DiggerDawg Travel- Mike O'Dell

04/10/2018

Just came back from another bucket list trip, trekking through the Amazon river basin.Well, not exactly a trek but a tour with accommodations provided by the house boat Amatista. This tour was provided by G Adventures and I must say it was a very awesome trip overall.

The flight down to Lima from Vancouver was long with a short layover in L.A. But with Latam airlines out of L.A., we got a hot supper and breakfast which was nice surprise. Upon landing it was hot but not as hot as what was to come. I was met at the airport by my shuttle driver, Manuel, who explained quite a bit about Lima and the area and Miraflores where I would be spending the night. The hotel San Augustin Exclusive was an average hotel. Check in was easy and since I opted in for the shared accommodations, I knew I would have a roommate. Once I got to the room where my roommate already was, I noticed a slight problem. There was only one bed! I told the bell boy that, “ah nope, this was not going to work buddy!” He on the other hand continually insisted that he drop my bags off in the room. I eventually grabbed the bags myself and went down to the lobby desk where they were more than happy to fix the mistake. With that all taken care of I was now off to explore Miraflores.

Miraflores is a safe part of Lima and very touristy. There's a lot of souvenir shops, surfing, paragliding and many many pubs, bars and restaurants. First thing I wanted to try was a local dish called Cuy. I got the roasted Cuy and found that after the initial shock of how it looked, it was hard work getting the meat off all the bones. You see, Roasted Cuy is actually Roasted Guinea Pig, complete with head and paws attached. Once you did get the meat off it tasted pretty good. The Peruvian people are very friendly and helpful here when the language thing doesn't get in the way. After some shopping and dinner it was time for our group meeting, which went fine with a detailed account of our itinerary and a Pisco Sour from our host. Pisco Sour is a national drink in Peru and quite tasty.

Next morning at 7am we boarded our shuttle for our flight to Iquitos, the heart of the Amazon. Upon landing in Iquitos I discovered what hot really was. The humidity had to be well over 50% and the heat just radiated off the tarmac. Once in the cool confines of the airport, and by this I mean out of the sun because there is no air conditioning, we met one of our nature guides Victor. He explained that once we picked up our luggage we would be boarding a bus to take us to the boat. There was suppose to be 19 of us but 4 ended up getting delayed in Cuszco for a day, so we would meet them later in the tour.

We stopped briefly in a small section of town to stock up on any last minute supplies. I had to go to the pharmacy to get some sun screen. When she couldn't provide me with the exact change, I laughed when she gave me a few bandaids to make up for it. We then loaded back on the bus and headed to the dock.

I was a little confused when “our boat” was just a skiff and not a big house boat. But our second guide Juan Carlos (JC) told us that the Amitista was already on the river and we would be taking the skiff to her for boarding (1). The Amazon is the longest river in the world, hope she is close. Within 15 minutes we came along side of the Amistista, boarded, and received our cabin assignments and again, complete with a cabin mate.

Our cabin was clean, neat and functional, two beds and our own bathroom and shower. Our trip had now begun, nothing but us and the Amazon. I unpacked and headed for the top deck where the bar was, for another free Pisco Sour and a little orientation about the boat and safety from the captain. Had a little free time for drinks and beer while waiting for dinner. The food was good on board the ship, but by the end of the week the food was starting to feel like it was just different versions of the same thing. Having spent a number of years in the navy, I realized this is just part of limited storage on a ship.

Each night that we didn't have an excursion planned, we were entertained by the ship's crew band, The Chunky Monkeys. Usually before dinner the five crew members played various instruments and sang or played local and international songs for us. The next six days would be spent on board the Amitista with a few daytime excursions and one nighttime excursion. Our nature guides were very knowledgeable and had a good sense of humour. JC was amazing, not only was he knowledgeable but he would go through the jungle and find the things we wanted to see.

The service on board the ship was awesome. The crew members were quick to answer any and all questions, you were always greeted with a smile and a “beuneos dias.” The added touches were great as well, like the cleaning of your shoes after every excursion and the one time laundry of any clothes you wanted cleaned. Over all the time spent on board was great.

Our first daytime excursion was to a little village where we were met by one of the village elders who guided us through the community and explained their way of life. I found that although they were poor, they were very happy. I ended up harvesting some Yucca root to take back on board with us. Yucca is a tuber much like a potato, tastes like potato, but a lot healthier and their main source of starch. We would end up visiting one other village but that is still to come. Once we got back on board our wayward tourists were there waiting for us. Two couples from Australia.

