http://blog.exitotravel.com Official Travel Blog of eXito Travel Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:01:17 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/11/10/fodors-hotel-awards-2011/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fodors-hotel-awards-2011 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/11/10/fodors-hotel-awards-2011/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:25:59 +0000 Tam Frager http://blog.exitotravel.com/?p=1091 Fodor’s 100 Hotel Awards 2011 have been announced, and a full tenth of the hotels that made the list are in Latin American countries. The categories are Fodor’s. Luxurious Retreat; top choices for a complete escape Four Seasons CarmeloCarmelo, Uruguay Whether you want to relax at the spa or at the pool, cozy up in [...]]]> http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/11/10/fodors-hotel-awards-2011/feed/ 0 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/09/27/chile-travel-insider-tips/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chile-travel-insider-tips http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/09/27/chile-travel-insider-tips/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:28:07 +0000 john http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/09/27/chile-travel-insider-tips/ Chile stretches over half of South America, 2,670 miles, across dry deserts to volcanoes, geysers, beach, lakes, rivers, islands, all the way to massive glacial fields. About 1,600 miles are connected with head-to-toe roads in excellent condition. This varied landscape makes Chile one of the most dynamic nations. Safe, efficient, and friendly, the hardest part [...]]]> http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/09/27/chile-travel-insider-tips/feed/ 0 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/06/15/chilean-volcano-continues-to-disrupt-travel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chilean-volcano-continues-to-disrupt-travel http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/06/15/chilean-volcano-continues-to-disrupt-travel/#comments Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:59:35 +0000 emma http://blog.exitotravel.com/?p=787 Chile's Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano continues to disrupt travel in South America, although activity has lessened  in recent days. Travel in Argentina and Uruguay has been the most severely impacted, with airport closures yesterday in Buenos Aires and Montevideo. While many towns in Chile have been doused with ash, air travel has been less affected.  But as the ash cloud spreads over the Pacific, travel between Australia and South American is the latest casualty.  Qantas in particular has chosen not to operate under the current conditions. If you are scheduled to fly to Buenos Aires or Montevideo within the next week, please keep in close contact with your Exito agent or the airline.  While the situation seems to be improving, there may still be flight cancellations or delays.]]> http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/06/15/chilean-volcano-continues-to-disrupt-travel/feed/ 0 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/05/20/in-praise-of-the-small-group-tour/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-praise-of-the-small-group-tour http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/05/20/in-praise-of-the-small-group-tour/#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 12:34:21 +0000 emma http://blog.exitotravel.com/?p=663 Lounging in the pool, staring out into the darkening tropical jungle, I contemplated my difficult choices.  A drink before dinner, or stay in the pool?  Decisions, decisions.  On a small group tour, that was about the toughest one I had to make. I consider myself an independent traveler.  From my first trip as an adult, backpacking across Asia and Australia, to current jaunts with my family, I like to do it myself.  But a recent trip to Costa Rica reminded me of the pleasures and advantages of small group tours. I was in Costa Rica for business, so was traveling alone.  I had an open weekend, but only the weekend - I had to be back in San Jose on Monday morning. I decided to maximize my time by signing up for a tour to Tortuguero National Park.  And I, super independent traveler, had a fantastic time.]]> http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/05/20/in-praise-of-the-small-group-tour/feed/ 0 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/05/11/can-travel-really-be-eco/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=can-travel-really-be-eco http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/05/11/can-travel-really-be-eco/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 22:50:49 +0000 emma http://blog.exitotravel.com/?p=640 I have been mulling a recent comment on an older blog entry.  The person wrote "I was told by a wise woman not too long ago (who runs an ecological farm – Permaculture based) that: ‘There is no such thing as Eco travel. You wanna be Eco? Good – Stay Home!” Is she right?  Is travel itself intrinsically bad for the environment? There's no denying that flying is bad for the environment.  Pollution from jets contributes approximately 3 to 5% of annual carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.  By getting on a plane and flying somewhere, you are immediately contributing to that total. But there are things you can do to mitigate it. ]]> http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/05/11/can-travel-really-be-eco/feed/ 0 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/01/17/punta-arenas-strikes-easing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=punta-arenas-strikes-easing http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/01/17/punta-arenas-strikes-easing/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:11:34 +0000 emma http://blog.exitotravel.com/?p=447 Strikes paralyzed Chilean Patagonia last week, as thousands took to the street to protest increases in the price of gas and the projected removal of a government subsidy. There were significant demonstrations and some rioting in the region’s capital Punta Arenas, and all roads and ferry crossings leading into the city have been subject to [...]]]> http://blog.exitotravel.com/2011/01/17/punta-arenas-strikes-easing/feed/ 0 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/10/25/altitude-sickness/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=altitude-sickness http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/10/25/altitude-sickness/#comments Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:47:47 +0000 emma http://blog.exitotravel.com/?p=326 Few sites in the world can match the beauty of the Andes mountains.  The snow-capped peaks, the green terraced hillsides, the ancient ruins and peaceful villages – it’s breathtaking.  Really breathtaking.  As in – I can’t breathe! Most visitors to the Andes regions will experience some degree of difficulty with the altitude.  This may be [...]]]> http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/10/25/altitude-sickness/feed/ 0 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/09/13/lan-and-tam-plan-merger/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lan-and-tam-plan-merger http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/09/13/lan-and-tam-plan-merger/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:36:56 +0000 emma http://blog.exitotravel.com/?p=342 LAN and TAM Airlines announced their intention to merge.  The merger, if approved, will result in one of the largest airlines in the world, and the largest Latin American carrier.  The new carrier would reportedly be called “LatAm Airlines Group”.  The combined company would fly to 115 destinations in 23 countries and employ some 40,000 [...]]]> http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/09/13/lan-and-tam-plan-merger/feed/ 0 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/05/17/tips-for-women-travelers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tips-for-women-travelers http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/05/17/tips-for-women-travelers/#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 19:24:34 +0000 emma http://blog.exitotravel.com/?p=291 You announce you are going to Latin America by yourself, and your mother promptly faints.    After you revive her, she begins issuing dire warnings of all the terrible things that will happen to a woman traveling along in South America. Take a deep breath.  The world has changed.  Solo women travelers are no longer bizarre [...]]]> http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/05/17/tips-for-women-travelers/feed/ 0 http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/03/04/airport-in-santiago-chile-reopens-with-limited-service/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=airport-in-santiago-chile-reopens-with-limited-service http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/03/04/airport-in-santiago-chile-reopens-with-limited-service/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 06:25:38 +0000 emma http://blog.exitotravel.com/?p=265 Limited flights began operating in and out of  Santiago de Chile yesterday, following Saturday’s massive earthquake. The runways and air traffic control systems were undamaged in the quake.  Unfortunately, the passenger terminal building sustained heavy damage. Our contacts in Chile report that the airlines are trying out all kinds of creative solutions to get stranded [...]]]> http://blog.exitotravel.com/2010/03/04/airport-in-santiago-chile-reopens-with-limited-service/feed/ 0