isn’t good, you’re not at all obligated to tip. In fact, the servers will ask you if you want to include the tip, or not.

Generally you don’t have to tip taxi drivers, but around Christmas and New Year’s time, Colombians often leave them some change, just to be nice.

Don’t bother tipping if you’re just buying a beer at the bar and you don’t usually have to tip the person who shows you to your room in a hostel, but in a fancy hotel you may be expected to give the bell boy a few pesos.

Colombians aren’t crazy of tippers like us North Americans so don’t feel obligated to leave big tips and don’t bring over-generous tipping customs to a country that isn’t structured that way. It’s not good for the economy in the long-run and you’ll end up raising prices and lowering wages for locals.

Colombian Currency

Exchange Rate (At Time Of Writing):

$1 USD = 3,961 COP

Click Here For Current Exchange Rates

The currency in Colombia is called Peso and has been called that ever since the year 1810 when it changed from the real. You’ll find banknotes in 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 denominations, while coins come in 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000.

In many places you can actually spend USD, including restaurants, hotels and some small shops. You can easily exchange USD and Euro as well as GBP, AUD, CAD and other common currencies. You’re best bet is to avoid exchanging large sums of money at airports because the rates are often much worse than in town.

You can use your credit card almost everywhere in Colombia including cafes, restaurants, grocery stores, clothing stores, malls and hotels. Sometimes there’s an added fee for using your credit card (up to 5%) so always ask before swiping your card.

Small shops and cheap hostels won’t accept credit cards, so for this you’ll need to have some cash. You can easily take cash out of any ATM when backpacking Colombia if your card is a Cirrus or Plus system card. Almost all banks in western countries and China will be usable.

Some ATMs charge a fee for taking money out but it’s not usually more than a few dollars and the ATMs will allow you to take as much as 800,000 pesos from the machine. Use your travel rewards credit card for direct purchases as much as possible to accrue points and save on these ATM costs.

For Canadians, we recommend the TD Canada Trust All Inclusive Banking Account for fee-free foreign ATM withdrawals. Charles Schwab Bank is a good option for people from the US to avoid banking fees while travelling. For everyone else, consider getting an HSBC card and only use HSBC banks (there are many in Colombia).

Must-See Places When Backpacking Colombia

Colombia is one of those places where you could travel for a year and still have much to see. The landscape and activities are so diverse and with over 1.1 million km² to explore, you will never see it all. Here are some places that you should definitely not miss.

☞ READ MORE: 50 Awesome Things To Do in Colombia

Bogotá:

We liked Bogotá because we were visiting friends and it had beautiful architecture, but it definitely wasn’t our favourite place in Colombia. The Candelaria area is where most of the historical buildings are and it’s where most travellers stay, but come night-time the streets are silent as it’s dangerous to walk around.

Sadly, poverty and crime is still an issue in Bogotá. A recent police raid of a nearby red-light district caused a dispersal of many of the city’s misfits and criminals and this has actually added to the danger of the Candelaria neighbourhood and other nearby barrios.

This doesn’t mean that Bogotá is a dangerous place to travel and it doesn’t even mean that you shouldn’t go to Candalaria, but just be mindful if you’re going out at night and consider taking an Uber instead of walking (Uber is very handy in Bogotá).

We stayed in the Chapinero area and it was great. It’s safer to walk around (although we still took Ubers at night), and there are some great accommodation options and restaurants nearby. Taxis and Ubers are really cheap in Bogotá and all of Colombia so it was a quick and easy ride to get into Candelaria when we wanted to explore some history.

Keep in mind that taxis and especially Uber jack up their prices around rush hour (7:00 – 9:00 am and 4:30 – 6:45 pm), so be aware when taking rides around that time. We paid as much as triple the usual price during these hours, which made Bogotá taxis closer to the cost of those in Canada!

Bogotá is definitely worth a visit for a couple of days and it’s really fun to walk around the old town of Candelaria during the day. There are numerous things to do in Bogotá, but make sure you don’t miss Puerta Falsa Restaurant for some great regional dishes and consider checking out the Free Graffiti Tour, not the best tour we’ve ever done (too many people) but still worth the small tip that’s expected.

See Our Article: The Big City of Bogotá – Our Visit To The Colombian Capital

Villa De Leyva

Lonely Planet says “if you only visit one colonial town in Colombia, make it Villa de Leyva” and while we do agree that it’s a beautiful place, we did find some other, nicer towns than this one. But it is lovely and definitely worth a visit when travelling Colombia – either by day trip, or for a night on the way up to other nice towns further north.

Here you can explore the cobblestone streets, visit a nearby dinosaur fossil, a crazy house and a nice viewpoint. You can pretty much see everything here in a day though so there’s no need to linger too long. There are definitely more interesting places a little further north from Bogotá.

Check out our Villa de Leyva Video

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San Gil

This was definitely one of our favourite mid-sized cities in Colombia. Just a bit further north from Bogotá about 5 hours from Villa de Leyva, this charming little place has a beautiful central plaza, a nice park, some decent colonial architecture and delicious restaurants (especially Gringo Mike’s).

But the real reason to come here is the plethora of adventure activities on offer around San Gil.

San Gil’s close proximity to the Chicamocha Canyon (the world’s second largest canyon), means that there are far too many adventure opportunities to count. This is an adventurous backpacker’s dream destination!

Top activities include white water rafting, paragliding, hiking, caving, trekking, bungee jumping and more. All of these activities can be organized through tour operators in town, but we recommend staying at Sam’s VIP Hostel and they can organize everything for you.

Aside from adventure activities, don’t miss the day trip to nearby Barichara and the lovely hike along the Comino Real to Guane.

Check Out Our San Gil Video:

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Medellín:

While Bogotá wasn’t one of our favourite places when backpacking Colombia, Medellín definitely was. Don’t expect the same central colonial center with stunning architecture that you find in Bogotá, instead you have the backpacker haven of El Pobládo (known locally as gringolandia). There are so many things to do in Medellin, don’t miss it!

Don’t miss our Medellín Video:

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Medellín is busy, polluted and loud, but it does have a certain charm. The best part of the city is the vibe and energy that you can feel buzzing on the streets.

Make sure you get out of the chaos of the Antioquian capital and explore some of the beautiful barrios that surround the city. Some of these are quite dangerous, but some recommended neighbourhoods include Comuna 13 (best done on a tour) and the trip up the K line and beautiful metrocable ride up to Parque Arví.

While backpacking Medellín, try to go and see a football (soccer) game. We’re not even fans of the sport but we got right into it at the rowdy Estadio Atanasio Girardot. Also don’t miss the incredible free walking tour (preferably on your first day in the city) as it give you a deep introduction to Medellín, its people and its history.

Guatape:

You can spend a night or two in Guatape if you want, but most people (including us) enjoy this beautiful little colonial town as a day trip from Medellín. Hop on one of the hourly bus departures from the Northern Bus Terminal (Terminal de Transportes Norte) in Medellín and you’ll be here in just 2 hours. The ticket is around 12,500 COP or $4 per person.

Make sure when you’re buying your ticket that you request to be dropped of at Piedra Peñol (a beautiful granite mountain just outside of Guatape) as you don’t want to miss this sight and your bus ticket will be slightly cheaper than if you went all the way into Guatape.

After climbing up the 700 stairs at Piedra Peñol and enjoying views over the lake, head back down the mountain and make your wait to Guatape by taxi ($4), you can then explore the cobblestone streets and lovely plazas of this colonial gem before returning to Medellín in the afternoon.

Check out our Guatape Video:

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Salento:

This beautiful farm town in the infamous coffee region (Efe Cafetera) was definitely the highlight of our entire backpacking trip in Colombia. There are a lot of things to do in and around this small colonial town including hiking the Cocora Valley, horse back riding, coffee tours, games of tejo, waterfalls and just enjoying the stunning natural scenery.

Beautiful Salento

If you do go to Salento, make sure you book your room or dorm bed at La Serrana Hostel. We are not paid to recommend them and didn’t work with them in any way, we just absolutely loved this place! We feel like if you’re not staying here, you’re missing out on a big part of what makes Salento so appealing.

The rooms are set in gorgeous farm houses with views out over rolling hills and the service and food here is impeccable. There’s a bonfire every night and some rooms even have a fireplace! We really can’t recommend this place enough for backpackers. It was worth the trip to Salento on its own.

Check out our Salento Video:

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☞ READ MORE: Relaxing in Salento – Exploring Colombia’s Coffee Region

☞ READ MORE: La Serrana Hostel – Our Favourite Hostel Ever!

Cartagena

Another one of our favourite cities in Colombia and probably one of our favourite places in the entire world. Cartagena is a buzzing colonial town with an intoxicating Caribbean flare. The old town is absolutely stunning with colorful balconies and countless parks and plazas. The town boasts some of the best food in the country and there is something going on here almost every weekend.

From concerts and festivals to street parties and carnival, you will never be bored in Cartagena. There are also a couple of lovely (swimmable) beaches nearby where you can rent an umbrella and chairs for around $4 and order cheap beer while watching the sunset over the Caribbean sea.

We stayed at Hotel Patio de Getsemani and it was excellent. It’s more of a hostel or homestay than it is a hotel because it has great common areas (including a rooftop patio with nice views of the fort) and the family that run this place are super friendly. Cartagena is a highlight of backpacking Colombia for sure.

