Category Pages For: Where To Stay

Detailed analyses of where to stay in particular destinations

Kemer-Beach-4.jpg
MAY 2019: OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (I will refer to them as T$s). At the time of writing, US$1 = T$6. I was making my way slowly up the mediterranean coast from Antalya to Istanbul. I spent a week in a villa in Kalkan with family. That ended with me dropping them off at Antalya Airport at 5am in the morning. It was, now, time for me to ‘break out on my own’. My first stop was Kemer … GETTING THERE: I returned our rental car and got to the Antalya Airport […]

Kemer – Turkey – Information

MAY 2019: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (I will refer to them as T$s). At the time of writing, US$1 = T$6. I was making my way from Antalya up the Mediterranean Coast to Istanbul. I didn’t know my exact itinerary, but I had done my research and summarised it on Google Maps: Yellow Stars were places that I booked in advance (because I could get great advanced booking discounts of up to 50% in May) Blue Flags were Historical Sites and other places of interest Red […]

Kalkan – Turkey – Information

NOVEMBER 2018: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Bolivia is the Bolivianos (BOB). I will refer to them as ‘B$s’. At the time of writing, US$1 = B$6.95. I was making my way from Villazon to Copacabana. In Tupiza, I booked myself on a 4 Day / 3 Night Uyuni Salt Flats Tour. The tour ended in Uyuni. From Uyuni I wanted to get to Sucre. I decided to stop off in Potosi along the way … GETTING THERE: In Uyuni, I was staying at the Joya Andina Hostel which was only 1.5 blocks from the Bus […]

Sucre – Bolivia – Information

NOVEMBER 2018: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Bolivia is the Bolivianos (BOB). I will refer to them as ‘B$s’. At the time of writing, US$1 = B$6.9. I was making my way from Villazon to Copacabana. Part 1 focuses on getting to Tupiza and finding a Uyuni Salt Flats Tour … GETTING THERE: I crossed the border at La Quiaca, Argentina into Villazon, Bolivia. This border crossing has many bad write-ups with many people saying that they suffered hours of delays. I had a good experience and got through in 5 minutes. Anyway, in […]

Salt Flats – Bolivia – Part 1 ...

NOVEMBER 2018: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I was working my way up through north west Argentina into south west Bolivia. Cafayate is definitely worth a visit. I wasn’t so keen on Mendoza, Salta, nor Tilcara. Anyway, I planned to cross into Bolivia on Route 9 at La Quiaca / Villazon. I researched the internet for information and read some ‘horror stories’ about it being disorganised with multi-hour delays. Readers may find my experience useful for their own planning purposes … GETTING THERE: I started my journey in Tilcara. You may start from another location. TILCARA: I walked down […]

La Quiaca, Argentina – to – Villazon, ...

OCTOBER 2018: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Argentina is Argentinian Pesos (ARS). I will refer to them as A$s. At the time of writing, US$1 = A$36.50 … NOT!!!!!! … Read on! When I first planned my Latin America trip 3-4 years ago, Argentina was too expensive for my GRANDPAcking budget … so, I excluded it. However, over the past 12 months (or so) the A$ has halved in value. This brought Argentina within ‘target range’ and I adjusted my plans accordingly … GETTING THERE: I made my way up from Mendoza to Cafayate then […]

Tilcara – Argentina – Where To Stay

OCTOBER 2018: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Argentina is Argentinian Pesos (ARS). I will refer to them as A$s. At the time of writing, US$1 = A$36.50 … NOT!!!!!! … Read on! When I first planned my Latin America trip 3-4 years ago, Argentina was too expensive for my GRANDPAcking budget … so, I excluded it. However, over the past 12 months (or so) the A$ has halved in value. This brought Argentina within ‘target range’ and I adjusted my plans accordingly. My plan was to fly into Mendoza, bus north to Cafayate, and […]

Cafayate – Argentina – Information

OCTOBER 2018: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Ecuador is US$s. The Galapagos Islands were on my ‘Bucket List’. SUGGESTION: I strongly suggest that, if you can, you should bring your own snorkelling equipment. This will give you the freedom to explore on your own … as well as bring down the cost of some of your day trips. Before we continue, let me be clear: The Galapagos Islands are one of the 7 wonders of the modern world They know it They make you pay for it You are a captive market They have you […]

Galapagos – Ecuador – (How To Do) ...

SEPTEMBER 2018: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Ecuador is US$s. I stayed a total of 3 nights in Saraguro in a Double Room (single occupancy) at the Hostal Achik Wasi which was up on a hill about 500 metres from the town centre. I paid US$28 / night. My room was an average size and came with problematic in-room WiFi, wardrobe, cable TV (with no English Speaking channels), and a ‘Warm’ Water Ensuite (you need hot water at this time of year!). The only good thing about this place was the view … … and the […]

Vilcabamba – Ecuador – Information

SEPTEMBER 2018: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Ecuador is US$s. In Cuenca, I stayed a total of 5 nights at the Posada Gran Colombia for under US$16 / night … it was on the north-eastern ‘edge’ of the Historical Centre. I was in the wrong location. My room was a good size and came with good in-room WiFi, cable TV (with lots of English Speaking channels), clothes rack, and a Hot Water Ensuite (you need hot water at this time of year!). My room rate included a free (simple) Breakfast. Cuenca didn’t really do much […]

Saraguro – Ecuador – Information

SEPTEMBER 2018: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Ecuador is US$s. I stayed a total of 4 nights in Olon in a Double Room (single occupancy) at the La Espanola which was about 150 metres from the beach. I paid US$11.25 / night. I booked through AirBnb. My room was a good size and came with in-room WiFi, clothes rack, and a Hot Water Ensuite (you need hot water at this time of year!). Olon is a small, quiet beach town. I good place to relax. But after coming down the coast through Canoa, Puerto Lopez, Ayampe, Montanita, and […]

Cuenca – Ecuador – Information

SEPTEMBER 2018: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Ecuador is US$s. I stayed a total of 4 nights in Montanita at the Galeria Hurvinek. Because I use BOOKING.COM frequently, I got a ‘Genius Discount’ and paid US$18 / night (down from US$22) for a Double Room (single occupancy) with a Double Bed, ‘average’ in-room WiFi, and a Cold Water Ensuite (you need hot water at this time of year!). I paid an extra $4 / night to include a very average ‘buffet’ Breakfast that never seemed to have enough food for the number of people […]

Olon – Ecuador – Information