We ended up beaching the boat each night to wait for dawn to sail further down the Amazon. Each day there was a different excursion. Usually it was getting in the skiff and travelling down a small side creek or river in search of wildlife, of which we saw plenty. A couple of excursions were hikes through the jungle and one other village visit to see a butterfly farm and have lunch. The Peruvian government actually funds small butterfly farms throughout the jungle because butterflies are so vital for the pollinization of plants. So here we were able to see first hand how they do it, from egg to mature butterfly. We then had a local lunch prepared for us by one of the families. Here I ate Paca which is a large rat and tastes like salted pork, very yummy, no head or paws this time. Overall a very good meal but we had to eat it the village way, with our hands, no utensils. Ever tried eating rice with your hands? Not an easy task.

One of our day time excursions was to a major trade city called Nauta. Not a big city like Iquitos but a very important one for trade between the native population and the outside world (the outside world being the rest of Peru). Here I learned a very valuable lesson on tipping. I was advised that a tip of around 5-10% was plenty. Well I bought a very much needed beer in a little shop and must have tipped well over what is normally expected. That combined with me being friendly with the shop owner resulted in her running out after me when we were leaving and giving me her phone number. Victor told me later that she had told him that I was very nice and rich and therefore wanted to marry me. So lesson learned, keep that tip to 5-10%!

We also made a stop where a few of us could swim. We found out that we as tourists could not swim in the the brown waters of the actual Amazon because our antibodies aren't accustomed to the bacteria. But the black water of all the tributaries were fine for us. But even that had a bit of a learning curve. The black water is actually heavier than the water we are used to, so swimming was sluggish. The currents can be very strong and you have to be careful or you will end up in Brazil, without a passport and last, under water it is so dark you can't see more than an inch or two. This fact was a little creepy when seeing dolphins, both pink and grey swimming as close as 20 feet away, knowing that there are piranha in the water all around you and feeling some type of fish nibbling on your toes when you stand still. But hey, it was refreshing and fun.

Our one night excursion was the best. The jungle at night is pitch black so head lamps and flash lights were needed. The exciting animals come out at this time. We found a 9 foot Anaconda, a 6 foot Red Boa, poison dart frogs, and alot of spiders and other bugs. It was one of the best excursions of the trip for me.

During our last day we ended up back in Nauta to catch a bus to the airport in Iquitos. There is only one road connecting the two cities and that was just completed a few years ago. On the way back we stopped at a Manatee rescue centre where they collect injured animals of all species, rehabilitate them and then release them back into the wild if they can. They had Manatees, Camien, River Otters and monkeys as well as a variety of birds and turtles. It's refreshing that they find the importance of plants and animals are so vital to their way of life and they are taking steps to protect that.

Once back in Lima I had 2 days to kill before my flight home. I spent this time doing some more exploring and found a restaurant that served Llama. Llama is very tasty and I highly recommend it. It was nice to get back to just hot temperatures and away from the humidity of the jungle. My last day I spent trying to decide if I wanted to try surfing or paragliding, both have schools there to learn. But fog rolled in so it turned a bit crappy out so instead I got a poison dart frog tattoo as my own personal souvenir.

TIPS
Here are a few tips I picked up along the way from my experience:

1. Prepare for the heat and the bugs. It is very hot and humid in the jungle and almost impossible to wear long sleeves and pants so bring good insect repellent. I know there is an issue with deet but if you don't have something with lots you will get eaten alive. My spray was 7.5% and didn't seem to be enough. Also, these pesky bastards eat through your clothing, so spray your clothes down too.

2. Bring good anti-diarrhea pills and probiotics, even the most hardy of us get travellers gut.

3. Be aware that every village along the river you visit you will be told that the villagers have hand crafted souvenirs for you. Unfortunately, they all look the same from village to village, so you can make your own conclusions if they actually are mass produced.

4. Do not be afraid to totally immerse yourself into the Amazonian culture, you will learn lots and just heighten the experience of being there.

5. Stick to the 5-10% tipping rule or you may end up with more than just a souvenir or a smile.

6. Most of all come with an open mind, your cheery self and leave your grumpy self at home. The Amazon and Peru itself is a great place to visit and for me a bucket list item checked off.

(1. In maritime tradition, the ship is commonly referred to using feminine pronouns.)