Other:

Although we didn’t make our way to these places, other travellers highly recommended the town of Popayán, Las Lajas church at Pasto near the border-town of Ipiales and the islands of San Andrés and Providencia.

Must-Have Experiences in Colombia

Sometimes it’s not about the destination, it’s really about the experience or the journey to get there. This is the case with many places in this country, so we’ve listed things you should definitely do while you’re backpacking Colombia.

Play Téjo

This is Colombia’s national drinking game and it’s actually really addictive. Think “explosive bocce ball” and you’ll get a pretty good idea of what this game’s all about.

Basically you throw a heavy lead disc across a long alley and try to hit little packets of gun powder which are set atop a bed of clay. The rules are pretty simple (see the photo below) and you’re meant to drink the entire time you play. Excessive beer and explosives, what could possibly go wrong?

Téjo halls are great places to meet local people and are often packed until around midnight, when most communities require that they shut down because the exploding gun powder is too loud.

Hike Ciudad Perdida: The Most Adventurous Thing To Do When Backpacking Colombia

This place doesn’t fall under the “Must See Places” section in this guide because, while the Lost City itself is a place, it’s more of the experience getting there that really makes this jungle trek so special. The cliché “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey” comes to mind.

You can opt to do the trek in 3 or 4 nights but most people choose to do it in 3. The 4 night trek really only cuts the last day of the hike in half and to be honest, it’s definitely doable in 3 nights. After you’ve seen the Lost City, you’ll probably be ready to get out of the jungle so I recommend the 3 night, 4 day trip.

This hike is breathtaking, but it’s also quite difficult and you’ll likely get lots of rain so expect to be damp (and smelly) the entire time. While this was one of the more difficult treks we’ve ever done, it was worth every arduous step and we definitely recommend it for anyone (with a decent level of fitness) who wants and adventure when backpacking Colombia.

To learn more about this trek, check out our articles & videos:

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☞ READ MORE: The Ultimate Guide to Trekking The Ciudad Perdida (Lost City)

☞ READ MORE: Our Experience Trekking in The Colombian Jungle to The Lost City

Walk The Camino Real

This beautiful stone walkway between the towns of Barichara and Guane, just 5 hours north of Bogotá, is absolutely breathtaking and should definitely be on everyone’s backpacking itinerary.

The old trail was once used by the indigenous Guane people, then later by the Spanish to transport goods between the two villages. For travellers it’s a relatively easy hike past farmland and through the stunning Chicamocha Canyon (the second largest canyon on Earth).

Take The Free Medellín Walking Tour:

This was one of the most informative walking tours we’ve ever done and it gave us a very valuable introduction to Colombia, its history and its people. If Medellín is your first stop, then you should consider doing this tour on your first day in the country to really get a feel for the place. We can’t recommend this tour enough when travelling Colombia.

For More: Why You Shouldn’t Miss The Free Walking Tour in Medellín

Stay at La Serrana Hostel:

We already wrote plenty about why we love this place above, but it truly is an experience. If you’re travelling Colombia as a couple, try to get room #3 and enjoy some romantic nights drinking wine by the fireplace and looking out over the farmlands.

See our post: La Serrana Hostel in Colombia – Our Favourite Ever?

Taste Regional Dishes:

Colombian food isn’t really known for being all that flavourful, but ask the locals what the regional dishes are in each place that you visit and you might end up tasting some really delicious food. In particular, don’t miss the dishes that we list later in this guide.

Make Friends:

We always say that a highlight of (pretty much) every place is the people, but in Colombia they’re just extra cool. If you can speak Spanish (ours is pretty bad) you’ll have a much easier time meeting the locals, but in general you’ll find that Colombians are open and very friendly.

We met a couple of guys in Salento who told us to call them when we got to Bogotá. We did and had an awesome time in the city together, plus met up again later in Cartagena! Within an hour we felt like we had known them forever. Don’t miss the opportunity to make some real friends when backpacking Colombia.

Ride The Metrocable in Medellín

The metroline and the metrocable (gondolas) in Medellín are a real source of pride for Paisas, and for good reason. It connects much of the city to the surrounding barrios and also helps the commerce spread outward from the wealthier city center. For travellers, riding the metrocable up the surrounding mountains and over the comunas will likely be a highlight of anyone’s trip to the city. It’s cheap, easy and fun so don’t miss it.

Note: Looking down at the lively comunas you’ll likely be tempted to get off at every stop, but make sure you ask which ones are safe before taking the ride so that you don’t end up in a dangerous neighbourhood.

Hike Valle De Cocora Near Salento

This is another must-do hike in Colombia. At the end of it all you arrive at a beautiful forest of enormously tall Wax Palm trees, Colombia’s national tree.

Enjoying the beautiful views of the Valle de Cocora

The hike is a bit challenging but definitely not too hard for people who aren’t used to hiking. Check out our video of the hike to get an idea about it and see if you think you’ll be fit enough to conquer it.

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Experience The Nightlife

Colombians definitely know how to party and they make for good drinking buddies, so even if you don’t like staying out late, consider setting aside a night or two to experience the country’s epic nightlife. Good places include Havana and Bazurto Social Club in Cartagena, Social Bar in Medellín and the rooftop at Armando Records in Bogotá. Having some drinks and dancing with the locals will surely be one of your favourite memories from backpacking Colombia!

Overnight Hike Into Tayrona National Park

Many travellers recommend the hike into Tayrona National Park with a night at El Cabo San Juan beach in hammocks and then hiking out again. This trip comes highly recommended by many travellers, but when backpacking Colombia, we wanted to get a little off-track. We opted for the more off the beaten path trip to nearby Costeño Beach (more on this later in the guide).

Watch a Live Football (Soccer) Match

There are some bitter rivalries around the country and the best way to experience the clash of these national cultures is to go to a football (soccer) game in Colombia. Football is by far the most-watched and loved sport around the country and you can really see how passionate Colombians are about the sport when you enter a stadium packed with 50,000 screaming fans.

Watching a football match is one of the coolest experiences you can have when backpacking Colombia!

Must-Try Dishes

As I mentioned earlier, Colombia’s cuisine may not have made a splash on the international scene, and some of the typical dishes are the standard South American fare, but there are some fantastic regional meals that you should definitely try. As a bonus, when backpacking Colombia, food won’t take up too much of your budget. It’s affordable and delicious.

Hot Chocolate With Cheese (Chocolate con Queso):

This sounds like a pretty strange combination and it tastes like one too. However, the melted savoury cheese in the sweet hot chocolate really does pleasure the taste buds and it’s definitely worth trying. Colombians love the stuff and I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s the best drink we’ve ever tried while travelling, but it’s pretty good. Give it a try when you’re in Bogota.

Bandeja Paisa:

This is the most popular regional dish in the Antioquía region and it’s basically a protein overload on a plate. The portion is huge so consider sharing one meal between two people. It usually consists of white rice, red beans, ground beef, plantain, chorizo, morcilla, chicharron, arepa, avocado and a fried egg. Along with Ajiaco, the bandeja paisa is considered to be one of Colombia’s national dishes, a must-try on your trip to Colombia.

Ajiaco:

Another one of the national dishes, Ajiaco is a popular soup made with chicken, three varieties of potatoes, and the galinsoga parviflora herb. It’s unclear where this dish actually originated, but Colombians will claim it as their own. In Cuba it is prepared as a stew, and in Peru the dish is prepared in different variations.

Mondongo:

Another very popular soup dish most common in Medellín and the Antioquía region, Mondongo is made from diced tripe (the stomach of a cow or pig) slow-cooked with vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, carrots, cabbage, celery, tomatoes, cilantro (coriander), garlic or root vegetables. The dish is common in many former Spanish colonies in Latin America, the Caribbean, and in the Philippines.

Tamales:

There are some delicious variations of Tamales in Colombia. Many are made with rice and wrapped in plantain leaves instead of the corn tamale in banana leaf variety commonly found in Mexico and Guatemala.

Patacones:

Fried and smashed plantains topped with cheese, hogao sauce, guacamole, and if you want, meat. This is the best snack food / lunch meal! The best one we had was in Salento at a restaurant in the main square called Aquí Me Quedo.

Mmmm, patacones are delicious! A must-try.

Off The Beaten Path in Colombia

Colombia is a massive, jungle and mountain-clad paradise with endless possibilities to go off-grid and away from the crowds. Sidestep into the lush jungle and you’ll likely find an Eden all for yourself. It’s important to note that some areas are still considered dangerous, so we’ve listed some beautiful and safe off-the-beaten-path destinations to visit when travelling Colombia.

Isla Grande

When you’re travelling in Cartagena, you’ll hear endless touts trying to convince you to join a tour to nearby Playa Blanca. While it may be one of the more beautiful beaches in the Rosario Archipelago, Playa Blanca is also overrun with tourists.

If you want to have a much more authentic and relaxing day trip to the archipelago (or overnight) from Cartagena, definitely consider Isla Grande. You can head to the boat docks at Muelle de la Bodeguita before 9:00 am and buy tickets the morning boat to get to the island (40,000 COP + 14,500 tax). It’s an easy 2 hour ride (sometimes choppy) before you arrive on one of the beautiful beaches of Isla Grande.

