Travel Answers

i am coming in to santiago (on the way back from Pucon) and will stay there 3 nights. will be alone and on a budget, but want to be in a central location/city center, from where one can walk around to local shopping centers, bars, etc. and with good metro connectivity to airport. Is Londres a good place to be ? request suggestions for nice, clean areas and possibly some decent budget hotels in those areas please ?
Thanks very much
Amitabh

Anybody got best idea for this trip? i used Licancabur transfers last week Friday and was left stranded in San Pedro at 20h30 with 2 small kids and no place to stay! trip seems easy enough but need reliable company to use. They also charge 80 000 Pesos for the great service>

Cheers
Carl

where to buy name brand international clothing and sports clothing

I have read on another site the funicular is not working. Also will there be any catholic masses here for Easter?

We will be arriving good Fri. For 1 week. Are their any masses scheduled during this time? Also is the funicular working?

Hi i will be traveling to Pucon to do rafting, climbing the volcano and the baths and then on to Puerto Montt. Does anyone know what the weather will be like or is right now? Day and night time please. Thank you.

We're 2 experienced trekkers planning to do the O circuit in mid April, bringing all our own gear and camping as much as possible. Are the free campsites open for use year round (or until end of April at least)?

Okay I've decided my next holiday is chile.i wanna spend about 6-12 months from around jan next yr.can anyone sell it to me?im already sold but I wanna hear some more!!!

Ta

Does anyone have info to transport to Arica from Calama, im due to arrive calama at 8pm, will i be able to get a bus to Arica around that time, if so which compnay?. Thanks.

Hi, Does anyone have any info on how to get to la paz from arica, is there still a train?. Thanks.

I'm planning to hike the W in Torre del Paine this September. However, reservations for the refugios are not possible through the 'Fantastico Sur' and 'Vertice' online sites. Are the refugios already booked up? Are there any other way to find vacancy? Thank you.

I'm looking forward to my trip to Rapa Nui next week. I'll be staying 7 days, flying in from Lima, Peru. I have a number of questions, and any advice would be appreciated. I hear there are now a couple of ATMs that take Visa Debit cards. Have others had success with them? Also, can you bring packaged food from Lima to EI--energy bars, instant coffee? Any stories about customs at Mataveri? I'd like to rent a horse (first with a guide and then on my own). Can anyone recommend a place/person? Also like to see the dance company Kari Kari. Any suggestions there? Thanks!

Hi all Does anyone know if there is daily buses from Iquique to Cusco?.

i need to know how do i get to bus from airport------- then bus to subway station to go to subway station BAQUEDANO.. first time to santiago so a detailed information will help--thanks duncan i will have bags.

I am doing the W circuit at the end of February. And found some information about trail closure time from CONAF. parquetorresdelpaine.cl/deta... Anyone knows what is trail closure time? Does it mean no trekking the trail during that time or no park ranger during that time on the trail? Here is trail closure for this trail: 12:00 hrs Campamento Italiano - Campamento Británico As I am planning to trek from Refugio Los Cuernos to Campamento Italiano, then leave my big backpack there then continue to French Valley, then return on the same day later to Campamento Italiano and head to Lodge Paine Grande. Is it ok to leave the pack there? Will the park ranger help to store the pack? Thanks alot.

Hi all, In a couple of weeks, my wife and I will be doing a multi-day trek in Torres del Paine. I have been researching into hike times very closely, and am very torn between doing the cicuit and the W. My question is for those that have done the entire circuit. Now if we get bad weather during the hike, and have to wait at John Gardner pass or something, we are going to have to skip Valle de Frances, and maye (although hope not) los Torres. Would those that have done the circuit say that these are the two best parts? i.e. if you could do the "W" OR a "short" circuit without those two legs, which would you choose? Our other option is to take the W easy, and say go to Valle del Silencio, do one of the other hikes in the park (laguna verde, laguna azul, Sarmiento etc.). Can anyone who has done any treks that are NOT in the circuit or the W comment on the quality of these? Are they worthwile, or just second to those views encountered in the circuit? Thanks in advance. Tom

After watching Bourdain's show ion Chile we started thinking... Santiago, yes, Valparaiso, yes. We loved the eco-lodge he visited but at around1800 per night for a double... that's out. What about Puerto Varas and the Llanquihue National Reserve? We're not hikers or backpackers. We like nice views, good food and local culture. Any information on PV would be appreciated.

