As you may know, my husband, Hank, and I have been living in Latin America for nearly two years as part of our experiment in nomadic living. To help us plan a few new adventures in 2013, we turned to Myths and Mountains specialist Allie Almario for her extensive experience in organizing custom travel in South America.
Galapagos Sea Lions by Allie AlmarioRead on for Allie’s insider insights and recommendations, in case, like us, you’re planning to pack a suitcase for South America in the new year.
What’s trending in travel to South America?
More people are doing “combo” trips - combining one country with another. For example, our most popular trip this year has been our Across Patagonia itinerary, which starts on the Chilean side of Patagonia and crosses over into the Argentinian side or vice versa. Of course, combining the Galapagos with Machu Picchu continues to be a favorite travel combination. Why? I’m hearing a lot more of “Well, this might be the only time I ever get to XYZ, so I might as well do as much as possible.” My theory is that with such a precarious economy, people are being very protective about their vacation time and budget; more so than ever.
What’s new and exciting for travelers to do in South America?
South America used to be a backpacker’s dream. In some ways, it still is. But these days, people are looking for five-star experiences. It’s why the idea of trekking by day and enjoying luxury by night has taken on a whole new meaning there. Now, you can spend your days trekking to Machu Picchu and return at night to a luxury lodge where the staff will greet you with a cocktail, fluff your down comforter, and direct you to a hot tub where you can soak your tired body. Even Easter Island, which used to only offer basic accommodations, has opened a five-star Explora lodge. The days of settling for outdated motel-style rooms on the island have passed. If “glamping” in a tented camp with a view of palm trees and the ocean on Easter Island (Rapa Nui), one of the world’s most remote and mysterious archeological sites, is on your wish list, no problem.
What shouldn’t you do in South America?
Confuse the words “hostal” and “hostel.” Hostal is the Spanish word commonly used to describe a hotel, but it is not the same as a hostel, which is low-cost backpacker style dormitory hotel.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Keep Your New Year’s Travels on Track With These Essential Tips From Cheapflights
This New Year comes with new travel restrictions. So, it is going to be extra important for flyers to be prepared when heading to the airport. Wondering how the new TSA restrictions will affect your flights? Cheapflights has compiled 10 travel tips to help you handle the changes and stay on track:
1. Prepare for the pat-down. The TSA is requiring that boarding gate crews perform a pat-down of all passengers before boarding a flight and inspect each and every carry-on item before you sit down. Be prepared for this new rule and have your bags open and ready for checking.
2. Stick to the aisle seat. In-flight rules will be enforced more than ever, so mind your manners and pay close attention to the flight attendants and cabin crews. Airlines are enforcing the all-passengers-in-seats rule at least one hour before landing, so if you’re prone to potty breaks be sure to choose an aisle seat so you can get to the bathroom before the seat restrictions go into place.
3. Dress in layers. Some airlines are asking passengers to remove anything from their laps during flight — this includes blankets and pillows. Dress in layers so you can keep warm and add or remove layers during your flight.
4. Compact packing. Forget about shoving everything you can into your barely closeable carry-on.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
a guest blog by Vera Marie Badertscher
Trying to order food in a foreign language when you are traveling can give you a belly ache. But that belly ache can become all too real if you have to avoid particular foods that your body cannot tolerate. To the rescue—laminated cards, about the size of your driver’s license, that spell out your problem and graphically illustrate the foods that are a no-no.
Seems like such an intelligent idea. Why didn’t I think of it? All these years of travel when I tried to find a native language speaker who could explain to me how to say “I cannot eat raw or lightly cooked onions, scallions, shallots or leeks.” You would think I would have come up with the idea to manufacture cards for everyone with a similar travel problem.
But I left it to an Internet company called Select Wisely. Their line of cards goes beyond just serious food allergies (gluten free diets, peanut allergies) to include intolerances (like mine to onions) and other medical problems (diabetes, asthma, and the generalized, “Where can I find a doctor who speaks English?”).
The Select Wisely cards, come in sets of two, so if you lose one, you’re still covered.A pair of cards costs about ten dollars. The information is printed in English and the language of the country you are visiting, and they squeeze in as much information as possible. Just so there will be no misunderstanding the gluten allergy card says “I am allergic to wheat, rye, barley, oats, soy sauce, malt, flour and gluten including sauces, gravies, breads, cereals and foods processed with these ingredients.” Illustrations with the universal circle-slash meaning ‘NO!” over the food in question, make the printed message even clearer.
Having these cards available means I can eat in any language—without a belly ache.
Vera Marie Badertscher travels whenever she can, reads constantly, writes about it all from her home in Tucson, Arizona, and blogs at A Traveler’s Library (atravelerslibrary.com ). Learn more about Vera at pen4hire.com.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Explore North America with Abercrombie & Kent
What began fifty years ago on a family road trip to national parks across the country led to a lifelong fascination for writer Dayton Duncan, resulting in “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” a six-part, 12-hour documentary by Ken Burns, which begins airing on PBS stations September 27. Filmed in some of nature’s most spectacular locales, the series is sure to inspire other families to visit all 58 U.S. national parks. Abercrombie & Kent celebrates these national treasures with new itineraries in North America for 2010, featuring several of the national parks showcased in the series including Denali National Park in Alaska and Glacier National Park, where “Going-to-the-Sun” Road is said to be “the most beautiful 50 miles in the world.”
Alaska: A Backcountry Adventure – New for 2010 
Glimpse Mount McKinley, North America’s highest peak, en route to your lodge in Denali National Park, home to large caribou, moose, wolves, Dall sheep and grizzly bear. Travel aboard the Alaska GoldStar Dome train to Talkeetna for a river canyon trip by jetboat. Visit the homestead of 4-Time Iditarod Champion, Martin Buser. Enjoy a scenic glacier cruise in Prince William Sound, keeping watch for glaciers calving and a variety of marine wildlife, including whales.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
The Sedona Arts Festival is recognized as one of the best festivals of its size in the nation and this year’s event will be no exception. The artists have been carefully chosen by an experienced jury to represent a wide variety of mediums and styles of the highest quality including excellence in ceramics, fiber art, jewelry, mixed media, photography, painting, sculpture and wood. Many new artists will be represented alongside the best and brightest from our own community. “It’s important to us that we support our local artists as well as bringing fresh talent from outside the area to inspire and delight the nearly 5000 visitors we attract each year. I’m very excited about the roster of visual artists we’re showcasing,” explained Executive Director of the not-for-profit Festival, Gayle Taylor. “In addition to keeping the Festival fresh and filled with breathtaking art, there will be something for every taste and budget.” Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Rocky Mountaineer, recently recognized as the top train in the world by The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), is celebrating its recent distinction with an unbeatable offer to experience both of its highly regarded routes. Guests who book a Rocky Mountaineer rail journey or package from now until September 25, 2009, receive a free round-trip journey onboard the Whistler Mountaineer, which also made the Top Ten train list at number eight. In addition, travellers have a chance to bring home a few mementos of their trip with a $50 souvenir credit.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".