We stayed at one of the hostels at Paradaiso Secreto and although the rooms here are affordable and the location is good, we can’t really recommend it. The staff were charging double for everything when normally hostels are budget-friendly. They also played ridiculously loud trance music all day from morning til midnight and it really took away from the tranquillity of the island. Plus, the pool wasn’t fit for swimming.

We were frustrated because the place had so much potential!

Regardless, if you’re backpacking Colombia on a budget and want to head to Isla Grande, you’ll probably end up staying here with other backpackers. Also note, other people have given good reviews about this place, so maybe things are changing. Click here to compare prices and see the latest reviews on Booking.com.

☞ Click here to compare prices on all accommodation on Isla Grande with Booking.com

There is hardly anything on Isla Grande so be prepared to rough it a bit. The “town” is a true Caribbean village with no real shop or grocery store. You’ll have to knock on some doors because almost every home is actually a shop, but they don’t have any signs to tell you so.

This is all part of the charm of this tiny little island. The beaches have some nice white sand and there are some decent spots to chill on the sand and swim all day, but the funky local vibe here is what really makes it special.

A gorgeous slice of sand on Isla Grande

Costeño Beach (in Guachaca)

This is another place that’s a pretty easy day trip from Cartagena, but we recommend staying a couple of nights here rather than just visiting for a day. It’s really close to one of the main sights in this area, Tayrona National Park, but most people who visit the park head in on an overnight trip, sleep in hammocks on a beach inside the park and then leave.

Costeño Beach is about a 30-minute drive from the park’s eastern gate and it’s a really funky little surfer and backpacker area. There’s not even really a town here, just a bunch of dirt roads, some iguanas and cows and a few (excellent) hotel and hostel options.

We stayed at Tayrona Tented Lodge and loved the funky little rooms (which included breakfast & dinner), but spent most of our time at the nearby Costeño Beach Hostel.

The American-Owned Costeño Beach Surf Camp has an amazing restaurant with extremely cheap cocktails, great food and a really funky vibe. The beach here is lovely, but due to strong currents, it’s not usually recommended that you swim here. If you stay at one of the hotels with a pool, you can chill there all day and enjoy the sound of the crashing waves.

The day trip into Tayrona National Park from here is definitely recommended as well. Costeño Beach makes for a unique way to visit the park and enjoy some relaxing beach time too. Definitely a must-see when backpacking Colombia.

Where to Stay in Guachaca

I’ve listed our two recommended accommodations above, but there are some more options in the area as well. Click here to check out some other eco-lodges, hostels and camps nearby on Booking.com.

Others:

Punta Gallinas, the 4,600m Puracé Volcano, the Amazon region and Capurganá which is a laid-back fishing village, are a few other amazing off-track places you can visit when travelling Colombia.

Pros of Backpacking Colombia

You’re planning a trip to an amazing place and there are many pros to travelling Colombia. Travel is very personal and different for everybody, so you’ll probably find many more positives when you’re here. We’ve only listed a few.

It’s Affordable!

Budget travellers can rejoice at the recent dive of the Colombian Peso because it means that a once good-value place is now a budget traveller’s paradise. There aren’t many places left where you can get such great bang for your buck.

Great Hostels:

Colombians (and expats) really know how to run great hostels in this country. We always prefer to stay in hostels, not just because they’re often a better value, but because they come with an unbeatable ambience and the private rooms are often nicer than hotels in the same price range.

Hostel Maloka Dorado room

We came across some of the nicest hostels we’ve ever stayed in while backpacking Colombia. Many of them had king-sized beds and rooftop patios with pools, while our favourite was set on a beautiful farm. We even had one room that was 800 square feet and had a massive jacuzzi! Yes… in a hostel. You really can’t beat the staff, value, location and vibe at some of Colombia’s best hostels.

Nice Buses:

We were kind of expecting chicken buses and minivans when we first arrived in Colombia, but that wasn’t the case at all. Many of the buses that we took were pretty luxurious, with wide lazy-boy-style chairs, air conditioning and western movies playing (dubbed in Spanish). The best part is that these VIP buses are still affordable, averaging at around $4 / hour.

Cheap Flights:

Thanks to new budget airlines like VivaColombia and EasyFly, you can actually take domestic flights for cheaper than many of the buses. Avianca has also had to lower their rates to match these budget airlines, but their fleet is comfortable and more likely to be on time. Sometimes it’s a better bet to spend a few extra bucks to book with Avianca if you want your flight to take off on schedule.

Clean Drinking Water

In most places in Colombia you can drink the water right out of the tap. This is a huge advantage when backpacking Colombia as you can save money, and the environment (stop using plastic bottles!).

Friendly Locals

I’ve said it enough in this post. Colombians are awesome.

Diversity

Few places in the world have as much to offer as Colombia. Mountains, jungle, beaches, ruins, colonial architecture, deserts and hill stations. Colombia has it all and then some.

Cons of Backpacking Colombia

Like anywhere, there are a few cons to backpacking Colombia. It’s a fantastic tourism destination, but like everywhere, it’s not perfect.

Crime & Safety:

As I mentioned earlier in this guide, Colombia has been becoming increasingly safe in recent years, but that doesn’t mean there’s not still a significant amount of crime and violence in the country. “No dar papaya” is a popular saying here. It literally means “don’t give papaya” and it’s basically saying, don’t tempt people with sweet fruit if you don’t want it to get stolen.

The papaya is basically referring to anything of value so the saying is basically warning everyone to hide your valuables unless you want them taken from you. It’s really sad that this country has such a history of petty theft that it has a cliché saying like this, but it’s a fact of life for Colombians and for travellers visiting the country.

Keep your wits about you, know where to and where not to go (ask your hotel/hostel staff), and never be too flashy. Follow these simple rules and you’ll likely leave Colombia feeling like it’s a very safe and secure place to travel. Just don’t ever fully let your guard down.

This is a con of travel in almost every South American country, but hopefully one day these places will become safer.

*Note: we didn’t have any issues with safety during our 6 weeks of backpacking Colombia.

Lack Of English:

If you’re travelling Colombia or Latin America for any length of time, you should at least have a basic level of Spanish to get you by. Not many people in Colombia speak English, especially outside of the big cities, so don’t expect to communicate well if you don’t know Spanish.

Unhealthy Food:

If you’re backpacking Colombia on a budget and eating strictly street food, you’ll quickly start to realize that pretty much everything is deep-fried. Some regional dishes are healthier and we strongly recommend that you hit up a nice traditional restaurant once in a while.

All-in-all, outside of bigger cities like Medellín and Bogotá, there aren’t too many healthy budget options.

The People in Colombia

The people you encounter while travelling through a country can have a profound impact on the way you view a destination. Not only the local people, but the types of other travellers as well.

Types Of Other Travellers in Colombia:

We were actually quite surprised at the types of travellers and backpackers in Colombia. We were kind of expecting all-night partiers and rave-happy gap-years coming for the abundance of cocaine and endless nightlife. But in reality, while there were a few partiers in the big cities, most other travellers were late 20’s to mid 40’s, didn’t go out late every night and were really in the country for the adventure.

We found that the other travellers were easy to relate to, were well-travelled, loved hiking and trekking and were genuinely interested in learning about Colombia, its history and its culture.

The Locals:

Colombians are simultaneously proud of their beautiful country and embarrassed by its turbulent past. If you’re thinking about making a joke about Pablo Escobar or cocaine in Colombia (or to a Colombian whom you meet overseas), think again. You won’t get a laugh and you’ll likely offend a potential friend.

Colombians are all too aware of their global identity and they’re doing everything they can to erase (and forget) the past and move forward.

Because the country is so mountainous, many different groups (cut off from each other for centuries) have formed their own cultures, traditions, cuisine and identities. You will hear differences in accents, taste varied food and even see some unique physical features in different regions as you travel around Colombia.

Paisa people (those from Medellín and the Antioquia province), have a reputation for being business people and extremely proud, almost to the point of arrogant. But in reality, they are usually admired by most Colombians and everyone loves their sexy pronunciation of the Spanish language.

Colombians are typically adventurous, family-oriented, kind, generous and very welcoming of foreigners. You won’t hear the term “gringo” used in a derogatory way here and you’ll probably leave the country with a few life-long friends.

Religion in Colombia

With so many indigenous groups living high in the mountains with little or no connection to the outside world and each with their own traditions and belief systems, its quite hard for a proper census to be conducted on religion in Colombia.

It’s commonly believed however that around 79% of Colombians are Catholic, as made evident by the countless cathedrals and churches and the heavy missionary work done by the Spanish during their rule. 13% are Protestant, 6% claim no affiliation to any religion and 2% subscribe to a different spiritual order.

It’s worth noting that a study done by the Universidad Nacional de Colombia stated that nearly 36% of all Colombians reported that they do not actively practice their faith.

Language in Colombia

Without a doubt, Spanish is the most used language with 99.2% of the population speaking the European tongue. Even though the principal language is Spanish, there are over 89 languages listed in the Ethnologue Database for Colombia.

Some Handy Spanish Phrases To Know For Backpacking Colombia:

Hello/Hi (informal) Hola (OH-lah) Have a good day Que pase un buen día (keh PAH-seh un BWEHN DEE-ah) How are you? (informal) ¿Cómo estás? (KOH-moh ehs-TAHS?) How are you? (formal) ¿Cómo está usted? (KOH-moh ehs-TAH oos-TEHD?) Fine, thank you Muy bien, gracias. (MOO-ee byehn, GRAH-syahs) What is your name? (informal) ¿Cómo te llamas? (KOH-moh TAY YAH-mahs?) What is your name? (formal) ¿Cómo se llama usted? (KOH-moh SAY YAH-mah oos-TEHD?)

Find more Spanish phrases here.

Getting Around in Colombia

Buses:

As we mentioned earlier, buses are very efficient and comfortable in Colombia. They usually leave on time, but due to an incredible amount of construction and countless large vehicles on all roads, expect your arrival time to be 2 or 3 hours later than the schedule reads.

Sometimes you can book buses through your hotel or hostel, but if you can’t, just make your way to the bus station and purchase your ticket. Most bus tickets can be bought on the same day, but make sure you book a day in advance for popular routes or routes with only one departure per day.

When backpacking Colombia, this will most likely be your primary mode of transportation.

Domestic Flights:

As we’ve said before, domestic flights are very affordable in Colombia thanks to budget airlines like EasyFly and VivaColombia. Keep in mind that these airlines are notoriously unpredictable, so if you want a punctual plane, consider spending an extra few dollars (often not too much) to book with Avianca.

Don’t ever try to cancel or change your flight with Avianca though. Their service on the planes is great, but if you have to call them for any changes, you’ll likely run into a brick wall. Make sure 100% you’re not planning on changing your flight before booking with Avianca.

Rent a Car:

Another great way to travel Colombia is by car. The roads are generally well signed and quite nice, especially between major towns and cities. You can rent a car for around $30 / day and remember that your credit card will likely cover the Damage Collission Waiver so don’t pay extra for that at the rental agency if you don’t have to (contact your credit card provider to ask about your rental insurance coverage).

Train:

The Colombia railway network has a total length of 3,304 km, but don’t expect to travel all that much by train. Most major destinations are better connected by bus or domestic flight, both of which are faster, more reliable and often cheaper than the trains.

Taxis

Taxis are a great way to get around cities and are amazingly affordable throughout Colombia. We took some rides that were up to 40 minutes and didn’t cost us more than $8.

Willis

Another form of taxi, these funky little jeeps load up to 6 travellers and usually charge one rate for the entire vehicle (also very affordable).

Uber

As with many other places in the world, Uber is quite popular in Colombia – although the taxi drivers aren’t happy about it. We only took Uber in Bogota, and took regular taxis in the other cities.

Getting In & Out of Colombia

There are a few ways to enter Colombia, either via the famous sailing trip from Panama, by bus from any neighbouring country or by air.

By Air:

Now that JetBlue (a great airline) is running direct flights from the US to Colombia, it’s more connected than ever. Canadians can fly with Air Canada, Europeans have direct flights from many countries and Turkish Airlines now goes direct from Istanbul to Bogota.

SkyScanner has put together a pretty handy list of the main airports in Colombia. Click any of the links below if you’re curious about the addresses, destinations or services offered at any of these airports.

Bogota airport Leticia airport Acandi airport Medellin airports Ibague airport San Jose Del Gua airport Cali airport Apartado airport Guapi airport Cartagena airport Barrancabermeja airport Buenaventura airport

By Land:

Throughout South America there are some great city-to-city long-distance buses that connect many of the capitals and other major destinations. You can easily find buses from most cities in Ecuador and Venezuela. Hostels and hotels can help you organize bus tickets and can usually call to inquire about routes and rates to whatever destination you need.

Important Note: On 22 August 2015, the Colombia- Venezuela border was closed, but it re-opened in August of 2016 and is now open for travellers.

By Boat:

Many people embark on the epic 4 day sailing journey between Panama and Sapzurro in Colombia. The journey takes you through the Sanblas Archipelago where you pass through 365 islands before enduring a 2 day ocean crossing with nothing in sight but rolling waves and a bobbing horizon. This trip comes highly recommended and can be booked through tour operators or by arriving at the docks and trying to hop on a boat (the latter is risky, especially in high season when boats are booked up). Always do your research and choose a reputable operator.

Visa Regulations For Colombia

Most nationalities can enter Colombia visa-free for 90-days and will be easily stamped at any international border crossing or at the airport. Canadians (unfortunately) have to pay a reciprocity fee of 171,000 pesos ($55 USD) to enter the country. You can pay this at the airport or border crossing with cash (and sometimes credit card) upon your arrival in Colombia.

According to Wikipedia, the following nationalities will be permitted to enter Colombia for visa-free for 90 days:

All EU citizens

Andorra

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Australia

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Bhutan

Bolivia

Brazil

Brunei

Canada

Chile

Costa Rica

Dominica

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Fiji

Georgia

Grenada

Guatemala

Guyana

Honduras

Hong Kong (180 days)

Iceland

Indonesia

Israel

Jamaica

Japan

Kazakhstan

Liechtenstein

Malaysia

Marshall Islands

Mexico

Monaco

Micronesia

New Zealand

Norway

Palau

Panama

Papua New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Russia

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Samoa

San Marino

Singapore

Sovereign Military Order of Malta

Solomon Islands

South Africa

South Korea

Suriname

Switzerland

Taiwan

Trinidad and Tobago

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United States

Uruguay

Vatican City Venezuela

For more visa info, click here.

Health In Colombia

The Zika Virus, which is transmitted by mosquitos, is on its way out according to the New York Times. This disease is particularly an issue for pregnant women who are at risk for microcephaly, a birth defect that causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads. There is a risk of contracting malaria and dengue fever (two more mosquito-borne illnesses), but the risk is quite low. Click here to learn more.

It isn’t a requirement, but it is recommended that you have your yellow fever vaccination when backpacking Colombia.

Doctors will recommend that you have your routine vaccinations, but in general the sanitation and health care in Colombia is very good.

The water is safe to drink in most cities and the food preparation methods are very good, with high standards and clean kitchens. There are rare cases of rabies, tetanus, typhoid and yellow fever. No vaccinations are required so what you choose to get poked with is entirely up to you.

It’s always worth carrying around a first-aid kit with Pepto Bismol, painkillers, antibiotics and other basics in case you fall ill. You can visit doctors when backpacking Colombia for very cheap and in the larger cities there are international English-speaking clinics available.

Phone & Internet in Colombia

The internet speed in Colombia is actually quite fast. You’ll find free wi-fi at most hotels, hostels, restaurants, cafes and airports around the country. We highly recommend picking up a SIM card for your smart phone upon arriving to Colombia.

You can buy a SIM for just $1.60 at any shop with a Claro, Movistar, or Tigo sign in the window. Claro is generally regarded as the best with good coverage around the country, though Tigo is slightly cheaper. After purchasing the SIM, simply add some credit at the same store and then from the phone, buy packages with the credit.

Claro offers some great packages and the bonus is that it includes unlimited WhatsApp, Facebook & Twitter so you could essentially just add $5 in credit, not use it and simply access free social media for the entire time you’re backpacking Colombia.

We went with Claro, so below I’m adding their best pre-paid packages and costs.

Pre-paid Data Plans:

Validity Volume Price (tax incl.) Activation 1 day 10 MB 990 COP 900 1 day 30 MB 1 900 COP 1WF 7 days 450 MB 13 900 COP 7WF 15 days 1 GB 20 900 COP 15WF 30 days 2 GB 42 900 COP 30WF

All data outside of packages is charged with 0.39 COP per KB. Packages are also on 4G/LTE, where available and up to 12 Mbps. The same packages can be used in tablets and modems too. Data of Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp are not debited form your allowances.

Good Movies & Books About Colombia

Movies:

Los viajes del viento (The Wind Journeys) – 2009: This movie is quite slow but it showcases some of Colombia’s most beautiful landscapes and can really get you inspired for a trip.

Los Colores de la Montaña (The Colours of the Mountain) – 2010: Eye-opening. Heavy. This modern-day portrayal of daily life in a remote part of the mountainous Colombian countryside is set around the friendship between two youngsters, Manuel and Julián.

The Two Escobars Documentary – 2010: Today, Colombia is climbing out of this dark time and most Colombians don’t want to talk about it. If you’re interested in this history, it’s best to do your own research. This documentary is a good place to start.

TV Shows:

Narcos: Obviously this one is going to come up. It’s one of the best Escobar TV show ever made. If you haven’t started watching it yet, it’s definitely worth checking out. Just keep in mind that the series does a pretty poor job of portraying Pablo as the monster he was, so know that most Colombians wouldn’t agree with way he’s depicted in the series, but it’s still undeniably entertaining and eye-opening.

Another option is the Spanish version on Netflix: Pablo Escobar – El Patrón del Mal, which does a better, less “Hollywood” job of portraying Escobar.

Books:

Delirium – Laura Restrepo: This novel is set in Bogotá in the 1980s right in the midst of the violence and drug mafia. This is Colombia in its darkest time, so the way it’s depicted isn’t what Colombians would want to be thought of today, but there is truth in these pages.

Bolivar: American Liberator – Marie Arana: If you’ve spent any time in Latin American, then you’ll have seen streets, plazas, parks and buildings named after this famous conqueror and revolutionary hero. Arana explores Bolívar’s legacy in great detail in this book and it’s definitely worth reading if you’d like to learn more about Simon Bolívar and why he’s so popular in Central & South America.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Colombia?

