The Caribbean, Mexico, Central & South America

Cozumel Recommendations?

feeds@yuku.com (OleSouthernBelle) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:59:59 GMT

We are going on a 4 day cruise on the Fantasy in December 2009 with 79 yo mom (active but with 2 'total hip replacements' & not a swimmer) & her much more active & swimmer SO ( he's significantly younger). Her main objective is to 'shop'. Mine may be to beach snorkel, if the water is not too cold - which I think it may be - as well as to just site see & shop. We aren't interested in booking with the cruise ship for an outing. Much rather either rent...

Immunizations for Roatan, Honduras

feeds@yuku.com (Jocelyn P) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:56:00 GMT

As you may already know I am taking a mission team to the island of Roatan in March. About half of our team is children, ages 7 and up. I'm wrestling with what to do about immunizations. The cdc website recommends Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, Rabies, Tetanus, and Malaria. I asked my contact at the mission agency for advice and she said that none are required, although they highly recommend that Tetanus is up to date. All others are personal preference.

I am leaning towards being...

Argentina -- Spring 2010

feeds@yuku.com (MikePinTucson) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:42:51 GMT

We are seriously thinking about a trip to Argentina next March or April. Not looking for a tour package, but may want to look at some in-country tours.

We do want to explore Buenos Aires for at least a week.
We do want to see Iguazu Falls
I definitely want to visit Mendoza again. My only other visit was for a couple of months in 1968.
We would like to see some shows -- definitely a tango show.

Any advice on things we must see? I'm not a big museum...

Peru or Ecuador - Advice, including on acclimating to altitude needed

feeds@yuku.com (CliftonMEM) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:15:09 GMT

Other than taking it easy for the first few days, I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to best adjust to altitude to avoid getting sick. We're planning a trip to Cuzco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley in the next month to month and a half. Besides remedies and methods to avoid the issue, I was wondering what people thought about staying down in the valley first, then visiting Cuzco later. Would the difference in altitude be helpful at all in your opinion?
...

When would you feel okay about booking a Mexico trip?

feeds@yuku.com (WillTravelThere) — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:12:57 GMT

Obviously, it wouldn't have felt very comfortable for most people to book trips to Mexico lately. But sooner or later, people are going to start thinking about going again.

When would you feel okay about either going to Mexico, or booking a trip to go to Mexico?

I'm thinking of a few places, but things are so up in the air with various options in various places, that I am nowhere near decided. But still, I'm thinking about it.

Voluntourism ideas?

feeds@yuku.com (Jocelyn P) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:34:56 GMT

I always come home from a trip planning the next one. I want to go Central America with DH and the kids. Does anyone have recs for tours that include humanitarian work? I have a friend who frequently goes on medical missions that are half work, half play. I need to find one that our kids can participate in, though--they are just shy of 7 and 9. The trip would probably be March 2010, making the kids almost 8 and 10. I will also check with my missions pastor at church.

Cabo San Lucas?

feeds@yuku.com (mcbg1) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:15:03 GMT

I'm graduating from college in a few weeks and my parents have suggested that we go somewhere warm next month (late April) to celebrate. They usually prefer to stay in the Caribbean but I mentionned Cabo since it has always seemed like a stunningly beautiful place to me. Has anyone here been there? Any comments on what the weather should be like and what things we could do?

We were thinking of booking at an all-inclusive resort for 2 weeks. Is that too long for the area?
...

Recommendation for a couple days in Callao/Lima?

feeds@yuku.com (Jujuju2) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:00:57 GMT

Well, I have done it again and booked another last minute cruise. I don't even know if I had time to put it in the cruise threads. But I am scrambling around trying to plan private port excursions in South and Central America in a short amount of time.

Cruise departs April 2, 2009, from Santiago, Chile, goes north along the coast of South America,...

48 Hours in Buenos Aires?

feeds@yuku.com (Kavey F) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:45:06 GMT

During our Antarctica trip I was delighted to meet and get to know a respected UK travel journalist, Simon Calder.

As he had only limited time in BA and knew I had extended the default one night stay to 3 nights, we agreed that I would provide feedback on my hotel and restaurants that he might be able to incorporate into the 48 hours article he was writing for a January edition. (He is the editor and a writer for the Independent newspaper's travel supplement magazine)....

