Santiago and Booking Tours

We are heading to Santiago and we have been discussing what type of tours we would like to do.

Times are very different now compared to how it was when we first started travelling.

Over the past few months Bernie and I have both been compiling a list of sights and tours we would be interested in.

We use a few sources.

• Viator.com
• Expedia and/or Tripadvisor
• Airbnb experiences
• Web sites

We keep a notepad where we write down the tour name, cost, and where we found it.

Today we sat down with a list of days we are in Santiago and started laying out the plan.

Some tours are only offered on certain days.  Some tours are long (wine tasting) and want to make sure the day following or prior is not a full day tour either.  

We make sure to spread out the type of tours too.  Bus tour, then next day walking tour, then bus tour, then walking tour.

I have learned the hard way that we can not book full days every day.  Remember that first trip to Italy where we had to cut everything in half as we just were too tired and we had no time to sit and smell the roses (meaning sit and drink a glass of wine).

Now we make point of scaling back.  Sure I want to see it all, but some of my best memories have been those impromptu events or strolls, or bar we just wander in to.

So our plans are as follows -- for now:

• Sunday - arrive early after 24 hours of travel - check in and no set plans
• Monday - Hop on Hop off Bus for a overview of the city
• Tuesday - All day Wine Tour
• Wednesday - History Walking Tour - 3 hours
• Thursday - Food Tour - 3 hours
• Friday - Day free, and Empanada Cooking class in the evening
• Saturday - no plans
• Sunday - travel to the ship

One nice thing we have found with many of the tour sites is you can book relatively last minute with ease.  Also the cancellation policies vary and should be noted.

If we want to do more we can.  We have a friend who lives there and although he is on ships at the moment his family has a restaurant and we are going to dine there one night.

Copenhagen Accommodations Booked

After putting down our deposit on the cruise and booking our flights - see blog we started looking at accommodations.

As many of you know we are huge fans of Airbnb or VRBO.  We love living like a local.  We also prefer to have more space and the ability to shop and prepare our own meals if necessary, especially the morning meal.

Because we are heading into Copenhagen early (four nights) we definitely wanted an apartment.  Although I did look at hotels, but quickly ruled them out after much research because of a few reasons.

• So darn expensive.
• So very small.
• Located in center of city with lots of noise.
• Oh and the cost - oh yeah I already mentioned that.

If we would of only been there for one night I would of went with a hotel (love the option of checking in early and storing bags if necessary).

But we arrive in the early evening and we have a decent check out time so we are good to go.

Here is a link to the Airbnb we reserved.  

It is easy to get to from the airport with the metro and easy to get around to all the sites.

And the four nights add up to less than $500!

If you are travelling and have a few nights prior or post cruise really consider trying Airbnb.  Here is a link where you can sign up and save whenever you do reserve in future off your first stay.  

Quick Trip to Arizona

In January we were chatting with some dear friends Dylan and Ben.  They announced that they were getting married February 2nd, 2020 in Arizona.  We knew it would be a small ceremony but really wanted to be there.

We have known Dylan and Ben for a long long time.  We travelled to Peru a few years back with them and have seen them numerous times.  We consider them family.  

When we broached the subject of wanting to be a part of their day, they said absolutely.  

We both knew it was important to be there and we commented that there was a reason we were not away this January and February like we have been for the past 2 decades.  We were meant to attend the ceremony.

Flights were booked out of Halifax to Phoenix and the flight was manageable, but after a four hour drive to Halifax, flight to Newark, three hour layover, 3 hour time change, five hour flight to Phoenix we were bagged and my back was killing me.

As we waited for our bags in Phoenix I went on line and booked a hotel for the night.  We did not book anything prior as we did have some underlying concerns about maybe not making it into Phoenix.  It takes just one delay and the dominoes drop. But we made it, and even early.

We picked up our rental car and crashed at a hotel a few kilometers from the airport.

The next day was fun as we hit the outlet stores.  Where we currently live there are not a lot of options for shopping and not a lot of big brand names.  We both needed new hiking shoes, Bernie needed golf shoes, and I picked up a light windbreaker.  Of course we managed to purchase a few more things before the end of the trip.  Luckily we had packed only one bag and it was way underweight (even coming home).

The ceremony was to take place in Green Valley Arizona (about a half hour south of Tucson).  Dylan and Ben had reserved a huge Airbnb that could accommodate all 8 of us.  The place was huge!  We each had our own room with private bath too.  It was the perfect location for us as we had meals together, the ceremony meal was there and the views were stunning.

Neither of us had ever been to Arizona.  Right off the bat I noticed how dry it was there.  My sinuses were affected for at least the first five days.  Saline sprays and gels helped.  Our lips also really were affected with the dryness.

Although the scenery initially looks so stunning I personally found it a little brown/tan and missed the beautiful colors of foliage we find elsewhere.

I absolutely loved the variety of cactus and especially the ones that were flowering.

A few days after the ceremony we travelled back up to Phoenix to enjoy the city for a few days.  We reserved a cute one bedroom on Airbnb.  Remember if you have not signed up with Airbnb you really should.  Here is a link to register and you will save money when you make your first booking.  

Our flight home was a little interesting due to a storm hitting the East Coast of the US and Canada.  Our red eye from Phoenix to Newark was fine, but we knew when we arrived in Newark and waited for our connection to Halifax we might encounter a problem.  

Since we still had to drive from Halifax to home (four hours) and hearing reports of freezing rain and to stay off the roads, there was a good chance that even if we made it to Halifax we would probable have to get a hotel and crash for the day/night until the weather cleared.  

When the gate attendant asked for 3 volunteers to give up their seats for $1,500 US each and a night's accommodations and meal vouchers we jumped at the chance.  

But as he was processing the move over offer, they announced the flight was cancelled due to freezing rain and the airport closing the runways.  And there went our great move over offer too.

As we quickly made it to the long queue to talk to customer service (and I checked United's App to change our flight) the original gate attendant paged us.

What a great guy!  He said since we volunteered to give up our seats and he wanted to ensure we got on the flight the next day, cause chances are we would not have gotten on Saturday's flight if we waited in line.  He rebooked our flight for the next morning (24 hours later) and he even gave us food vouchers to be used at the airport.  Note it was $30 each, which seems like a lot, unless you are eating at the airport.  It ended up covering our breakfast the next morning and 2 bottles of water, juice and a coffee.

We claimed our bags and I booked an airport hotel for the night.  Now remember that it is around 10 am now.  Check in usually is not until 3 pm.  We booked the Springhill Suites by Marriott.  The shuttle delivered to the lobby and we nicely asked if it was possible to get a room soon.  He told us to wait in the breakfast lounge and he would see what he could do.  An hour later (11 am) we had a room.

As we crawled into the room we quickly settled into bed and crashed for four hours.  That is what staying awake all night will do to you.

We ordered food from Uber Eats (as there was nothing around the airport).

In the morning we got the shuttle back to the airport and boarded our flight home.  

When we touched down in Halifax and picked up our car we were surprised that there was not that much snow there.  But the banks on the side of the road were glistening with a thick layer of ice from the freezing rain.

Back home and glad.  

I processed the travel insurance claim - which will cover the hotel for the night and food expenses.  Always get insurance!  We have an annual plan on our credit card.  

I am so glad we went.  So glad we got to see Arizona.  Extra happy we saw some of our dear friends come together as a couple formally.