Any Time.

The great thing about backpacking Colombia is that you can pretty much visit any time of the year. We travelled to Colombia during the some of the rainiest months of November & December and while we did get a fair amount of rainfall, it didn’t usually last for more than a couple of hours (except when we got soaked for 7 hours straight on the Ciudad Perdida trek!).

Colombia’s Amazonian climate means that it can be rainy all year round, but generally the driest months are between December to February. Keep in mind that peak season falls around Christmas and New Year’s (and again around Easter). During these times hotel prices go up considerably and many tours and activities can also be booked up.

Low-Season is technically just in October & November when flash floods can sometimes wash out roads and the Ciudad Perdida trek becomes even more difficult. This is also a good time for budget travellers however as many hotels offer discounts in these months.

Another good time to visit (possibly the best) would be shoulder season between March and September, but if you’re planning to visit Bogotá, Medellín or Cali during this time, it’s worth noting that they suffer a secondary rainy season in April and May.

If you love whale-watching, July to October is the best time to spot these giants on the Pacific Coast.

Cartagena gets mostly sunshine all the way through April, but starts to see some pretty heavy rainfall in May.

Overall Rating

Colombia has so much to offer that you could travel here for a year and still not see it all. With everything from mountains and waterfalls to lost ruins and Spanish architecture, this is definitely one of the most diverse travel destinations on Earth.

Not only is Colombia a great backpacking destination, but with digital nomad and expat havens like Medellín and Cartagena, we could definitely see ourselves living here (preferably in the latter).

The country is easy to travel, becoming increasingly safe and offers endless fun and adventure for travellers. We will definitely be back one day.

GOAT NOTE: Rating a country is completely subject to one’s own opinion, so any rating system should be taken with a grain of salt. Travel is personal and your experience will differ from ours. The star rating above is based solely on our personal experience and in no way attempts to evaluate Colombia as a whole.

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alorconsulting · 4 years

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It’s a big beautiful, evolving world and nothing thrills us more than being somewhere for the first time together. Why, oh why, can’t magic carpets or teleporters really exist? Delta, do you need a spokes-couple? No… just saying, have passport, will travel.

Seeing as we’re both pursuing artistic fields and as my Mom puts it “honey, I made you smart not rich” we often travel thrifty, very thrifty.

Five Tips to Save on Travel Meals

1. Pop Your Cork in Private

When you buy wine at a restaurant you’re paying a hefty markup of around 3 times what you pay in a wine store. If you figure your overpaying by at least $20 – $30 a bottle and you multiply that by each dinner on your trip… we’re talking about saving enough in one week to add another night to your trip.

What are you going to do, skip a romantic glass of red while you’re on vacation… not us! We just hold on to that moment till we’re back in the privacy and comfort of our room. Siri is surprisingly helpful when you ask “Siri, where is the nearest wine store?” I also recommend packing shatter proof wine glasses like these from DuraClear, just in case your room provides nothing but paper coffee cups.

Lake Inle Balcony in Burma

Beer By the Hammock in Costa Rica

Miami Balcony Apéritif

Bello Toasts Cartagena

Rooftop Apéritif in Cartagena Colombia

2. Breakfast in Bed

Coffee in Costa Rica Hotel Room

Before I leave home, I make sure our breakfasts are taken care of. Coffee in the room plus homemade granola, breakfast bars or cookies that I bring with us generally do the trick to get out the door fast and fed.

“What! Crapy hotel coffee” you say. Well no, we bring that with us too. An AeroPress Coffee Maker is made of lightweight yet sturdy stuff that’s perfect for travel. At about $29, this little investment saves you from my Italian in-laws call dirty sock water (aka typical American drip coffee makers).

3. Flip Lunch and Dinner Around

As a couple prioritizing travel, we learned early on eating breakfast, lunch and dinner out, left us feeling ill from all the fat, salt and hefty tabs. For our financial and physical health we only eat out at most, one meal a day while traveling.

Crab Roll at Little Bird

If like us, fast food is simply not an option, I’m guessing you too have looked at a bill and thought, “Wow what did we just eat/drink?”

When in a great food city, full of restaurants you want you’ve read about, try going out for lunch as your biggest meal of the day. Restaurants are less crowded and the menu options are just, well cheaper.

Our Portland trip proved this theory true time and time again with lunch at Little Bird being my favorite example. Award winning food for a fraction of the price is served at lunch with no wait or reservation.

After a full day of exploring and a big lunch, we’re usually tired enough that the idea of relaxing with small snacks and some wine back in our AirBNB for dinner, somehow seems perfectly romantic. Plus those balcony or rooftop apéritifs, classic.

4. Book AirBNB‘s With Kitchens

If you haven’t tried it yet, I encourage you to go for it. Staying in a place with even a few minimal cooking options, which an overwhelming number of AirBNB’s do have, you can save a bundle over a week.

Just think how much you can spend on breakfast, lunch and dinner out in one day $100 – $150 easy if you add any beer or wine to your bills. That’s a lot of groceries! I say, get to know the food scene like a local by visiting cheese shops, bakeries, wine shops and yes even the local Whole Foods.

Bainbridge Island Balcony View

Bainbridge Balcony Apéritif

Petaluma AirBNB in Room Dinner

Cape May Balcony Meal

5. Shuck it Yourself: Get Seafood to Go

Is it just us, or when you’re traveling does the indulgence of a good seafood meal call to you too? On really good fresh seafood restaurants, there is usually a really big markup. Craving Lobster, ask a dockside market if they will steam it for you. Chances are good, like in Martha’s Vineyard the answer is yes. They will steam, crack and even hand over your lobster, caught that day, with drawn butter. Then it’s just up to you to find that perfect rock on the beach and bring your bottle of wine with you.

If you ever find yourself in Wine Country in California and have enough time to swing into Tomales Bay, which I highly recommend, chances are you’re going to start thinking about oysters for lunch.

You COULD wait for an hour or two to score a table at the amazing Hog Island Oyster Company which really is always a great idea, totally worth it. But at $30 for a dozen oysters… plus, you know once you’re there, you really should try the famed BBQ Oysters ($13 for 4) plus 2 beers and your lunch just ran you over $60 after tip.

Again, totally worth it, but if you’re on a budget a better idea, get the same exact oysters for about $1 each at Hog Island to go counter. Skip the wait, grab your bag of bivalves and go to a bayside cliff all your own. You’ll get twice the oysters for half the price without the wait (or sunburn) and you get the added bonus of the fun of shucking them yourself in front of an amazing view. It’s what the locals do, I’ve seen the remnants of many burned out makeshift BBQ oyster pits beside slurped out shells all over the bay.

Lobster Al Fresco

Martha’s Vineyard Lobster Al Fresco Spot

Matha’s Vineyard Lobster Shack

Fishing Docks of Martha’s Vineyard

Hog Island Oyster Company in Tomales Bay

Tomales Bay Picnic Spot

There are plenty of other ways to save on travel but when it comes to meals, these are the five tricks that saved us the most. Cooking meals to save money on vacation is certainly not a new idea. I’m predicting between American’s growing interest in what goes into the food they eat and the rise in AirBNB’s the retro concept of cooking on vacation will make a comeback. I say Cheers to that!

5 Cheap Travel Tips: Saving on Meals It’s a big beautiful, evolving world and nothing thrills us more than being somewhere for the first time together.

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tamboradventure · 5 years

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How to Visit the Seychelles on a Budget

Posted: 8/1/2019 | August 1st, 2019

In this guest post, Ellie Hopgood from Endlessly Restless offers some handy tips on how you can visit the Seychelles on a budget! This is a destination I’ve always dreamed of visiting so I was excited to have her write some tips for the country! It’s always viewed as one of the most expensive in the world but, as this post shows, it’s possible to visit on a budget!

The Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands off the east coast of Africa, are known for being extremely beautiful — and extremely expensive. The pristine turquoise water and white-sand beaches come with a hefty price tag.

If you want to drop serious money on a holiday, the Seychelles definitely have plenty of places perfect for an eye-wateringly expensive trip, with high-end rooms at the Madame Zabre Spa Resort on Desroches Island going for almost $15,000 USD per night, as well as a plethora of rooms available in the $500-$1,000-per-night range. There are even whole islands commandeered by one resort, such as Cerf Island, which consists solely of the 24 villas that make up the aptly named Cerf Island Resort.

But even though fancy resorts like that were way out of my budget, I was determined to visit these islands — and do so frugally, with a backpacker’s budget in mind.

After spotting an obscenely cheap and convenient flight deal — and desperate to get out there and explore these beautiful islands — I booked round-trip flights from London without much research (though I don’t necessarily recommend this approach to travel planning).

I typically travel in Europe (often in Eastern Europe), so my idea of what constitutes a cheap trip might be distorted. Paying over $15 for my share of a night’s accommodation pains me. So my eyes widened when I saw the average cost in the Seychelles. But the flights were booked, so I had no choice but to figure out how to see the islands on a budget. I set to work, reading blogs and forums furiously, but there was very limited information available.

After securing some affordable accommodation, I braced myself for a painfully expensive trip — but in the end, to my surprise, it was so much easier to be budget-conscious than I imagined.

Were the Seychelles the cheapest destination? No.

But, I learned, they don’t have to be prohibitively expensive either.

So, how do you save money in the Seychelles?

