Category — South America
Great Travel Deals: Upscale Puerto Rico Beachfront Getaway from $409!
Check out this vacation special from the CheapCaribbean.com that offers a 4-night stay in a 4-star Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa, a Wyndham Grand Resort with a roundtrip air travel for just $409 per person! The beachfront resort is located just a few minutes from the rainforest and on the top of the great package prize, it also grants the CheapCaribbean.com guests V.I.P. status that guarantees a 25% discount for a number of resort activities, which include golf, tennis, spa, tours, and more. The offer is valid for travel dates from September 9 through December 22; bookings have to be made by August 16. Note that the promo code (RIO100) must be used while booking in order for the discount to apply. Also, note that U.S. passports are not required to gain entry to Puerto Rico.
For more information, the list of departure cities, and terms and conditions that apply, visit http://vacations.travelzoo.com/caribbean-vacations/317040
August 9, 2007 1 Comment
Great Travel Deals: Upscale Punta Cana Vacation – 5 Nights & Travel for $434
Wait for the crowds to disappear and take advantage of a delightful late summer/early fall vacation at one of the best beaches in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. The Vacation TravelMart has announced an amazing deal that offers a Grand Oasis Punta Cana Hotel accommodation at only $56 per person, per night. Alternatively, a 5-night package that includes accommodation and air travel is available for $433.93 per person. The beach near the hotel is protected by a coral reef, and is an ideal spot for snorkeling, swimming and diving. Fishing with the Nautical Fishing Club, horseback riding, playing golf at the adjacent golf courses, or a casino visit is also available. This offer is valid from September 5 through October 31. Sample prices are based on a double occupancy and on Miami flight departures. For other departure destinations, additional information, and terms and conditions that apply, visit http://vacmart.com/ct/SelectR.cfm?HID=3027.
August 2, 2007 No Comments
Great Travel Deals: A Week Discovery Trip to Guatemala from $789
Don’t miss a wonderful opportunity to experience Guatemala! LatinEscapes.com has recently announced a great travel deal that offers a 7-day trip to Guatemala. The trip features a tour through the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, the volcanoes of the Guatemala highlands, the colonial city of Antigua, a volcano-surrounded lake Atitlan, as well as tour through a mountain town of Chihcicastenango. Rates begin at $789 (for Miami departures) and includes air fares, 4 nights in Antigua at Las Floras Hotel, 2 nights in Atitlan at Porta Hotel Del Lago, daily breakfast, guided tours, and transfers throughout the itinerary. Taxes and fees are not included. Flights are also available from New York ($794/person), Los Angeles ($879/person) and other cities. In order for this offer to apply, the travel needs to be scheduled for dates prior to December 10 and must be booked by August 31. Note that the rates are calculated per person and are based on a double occupancy and mid-week flight dates. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information, visit: http://www.latinescapes.com/promotions.asp?id=132#
July 31, 2007 No Comments
Dry Snowboarding
Picture this. You’re at the top of the mountain with the sun beating down on your face. You take a deep breath, pull down your visor, strap into your board and begin to plunge. The wind is at your back from the gravity ripping you down the sandy decline. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the popular sport of sandboarding. Its recognition has grown from curious snowboarders to the greater public, and as you will agree, sandboarding is a thrilling way to spend an afternoon. If you’re looking for a relaxing vacation involving spas and other calming treatments, this is not the sort of vacation you’re looking for. Sandboarding is an adrenaline rushing, sand flying, sweat pouring activity that will really get your heart pumping.
I’m sure you have a mental snapshot, but the extreme sport of sandboarding is almost identical to snowboarding except the landscape is a sandy dune rather than a snow filled peak. This sport was first introduced by the Egyptians and other similar cultures that slid down these dry peaks with wooden planks. It may seem like a newly discovered craze, but sandboarding is everywhere. Although there are several places to sandboard all over the globe ranging from Oregon to South Australia, one of the more popular locations is Cerro Blanco in Peru. This mountainous slope is the world’s tallest sand dune at 2078 meters high. Even though most dunes have unlimited trails, the one downside of these trails is the difference in the terrain. Like myself, adapting to the sandy slopes might take some time if you’re used to slick snowy slopes.