Hi, My husband and I intend to go to the Salar de Uyuni, from San Pedro de Atacama, on January 15, 2013 and returning on Jan. 19. We researched several agencies that make the tours and the best ranked were the Cordillera and Ruta Verde, the latter has oxygen balloon and satellite phone in case of emergency. The cost of the trip its around US 2200 per car, that can be shared by 4. We want to know if any couple is interested in sharing the tour with us? Thank you

Hi, my friend and I are backpacking in Chile in January and she will have her Birthday in Santiago. I would like to surprise her with something special for that evening. Does anyone have any ideas for that? Like: a rooftop bar, a place with lovely live music, special place to go to... We're backpackers, so it shouldn't be the Ritz :) I really hope you can help me, thanks in advance!! Best, Lampenladen

Are there any good wine shops in the Parque Arauco mall? Does anyone know if the mall will be open either on Christmas day or December 26? What about a good wine shop in Valparaiso? Are there any within walking distance of the cruise terminal? Carl

Hi I'm in Santiago now and will be here until Christmas wondering is there anything that makes my Christmas special in Santiago? I don't have much friends since I'm new here could be desperate if I go somewhere alone Is there any special event or Christmas party I can join? Thanks

Hello all. A few questions. I'm planning a two week trip to Santiago in spring of 2013. Will local banks exchange US dollars for pesos at a fair rate? If not, what would be your suggestions? I will also bring credit cards, but prefer to pay Efectivo. The guide books tell me that some hotels will not charge the 19% tax when paying in US dollars. Is this generally true? Are US dollars widely accepted? I'm renting a car and will be driving to the coast and to see Valparaiso/Vina del Mar area in addition to Santiago. How would you rate driving/parking difficulty in these cities? My scale would rate Chicago - easy, Madrid - difficult, Mexico City - very difficult, Rome - almost impossible. Thanks a lot for any advice you might provide. I have heard great things about Chile and want to see it for myself.

coming to Chile in Feb.2013 and need transportation from Valparaiso ship terminal to central Santiago bus or train?

I am planning to go from puerto varas to bariloche on 5.3.2013. Looking for regular bus connection.

Hi just wondering if anyone knows of a nice but cheap place to stay in Puerto Rio Tranquilo? Can´t seem to find much on the internet. But we need a place to stay for 3 days while we go to San Rafael and Capillas de Marmol. Appreciate any tips

Can anybody describe - step by step - how to withdraw money from CAJERO AUTOMATICO, please? My Spanish isn´t so good and last time I lost my credit card, because of I used the wrong name of the account. I have VISA and MC both debit and credit cards . Thanks a lot for your help.

Hi! My wife and I are going to Easter Island over New year for a week. I wonder if anyone know if there is any car rental agency where I can rent a quad bike? We where planning on renting one for the whole period. What would be a good price? I also wonder if there are any deep sea fishing boats for hire? Thanks! / Carl

I have only a short time at TDP--3 nights max in December. Can anyone give me a suggested itinerary--trekking routes and refugios to stay in? And is it necessary to book refugios in advance? I am coming from Calafate and will probably take one of the transports that take me directly to Guarderia Amarga. Thanks!

Hey! We're a couple of 27 year old girls not really experienced in trekking, so it was important for us to get your opinion on out trek plan. The trek is 4 days long: Day 1 - Departure from Puerto Natales in the morning, arriving at the park, going up to the torres observation spot and comming back to sleep in Torres Central. Day 2 - From Torres Central walk west to the Italian camp. Day 3 - From the Italian camp, to the French Valley, then south to Refugio Paine Grande. Day 4 - From Paine Grande to Glacier Grey, back, and then a ferry ride to Pudeto and bus to Natales on the same day. 1. Are the walking distances and times planned for each day reasonable? Including the bus transport? (According to the park map it looks like at most nine hours walking a day - does it makes sense to walk so much every day?) 2. We are considering whether to sleep in the lodges (really expensive!) or in a tent we'll hire from Natales. We never really slept in a tent before and we are afraid it will be too hard for us. What do you recommend? We thought we could sleep two nights in a tent and one night in a lodge? Thank you!

We are leaving on a cruise from Valpairso, Chile on December 2nd. We plan to travel by bus to Valpairiso from Santiago. I wonder if I can use American dollars for the fare or must I have Chilean pesos? When I arrive in Valpariso I will need to take a taxi to our hotel. Will the taxi drivers take dollars? Will I find people who speak English or not?