Here’s how you can take an affordable trip to paradise:

1. Find cheap flights (they do exist!)

We found round-trip flights from London with British Airways for just over $600, a deal so good that it sparked the whole trip. I always use Skyscanner, as that’s where I reliably find the best flight deals. As always, you’ll typically find cheaper flights if you travel in shoulder season; are flexible with exact dates, times, and layovers; and avoid school vacation periods. Some tips on how to save on your flight:

Look at deal websites – Deal websites like Holiday Pirates, Scott’s Cheap Flights, and The Flight Deal often have great last minute fares and package deals to the islands.

Go to Skyscanner and Momondo – Compare prices and see if there are any budget carriers flying the route.

Be flexible with your dates – Airline ticket prices vary depending on the day of the week, time of year, and upcoming holidays. Moreover, it’s always cheaper to fly during the middle of the week than on a weekend, because most people travel on the weekends and airlines hike their prices then. If you zig when others zag, you are going to find better deals.

Travel hack – This is the best way to get cheap flights..because it gives you free flights. Airline rewards programs are a great way to get free flights, free upgrades, and free companion tickets. Points = free flights. Through credit card sign up bonuses, everyday spending, contests, online promotions, bonus points, and so much more, you can easily gain hundreds of thousands of points per year without ever spending extra money! To learn how to do this, check out this post!

For more tips on how to find a cheap flight, check out this post!

2. Stick to cheap guesthouses (that serve breakfast)

The best thing to do is to go onto your favorite budget accommodation site and put in the island you plan to stay on. That should show you a selection of accommodations so you can choose something in your price range.

To keep costs even lower, try to stay somewhere that offers self-catering facilities or that serves breakfast. Self-catering allows you to save by preparing your own meals, while an included breakfast takes care of a third of your meals and lets you fill up on delicious fruit, toast, yogurt, and eggs that will keep you going for hours. You can also take a few snacks from breakfast, like rolls or bananas, for later in the day when you need a boost of energy. All the places we stayed made clear in their Airbnb profile whether a kitchen was available or if breakfast was included, though you could also email and ask.

There is also a small Couchsurfing community in the Seychelles, with most of the hosts based on Mahé. Nothing is cheaper than free — so if you are fond of couch surfing and happy to stay on the main island, this might be a good option.

3. Eat take-out

Eating out in restaurants in the Seychelles is painfully pricey for fairly average food. A simple bowl of tomato pasta can easily run you $20 USD, while a three-course meal with alcohol will set you back $70–80 USD per person.

However, the Seychelles is also full of places to get take-out, small establishments, and mobile food vans all over the islands, directly alongside main roads or signposted clearly, serving up local dishes for incredibly low prices. These are where many of the locals eat dinner, along with visitors who are looking for delicious and cheap eats.

For only $3–5 USD, you can buy two main courses with a generous serving of rice and salad. These meals tend to be fresh, Seychellois dishes that change every day, typically curries made with fish, chicken, beef, or vegetables, served with rice and salad. There are also often Chinese-takeout-type dishes like fried noodles and rice.

My favorite find was Mi Mum’s on La Digue, which served the most delicious chicken “zye zye” curry with rice and salad for the unbeatable price of $4 USD.

4. Take the bus

On both Praslin and Mahé, you buy a flat-rate ticket as you get on and travel as far as you need to, whether that is one stop or ten. On Praslin, a bus ticket costs 7 SCR (50 US cents) while tickets are 6 SCR (45 US cents) on Mahé. The buses come infrequently, so it is worth consulting the timetable. I was given a Praslin timetable at my accommodation (though you can also find it online), and you can download Mahé’s extensive schedule here.

La Digue has very few cars and no buses, so walking and biking are the best options, which is also true for all of the smaller islands.

5. Stick to beach-hopping

You can enjoy the pristine white sand and blue water; watch the birds, bats, and tortoises move around the island; and explore the amazing undersea wildlife straight from the beach — and it won’t cost you a dime.

My favorite free beaches are Anse Coco on La Digue, Anse Lazio on Praslin, and Beau Vallon on Mahé.

One big exception to the free beaches rule is that Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue, which is one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, charges you for entry. The cost is 100 SCR ($7 USD) for a single entry, so go when you have time to spend the whole afternoon (or day!) enjoying the beach and its unusual rock formations. If you want to avoid the charge, then you can swim or walk through the ocean from just outside the entrance to the park and enter the beach that way. However, you’ll have to swim back out, as park rangers often check your ticket as you leave!

6. Bring enough sunscreen!

An easy way to save a few bucks is to bring more sunscreen than you think you’ll need. Sunscreen is very expensive ($15 USD for a small bottle) but also very necessary, given the blazing equatorial sun that can burn skin in minutes. I was woefully underprepared for the amount of sunscreen I would need, so much so that within two days I had to shell out a small fortune for a big enough bottle to get me through the rest of the trip. If you can avoid buying this necessary item on the islands, then do.

7. Move slowly

To get between the islands, you can fly or take a ferry. Neither way is particularly cheap. A return flight from Mahé to Praslin (which only takes about 15 minutes!) will likely cost $150–200 USD. Ferries are marginally cheaper: about $60 USD each way between Mahé and Praslin and around $20 USD each way between Praslin and La Digue.

There is only one ferry provider serving each of the main routes between the three major islands, making you a captive audience for their high prices. So unless you’re Michael Phelps, you’re stuck paying whatever Cat Cocos (between Mahé and Praslin) and Cat Rose (between Praslin and La Digue) charge for the tickets. The less you travel between the islands, the cheaper your total transport bill will stay.

8. Minimize cash withdrawals (and use the right ATMs)

However, a simpler solution than opening a new checking account is to be vigilant about which ATM you use. Barclays ATMs levy the withdrawal charge, while MCB ATMs tend to have no fee; a full list of MCB ATMs can be found here.

ATMs will only give you rupees, though most prices are quoted in euros. You can bring euros with you or change them at the airport and banks for no charge. The Seychelles are largely cash-only, so figuring out how to get cash without incurring charges is important.

9. Drink the tap water (or at least bring a bottle with a filter)

While most online information says that the water in the Seychelles is not safe to drink, I quickly started drinking the tap water and was completely fine. Given the extreme heat and humidity, you will need to drink a lot of water, which adds up fast if you have to keep buying plastic bottles (not to mention the environmental impact of that much disposable plastic).

If you don’t feel comfortable drinking the tap water, then I’d recommend bringing a bottle with a built-in filter or buying a SteriPEN or Lifestraw. Not constantly buying bottled water will help keep both your costs low and the environment clean.

10. Bring your own mask and snorkel

***

By following the above advice, it should be possible to take a trip to the Seychelles that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg (maybe just a hand). If you stay in small guesthouses that serve breakfast, eat takeout for most of your meals, spend most of your time exploring the beaches, and hunt for a good flight deal, you’ll spend between $120–140 USD per day (less if you are traveling with someone and can split accommodation costs), though it’s also good to leave some wiggle room for putting money in the hands of any Seychellois guides or vendors who really make a difference to your trip.

If you are willing to shell out more, then the sky’s the limit, but if splurging, I would recommend a guided tour through the jungle (it’s typically not safe to venture out alone) or diving, as the Seychelles are home to some world-famous dive sites. A whole day’s guided hike, including lunch and entrance to world-famous beach Anse Source d’Argent, costs about $70 USD, and each dive with Octopus Dive Centre was around $60 USD (less if you have your own equipment). I did both of these activities and they were completely worth it.

I firmly believe that the Seychelles is one of the world’s most beautiful places and should be on the bucket list of any avid traveler. And, hopefully, these budget tips will allow you to visit the Seychelles without breaking the bank!

Ellie Hopgood is an investment writer in London, covering topics in economics, politics and global finance. She writes about travel, politics and photography on her blog Endlessly Restless. She spends a borderline unhealthy amount of time editing photos and checking the cost of flights to places she has no immediate intention to visit. You can find her on Twitter (@elliemhopgood). P.S. – Did you know I wrote a new book? It’s called “Ten Years a Nomad” and it’s all about the lessons I’ve learned from a life of travel. It features tons of stories and misadventures I’ve never told on this blog as well! Click here to learn more and grab your copy today! (I’m doing a book tour too! I’ll be in Austin, Houston, Denver, and San Diego next week!)

Book Your Trip to the Seychelles: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting the Seychelles? Check out my in-depth destination guide to the Seychelles with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

The post How to Visit the Seychelles on a Budget appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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businessliveme · 5 years

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Five Backdoor Hacks to Win Elite Status at Hotels and Airlines

(Bloomberg) – First-class and suite upgrades. Club-lounge entry. Access to priority services. The perks of elite status are harder and harder to come by as airlines and hotels continue to evolve their loyalty programs.

Many airlines have instituted both flight and spending requirements that can annually top 125,000 miles and $15,000 in airfare purchases. Likewise, several major hotel loyalty programs have implemented more stringent stay requirements to reach the highest strata of status, thinning the ranks of elites even further.

However, just because it seems more difficult does not mean it actually is. In fact, it might be easier than ever to achieve a lofty level of status, thanks to unique partnerships among airlines, hotels, and credit cards—and knowledge of the right strategies to use them to advantage. Here’s how.

