OldBoot

After we got off the plane at EZE and went through customs, we found ourselves in a large open area before the exit doors. There was a well marked taxi booth right in the middle of this space. We asked how much it would be to our downtown hotel and they told us. We paid there, stepped outside and gave the taxi our receipt and were promptly and safely delivered to our hotel. I can't remember the price, but we thought it was reasonable and it took maybe 20 to 30 minutes. No problems at all.

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Thanks very much Banjo.

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Is it wise and/or possible to pre-book a transfer from the Buenos Aires EZE to our hotel? We arrive a few days ahead of embarkation to do some pre cruise touring.

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Yep!

 

There never were bargains, just gullible buyers.... I used to live in St. Thomas and the prices for jewelry amazingly dropped about the time the ships left and if you showed a valid drivers license from the island they dropped again...

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Thanks for posting this question. On embarkation day they often offer spa tours and I remember hearing about the thermal suite pass then. Does anyone know if there is a promotion/discount on the pass during embarkation day?

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I can't offer advice but I do want to say I hope you get something extra sparkly! [emoji4]☺[emoji4]

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Great suggestions. Here are a few more:

3M Command Hooks. Great to stick up to hang things & then a snap to remove without any damage.

Small pair of folding Bushnell binoculars.

Beach towel clips to keep the towels on the chairs by the pool.

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HAL ships have laundry space in the stool under the desk. Or in the drawer at the end of the bed.

Magnets are not useable on all ships. But handy when they do work. For keeping invitations, receipts, etc also.

In the stool! This I will definitely use. ^_^

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On March 27, 2016, we disembarked the Rhapsody of the Seas in Valparaiso, Chile at around 7:30 AM. After taking a rather long shuttle bus to the port terminal and going through customs and immigration, we took a taxi to the Valparaiso bus station where we boarded a TurBus at 8:00 AM for the 1 and 1/2 hour ride to Santiago where we were renting an apartment for three nights post-cruise.

 

Since we were due to meet our landlady at the apartment at 12 noon, we decided to have breakfast at the Alameda Station (the main Santiago bus station where we were dropped off). Later, we took a taxi to the apartment, called Welen Hill Downtown Santiago Apartment. Out wonderful landlady, Marcela, met us there, showed us how everything worked, gave us the key, and left. She had lots of sightseeing information available and even a well-stocked kitchen, which we did not expect. The apartment was beautiful, in a new building, and across the street from a small park and the police station. We felt very safe there, and since it was only about six blocks from the main street in Santiago, Avenida Bernardo O'Higgins, also known as "La Alameda", we were able to walk to all of the main tourist sights. We were very close to Santa Lucia Hill (which in the original native language was called "Welen", and thus the name of the apartment).

 

There were also many restaurants and small grocery stores within walking distance, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Santiago. On the day we arrived, we walked to the beautiful old church of San Francisco, and walked around the old neighborhood of Paris / Londres.

 

The next day, after a typical Chilean lunch at a restaurant about 1/2 a block from our apartment, we walked to Santa Lucia Hill, climbed to the top to see the beautiful statues and fountain, and then walked quite a long way to the Plaza de Armas where we saw the Santiago Cathedral, the old Post Office (in a beautiful building), and my husband's favorite, the Santiago Chess Club with over 50 people playing chess in the park. We then walked home, and admired the view of the Andes from our balcony.

 

The following day, around 8:00 AM, we walked to the famous Palacio de la Moneda in the Plaza de la Constitucion where we admired the architecture in the area and saw many famous statues, notably one of Salvador Allende. I also met two wonderful friendly dogs. I was sitting on some steps, and they came up to me very nicely, laid down next to me, one on each side of me and fell asleep. It was very sweet!

 

Later, we walked back to the Plaza de Armas and bought tickets for the hop-on-hop-off bus which we boarded around 10:30 AM. This was an excellent tour of Santiago, and the one thing that we saw (which our landlady had mentioned) was the Gran Torre Santiago, a skyscraper built in 2015, which is the tallest building in South America and contains the Sky Costanera at the top. Besides many office buildings, there is a huge shopping mall inside. We decided to get off there and see this for ourselves. After lunch at the massive food court, we took the elevator to the top of Sky Costanera for an amazing view of Santiago and the Andes. Later, we took our bus back to our Santa Lucia neighborhood and walked back to the apartment. It was a very busy day, and we were very tired, but satisfied with everything we had seen and done.

 

The next day, March 30, 2016, was our last day. Our landlady had arranged for a private driver to pick us up at the apartment and take us to the airport. We flew on American Airlines from Santiago to Houston, and then had a connecting flight to Miami.

 

It was definitely a trip of a lifetime, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering a South American cruise.

Good stuff. Thank you again for posting.

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On March 27, 2016, we disembarked the Rhapsody of the Seas in Valparaiso, Chile at around 7:30 AM. After taking a rather long shuttle bus to the port terminal and going through customs and immigration, we took a taxi to the Valparaiso bus station where we boarded a TurBus at 8:00 AM for the 1 and 1/2 hour ride to Santiago where we were renting an apartment for three nights post-cruise.

 

Since we were due to meet our landlady at the apartment at 12 noon, we decided to have breakfast at the Alameda Station (the main Santiago bus station where we were dropped off). Later, we took a taxi to the apartment, called Welen Hill Downtown Santiago Apartment. Out wonderful landlady, Marcela, met us there, showed us how everything worked, gave us the key, and left. She had lots of sightseeing information available and even a well-stocked kitchen, which we did not expect. The apartment was beautiful, in a new building, and across the street from a small park and the police station. We felt very safe there, and since it was only about six blocks from the main street in Santiago, Avenida Bernardo O'Higgins, also known as "La Alameda", we were able to walk to all of the main tourist sights. We were very close to Santa Lucia Hill (which in the original native language was called "Welen", and thus the name of the apartment).

 

There were also many restaurants and small grocery stores within walking distance, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Santiago. On the day we arrived, we walked to the beautiful old church of San Francisco, and walked around the old neighborhood of Paris / Londres.

 

The next day, after a typical Chilean lunch at a restaurant about 1/2 a block from our apartment, we walked to Santa Lucia Hill, climbed to the top to see the beautiful statues and fountain, and then walked quite a long way to the Plaza de Armas where we saw the Santiago Cathedral, the old Post Office (in a beautiful building), and my husband's favorite, the Santiago Chess Club with over 50 people playing chess in the park. We then walked home, and admired the view of the Andes from our balcony.

 

The following day, around 8:00 AM, we walked to the famous Palacio de la Moneda in the Plaza de la Constitucion where we admired the architecture in the area and saw many famous statues, notably one of Salvador Allende. I also met two wonderful friendly dogs. I was sitting on some steps, and they came up to me very nicely, laid down next to me, one on each side of me and fell asleep. It was very sweet!

 

Later, we walked back to the Plaza de Armas and bought tickets for the hop-on-hop-off bus which we boarded around 10:30 AM. This was an excellent tour of Santiago, and the one thing that we saw (which our landlady had mentioned) was the Gran Torre Santiago, a skyscraper built in 2015, which is the tallest building in South America and contains the Sky Costanera at the top. Besides many office buildings, there is a huge shopping mall inside. We decided to get off there and see this for ourselves. After lunch at the massive food court, we took the elevator to the top of Sky Costanera for an amazing view of Santiago and the Andes. Later, we took our bus back to our Santa Lucia neighborhood and walked back to the apartment. It was a very busy day, and we were very tired, but satisfied with everything we had seen and done.

 

The next day, March 30, 2016, was our last day. Our landlady had arranged for a private driver to pick us up at the apartment and take us to the airport. We flew on American Airlines from Santiago to Houston, and then had a connecting flight to Miami.

 

It was definitely a trip of a lifetime, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is considering a South American cruise.

Good stuff. Thank you again for posting.

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Puerto Varas is now on my to do list. 😊

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Seeing your photos it hits me that I know so little about our South American neighbors. Looking forward to learning lots while cruising later this year.

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We decided to do our own trip. Left a bag at our BA hotel. Arranged air and hotel on our own. Worked out to about 1/2 the price of the cruise line or tour company excursion cost.

 

It was one of the highlights of our trip.

Perhaps it's not too late for us? 1/2 the price is pretty tempting. Are you Spanish speakers?

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The title is misleading. I used overland vs. shore excursion. It is a flight. Lol If I were more adventurous I would've made my own arrangements for less money. However I am feeling at peace with the outlay. One booking and HAL does everything including sending your bags ahead to the ship.

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A milestone! Congratulations. It's nice to be a member of such a helpful community. I look forward to seeing many more posts from you. 😊

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Sounds delicious and delightful. 😊 What an adventure you have had!

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I will look for the Solar system display when we are in port in a few months. It looks like you had a full and fun day in the Falklands.

That Cape Horn is an island is a surprise! You were so lucky to have good sailing weather.

I am having fun using Google to look up some of the sites you've mentioned. It makes visiting a new, faraway place much more real. Thank you so much for posting.

While you miss Antarctica there are some awesome sights along your way; expect a fabulous cruise. I believe our location guide Ryan will be back on the Zaandam next season; do not miss his presentations.

I'll shared what I did for my Iguazu tour, if you have a sense of adventure:

https://www.viator.com/tours/Buenos-Aires/4-Day-Tour-to-Iguazu-Falls-from-Buenos-Aires/d901-3851BAIF

Here's also the entry from my blog for the day of arrival in Iguazu. There are links at the very bottom of each entry for the next day:

https://aroundamericabitbybit.wordpress.com/2017/03/18/day-iguazu1-thursday-friday-march-16-17-buenos-aires-to-iguazu/

 

One suggestion if you plan to go to Iguazu on your own. Book a hotel for the night you arrive in BA and also a night after returning before boarding the ship. Luggage space on either a bus or flight to Iguazu is very limited and I stored most of my baggage at my BA hotel while in Iguazu.

 

Roy

That tip about baggage en route Iguaza is helpful. I hadn't considered this. :-)

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Our Spanish is also very limited, but we had no problems doing all these ports on our own.

Thank you Fred. That helps!

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After over 20 Holland America cruise's our Valparaiso to Buenes Aires Antarctic cruise is still number 1!

 

We did it on the Veendam and just loved it.

 

We did Manchu Piichu and Iguazu Falls pre and post cruise on our own. Awesome adventure.!

 

We also had a great Roll Call and wonderful CC members.

 

Book Am Danno!

Sounds terrific! We are sailing BA to Valparaiso December 1. Unfortunately no Antarctica on that itinerary. I have booked a pre cruise tour to Iguazu Falls through HAL but would love not to have to pay the premium prices. Can you share a bit about how you did the falls excursion on your own?

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So glad you are sharing this. We are not Spanish speakers so are a bit anxious about this if we go exploring on our own.

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Really enjoying your photos and trip report. You look so happy in them.

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I feel my biggest splurge recently was highlighted on my bank statement received the other day £100 for 2 sandwiches, a burger/fries, a schnapps and a couple of beers. but it was canalside Nyhavn - and will be something I will remember forever. I don't feel the £500 spent for a wonderful 3 person 2day tours with TJ travel as an extravagant splurge in the same way that sandwich was!!!

I had to google Nyhavn. But I'm glad I did. Looks terrific. You are right. The splurge is not always about the dollar amount. The perfect moment is priceless! ^_^

Ship sponsored excursions get a hard rap because the sellers frighten people into thinking all sorts! eg.. a private tour might not get you back in time, or if you go wandering on your own you might get mugged!

 

Yes, these things are true, but if you go with a reputable firm you will get back on time. I can't recall any "private" tours I have been on being back late, but I have seen plenty of ship sponsored tours limping in late because the 40 minute potty stop took 55 minutes, or somebody got lost in a gift shop.

 

BUT, - I think these ship tours are good for some people. If I was for example older, on my own, less mobile - then they are perfect.

 

Now as for splurges - you could spend $1000 on something and it not be a splurge, because you might have had a lot of return on that spend...

 

I feel my biggest splurge recently was highlighted on my bank statement received the other day £100 for 2 sandwiches, a burger/fries, a schnapps and a couple of beers. but it was canalside Nyhavn - and will be something I will remember forever. I don't feel the £500 spent for a wonderful 3 person 2day tours with TJ travel as an extravagant splurge in the same way that sandwich was!!!

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