karenbeanpole

Hi,just remembered,the"Princess Diana bench" we were taken to wasn't the one.The real one is at the other end of the pond nearer the Taj facing inwards.The obvious reason for this is the photographer would have to have a paparazzi lens or stand in the pond in a pair of waders.We found out too late but still tell everyone our's is the real deal,lol.Cheers,Brian.

Good point! We had the same experience of being taken to the wrong bench. Actually my DH pointed it out then but I didn't believe him...:eek:

Thanksalot. Your review is very helpful. Did you take tours at the other ports or walk in the towns?

Did you see penguins? I'd like to see them but am confused as to the best port. One time to see them is fine.

Also at Ushuaia, is there time to take a tour and also walk the town?

What ports are you visiting? Are you precruise in Santiago? If you let me know what ports you are visiting I can tell you more.

In Ushuaia, we arrived at 12 and came off the ship at 12.30. By the time we decided what to do and booked the boat it was 1pm. We had 2 hours to walk around and eat before 3 when the boat left. It's all walkable. Up one small road, then the whole long road of shops at the T junction. The crab restaurant was on the right, lots of souveniers everywhere.

If you do the Tierra del Feugo, I guess you go right away with the driver, and depending on how long your tour is, and when your ship leaves, then you might have time. We were there on a Sunday and lots of things were open.

We saw penguins in Falklands. But if you're not going there, let me know your ports and I can give you more details. If you don't want to post here, please feel free to email me khooi@hotmail.co.uk

Happy to help. It's so scenic on this cruise, we just want everyone else to enjoy it like we did and not make the same mistakes!

We have just returned from our cruise. Our stop in Ushuaia was one of the best ports we've ever been to. We were there from 12- 8. If you don't want to preplan or prebook anything, it is not a problem. We waited till we got there as we were looking at the weather on the day. Your choices at Ushuaia:

1. Some people went on the End of the World train. I suggest you prebook that online. You'll have to take a 20 mins taxi ride there and you don't really want to do that if you don't have tickets in case they are sold out. I think when we were there the ship's excursion might have had a special train just for them. Not sure.

2. There are lots and lots of people at the dock selling tours. 4 hrs etc. Taxis/guides that will take you to the Tierra del Fuego, so it depends if you want to explore that region and do some trekking. You can always negotiate a car, and you can always team up with other people and it will work out cheaper. It wasn't expensive.

3. Just outside the dock, turn right, and all the boat trips are there! This was what we did in the end. We used Patagonia Adventures (they were more or less the first one you get to when you come out of the port on the right). They are highly rated in TA and we had an amazing time with them. Boat trip that day was 3-7, 4 hours in a small boat (14 of us but it could have taken more), and we went as far as the lighthouse. On the way we were up close to cormorants, sea lions, and on the way back too. A lot of them. Also landed in an island near Ushuaia and we trekked up to the top of the hill and had amazing views. No other boat could do that.

We didn't book this in advance, obviously due to the unpredictable weather. I'd emailed them before I left but didn't book. When I got there, we really were undecided what to do, but decided on this and it was absolutely amazing. If it is a very wet and windy day, I wouldn't recommend it. Ushuaia is a really nice place itself. We had time before the boat trip to walk around the town, do some souvenir shopping and even have lunch (King crab - delicious).

Loved Ushuaia. If anyone has any questions, happy to help.

We did the Golden Triangle in India, flew to Dubai then cruise back to Southampton.

In India, we did NOT eat in the hotels. They were completely overpriced and you will miss out on the local experience. We kept to bottled water (the tour supplied us with plenty so we never needed to buy any, but if you don't have that luxury, then buy the bottle water and make sure it's always sealed. Never drink out of cans, always with straws (you don't know what their store rooms are like!). And we made sure we ate no meat and fish, only vegetarian. And there is a lot of vegetarian restaurants out there. The local vegetarian food is absolutely delicious, the variety of breads is amazing.

It is very hot in India, and they don't exactly have the same hygiene and food safety standards of the west (that includes hotels). Eating hot vegetarian food is the way to go. No salads, no ice in drinks. Make sure if you ask for Coke etc, that they give you the bottle/can and not in a glass. Tapped soda is not safe. And we ate plenty. No problems.

One meal we had in Delhi in a restaurant opposite the hotel was about £5 (USD7?) for 2 of us (no alcohol). We had so much food and it also included tea. Some of our group at at the hotel and paid nearer to £100. And it wasn't nice local food.

So unless you hate Indian food, eat out. Ask your guide, ask the hotel receptionists, where THEY would eat. And you won't go far wrong. It's the real India you'll experience.

Just been reading the entire thread and finding it most helpful. We are going to be in Hamilton form 8am -3.30pm in January. If we rent 1 scooter (my DH is experienced), can anyone suggest a good route for us to visit some places? We don't want to rush but want to see as much as we can. Any ideas would be appreciated for the limited time we have.

Do you know if there are tours available at the port at Puerto Montt? Not sure I want to pre book anything and see how we feel when we get off.

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We never ate at hotels - completely overpriced - and went to restaurants recommended by our guide which were nearby. Excellent local food at very reasonable prices and no tummy problems.

Drink out of cans or bottles, always check the seals on water bottles and always use a straw as you don't know where the drinks have been stored.