04/10/2018

Due to a personal tragedy I have not posted in quite awhile. But a very close and dear friend has inspired me to start writing again so I will do so with my latest trip. The Peruvian Amazon.

09/21/2016

So our vacation is nearly at its end, we fly out at 110am tomorrow morning. Our last stay was in Kuta at Yulia Beach Inn.

A liitle about Kuta from my perspective. Kuta is a tourist town for sure. Close to the airport, beautiful beach, tons of bars and pubs and thousands of vendors. Kuta is loud, busy and crazy.

Kuta beach is absolutely amazing and the sunsets there are not to be missed. The water is warm with huge waves, especially good for beginning surfers and boogie boarders. The shopping is great and the food even better.

The one thing that ruined it for me though is the street vendors. Elsewhere we have been you would get approached by a street vendor and hear, hi where you from, or I have good deal for you. A polite no thank you sends them away. Not Kuta, they are relentless here. They will follow you down the street yapping at you, some will even grab you and try to turn you around towards their shop or kiosk. Politeness does not work here, even a stern no falls on deaf ears. Yeah I had to get rude a couple of times. They will try and sell you anything from trinkets, clothing, souvenirs, massages (and not the kind you get in spas), hell I was even offered young boys by one scumbag. I also read a review somewhere where bartering here is frowned upon, not true my friend, when they quote you that inflated price for that t-shirt, shake your head no and say too much then try to leave. The price will come down faster than you can blink. Yes we are only talking a few bucks here but why by a t-shirt for $10 when the very next shop will sell it to you for $5.

In the end, Bali is a beautiful place and is so diverse from town to town. We have loved our vacation here and who knows, may be back.

09/18/2016

Just a quick review.

As we get ready to leave Amed for Kuta this morning I thought I would write a little about Amed. Amed is located on the coast and has one main road running through the town. Once and still a fishing village, tourism is well seen and felt here. Where Ubud is busy, noisy, full of culture, arts and fine eateries, Amed is a dive town. Not that it is bad but rather if you are into scuba diving this is the town for you. You can't swing a flipper without hitting 5 dive shops. But as such, there is virtually no shopping for the souvenier hunter or at least very little. There are lots of Warungs and spas, in fact it looks like every resort has one. The street is not packed with hundreds of scooters and cars and at night you can hear the chirping of the insects and frogs as well as the waves washing ashore. From our balcony each morning we could watch the fishermen drag their boats out to catch the fish of the day to sell to the restaurants. These same fishermen can be hired later to take you snorkeling, fishing or just on a little cruise of the coast. There isn't much in the way of a beach with the exception of a couple small stretches, most of it being rock but once in the water if you are snorkeling or diving there is lots to see.

I have to give a shout out to Bali Reef Divers who own 2 dive shops, here and in Tulamben. They run a very professional operation and are very safety oriented. I did 5 dives with them that were awesome to say the least. Thanks Anna, Kadek and Longshore.

All said, if you are not into diving or snorkeling then Amed may not be for you but if you are then you got to stay here fir a couple days anyway.

09/13/2016

Trip review part 2

Temples volcanoes and elephant rides

Waking up Sat morning and seeing the resort in the day time confirmed that I had made the right choice in selecting Bali Dream Resort. But more on that in a later review. Sat we spent the day relaxing by the pool, eating and napping trying t recover from our jet lag.

We hired a driver for Sun to visit a bunch of temples and a volcano. Our driver met us at 10am as requested and after the customary hellos we proceeded on our tour. First up was a massive and impressive rice terrace. The Tegalalang Rice Terrace Ubud which is actually just outside the city limits was absolutely stunning. But because it was busy there and already getting very hot we took some pictures and went on our way.

Next up temples, we had originally picked 6 temples to visit but after the heat of the afternoon we reduced this to 4. The first temple on the list was the Goa Gajah temple or Elephant Cave temple. This is a 11,000 year old Hindu temple which is unique because it also has a Buddhist temple on the same site. The architecture is stunning and the cave is small but roomy.

Next up was Yeh Pulu temple which is not a temple as we know it but rather a bas relief carved in the rock face. The actually temple is quite small but the priestess was there who blessed us with Tirtha sacred water. Warning here, I called this the temple of 1000 steps as there are many stairways to get to the end, not so bad going down but you eventually have to go back.

Next we went to Pura Samuan Tiga temple in Blahbatuh which is a historical Hindu temple which for me was a little under whelming but still nice to see, especially watching a couple priests tend to the offerings located everywhere.