On the brighter side, one of the activity’s best characteristics is it’s a four seasoned sport, unlike its seasonal cousin, snowboarding. This makes it easier to book a trip that will conform around your schedule. Also, if you’re unable to travel to these lengths, search for a location nearest you. There are approximately twenty three sandboarding locations in the U.S., but sandboardinging dunes are most prominent in the states of California, Oregon, and Arizona. If you are looking for somewhere in particular, check out sandboard.com for the Sandboard Magazine and look under “locations”. If you’re interested in Cerro Blanco specifically, here is a helpful website: http://www.mysteryperu.com/eng/co_cerro_blanco.html.
Although this may seem like an expensive trip to most, there will actually be less wallet-digging. The financial misconception may have derived from extensive layers and equipment necessary for the avid snowboarder. Remember, these dunes are quite hot, so the less clothing and equipment, the less expensive. To tour (ride) this exceptional landscape for a duration of six hours, the price per person is only $30. They then will provide you with the sandboarding equipment required (sandboards, goggles, wax, etc.), making it less of a hassle. If you’re curious as to how much a board cost for the keen sandboarder, it ranges anywhere from $100 to over $350, a hundred or so less then a snowboard.
Now, when planning your exciting trip to Cerro Blanco or any dune for sandboarding, there are a number of things you may want to pack. This list includes: strong comfortable footwear, sunglasses for obvious reasons, a jacket for the early morning and night time, a hefty water bottle to quench your thirst, sun block, small snacks to keep yourself from starving, cameras for the perfect Kodak moment, and a small backpack to carry these items with you for your fast paced trip. All of these things will help make your trip a bit more comfortable and less worrisome.
Now, I understand that this may seem a little unconventional as a vacation, but think of it just as a different type of vacation. It is another way of distancing yourself from the repetitive, mundane office. Try the daring lifestyle of this extreme sport and get out of your comfort zone.
July 26, 2007 No Comments
Great Travel Deals: Visit Rio de Janeiro and Iguassu Falls for $799/person!
A great opportunity to visit Rio de Janeiro and Iguassu Falls presents itself a few days from now! TAM Vacations offer a special deal on a 6-day Iguassu Falls-Rio de Janeiro trip at fantastic rates beginning at $799 per person. The offer applies to travel dates from August 5 through December 9 and the price includes round trip economy class travel of TAM Brazilian daylight flight from Miami or New York, a 3-night accommodation with breakfast in the Lancaster Hotel in Rio including the transfer to and from the Rio airport, and a 2-night accommodation with breakfast in the Recanto Park hotel at the Iguassu Falls with transfer to and from the airport. Rates are calculated per person based on a double occupancy and don’t include airport taxes and fees, security fees and optional tours to the Argentinean side of the falls, the city of Rio de Janeiro, or to the Tropical Islands by Rio.
For more information, visit http://www.tamvacations.com/scripts/special-offer/classico-rio-de-janeiro-iguassu-falls/
July 25, 2007 No Comments
Oaxaca, Mexico: A city that celebrates death with life
Oaxaca, Mexico is closer to the shores of the Pacific Ocean than to the warm waters and white beaches of the Caribbean Sea. For this reason, if a beach vacation is what you are looking for, it can hardly be comparable to Mexico destinations such as Cancún or Cozumel. But if you are a fan of folk art, could admire hand-made crafts for hours, and you’d be interested in exploring the vibrant world of Mexico’s distinct contemporary art and the country’s ancient traditions, Oaxaca has a lot to offer.
Death is a real part of the Mexican culture, and Oaxaca is a city that celebrates the dead in ecstatic thrill of life. In almost every craft store, you will find art-pieces referencing death. Looking at tiny statues of skeletons placed next to vividly painted masks and wooden boxes, you get a grasp of how visions of contemporary artists fuse with subtle influences of ancient cultures.
The same thing could be said about many festivals and celebrations that Oaxaca is so well known for. The Night of the Radishes, celebrated on December 23, is probably the strangest of Oaxaca’s fiestas. On the night before Christmas, people from all over the valley meet at the zócalo, the main square, to present the largest of their homegrown radishes, which they have carved into any imaginable objects. The greatest local celebration is, however, the Day of the Dead. This Mexican equivalent to Halloween is celebrated on November 2 and represents an opportunity to actually mock the death by preparing lavish altars and dishes dedicated to the deceased and celebrating life. Oaxaca is a very popular place to celebrate Day of the Dead, so anyone considering visiting Oaxaca around this time should book accommodation in advance.