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Is there anything interesting to see ashore in the town itself? Is it a waste of this port to stay in town or better to venture further out? If the town is interesting and nice, it won't be a waste of time, but if it is a dump, then better to be organised and do something.

Thanks so much - will look into your suggestions.

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Docked here only for the day - any suggestions how we can spend it? Quite like doing Eva Peron, or seeing some tango. Do I need a tour guide? Or is it easy to navigate? Is there only 1 port and how far is it from the city?

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Thanks for that

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The last time we disembarked in Rio, we had a transfer to hotel included in our package. So we didn't really look for taxis.

Is there a taxi queue and are there plenty of taxis. Or is it mayhem?? [emoji33]

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Is anyone familiar with the port in Cape Town?

We are docking there overnight and I would like to know how to arrange to meet a private tour guide at the port. Can we walk out of the harbour and find people out there easily? Is it a secured container port type area? Where is the best place to meet a prearranged tour guide?

Tipping in Singapore is rare. Most restaurants will have service charge included. If not you don't need to leave anything unless you want to. They don't expect it. Certainly in hawker centres there is no tipping. There is also no need to tip tour guides or taxi drivers. Unless you want to but they don't expect it.

In recent years with more and more western tourists in Asia, tipping is becoming slowly more prevalent. Coming from that area, I hope the people there are not going to get spoilt by that and come to expect to be tipped in the end. Asian service is part of the culture- when people work in the service industry they take pride in serving. They don't expect to be paid extra for it. Though in the end no one is going to say no to a tip.

I travel with my western better half and we frequently disagree when we have to pay - he thinks it's really mean not to tip. I win usually in the end as I say I come from there and I know the culture better than he does [emoji41]

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Lots of vendors at the port

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Hi,blimey you woke me up then LOL. Thanks for that,we have just filled our visa form online and driving back tomorrow from Italy,we have an appointment in London on the 6th Dec,hope it is ok.How did you find the process?Cheers,Brian.

We haven't applied for our visa yet as we are not going till April. I think we will do it with a visa company online like we did before when our ship just docked in Mumbai. I'm not sure but the process might be a little easier now.... But beware - make sure you have everything in place before doing it! The photos have to be the exact size stated.

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I think the Night Safari is completely overrated- I went the second to give it another chance and honestly it is NOT worth the time. You can't see much and the animals are all in cages AND it is DARK! Really too crowdedness so your visibility is almost nil.

The regular zoo next door is fantastic if you want to go to a zoo - it is so open plan and the best zoo I've been to in the world

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Public transport is so easy in Singapore. Plenty metered taxis, cheap buses, great MRT underground.

I would recommend looking at booking.com and checking them out. Most 3 star hotels are extremely high standard compared to European hotels. 5 star is basically very luxurious and unfortunately very expensive in Singapore.

Breakfast is not important to be included as there is FOOD everywhere- honestly you will not have to go far to find food if every kind. It's the culture there - eat and shop!

I would recommend a hotel near bus or MRT routes and you don't have to be in Orchard Road ( unless you can afford anything!)

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Go for a lovely massage and facial

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Great tailor at the port!

Also massages

Shuttles take you to the centre so no need to wander round outside the port

The sail in and out through the river is lovely - much nicer than docking at a container port

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Go get a cheap massage and facial!

There is quite a bit to see in Bali. However the traffic is pretty bad so you have to allow time.

Some suggestions: rafting on the rapids

ATV ride

Terraced rice fields

Brilliant waterpark in Kuta extremely well run and fun

I think you can get local taxis when you arrive - they like negotiating in US dollars but you can choose to pay in IDR their local currency

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Hallo, today I need a Little help :)

 

 

 

Have been quiet a few times to Bangkok,(seen all palaces, etc) but now this time we will have 3 days left and I would like to organize something diferent.

 

 

 

Dont mind to take a guide, maybe would be good to see the floating market which is about 80km far way, and the market which is on top of the rails from the train.

 

 

 

What would you sugest???

 

 

 

any guide? for Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Landkawi, Penang, Phuket

I suggest a visit to Ayutthaya and Bang Pa inn - day trip - brilliant alternative if you've done the sights of Bangkok

Also floating market is good but get a guide that takes you there ahead of the crowds

Finally a trip to River Kwai and riding a part of that iconic railway line. Plus a trip to the Jeath War Museum

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Was reading this post - we are going there ourselves in April. An Indian friend has some very useful advice to keep safe there and I would like to share these tips with you:

1. Bring little bars of soap to wash your hands in public toilets

2. Avoid eating meat if possibles- that is because it is extremely hot there and the storage for meat isn't like western standards. Most stomach upsets (Delhi belly) are caused by eating meat or drinking wrongly

3. Only drink bottled sealed water and cans - bring your own straws and don't drink through the bottle or can itself

4. Avoid ICE!

5 there are lots of vegetarian dishes that are delicious- avoid anything uncooked

Hope these tips help - I have got my supply of straws ( individually wrapped) and soap!

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We did the bullet train to the airport on our own - fantastic if you've never been in one before - if I rightly remember it was not very long nor expensive.

Then went shopping at the science and technology stop ...

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Langkawi - try hiring a scooter and going around on your own.

Quite nice to go to the bridge - scary!

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