Now we are off to see Mount Batur which is an active volcano. Actually there are three volcanoes there two of which are active. Very impressive indeed. This I feel is a must see just for the sheer beauty of something that can be so destructive. It was here that we had lunch. The restaurant here is where all the tour groups get herded but on positive note the food was awesome.

The last stop on our tour was the Tirta Empul temple or Holy Spring temple. Another very awe inspiring temple with the added bonus of having purification pools. My wife decided to jump in and get purified but then again she is very spiritual and this was on her must see and have to do list.

Now a couple of notes on this tour. First off all people, men and women must wear a sarong or a long skirt while in the temple which are provided at the entrance. The entrance fees for the temples are on average 15,000 Rp or about $1.50 CDN. I personally found the exterior of these temples a bit on the tourist trap side. Upon leaving the temples you are immediately preyed upon by street vendors. Go ahead and buy stuff if you want but none of the money goes to the temples themselves. The worse was Tirta Empul where the exit deposits you into a huge maze of vendor stalls and some very pushy vendors. I try to be polite and just say no thank you but by the end of the maze a stern NO, was that seemed to work. Now according to our driver, these temples are still religous sites but are no longer active.

Monday and our highly anticipated Elephant Trek at Ayung Valley at the Bali Elephant Camp. First let me say that we have heard all the abuse that can go on in some of these places but after some research and speaking to the Mahoot we were assured that this is a rescue camp and the activities are there to support the camp. They have 14 elephants here including a brand new baby. As well they have birds and three sun bears which you can get in there enclosure with them for pictures. They also have their own chocolate processing on site which was pretty cool.

Its time for our elephant ride. My wife who you could tell was very nervous was a real trooper and got on the elephant like a pro. Our Mahout picked up on her nervousness and decided to have some fun. The conversation went like this: him; is this your first time on elephant ride? Her: yes. Him; me too. Her; how long have you been a Mahout, him; since this morning. Love a good sense of humour. He actually told us later that he has been a Mahout for 7 years and that our elephants name was Arie who was a 22 year old male rescued from Sumatra. The ride takes abot 30 minutes with lots of rest stops for the elephant and concludes with pictures taken in a big pool. After getting off the elephant you can purchase a bowl of fruit to feed your elephant.

Now although our Mahout had a stick with a small hook on the end, not once did we he use it, in fact all we saw him do was talk gently to Arie for instructions and it was obivous that he really cared for his well being. In addition, the driver from this excursion was punctual, friendly and despite the language barrier had a great conversation with my wife explaining interesting facts about Indonesia and their Hindu religion, rice fields, industry and other interesting information about religious celebrations and overall culture.

Lunch there which is included was fantastic and the restaurant over looks the entire camp. Overall this was one of our best excursions here to date.

Tomorrow we move to Amed so stay tuned.

I will add pctures later one we get home

09/10/2016

My First Bali review

One of our bucketlist trips has always been to vacation on Bali Island, Indonesia. We have finally made this happen. We flew with China Southern Airlines from Vancouver (YVR) to Guangzhou, China (CAN) to Denpasar, Bali (DPS)

First off l will say I was pleased with China Southern, their service, plane and over all flight. The seats were comfortable for the 13 hour flight from YVR to CAN. A little less so on the 4.5 hour flight to DPS. The flight ended being about 20 minutes late but that was lost in the air and not due to ground delays.

Guangzhou airport was a little confusing with a huge language barrier. When we arrived we had about 40 minutes to make it to our check in for DPS, so this was worrisome when we saw the line up for international transfers, but I showed one of the guards our tickets and our boarding time and he short cutted us to the front of the line. There was no customs or immgration to go through for a simple transfer so this saved time as well.

Finally we landed in DPS about 20 minutes late, 1230am, got in line for immigration and customs, another 30 minutes, and still had to wait almost an hour for our luggage to come down the conveyor belt. A little frustrating seeing other flights come in, the passengers get their luggage and head off but it did come eventully. Now remember by this time we are tired and hot and just a wee bit cranky.

Fortunately for us I had pre-arranged an airport transfer with baliKU Tours and Travel so knew I wouldn't have to wait in line for any type of public transfer. Then to my surprise as we came through the gates to the public area of the airport a virtual sea of name plates for like minded travelers. We eventually found or guy and proceeded to our ride. Now Ubud which is our first stop is about 1 hour 15 minutes away by car. Remember, just a wee bit cranky before? Well we are a little bit more so now.

