Peru: Last Minute Logistic Questions
 

Hi,

We're heading out to Peru next Thurs. Yay! Some last minute questions. Please answer any of them. You all have been tremendously helpful with my trip planning. Thanks a bunch!

1) Luggage. How much luggage can we carry per person? Should we really only aim for 1 carry-on per person -- that's it? And a small check-in just to transport all the liquid stuff (mosquito repellent), etc. What is the luggange allowance on LAN Peru and the MP train? PeruRail said only 1 luggage per person. Don't know about LAN.

2) Which side of the MP train to sit to maximize the view?
* On the way to MP?
* Back from MP?

3) Which side of the plane to sit?
* Lima to Cusco?
* Juliaca to Lima via Arequipa?

4) Which side of the bus to sit?
* Cusco to Puno?

5) Money. Any ATM in Ollanta? Or we should withdraw cash at Lima airport? Or Cusco airport?

6) Laundry. Where to do laundry in Cusco? We're staying at the Nino Hotel. We probably just do it once.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks all!

1) Can't answer specifics about how much luggage you can carry per person - I'd guess it depends on your airline. My daughter and I packed light - one carry-on and one personal item each (with a fold up duffel that we filled with dirty laundry and checked on the way back home - filled my carry-on luggage with souvenirs). As for PeruRail, if you're coming back to the same hotel, they'll probably keep your excess luggage for you. Our guide, Percy, kept some stuff for us in the trunk of his car for the one night we were in Agua Caliente.

2) Sit on the left side of the train on the way up, and the right on the way back down. The views from that side are much better.

3) We were on the left side of the plane from Lima to Cusco and had good views. Don't know how they compared to the right side, though. Didn't go to Arequipa.

4) Bus - it changes. There's not one side that's better the entire time. We were fortunate in that our bus wasn't full and we could move around - which I did.

5) Yes, there are at least two ATMs I'm aware of in Ollanta - one in the center square and one just inside the door of Hotel Sauce (near the square). But you can get money in the airports, too.

6) Our hotel in Cusco did laundry for us - cheap and fast! Don't know if Nino does or not, but there's a good chance they do.

Hope this helps!
Karen

The only place we had any trouble with ATMs, by the way, was in Puno. Fortunately, there were quite a few of them, so if one doesn't work for you, find another one.

Thanks, althom1122, for the response. Very helpful. You've been a great help! Your trip report is a great resource on this forum!

Seats are assigned according to your ticket on the MP-Cusco train. I'm not aware that you get to choose.

Also, there's a new ATM in Aguas Calientes, the town near Machu Picchu. After surviving its entire history without a bank, there is now one there with a cash machine.

Thanks, Jeff, for that info. Very useful.

Also, does anyone know if Peruvians won't recognize the new American dollar bills? Some of them have funky colors -- purple, pink, etc. I've heard from friends who said their bills were not accepted in some countries because they looked funny.

I took out some new $50 bills, and wonder if I should ask the bank to give me the old bills instead.

Thanks

I forgot about the seats being assigned on the train. In fact, our seats were on the right initially. But there were some people who wanted to move closer to their friends (where we were sitting). Their seats were on the left - so I offered to trade (because I had read the left seats were better). If you're on the right and the train's not full (although that's probably wishful thinking), move to the left if you have the opportunity. It's not a terribly big deal - the views from MP more than make up for it! :-)

Thanks, althom1122.

Also, were you allowed to bring your carry-ons on the Vistadome? Or you had to leave them with your tour guide before going to MP?

The PeruRail website states that you should only bring an overnight bag and leave your luggage at the hotel before boarding the train. Is this a new rule? Can someone who just recently went to Peru please share their experience?

Thanks!

Even if you are on the "wrong" side of the train, you can still see the views. It's not a real hardhip.

Each car in the Vistadome train carries its passengers' luggage in the center of the car. If you are staying at one of the Big Four hotels (Sanctuary Lodge, Inkaterra, Sumaq or Hatuchay Tower), they have people who will greet you on the platform when your train pulls into the station. You leave your luggage with your hotel representative. Same when you leave. The hotel should take your luggage to the station and load it onto your car. You shouldn't need to worry about it. I have seen a couple of cases of someone boardng the train and realizing as the train is pulling out that the hotel has not delivered their luggage. Those situations are rare, but I'd double check to be sure.

If the whole thing, train ride included, is part of a tour, the individual tour operator woul tell you what the procedure is.

People stand up on the trains sometimes, so if you really end up on the "wrong" side (no real wrong side, it's all gorgeous!) people semed to allow you to look, plus with the windows on the roof, makes for a cool ride.

As for the bills, the new ones are probably better-if bills are warn and torn, they may not accept them!!! So I think your new bills will be fine.

People who work in banks, at least, are always up on the changes in appearance of U.S. currency. If you're planning on spending them at local businesses, not everybody will necessarily know about this.

Thanks, all, for your replies.

Jeff, we're going all on our own and staying at small hotels. My concern is the amount of luggage I can bring with me on the train.

Will they allow one carry-on luggage per person, or that's considered too much already? Their website says leave your luggage behind and just take an overnight pack for the trip to MP.

Anyone know?

Thanks

In terms of luggage, we each had a medium sized suitcase and had no problems. I'm not a light packer at all. We left our suitcases in our hotel (Pakaritampu) while we went on the Inca trail.

And ATM's in Ollantaytambo, we didn't use one, instead we changed USD at the airport when we arrived, and when we needed more local currency, we changed it at the hotel.

Have a fantastic time! You'll love it.