Booking Domestic Flights - Chile
Jan 11th, 2010, 04:01 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Booking Domestic Flights - Chile
Hello!
My wife, children (ages 8 and 10) and I are headed to Chile March 8 to March 22. I have reviewed several of the Chile Forum threads and am beginning to formulate a basic itinerary, which at this point looks mainly like Santiago, (in and around) Valparaiso, then on to the Lake District. The goal is a mix of beaches, urban settings and natural settings (hot springs, hiking for everyone and perhaps a day of fly fishing for me).
I would love to make it north to the Atacama Desert, but I don’t think it’s in the cards, as the flights seem expensive, at least relative to the domestic flights I took a few years ago while visiting Argentina. Our itinerary hinges mainly on domestic airfares. We would love to see as much of the country as possible on this trip – meaning north to Atacama and all the way south to Punta Arenas, to get an idea of where we would concentrate our stays in subsequent trips, but most of my airfare searches are yielding fares of approximately more than $500 per person. Ouch!
Some basic questions:
1) Valparaiso: It sounds very easy to get to from Santiago, easy to get around and many beaches in close proximity. As such, is it helpful to have a rental ca while in Valparaiso, or just as much hassle having a rental car due to parking, etc.? We would like to explore other beach areas/towns north and south of Valpo, but probably not further than a few hours travel in either direction.
2) Domestic Air Travel: I am a bit confused regarding domestic air travel fares. A week ago a few web searches for travel (on Sky Airlines) resulted in round trip fares between Santiago and Puerto Montt of over $500, while a few days ago the Sky Airlines web site appeared to offer a fare for the same trip of approximately $200. I could not find an “English” conversion selection tab for the Sky Airlines website, so I’m not 100% sure I completed the airfare search correctly, but I am pretty sure I did. Any detailed suggestions/info related to air travel would be most appreciated.
Cheers!
My wife, children (ages 8 and 10) and I are headed to Chile March 8 to March 22. I have reviewed several of the Chile Forum threads and am beginning to formulate a basic itinerary, which at this point looks mainly like Santiago, (in and around) Valparaiso, then on to the Lake District. The goal is a mix of beaches, urban settings and natural settings (hot springs, hiking for everyone and perhaps a day of fly fishing for me).
I would love to make it north to the Atacama Desert, but I don’t think it’s in the cards, as the flights seem expensive, at least relative to the domestic flights I took a few years ago while visiting Argentina. Our itinerary hinges mainly on domestic airfares. We would love to see as much of the country as possible on this trip – meaning north to Atacama and all the way south to Punta Arenas, to get an idea of where we would concentrate our stays in subsequent trips, but most of my airfare searches are yielding fares of approximately more than $500 per person. Ouch!
Some basic questions:
1) Valparaiso: It sounds very easy to get to from Santiago, easy to get around and many beaches in close proximity. As such, is it helpful to have a rental ca while in Valparaiso, or just as much hassle having a rental car due to parking, etc.? We would like to explore other beach areas/towns north and south of Valpo, but probably not further than a few hours travel in either direction.
2) Domestic Air Travel: I am a bit confused regarding domestic air travel fares. A week ago a few web searches for travel (on Sky Airlines) resulted in round trip fares between Santiago and Puerto Montt of over $500, while a few days ago the Sky Airlines web site appeared to offer a fare for the same trip of approximately $200. I could not find an “English” conversion selection tab for the Sky Airlines website, so I’m not 100% sure I completed the airfare search correctly, but I am pretty sure I did. Any detailed suggestions/info related to air travel would be most appreciated.
Cheers!
Jan 11th, 2010, 09:05 AM
#2
Have you checked LAN Chile? We were very pleased with our flights in both Chile and Argentina.They're a partner with American Airlines.
We parked our car and didn't use it while in Valparaiso. Its a great walking city.We drove through Vina del Mar and saw beaches but didn't stay there. For beaches to the north, look at Zapallar where we stayed and Maitencillo.
We parked our car and didn't use it while in Valparaiso. Its a great walking city.We drove through Vina del Mar and saw beaches but didn't stay there. For beaches to the north, look at Zapallar where we stayed and Maitencillo.
Jan 11th, 2010, 11:17 AM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Parking can be a hassle in Valparaíso and many of the roads are very steep. You do not really need a car there. If you want a car to explore the coast to the north a bit, stay in Valparaíso first and then rent the car in Viña. A metro train runs between the two and it is difficult to see where one ends and the other begins. The beaches are mainly for toe dipping as the water off Chile is cold and the drop off steep. But there are some beautiful places.
If you want to go to the lake region, then I would do that first because of the weather. It is more likely to be better at the beginning of the month than the end. You can get excellent buses to the south from Santiago. There are a variety of seat configurations, cama ejecutiva or premium being the best. The fares fluctuate given demand, but I bought a ticket this month for about US$66 in cama (one way) and it is high season so prices are high.