Ok so now our drive to our resort in Ubud. The car was air conditioned, cranky meter just went down a little, but being this is our first time in Bali, well it only took about 5 minutes to realize that they drive a little bit differently here than in Canada. I don't mean because they drive on the left side of the road, oh no my friend, I mean because the rules of the road here are definitely blurred. Lane divider lines are only for show, single lane roadways mean as long as 2 or 3 vehicles can fit then why not, and the scooters are as plentiful as mosquitos in cottage country back home and seem to be on the low end of the pecking order of vehicle traffic. Cranky meter inching back up.

We finally make it to our destination around 3am or at least we thought. The area we are driving in definitely looks like the hood and unbeknownst to my wife, I am thinking to myself "Digger, where in the hell did you book us?" Our driver didn't know where our resort was either, evidenced by the two times he pulled over to use his phone for directions. But alas he finally found it. We stopped in a pitch black alley way where we were met by a fairly large tattooed man who identified himself as the resort security and proceeded to load our luggage onto a golf cart. Cranky meter starting towards red lining now. He drove us in the golf cart a short distance around what appeared to be a maze in the dark to our resort.

We finally made it, here we were standing in front of the Bali Dream Resort. As he escorted us and our luggage down a narrow twisting path through lush vegetation, the first thing we notice was the smell, a very fragrant mix of incense, Gardenia and Fragipani flowers. Cranky meter going down a little now. He finally showed us into our own private bungalow, which by the way opens onto the pool and wow the room is amazing. Cranky meter is now stomped on, squashed and thrown down a cliff side.

Part 2 to come soon.

09/08/2016

This is what I get to wake up too the next 6 days

08/17/2016

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05/16/2016

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05/13/2016

Wouldn't this be awesome

Happy Friday! Click SHARE if you wish this was your weekend view!

05/10/2016

Great Savings

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04/30/2016

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04/22/2016

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04/19/2016

Being a smart traveller

These tips work for me, feel free to adopt some, all or none of them to suit your needs.

Research
Spend time on the internet reading info about where you want to go. Find tourist attractions or excursions that you may want to do and then search these ideas on the forum boards as well as Tripadvisor and Virtual Tourist.

Most destinations have travel forums that are free to join. These sites provide actual visitors and residents testimonials as well as ask your own questions. Again, visit Tripadvisor and Virtual Tourist for the same reason.

Research gives you ideas of what you want to do and hints on things you may need to pack. For example if you find a restaurant that really peaks your interest and you read that the dress code is casual but men must wear pants and collared shirt then you know you have to bring at least one casual wear outfit.


Research will also give you a rough estimate of your travel costs.

Make a list
There is nothing more frustrating or stressful as last minute packing and not knowing what to take. What works for me is making a list with the number of days I will be away and making sure I have enough clean clothes to last. Be sure to include your travel days and what you might need for that carry on. Coming back from a Caribbean vacation in January to the frigid cold with noting but shorts and a t-shirt to get you home is no fun.

In your list include items that you noted in your research, insect repellent, electricity converters as well as the necessities, sun screen, medications, sun hats, entertainment for the occasional rainy day, books, tablet etc.

After you think you are all packed, re-check your list to make sure you do in fact have everything you need for your spectacular vacation.

Departure Show up to the airport on time, I don't mean the recommended time the airlines suggest but in time to make it through customs, immigration and security checks. I'm not saying that you need to be there 6 hours ahead of time but in my experience I have noticed that especially to popular destinations your plane is not the only one departing, as well as flights to many other destinations depart around the same time. If you are driving and leaving your car there factor in the time it takes to find parking. If you are staying at a nearby hotel for the night confirm times and travel time to the airport on the shuttle. Most shuttles operate at the time you need to leave.

Airports are all about line ups. Line up to check in, line up for security, line up for shuttles from parking to airport, line ups for customs. So be prepared to be standing in one line or another or more than one.

Try to make your security as painless as possible. Dress mindfully. I have seen people who have had to spend 20 minutes or so just taking off all the stuff that would set off the metal detectors. Now imagine if everyone showed up this way, how long do you think it would take the 100 or so people in line.

Sometimes everything goes so smoothly that you find you have 3 or more hours before your flight leaves. This can be a little annoying but hey that happens, it's better than the stress suffered wondering if you will make through everything in time before your plane leaves­-or missing it all together? This is a good time to exchange some money into the local currency of your destination.

