My husband, 14 year old daughter and I are considering a week-long trip to Chile during the Presidents Day week in February. We usually go skiing that week but this year I want to go somewhere where it's really warm that time of the year. We have always wanted to go to South America, and Chile sounds like a good choice for a first visit (my husband has been to Brazil a long time ago but we have not been to South America as a family). All 3 of us are seasoned travelers with many trips to Europe, Costa Rica, Mexico, Hawaii, Caribbean, etc. under our belts. We would stay primarily in or near Santiago (thinking 3 nights in Santiago and 3 nights somewhere on the coast) and would like to visit the wine country south of Santiago, generally drive around and visit some smaller towns in the area and then relax on the beach for a couple of days. The biggest concern I have so far is that the trip from Connecticut and back home involves 2 really long overnight flights (our daughter's response: "so what, we can sleep on the plane, we always do when we go to Europe" LOL). I am just concerned that we will be exhausted from the traveling instead of returning rested and relaxed from our vacation.
Any thoughts or advice for us? Suggestions for places to stay?

Here's a consideration: That time of year, Chile will be just two hours ahead of Connecticut. Unlike with Europe, where you have the long flight and the time difference of several hours, you have only the long flight going to southern South America. Coming and going, it will be evening when you depart and morning when you arrive, both home and in Chile. It's still a long, tiring flight, but at least the time change is reasonable.

Here's another consideration: Chile charges what it calls a "reciprocity fee" to U.S. passport holders. A Chilean has to pay $100 for a visa application to travel to the United States, so Chile has decided to charge the same to U.S. citizens. It's good for the life of your passport. I think it's fair game, but it will still be $300 you have have to fork over the moment you land in Santiago.

But I think Chile is an amazing country.

Thanks Jeff for the helpful response. I figured that jet lag would not be so bad flying south as it is when you change several time zones.

I can see already that with airfare from CT and the reciprocity fee this is going to be an expensive trip. But it seems worth it.

Any suggestions on places to stay in Santiago and on the coast? Hotel Isla Seca in Zapallar caught my eye and would probably be a nice place to end the trip. Haven't really done a lot of research yet on Santiago but I would appreciate any thoughts - we prefer smaller upscale hotels with character.

One point to bear in mind is that February is the high season in Chile. If you want to stay at the Hotel Isla Seca or anywhere else on the coast, then book soon. One possibility in Santiago would be the Petit Hotel Vilafranca, www.vilafranca.cl/esp/home.htm

Although you may have to pay the reciprocity fee, and it actually costs Chileans more than that for the visa application with no guarantee of getting it, as a foreign tourist you are exempt from the sales tax on your hotel bill. That's a hefty 19% off the bill. This can take the sting out of the US$300!

I was just in Santiago for a week for work and I agree with Jeff about the advantage of no time change (and I believe that then there will only be a one-hour difference for you then - they are now on NY time).

From LA it was an eleven-hour overnight flight, but I was not even slightly fatiqued when I arrived. Zero jet lag or sleep issues - nothing at all like going to Europe or Asia. (I did fly business class, but had a similar no-jet lag experience when I went to Peru.)

Santiago was wonderful, but if you just have a week, two nights there is plenty. There is so much more to see in Chile!

Chile's time matches NY right now. Later this fall, the U.S. goes off daylight saving time (back one hour) and Chile goes on it (forward one hour) as their summer approaches. Then Chile will be two hours ahead of the U.S. east coast.

Iza:

Will you be driving at all....? To get to Zapallar isn't that easy without a car...and the drive is straighforward on the Pan Am and only about 20kms off the highway to reach Zap.

I would suggest that if you decide on a visit to wine country south of Santiago, consider a night or two at our favorite Hacienda Los Lingues, especially if your horse lovers.

Amazing place...400 years old, charm amid the antiquity. It would be about 70 miles from Santiago, just south of Rancaugua (off the PanAm). Easy drive, especially while visiting the surrounding wine country.

www.loslingues.com

Stu T.

Thanks so much for the helpful responses. We were planning to rent a car for a week and drive on our own for the wine tour and to the coast.

As much as I liked Hacienda Los Lingues on their website, I am hesitant about staying in 3 different places in one week. If I have my choice, I like to stay put in one place, but on this trip I think that 3 nights in Santiago and 3 nights in Zapallar would work best. We were planning to do the wine tour(s) as a day trip or trips from Santiago.

We will depart Santiago, flying AA. Do we still have to pay the $100/person fee? We will arrive in BA and work our way to Santiago.

If fee is required can it be paid by credit card? If not, what kind of payment?

You pay the $100 if you arrive in Chile by air. If you arrive overland, no, you don't get charged the reciprocity fee.

I am so not a fan of Santiago. But I LOVE BUenos Aires! Why not go there? It's very inexpensive and you can go to all the nice restaurants for ridiculousy low prices. Hotels are not too expensive either. It's so much more cultural than Santiago. I just bought an apt. in BA because I love it so much (I won't live there but I can rent it to you if you want!).

We stayed at Hotel Isla Seca in January this year...for just one night. Zappalar is beautiful. I'm not sure 3 nights would be good for me..but if you just want to relax it might be a good way to go.

We thought the hotel was fine..not fantastic, but nothing really to complain about. We had a room at the top of the hotel...small...no A/C and we could not open the patio doors onto our deck because of the mosquitos. You can walk along the front(from the hotel) to the beach and the restaurant area. We ate at one restaurant that was particulary good..will have to find my journal to get the name. i promise to do that! The older part of the town is also fun...lots of fruit markets etc.
We spent a month in Chile in January..so obviously had more time to move around. It is a wonderful country..easy driving...friendly people. We really enjoyed Santiago.
Happy to give you more info...but babysitting grandchildren tonight..just let me know.