It is too far for busing to Calama/San Pedro. There are fares which are cheaper in country (available to all) but cannot be bought online. You do have the issue of whether you will find seats on a plane when you come, but it is no longer high season in March as children will have returned to school. It can be complicated booking Sky from abroad and LAN is now blocking booking from abroad using Chile as country of origen. One way to get good local fares is to use a local travel agent.
Now, if you are really Jason from Santa Fe (my son lives very near there) then you are looking at reciprocity fees for each member of the family.
http://www.aeropuertosantiago.cl/eng...d=35&Itemid=51
I hope that helped a bit.
If you want to go to the lake region, then I would do that first because of the weather. It is more likely to be better at the beginning of the month than the end. You can get excellent buses to the south from Santiago. There are a variety of seat configurations, cama ejecutiva or premium being the best. The fares fluctuate given demand, but I bought a ticket this month for about US$66 in cama (one way) and it is high season so prices are high.
It is too far for busing to Calama/San Pedro. There are fares which are cheaper in country (available to all) but cannot be bought online. You do have the issue of whether you will find seats on a plane when you come, but it is no longer high season in March as children will have returned to school. It can be complicated booking Sky from abroad and LAN is now blocking booking from abroad using Chile as country of origen. One way to get good local fares is to use a local travel agent.
Now, if you are really Jason from Santa Fe (my son lives very near there) then you are looking at reciprocity fees for each member of the family.
http://www.aeropuertosantiago.cl/eng...d=35&Itemid=51
I hope that helped a bit.
Jan 13th, 2010, 05:52 AM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for the information, HappyTrvlr and Huentetu. It looks like we may simply wait to book a flight(s) once we're in Chile to hopefully get lower cost airline tickets.
Any recommendations on local travel agents?
Yes- Huentetu, we do live in Santa Fe (New Mexico). Where does your son live?
Cheers!
Any recommendations on local travel agents?
Yes- Huentetu, we do live in Santa Fe (New Mexico). Where does your son live?
Cheers!
Jan 13th, 2010, 08:18 AM
#5
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
He is in Los Alamos (but went to SF last night for pizza!).
Jason, An agent will charge a small booking fee, usually about US$10 per ticket. Below is a bit more info on that and other options. I know the agency mentioned which has a good reputation but have never used it personally.:
http://tinyurl.com/y8qexsp
Jason, An agent will charge a small booking fee, usually about US$10 per ticket. Below is a bit more info on that and other options. I know the agency mentioned which has a good reputation but have never used it personally.:
http://tinyurl.com/y8qexsp
Jan 21st, 2010, 05:15 PM
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hi, there,
Beaches in central Chile are frigid, due to the Humbold current. You will be fine on the beach but i bet you will not last more than a few minutes in the water. There are good and numerous buses to/from Valparaiso but the drive in a car is better (independence and all that), it is a short drive across and over the central mountain range. Parking is not a problem - a car wil give you the mobility to go places that can be reached by bus but on your own time. You can also rent a car upon arrival in "Valpo". Make sure you get an international drivers license before going (at AAA). My sister almost got arrested by the police because she did not have one.
Air: do you have any contacts within Chile? Air faes within Chile are cheap if you buy them in Chile. I just bought four tickets from Santiago to Pierto Montt (about the same $500 you mention) for about $145 (at today's exchange). So ask a local tour operator, a friend, somebody from the expat community - anyboduy - to buy them for you.
The lake region is wonderful - beautiful, impressive, pastoral. The north is amazing, the light at sunrise and sunset are incredible - the milky way jumps at you!
Go and enjoy.
Beaches in central Chile are frigid, due to the Humbold current. You will be fine on the beach but i bet you will not last more than a few minutes in the water. There are good and numerous buses to/from Valparaiso but the drive in a car is better (independence and all that), it is a short drive across and over the central mountain range. Parking is not a problem - a car wil give you the mobility to go places that can be reached by bus but on your own time. You can also rent a car upon arrival in "Valpo". Make sure you get an international drivers license before going (at AAA). My sister almost got arrested by the police because she did not have one.
Air: do you have any contacts within Chile? Air faes within Chile are cheap if you buy them in Chile. I just bought four tickets from Santiago to Pierto Montt (about the same $500 you mention) for about $145 (at today's exchange). So ask a local tour operator, a friend, somebody from the expat community - anyboduy - to buy them for you.
The lake region is wonderful - beautiful, impressive, pastoral. The north is amazing, the light at sunrise and sunset are incredible - the milky way jumps at you!
Go and enjoy.
Jan 28th, 2010, 02:26 AM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you, Tubulus and maviro, for your responses. I expected that booking within the country would save us a significant amount of money, but we have no contacts within the country. I'll keep exploring my options.
Huentetu, tell you son about Back Road Pizza on 2nd street for his next pizza "run" to Santa Fe. Delicious thin corn crust pizza. He'll enjoy it.
Huentetu, tell you son about Back Road Pizza on 2nd street for his next pizza "run" to Santa Fe. Delicious thin corn crust pizza. He'll enjoy it.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
sokolata
South America
1
Feb 11th, 2015 05:44 AM