39 Reasons to Go to the Caribbean This Year

feeds@yuku.com (WrongJungle) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:11:31 GMT

THIS has not been a great year so far for the Caribbean tourism industry. Seven named

Winter in the Sun: Ian Flemming's Jamaica

feeds@yuku.com (WrongJungle) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:04:58 GMT

In 1947 Fleming wrote a portrait of his adopted home in Horizon magazine, influential enough to fuel a postwar tourist boomlet among well-heeled Britons and Americans. "I have examined a large part of the world," he wrote. "After looking at all these, I spent four days in Jamaica in July 1943. July is the beginning of the hot season and it rained in rods everyday at noon, yet I swore that if I survived the contest I would go back to Jamaica, buy a piece...

Know anything about Anguilla?

feeds@yuku.com (ChiChi Carbonado) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:50:11 GMT
Is that even how you spell it? We were at a wedding last weekend, and the bride's son and daughter-in-law own a restaurant on Anguilla. They encouraged us
to come visit. Our Caribbean travels have been limited to Jamaica, so we don't know much about elsewhere. Any info?

Edited to correct the spelling!

Sint Maarten/ Saint Martin

feeds@yuku.com (WrongJungle) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:10:54 GMT
I just found this daily photo blog with some really great photos : Sint Maarten Daily Photo. Talk about a daily dose of sunshine!

Going to Aruba - need info on accomodations

feeds@yuku.com (fairhopediva) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:12:49 GMT
OK, I'm sort of embarrassed to post this but would really appreciate some help! We gave into a sales promo for a timeshare in Aruba and have booked reservations and flights in November. It was a 'special' deal of $199.00 (not inclusive) for 4 nights 5 days in Aruba. The Brickell Bay Resort is where the deal has us staying and it looked reasonably good online at their website. However now I find mostly bad reviews at tripadvisor.com of the Brickell and am worried that our trip will...

Hidden Havana: Life Beyond Mojitos...

feeds@yuku.com (WrongJungle) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:27:46 GMT

Interesting article entitled "Hidden Havana: life beyond mojitos and big, fat cigars". It apparently won The Independent's Travel Writing Competition 2008.

"A small brown dog wearing a faded pink T-shirt jogged down a dirt street. I decided to follow him. He seemed as good a guide as any. He was in no rush,...

Have you considered Barbuda?

feeds@yuku.com (WrongJungle) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:00:11 GMT
Barbuda is an island that has always appealed to me for some reason. It's not Paradise by any means, as I do not believe any such place exists on earth, but it just looks so splendidly tranquil...the beaches so wonderfully empty and unspoilt.

Check out these photos and links:

...

Does anyone here know anything about Martinique?

feeds@yuku.com (Sheila Ritchie) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:36:38 GMT
We're thinking of an exchange there next year. Anyone?

Colombia as a tourist destination?

feeds@yuku.com (Jocelyn P) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:24:22 GMT

There seems to be a lot about Colombia in the media these days....fortunately it's not about the drug cartel anymore. Colombia's getting hot, as a tourist destination. Cruise ships are pulling into ports and we're hearing about how beautiful it is. Have you considered checking it out?

Mexico starting a sales tax rebate program

feeds@yuku.com (ChiChi Carbonado) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:52:29 GMT

Now you can get value-added tax (15 percent) rebated on purchases of more than $116 (1,200 pesos) at certain departure airports. This program is starting at kiosks at the Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Los Cabos airports, but will eventually be available at all airports and seaports.

Cash transactions (but not food or lodging) up to 3,000 pesos are eligible, while the cap on credit- and debit-card transactions is higher. Half the rebate (which is capped at 10,000 pesos) can be...

Argentina in April - trip planning in progress, suggestions welcome

feeds@yuku.com (WillTravelThere) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:22:27 GMT
Long story short, I have a trip booked for April 3-14, which means 10 nights in Argentina, in and out of Buenos Aires. I'm inclined to spend most of my time in Buenos Aires, except for daytrips. But I am open to suggestions and alternatives. I really don't want to do any more flying, most likely, though.

I'm just starting my research, and I see some interesting trip reports to peruse.

Some interesting sites I have found so far: