SA Pre/Post Cruise Tour Questions

[JAVERZ]

We are ready to book a SA-Antarctica cruise with HAL in 2010 and are looking at our pre and post cruise options. Our travel agent has suggested we might want to look at a company called Travel Bound that specializes in pre and post cruise packages to compare with HAL. They seem to be less expensive than the HAL packages. Does anyone have any experience with them? If so, I'd appreciate your input. Thanks.

 

Nevadagal

[greatam]

We are ready to book a SA-Antarctica cruise with HAL in 2010 and are looking at our pre and post cruise options. Our travel agent has suggested we might want to look at a company called Travel Bound that specializes in pre and post cruise packages to compare with HAL. They seem to be less expensive than the HAL packages. Does anyone have any experience with them? If so, I'd appreciate your input. Thanks.

 

Nevadagal

 

Just curious why you think you need a "packager" for a few days in a hotel/sightseeing in a port city??? Your TA is making a commission off a packager. Unless you really need the help, save the money for "fun".

 

Quite easy to book your own hotels in Rio, Santiago, Valparaiso, etc. etc. And there are a tremendous amount of "tour" operators that will be glad to show you the sights in any of these cities.

 

If interested, you may want to go to Machu Pichu (since you are already almost there). BUT ONLY if you have a minimum of 4 days to explore due to the possibility of altitude sickness. Another option is Iguazzu Falls out of BA. Enjoy!!!!

[eh2zed]

Definitely pre and post on your SA cruise. Most stuff you can book yourself. If at all possible a sidetrip to Iguazu from BA is spectacular.

[dr__dawggy]

Definitely pre and post on your SA cruise. Most stuff you can book yourself. If at all possible a sidetrip to Iguazu from BA is spectacular.

I could not agree more. Iguazu is one of the most stunning sites on earth. If at all possible, go. You will not regret your decision for a moment.

 

You can easily book this trip yourself.

Fly LAN airlines. They are the most reliable carrier from BA to the falls.

http://www.lan.com

 

Stay at the Sheraton, the only hotel located in the national park. Other hotels are located in Puerto Iguazu.

 

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/index.html

 

You will need a minimum of one night, preferably two.

Take the zodiac ride out under the falls. You can book from the booth in the hotel lobby.

You do not need any other excursions...since you will be in the park with access to trails to the lower and upper circuits and to the tram that leaves to the Garganta de Diablo (Devils Throat).

Ground transportation is simple...To/from the local airport...call or have the hotel call for a radio taxi. In Iguazu, there is a taxi stand are in the baggage claim area.

If you want to leave most of your luggage in Buenos Aires, most hotels have luggage storage free or for a nominal charge. This is probably true of other major cities as well....

[JAVERZ]

Many thanks for your suggestions. Unfortunately, time will not permit us to travel to Iguazu Falls or Machu Pichu this trip. Actually our cruise is from Rio to Valpariso (not BA) and our schedule does not permit more than two days at either end -- so we will have to plan a future trip to those places. This will be our third trip to SA (not counting cruise stops in Columbia and Venezuela). We've been to Ecuador and the Galapagos once and to the Amazon another time. Our primary interest this trip is to "round the horn" and cruise through the Antarctic. We will have to visit Iguazu Falls and Machu Pichu another time. I'm sure it would be absolutely wonderful if we could go!

 

We are considering "organized" pre and post packages because of time restrictions and wanting to see as much as we can in a limited amount of time.

 

Thanks again. Wish we could "do it all."

 

Nevadagal