Tactic: Airline-Hotel Alliances

Frequent travelers can leverage elite status they already earn with a hotel or airline into elite status with its partner, all with little or no additional effort.

One of the newest of these affiliations is between American Airlines and Hyatt. Now travelers who have elite status with either the airline or the hotel can earn frequent-flier miles and hotel points on both flights and stays.

“As we talked to our elite members in particular, the ability to earn points when flying and miles when staying, in addition to the respective program benefits, was something that we heard loud and clear,” says Amy Weinberg, World of Hyatt senior vice president. “The new partnership is a way to offer more rewards throughout the travel journey.”

Hyatt elites at the mid- and top-range Explorist and Globalist levels are also being offered 90-day grace periods of American Airlines AAdvantage elite status, plus the chance to extend this status through January 2021 by completing “challenges.” These deals involve flying a certain number of miles or segments and spending a predetermined amount of money on airfare within 90 days, rather than having to complete the normal requirements over the course of a calendar year.

AAdvantage’s invitation-only ConciergeKey elites are being offered outright Globalist Hyatt status, which comes with benefits such as free breakfast during stays, club-lounge access, points bonuses, and dedicated customer service. AAdvantage elites at other levels have been extended trial periods of Hyatt status and offers to earn ongoing status, based on stay activity within a 90-day period.

RewardsPlus is a similar link-up between Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus. The hotel program’s Titanium and Ambassador elites receive automatic United Premier Silver status, the airline’s lowest level, which is usually achieved by flying 25,000 miles or 30 segments and spending $3,000 on airfare in a year; perks include free checked bags, seven miles per dollar earned on airfare instead of the normal five, priority service at the airport, and access to Economy Plus seating at check-in. United elites with Premier Gold status or higher, meanwhile, enjoy complimentary Marriot Gold elite status. That usually requires staying 25 nights in a year, and includes such benefits as a decent shot at room upgrades and check-in points bonuses.

Tactic: Automatic Status With a Hotel Credit Card

These days, most hotel credit cards grant at least a basic level of elite status to those who simply carry a specific product in their wallets.

For example, instead of having to stay 10 nights or more each year, folks with the World of Hyatt credit card ($95 annual fee) receive entry-level Discoverist status in that program. The IHG Rewards Club Premier credit card ($89 annual fee) confers mid-tier Platinum status without the need to stay 40 nights in IHG properties each year.

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card from Chase ($95 annual fee) and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant from American Express ($450 annual fee) both include automatic Gold status. Those with the Brilliant version can also climb up to Platinum status (normally achieved by hitting 50-plus nights each year) by spending $75,000 or more on the card in a calendar year.

With the launch of a new range of credit cards in 2018, Hilton even began offering its top-tier Diamond status as a benefit of the $450-per-year Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. It’s the only hotel credit card at the moment to offer top-tier status automatically. However, folks with the Hilton Honors American Express Ascend, whose annual fee is a mere $95, can spend their way up from automatic gold status to diamond by making $40,000 or more in purchases in a calendar year. Diamond status usually requires 30 stays or 60 nights a year and confers perks such as a 100% earning bonus on Hilton purchases (for 20 points per dollar vs. the normal 10), complimentary breakfast at all hotels, executive lounge access, and the chance to give elite status to another Hilton Honors member.

Tactic: Spending Bonuses With an Airline Credit Card

When it comes to airlines, the credit-card elite-status formula depends more on spending.

For example, Delta fields two cards that allow consumers to earn Medallion-Qualification Miles (MQMs), which count toward elite status, through both sign-up bonuses and everyday spending. The Platinum Delta SkyMiles American Express card ($195 annual fee) has offered as many as 10,000 MQMs, along with SkyMiles (miles you can use for award tickets), as part of its sign-up bonus. Cardholders can rack up an additional 20,000 MQMs by spending $50,000 on the card in a calendar year. The relatively more premium Delta Reserve card ($450 annual fee), which gets cardholders into Delta Sky Clubs when flying the airline, has offered sign-up bonuses that include up to 10,000 MQMs, along with bonus SkyMiles. Cardholders can earn as many as an additional 30,000 MQMs by spending up to $60,000 in a calendar year.

The Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard ($450 annual fee) includes perks such as Admirals Club membership for lounge access at the airport. However, its most valuable benefit, for some, might be the opportunity to earn 10,000 elite-qualifying miles after spending $40,000 in purchases each year—just the bump certain fliers need to hit the next level of status.

JetBlue Plus cardholders ($99 annual fee), meanwhile, can attain the airline’s Mosaic status for a year after they spend at least $50,000 on purchases annually. Mosaic status typically requires earning 15,000 flight points (equivalent to spending $5,000 on airfare), or flying 30 segments and earning 12,000 flight points within a calendar year. Mosaic benefits include waived change and cancellation fees, additional bonus points for airfare purchases, priority treatment at the airport, and the opportunity to redeem points for Even More Space seats at a discount.

Tactic: Unbranded Card Programs

Apart from airline or hotel-specific credit cards, the product with perhaps the most lucrative elite-status potential is the Platinum Card from American Express. Cardmembers can enroll for automatic Gold status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. That makes the Platinum Card an especially attractive prospect for premium travelers (its annual fee is $550, after all) who want to split their loyalty between two of the biggest chains in the world, without having to commit to one program or the other.

The FoundersCard, meanwhile, is a membership club with around 30,000 members, rather than a credit card. Designed for entrepreneurs who travel frequently, its benefits evolve over the course of each year and have included Hilton Honors Gold status, Caesars Total Rewards Diamond status, and a trial period of Marriott Gold status in the past, as well as outright Silver status with Cathay Pacific. Joining up costs $95, and the annual membership fee is $595, though discounts are easy to find online or through individual member referrals. Further benefits may include deals on certain airline partners such as British Airways and JetBlue, as well as on rentals from Silvercar and purchases at AT&T Wireless and UPS.

Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Tactic: Tap Your Corporate Travel Department

Just as you earn frequent-flier miles when on a business trip, businesses can also earn different types of points, based on spending with American Airlines, Delta, and United—points that can be redeemed for elite status, club passes, award flights, and upgrades for employees.

With American Airlines’ Business Extra program, for example, companies can redeem 3,200 points (equivalent to spending $16,000 on airfares) to confer AAdvantage Gold status on an employee. Delta Silver Medallion status requires 120,000 Delta SkyBonus points (equivalent to spending more than $4,000), depending on fares).

Hotel chains also reward travel planners who book meetings at their properties. For instance, through Hyatt’s Meeting & Events program, members who book 3, 10, or 20 meetings can earn Discoverist, Explorist, or Globalist status, respectively. With IHG Business Rewards, bookers can earn three points per dollar spent on accommodations, meetings, and events for participants. That means they can earn the program’s top-level Spire Elite status by spending just $25,000 on events.

Corporate travel planners and departments often do sufficient business with specific airlines and hotels that they are given complimentary elite statuses to bestow upon company employees. While these are typically reserved for senior executives or frequent travelers, employees can always check with company travel departments to determine whether they might be able to claim an unassigned status.

The post Five Backdoor Hacks to Win Elite Status at Hotels and Airlines appeared first on Businessliveme.com.

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safariporini-blog · 5 years

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Tanzania Travel Tips

Travel Tips

Facts About Tanzania

Time Zone GMT + 3 Currency Primary: currency is called “Tanzanian Shilling” abbreviated “TZS”, which is divided into 100 Cents. Secondary: US Dollar Tanzania to other major currency exchange rates Official languages Kiswahili and English Even though Swahili is the official language in Tanzania, English is widely spoken and understood. Electricity 220 – 240 V AC, 50 Hz Religion Predominantly Christianity and Islam International Dialing code + 255 Driving System Left drive

Safari Duration

Our safaris duration take about 1 to several days, the number of days depends on the selected itinerary weather a long or short program. Most of our safari packages are custom made to reflect the actual needs of the customer. We therefore do not have specific date of travel or accommodation since this are made during program design basing on traveler requirements.

Guides and Languages

We use well and trained guides with more than 10 years experience in tourism operation in Tanzania. Most of them speak English, Spanish, French Italian and German (Other languages translation need advance request).

Hotels and Lodges

In town like Arusha and Moshi prices are normally fixed ranging from US$ 20 (budget accommodations) to more than 200 (Luxury Accommodations) In most national parks prices varies. Always accommodation prices are higher in high season and low in low season. The actual rate will be provided to client on request A good selection of accommodation, ranging from local budget guesthouses to world-class business and boutique hotels, is available in regularly visited urban centres such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar, but hotels in less popular towns tend not to meet international standards. Relatively affordable camping facilities are available in most parks and reserves.

Food and Drink

On safari, all meals are usually taken at your lodge or camp, and standards range from adequate to excellent. Most lodges offer a daily set menu, so it’s advisable to specify in advance if you are vegetarian or have other specific dietary requirements. Most lodges offer the option of a packed breakfast and/or lunch box, which are variable in standard, but do allow you to eat on the trot rather than having to base game viewing hours around meal time. In larger towns such as Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Morogoro, Arusha and Moshi, several bespoke restaurants offer high quality international cuisine, with Indian eateries being particularly well represented. Local staples include a stiff maize porridge called ugali or cooked plantain dish called matoke or batoke, both of which are typically served with a bland stews made with chicken, beef, mutton or beans. Excellent seafood is available along the coast. The usual bottled soft drinks (known locally as sodas) are available. Around ten different lager beers are bottled locally, of which Castle, Kilimanjaro and Serengeti seem to be the most popular. South African wines are widely available at lodges and hotels, and they are generally of a high standard and reasonably priced by international standards.

