Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I want to take my family to Central America this winter. I've got two kids under 10 years old. I've heard wonderful things about Nicaragua, but there are also travel advisories like crazy for it. Looking on Reddit etc, the theme seems to be "it's totally fine if you aren't an anti-government activist".

I'm also open to other places like Costa Rica etc.

Is Nicaragua safe? Is it "stable" and likely to be safe in 6 months? If not, where else should we consider?

I heard there is quite a market for 6'4" 9 year olds in Nicaragua.

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I want to take my family to Central America this winter. I've got two kids under 10 years old. I've heard wonderful things about Nicaragua, but there are also travel advisories like crazy for it. Looking on Reddit etc, the theme seems to be "it's totally fine if you aren't an anti-government activist".

I'm also open to other places like Costa Rica etc.

Is Nicaragua safe? Is it "stable" and likely to be safe in 6 months? If not, where else should we consider?

I've been to Nicaragua numerous times. It is as safe as anywhere in central America and feels less dangerous than places like Honduras/El Salvador etc. I have never felt threatened there in the slightest. No one will caution you not to walk around at night for example.

There was a bunch of demonstrating against the government in 2017, but that has completely disappeared now. It is safe and stable. I mean Daniel Ortega is a piece of #### dictator, but if you aren't going there to attempt to overthrow the regime you aren't going to really notice any political issues.

Offers everything nature wise that Costa Rica does, in addition to nice Colonial cities in Leon/Granada.

Prices in tourist or other areas are much lower than Costa Rica. Costa Rica tries to gouge tourists in the Nicoya Peninsula IMO.

Nicaragua does have a low level of development so it can feel a little rustic at times so it probably isn't a place to go for higher maintenance tourists.

Personally I think its an amazing destination and the best in Central America. Criminally under touristed IMO.

[marsplasticeraser]

Don’t know if Nicaragua is having this issue but a person I know got dengue recently in a nearby country and it seems there is an outbreak this year in Central America.

I’d check in more detail if you’re taking kids, dengue sucks.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/...f-dengue-fever

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Nicaragua does have a low level of development so it can feel a little rustic at times so it probably isn't a place to go for higher maintenance tourists.

Rustic is good. Trying to expose the kids to how we won the lottery being born up here all while escaping the weather and checking out some cool nature and sights. Thanks so much for the info!

[stazzy33]

Originally Posted by marsplasticeraser

Don’t know if Nicaragua is having this issue but a person I know got dengue recently in a nearby country and it seems there is an outbreak this year in Central America.

I’d check in more detail if you’re taking kids, dengue sucks.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/...f-dengue-fever

Which nearby country? I have a trip to Belize planned at the end of October...

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

I've been to Nicaragua numerous times. It is as safe as anywhere in central America and feels less dangerous than places like Honduras/El Salvador etc. I have never felt threatened there in the slightest. No one will caution you not to walk around at night for example.

There was a bunch of demonstrating against the government in 2017, but that has completely disappeared now. It is safe and stable. I mean Daniel Ortega is a piece of #### dictator, but if you aren't going there to attempt to overthrow the regime you aren't going to really notice any political issues.

Offers everything nature wise that Costa Rica does, in addition to nice Colonial cities in Leon/Granada.

Prices in tourist or other areas are much lower than Costa Rica. Costa Rica tries to gouge tourists in the Nicoya Peninsula IMO.

Nicaragua does have a low level of development so it can feel a little rustic at times so it probably isn't a place to go for higher maintenance tourists.

Personally I think its an amazing destination and the best in Central America. Criminally under touristed IMO.

All good to know. We’re hoping to do 10 days in Central America; adding Nicaragua to the list for consideration.

[Johnny199r]

I’m going to Kenya and Tanzania in January for a safari for 2 weeks. Any tips from people who have been?

[MoneyGuy]

We’ve done a two-week trip to Kenya. You’ll love it. Pack light and take a good camera and binoculars. It’s tiring so go well rested; we did two safari trips every day - early morning and late-afternoon or evening. You’ll have a blast.

[Meelapo]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

I’m going to Kenya and Tanzania in January for a safari for 2 weeks. Any tips from people who have been?

