PilotFrog

Ooooh good idea on the app. I'm all over it, just gotta figure out what the rules are first.

cni187

Whitlow?? Who cares about that guy and his rule. I hate Murphy and his Law. People calling in sick all month led me to work 61 hrs this month. Now I throw in a yellow slip to try and go over guarantee and you know what? Nothing. Hate that Murphy guy.

JungleBus

You know, Chile is well worthwhile, and the fee is good for the life of the passport. You'll spend less on the reciprocity fee + departure tax than you'd spend on departure tax alone out of Heathrow. This is the best time of the year to go to Chile as well, my wife and I were there last Christmas/New Years. Perfect weather and long days, especially as you go south.

We didn't have any kids with us but saw plenty of other tourists who do, I'd say the entire country is quite family-friendly. I will say the things on offer are most appropriate for older children. IE Valparaíso is beautiful, but there's a ton of walking, hill climbing, & stairs involved. There's a ton of stuff to do in the mountains and valleys around Pucon, much of which an older child would enjoy - hiking, sailing, ziplining, rafting, horseback riding, hot springs - but a younger kid not so much. If you have the time, the 4-day journey through the Patagonian fjords from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales on the Navimag ferry is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and many people brought 8-18 year old kids - but I can imagine a young child being bored witless on the ship, it's not a Disney Cruise by any stretch of the imagination!

From Puerto Natales, if you go that far, you can hike the Torres del Paine national park, cross into Argentina to El Calafate, see the Perito Moreno glacier (incredible!), hike at El Chalten, and either fly from El Calafate to Buenos Aires or backtrack to Punta Arenas CL and fly back to Santiago. We did Santiago-Pucón-Puerto Varas-Navimag-Puerto Natales - El Calafate - El Chaltén - Buenos Aires in two weeks, and I'd consider that a bare minimum for that itinerary. With a week, you could comfortably do Santiago, Valparaíso, and Pucón.

Hope you go - gorgeous country, nice folks, not very expensive once you get past the reciprocity fee (which is a function of what the US charges their citizens for a visa).

GunshipGuy

Since it was brought up, approximately what are the fees/taxes for going to Heathrow? Is it worth trying to save some $$$ by trying to get into some other airport and then taking a bus to London?

DLpilot

It is the departure taxes that get you. I think it is about $200 a person.

sailingfun

The tax is from any UK airport. Not worth trying to go somewhere else. Figure about 120 per person.

hoserpilot

Fwiw we flew into CDG. Took the Chunnel over to London. Spent a few days there then chunneled it back to Paris for a few more days. Avoided the UK fees and used the money for some cheap train tickets. Now I can say I've been under the English Channel!

RockyBoy

We go into London then take the Chunnel over to CDG to get back. Costs a little less than paying the UK departure tax, plus you can spend a day in Paris. Last time the Chunnel ride was $90 coach one way to Paris if you bought them online before you left the U.S. and the departure tax was around $130ish if I remember right.

Timbo

Edit:

Q, answered above, thanks.

redship

Has anyone heard rumblings about some used airbusses coming to Delta soon? Sorry if its already been discussed.