Different Seasons in Northern Tanzania

Dry Season June to February Recommended for general Safaris Wet Season March to May Recommended for special safaris like walking, cultural hike and related tours that does not require travelling to mountains or difficult drive areas. Note: The estimate above may vary according to year on question. The precise season can be obtained from Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) Website: www.meteo.go.tz

Health and Safety

There are no mandatory vaccinations required for entry to Tanzania unless you are coming from an area infected with Yellow Fever, in which case a Certificate of Inoculation against Yellow Fever will be required.

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance which includes curtailment and cancellation coverage as well as international medical insurance upon confirmation of your booking.

Tipping

Tipping the guide and cook (if camping) after your journey is normally part of the experience in Tanzania and other parts of east Africa, particularly as they are trying very hard to make your trip memorable one. For mountain climbing guests are highly advice to provide tips after the climb and after all luggage are loaded to the safari vehicle at the end.

Entry Requirements

A valid passport is mandatory, and it shouldn’t expire within six months of your intended date of departure from Tanzania. Visas are required by most visitors and cost US$30-60, depending on your nationality. They can be obtained on arrival at any international airport or land border – a straightforward procedure that requires no photographs, nor any other documentation aside from a passport. A standard tourist visa is normally valid for three months after arrival and allows for multiple entries to Tanzania from neighboring Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, but not from other countries. For those who prefer to arrange a visa in advance, Tanzanian embassies or high commissions exist in USA, Britain, Germany, France, Canada, Belgium, China, CIS, India, Japan, Netherlands, Sweden, and other countries

Getting There

There are three international airports. Dar es Salaam is used by most international airlines, and is convenient for business travelers or those exploring the southern safari circuit. The mainland alternative is Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), which lies midway between Moshi and Arusha and is well placed as a springboard for safaris to the Serengeti and other northern reserves. Some international flights land at Zanzibar. Air Tanzania, British Airways, Gulf Air, KLM, Lufthansa and Swissair all fly to Tanzania from Europe, while African airlines servicing Tanzania include EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and South African Airways. Once in Tanzania, a good network of domestic flights connects Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, as well as other less visited towns. Private airlines also run scheduled flights connecting to most parts of the country, including Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia, Serengeti (Grumeti and Seronera), Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Mwanza, Rubondo Island, Kigoma, Selous, Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale. Many tourists land at Nairobi (Kenya) and then fly on to Arusha with any of several regional operators. Several safe and affordable shuttle bus services connect the two cities via Namanga border post, departing at around 08.00 and 14.00 daily and taking four hours in either direction.

What to Pack

Carry at least one change of shirt and underwear for every day you will be on safari, as it can be tedious to organize laundry en route. Dusty conditions practically enforce a daily change of clothes, so it can be a good idea to set aside one or two shirts for evening use only. Shorts and a tee-shirt are perfectly adequate daytime wear on safari, but long trousers and warmer clothing might be required at night, to protect against cold and against mosquitoes. Socks and underwear should be made from natural fabrics. Anybody who intends to climb Kilimanjaro should seek specialist advice about clothing from their operator. The predominantly Islamic inhabitants of the coast and offshore islands are used to tourists and are reasonably tolerant of Western dress codes. Nevertheless, it is still advisable to err on the side of modesty, especially in urban settings and inhabited areas. Binoculars are essential to watch distant wildlife in the game reserves. For most purposes, 7×21 compact binoculars will be fine, but birdwatchers will find a 10x magnification more useful, and should definitely carry a good field guide. If you wear contact lenses, bring all the fluids you need, possibly a pair of glasses as a fallback – many safari goers find the combination of sun, dust and dryness irritates their eyes. Cash, travelers’ cheques, credit cards, passport and other important documentation are best carried in a money belt that can be hidden beneath your clothing. This should be made of cotton or another natural fabric, and the contents could be wrapped in plastic to protect it against sweat. Other useful items include a torch, a penknife, a compact alarm clock and strong mosquito repellent.

Photo Taking

Wildlife photography will be very frustrating without a reasonably big lens, ideally 300mm or larger. Fixed fast lenses offer the best quality but are costly and cumbersome, so most people settle for a zoom, which allows you to play with composition without changing lenses. Tele-converters are a cheap and compact way to increase magnification, but incur a loss of quality. A solid beanbag, which you can make yourself very cheaply, will help avoid blurred images when photographing wildlife from a vehicle. Another option is a clamp with a tripod head screwed on. Plan ahead when it comes to charging digital camera batteries and storage devices. Most hotels/lodges have charging points, but it’s best to enquire in advance. When camping you might have to rely on charging from the car battery. Either way, make sure you have all the chargers, cables, converters with you, as well as sufficient memory space to store your photos. Tanzanians generally find it unacceptable to be photographed without permission, and many people will expect a donation before they agree to be snapped. Don’t try to sneak photographs as you might get yourself into trouble, especially with the Maasai, who are very touchy about this.

Public Holidays

In addition to Good Friday, Easter Monday, Idd-ul-Fitr, Islamic New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday, which fall on different dates every year, the following public holidays are taken in Tanzania: January 1 New Year’s Day January 12 Zanzibar Revolution Day March/April Esther holiday April 26 Union Day (anniversary of union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar May 1 International Workers’ Day October 14 Nyerere Memorial Day December 9 Independence Day December 25 Christmas Day December 26 Boxing Day *Note: There are other three Islamic public holidays which are also observed

Communications

Internet cafés are prolific in larger towns such as Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Arusha, Mwanza and Moshi, and browsing is faster and more affordable than in most African countries, though it may seem rather ponderous to Europeans used to ultra-fast broadband. Internet access is available in some areas of the national parks through mobile broadband offered by VodaCom, TIGO, AirTel and TTCL Hence you must buy a temporary simcard between the four ISPs. Local guidance is vital for this case International phone calls can be made through these companies’ services VodaCom, AirTel Halotel TIGO, TTCL and Zantel Note that, while TTCL is Government owned other are privately owned While Zantel main operations are in Zanzibar, others are in Tanzania Mainland. You will be needed to buy a local SIM card and use the local pay-as-you-go service, which is very cheap for local and international calls and text messages.

Tanzanian Calling Codes

VodaCom 075 AirTel 078 Halotel 062 TIGO 071 TTCL 073 Zantel 077

Craft Shopping

Popular items include Makonde carvings, Tingatinga paintings, batiks, musical instruments, wooden spoons, and various small soapstone and malachite carvings. The colourful vitenge (the singular of this is kitenge) worn by most Tanzanian women can be picked up cheaply at any market in the country. The curio shops near the clock tower in Arusha are the best place to shop for curios, offering decent quality at competitive prices, bur a good selection is also available on Zanzibar and in many upmarket hotel shops. Prices in shops are fixed, but those offered at stalls are highly negotiable. Unless you are good at bargaining, you may well end up paying more at a stall than you would in a shop!

Etiquette

Formal greetings are taken seriously; even if you speak no Swahili it is polite to greet somebody with a smiling ‘jambo’ or ‘habari’ before you enter into conversation. It is considered poor taste for men and women to display open affection, for instance by holding hands in public, or kissing or embracing would be seriously offensive. Oddly, it is quite normal for friends of the same sex to walk around hand-in-hand. In Islamic societies, it is considered offensive for a woman to expose her knees or shoulders, a custom that ought to be taken on board by female travellers, especially on parts of the coast where tourists remain a relative novelty. It is customary to tip your guide at the end of a safari and or a Kilimanjaro climb, as well as any cook or porter that accompanies you. A figure of roughly US$5-10 per day is accepted as the benchmark, though it is advisable to check this in advance with your safari company. In restaurants, a tip of anything from 5-15% would be acceptable, depending on the circumstances.

Crime

Crime levels are relatively low, though it’s wise not to walk around an unfamiliar town after dark – taxis are readily available. The risk of casual theft is greatest in bus stations and markets, where you should avoid carrying loose valuables in your pocket or daypack In any urban situation, try to avoid advertising your wealth in the form a dangling camera, expensive jewellery, handbag, or externally worn money-belt.

Health

The main concern is malaria. All visitors should take prophylactic drugs. It’s also strongly recommended to cover up in the evening, wear repellent, and sleep under a net or burn a coil to reduce the risk of bites. Tap water is suspect, but mineral water is widely available and reasonably priced

Transpiration

By Air From anywhere in the World The following companies are currently offering international scheduled flights to Tanzania Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Qatar Airways, Oman Air Emirates Airlines, KLM, Swiss Turkish Airlines From anywhere in Africa The following companies are currently offering international scheduled flights to Tanzania from other Africa countries. Kenya Airways, Fastjet, Precision Air Ethiopian Airlines Air Zimbabwe, Egyptair, Air Malawi, South African Airways, Mango Airlines. Domestic Flights These companies serve scheduled flights domestically Precision Air, Coastal Aviation Air Tanzania Fastjet Tanzania Air Excel Air Zara International As Salaam Air Auric Air Flightlink Regional Air Safari Plus Fly Safari Air Link Ltd Tropical Air ZanAir