To me personally, Oaxaca is a perfect spot for a romantic vacation. Here, you can spend the day visiting galleries and city markets, and have a lunch in one of several restaurants at the main square. Later, you can stop by at the Centro Cultural Santo Domingo, where you’ll find a magnificent collection of gold and ancient jewelry retrieved from Monte Alban, a large pre-Columbian archeological site located about 5.6 miles west of Oaxaca City. And as the evening falls, you have a great opportunity to explore several great restaurants and bars of the Oaxaca City. Even if your budget does not allow you to stay in the luxurious Camino Real, you can still enjoy an afternoon cup of fine cappuccino in the hotel’s garden restaurant while listening to Mexican performers singing in the background. Another romantic spot might be the Hostal de La Noria, a beautifully restored colonial mansion with a very good indoor and outdoor restaurant, in which will the chef prepare some of the less complicated courses right in front of your eyes. But as for a quiet late evening for two, I recommend Casa Oaxaca – a hotel with an adjacent art gallery, a great restaurant serving delicious food and excellent wine, and a beautiful small bar, where the bartenders will prepare for you one of the smoothest margarita cocktails you’ve ever had. It is probably the best place to finish, or start, an evening.
July 24, 2007 No Comments
Lima, Peru: The Ultimate Paradox
Peru is quite an extraordinary country. The Cusco region offers quite an extensive first-hand experience of the Latin American poverty. And yet, Machu Picchu – the famed ruins of an ancient city that have become the most recognizable symbol the Inca Empire, is neighbored by the luxurious Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. Having a luxurious hotel where rates for a one night easily exceed $ 1.000 built right next to one of the greatest reminiscences of the Inca Empire, currently voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, is quite disturbing. For this reason, I found my stay in a small town called Ollantaytambo at the eastern end of the Sacred Valley. Although I was quick to discover that the ‘homemade’ mushroom soup served by the one of the Ollantaytambo hostel’s kitchen was an instant Maggi, my modest room had a direct access to a terrace that offered a wonderful view of ruins of a less-known old Inca city. Unlike Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo’s ruins are currently neighbored by run-down houses of the villagers.
Lima, Peru’s capital, was founded by a controversial chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro. While denounced for initiating heartless destruction of the Inca civilization, Pizarro is celebrated for bringing Christianity to the people of Peru. Colonial architecture is mixed with derelict buildings and flamboyant residences of the country’s few who share most of its wealth are rising into the horizon surrounded by ghetto-like images. Ever-present barbed wires encircling schools and private properties of the rich, constant honking of taxis, and bullet-proof police SUVs – all that felt quite uncomfortable at first. But I got used to it. What I found most distressing, however, were the countless crowds of children begging for money. Not just because a sight of kids deprived of decent shelter, food and education would be depressing in itself. More because it made me see how quickly you get used to that sight. For a few days, you are shocked and moved. Than, you become apathetic. And suddenly you realize that these small dirty hands pulling your trousers wherever you move genuinely annoy you.
If the aesthetic beauty of Lima is hard to appreciate, great museums, a sparkling nightlife and a notable cooking scene are the qualities that the city certainly has to offer. Along with the National Museum of Archeology, Anthropology and History, the Gold of Peru museum displaying the world’s most magnificent collection of ancient Peruvian art is an absolute must for anyone visiting the city. And so is the Miraflores District, in which tequila flows fast and bare-feet natives dance their troubles.
July 16, 2007 No Comments
Best Deals for the Best Scuba Dive Vacations! Dive Into the Best Currency Rates.
A weak US Dollar does not have to stand between you and your best scuba dive vacations! If corals, fish, and ship wrecks are your summer must-see, you probably already know about some of the best diving spots out there. But which ones are the best and the most affordable with the current exchange rates?
With the US dollar a lot weaker than this time last year, choosing a location with a poor currency exchange rates may pull quite a few extra bucks from your wallet. When looking for your scuba vacation, consider traveling to a country with a currency that weaker than United States dollar can considerably cut down your travel expenses. While Heron Island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, just as the Vanuatu scuba dive in South East Asia, lures the divers with thousands of species of fish and remarkable natural treasures, these destinations are not necessarily the cheapest.
To turn your scuba diving vacations into the best deal possible, watch out for the exchange rates. Here are the world’s 8 best scuba diving destinations where a weaker US dollar will not affect your budget plans:
1. Belize
The warm Caribbean waters of Belize are one of the most acclaimed scuba diving destinations. Here, you can swim alongside nurse sharks and stingrays in Shark Ray Alley, take a look at the fascinatingly diverse marine life while gliding through the Barrier Reef, or explore Belize’s famous Blue Hole, a perfectly circular limestone sinkhole more than 400 feet deep. Belize Dollar is fixed to the US dollar, the average USD to BZD exchange rate being 1:1.96.
2. Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
The islands of Turk’s and Caicos are a true divers’ paradise. Thanks to the government determination to protect its valuable natural environment, untouched reefs, dunes and drop-offs are awaiting under the water.
Although the US dollar being the Turks and Caicos currency saves you money on exchange rates, the cost of the diving tours skyrockets when the tourist season hits peak (mid-December to mid-April). Therefore, it’s best to plan your trip between April and July as the water gets unbearably hot afterwards.
3. Cayman Islands
Mid-December through mid-April is the peak tourist time in the Caymans, too. This spot often referred to as the best Caribbean diving site, is an ideal US-dollar destination thanks to its clear and warm waters.
4. Mozambique
Islands of Mozambique are totally undeveloped and a nature-lovers’ dream. Along with the reefs and clear waters, you can experience wonderful night diving and wreck explorations in the Marine National Park. The best months to visit are June, July and August. Mozambique’s currency being fixed to the US dollar, the USD to Mozambique’s Metical rate oscillates around 25544.1:1. Before you head to Mozambique’s irresistible waters though, check government travel advisories. Some places in the country are still affected by a long civil war and may suffer unrest.
5. Yap, Micronesia
Another place where you can benefit from avoiding exchange rate losses while planning your scuba dive vacations is Yap. This little island in Micronesia with the US dollar currency, but is certainly among the world’s brightest diving treasures. It is known for its incredibly diverse marine life, especially the mysterious and largest of all rays, the manta ray. It’s recommended to visit the island during the dry season between December and April.
6. Bonaire
The marine park of the Bonaire waters offers the divers a wonderful sight of an unspoiled underwater ecosystem. The best time to indulge into the diving pleasures in the Caribbean waters of Bonaire is between September and December, as the sea is the calmest at that time. Netherlands Antillean Gulden is fixed to the US dollar. Hence, exchange rate fluctuations will not affect your scuba dive vacations’ budget plans.
7. Hawaii
To avoid downsides of traveling while the US dollar is weak, staying within the country may be a reasonable strategy. Giant sea turtles, whales and sharks are redundant in the fertile volcanic ecosystem of the Hawaiian waters. Although not as clear as those of some sheltered islands, its waters offer a great scuba diving adventure thanks to the richness of Hawaii’s marine life.
8. Florida
Florida is the best scuba diving destination on the North American continent with countless scuba diving shops along the entire Gulf coast and Atlantic coast. While the Gulf coast usually outperforms the Atlantic Coast in visibility, the latter offers a wealth of reefs and shipwrecks. The convenience of and economy of Florida travel, alongside with the abundance of tropical fish, manatees, giant turtles and dolphins account for one of the best scuba diving vacations.
June 12, 2007 No Comments
Now That I’m in Buenos Aires, Where Do I Stay?
Once you arrive in Buenos Aires airport, you’re going to want to know where to stay and how to
get there. (Hopefully you have this planned out before departing.) If you aren’t fluent in Spanish, getting around may be a little difficult, although most of the airport employees speak decent english. The first step will be to exchange your money into Pesos. Don’t be fooled and exchange your money at the first currency exchange booth you see in the baggage claim area, as just beyond those doors will be a bank that will give you much more competitive rates. The bank’s rates can be more than 25% in your favor as opposed to the tourist trap that many travelers fall into. (To get up to date exchange rates prior to travelling, visit our homepage) These currency exchange booths are located everywhere throughout the city and can be tracked down by the large signs that read “Cambio”. Once you exchange your money, you’re ready to catch a cab to your hotel. The airport will offer several different transportation companies that will take tourists to their final destination. Make sure you use one of these airport services if this is your first time visiting as they are generally safer than trying to catch your own cab.
October 30, 2006 2 Comments
Tips for Traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, located on the southern end of South America. The city offers an amazing cultural experience with delicious food, historic monuments, and fashionable shopping, all for bargain prices. Four years of a recession has made the Argentian Peso become so devalued versus the US Dollar that any American visitor will feel like royalty with their purchasing power. The exchange rate is approximately 3 Pesos for every 1 Dollar. Just to give you an example, a glass of wine will run about 5 pesos and a top quality steak will be about 15-20 pesos!
October 26, 2006 1 Comment
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