While you are waiting patiently for your flight, pay attention to the frquent PA announcements Sometimes, not too often flights change gates or depart times, AND you don't want to miss it. You can also check the arr/dep boards periodically just to make sure. I have seen many people running full out to make it to their gate because it changed and they paid no attention what so ever. And haven't we all heard those announcements “Mr. Noshow, please come to gate xx flight ### is leaving and boarding gates will close in 5 minutes” Don't be a Mr. Noshow.

Flight
Unless you are flying first class most airplanes are comfortable for about 10 minutes, especially for us bigger guys. For me they seem more uncomfortable on the flight back then going, hmmmm. When permitted in flight, get up and take short walks up and down the aisle, drink water as often as you can, bring something to entertain yourself, book, tablet, headset or ear buds for the inflight entertainment system if there is one. Save a few bucks and purchase snack prior to boarding. I like to eat on my own schedule and sleep. I don't want to woken up for 3 peanuts in a bag. Snacks that can be purchased before hand. Make sure you've dressed in layers to better adjust to the aircraft temperatures if they change.

If you are like me and like window seats to watch the terrain below go by, you may see points of interest that make you wonder “hmm I wonder what that is” well there is a new app I just found called Flyover Country which apparently will answer that question. I haven't used it yet and I understand it's still being worked on but I am looking forward to using it.

Arrival
Ok now you are on the ground again waiting to deplane. Every flight I have taken the deplaning is usually very well run with passengers following the unwritten rule of the person in front of you goes first. But it takes a few minutes. Now you are off the plane and boom, more line ups. Chances are your plane is not the only that has arrived at your destination and if it's a foreign country you have immigration and customs to get through as well luggage carousels. Then it's the taxi or shuttle line ups. Patience is usually required here, and sometimes hard to come by. A note here about transfers to your final destination. Some places, like Cancun airport with have many helpful people willing to get you to your resort without waiting to line up, get you there faster and cheaper, don't fall for it. Most of these are time share personal and wanting you to sign up for high pressure sales seminars. If you have booked an all inclusive vacation, airport transfers are usually included so stick with them. Finally you may find yourself at hopefully your last line up, check in to your resort or destination.

In country
Since the majority of us do not vacation in our own homes or back yards be prepared for different cultures and customs. Do not say “In my country this is how we do this” you may get the reply “Then go back to your country” and believe me I have heard both, on more than one occasion. Try to be polite and willing to learn what your host countries customs are. If you are unsure then ask, this one way to ingrate yourself to your hosts, it says that your are willing to learn. Some you may not want to adopt, lets say you see locals throwing their garbage into the street, is this really one you want to follow, hopefully not, so use common sense. Also use common sense when venturing away from your resort or destination. There may be some awesome things to see out an about, but what did your research say about crime and certain areas. If possible travel in groups, shop during daylight hours, if you have a rental car, don't leave valuables in it, not even the trunk. If you see a place that makes the hairs on the back of your neck rise, or gives you that queasy feeling in your stomach, pay attention to those signals, you may want to avoid those places. First and foremost, enjoy your time in country to the fullest, try out some of the local cuisine, take excursions that you found interesting, discover all that your destination has to offer.

Currency is another big question. What does your host country use? A lot of countries will accept USD even though they have their own currency. Here are my thoughts on that. First off you have to figure out the conversion rates, and some may have a standard conversion like 10 to 1, even though today’s rate is actually 12 to 1. Also consider that you pay for something in USD, the retailer now has to go to the bank and convert that into their currency. For me I like to use my host countries own currency, it gives me a feeling that I'm not paying more or less for what I should be paying. Most restaurants and hotels accept credit cards, but read the receipt carefully and try keep your card in sight at all times.

I also find that if I only exchange a little at the airport before departing and then take out what I need at the in country ATM's if that is an option, I save a little money that way. Doing it this way you are paying the current daily currency exchange and no extra fees. You may only save a couple cents, but those pennies are better in my pocket then someone else's.

It's all over
Your vacation is coming to an close now and it's time to go home. As sad as that may be this time will come. Just a couple tips here. Make sure you are packed and you have your travel garb on. Arrive at the airport on time, most all inclusive vacations or vacation package deals will have that all arranged for you. Expect long line ups again. Leave knowing that you have some awesome memories to add to your collection, as well as pictures, souvenirs and maybe new friendships.

So where do you want to go?

Visit me at;

http://www.cruiseshipcenters.com/en-CA/MikeODell/