I guess it depends on how you're going. Are you doing this on your own or are you going with a group or on a tour? We went on something similar about 10 years ago but we spent a bit more and hired a private driver to take us on a tour of the parks. It was great.

The biggest tip I'd have is make sure to bring good bug repellent. Depending on the season (I think) the tsetse flies could wreck havoc on your trip

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by Meelapo

I guess it depends on how you're going. Are you doing this on your own or are you going with a group or on a tour? We went on something similar about 10 years ago but we spent a bit more and hired a private driver to take us on a tour of the parks. It was great.

The biggest tip I'd have is make sure to bring good bug repellent. Depending on the season (I think) the tsetse flies could wreck havoc on your trip

Thanks. I’m doing a group tour.

[MoneyGuy]

Other than what I can find online, for those who have been there in the last couple of years, is Nicaragua safe for tourists?

https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/is-nicaragua-safe/

[Ironhorse]

Does anyone know of a good site or app that will allow shared uploads, preserving meta data and possibly displaying locations on a map? Some of us went on a group trip and want to create a bit of a story book.

[ballin]

I will be looking for some cheap last minute travel from Calgary to somewhere warm in the coming weeks. I have been on a turnaround for about a year and were coming to the end of execution. Any recommendations on sites to visit? I don't travel much usually too busy with work so I'm not exactly in the know.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Is it worth it buy points if there is a bonus given? For example AC is doing 85% bonus and for hotels IHG hotline are doing 100%. i think IHG might make sense, since I have been looking at a trip to Toronto and paying with purchased points, with the bonus makes sense. Not so sure about flights and whether I could get screwed buying some points instead of paying cash for a flight.

I would never buy points as a speculative thing. If you have a specific redemption you're going to do a few minutes after you get the points, it can be worth it.

They can devalue their points whenever they want, but they will always want your cash.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by ballin

I will be looking for some cheap last minute travel from Calgary to somewhere warm in the coming weeks. I have been on a turnaround for about a year and were coming to the end of execution. Any recommendations on sites to visit? I don't travel much usually too busy with work so I'm not exactly in the know.

Google Flights is great. You can put in your origin and leave the destination blank, and it will show you how much it is to go anywhere. You can also restrict it to one airline alliance and change the class of service.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Must-see/do things in both cities, if possible.

For BCN, I recommend La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, and try to go to the beach if it's nice.

I would also recommend trying a free walking tour (I found the Gaudi one quite enjoyable). They are usually around 1.5-2.5 hours and the guides are usually bilingual and quite knowledgeable about the city. It's polite to tip them around €10-20 per person at the end. They will give you ideas of places that may be of interest to you that you can check out on your own afterward.

https://www.guruwalk.com/barcelona

[MoneyGuy]

It looks like we’ll be going to a resort in Punta Cana, D.R., in early to mid-December. I’m about to check out activities, sights and attractions in the area, but would appreciate ideas from those who have been there. Four adults and a boy, age 9.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Bucket list item checked, going to fly upper deck on a 747 in 2 weeks

Worth every penny. That was sweet

[1991 Canadian]

Has anyone had any luck with getting compensation via the CTA air travel complaints resolution process?

I put in a compensation request with the Canadian Transportation Agency Air travel complaints site in Feb 15, 2023. Today on Oct 7, 2024, I got an email response giving me a login link, a site with my uploaded documents, and a requirement to review my submission. Exactly 600 days later.

Just curious if anyone else who has done the CTA travel complaint process got to this step, and how long the response from the CTA / airline took after you got to the login/review step of the process.

Should I expect another 600 days to get a response from the CTA/airline, are is this now on a more reasonable 300 day timeline?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by 1991 Canadian

Has anyone had any luck with getting compensation via the CTA air travel complaints resolution process?

I put in a compensation request with the Canadian Transportation Agency Air travel complaints site in Feb 15, 2023. Today on Oct 7, 2024, I got an email response giving me a login link, a site with my uploaded documents, and a requirement to review my submission. Exactly 600 days later.

Just curious if anyone else who has done the CTA travel complaint process got to this step, and how long the response from the CTA / airline took after you got to the login/review step of the process.

Should I expect another 600 days to get a response from the CTA/airline, are is this now on a more reasonable 300 day timeline?

That’s not reassuring. I put one in last month!