Can anyone suggest what sights are worth seeing in Santiago? Also any good local restaurants? I will only be there for a short time, but would appreciate any thoughts. <BR> <BR>Georgia.

Georgia, <BR>Hi!, I have just returned from Sth America, loved Chile and Santiago, could live there. We took a car with driver, who spoke English, he was very good, careful, and saved us money. <BR>We did a city tour, visiting all the usual sights a city has to offer 3.5 hours, 7 hours to Valparasio & Vin del Mar, 3.5 hours Vineyards, 5 hours Ski resorts in the Andes. <BR>If you wish his name please email me, as yet I have not finished unpacking. <BR>

please send me the name of your driver and tell me how much he charges per day <BR>thanks in advance !!!!!!!!!!!!

Could you forward his name to me as well. The price too. Thanks very much! <BR>Mike.

I'd appreciate any suggestions you may have as well. Any must-see or must-dos in Santiago? thanks--

Can someone send me the name of the driver? I require transport on January 1, 2002 from Santiago to Valparaiso and am finding some difficulty in determining how best to do this. If anyone has any information on available bus service or other public transport, this information would be help. Also, the cost of the driver or other public transport is required. Also, does anyone have suggestion for a good hotel in Valparaiso?

We were in Chile a couple months ago. We enjoyed Santiago and have some suggestions for you. If the sky is clear, there is a lot of air pollution in Santiago, take the funicular to Cerro San Cristobal for wonderful views---but only if the sky is blue and clear. <BR>On any day, spend a couple hours exploring the trails and views from Cerro Santa Lucia with many footpaths, gardens and Plaza Neptuno. If you have children, be aware that a lot of necking takes place with the younger folks at Santa Lucia. Nearby is a great little market for rugs and lapiz jewelry. Wander about the Plaza de Armas and if you enjoy seeing fresh fish and great seafood---visit the Mercado Central. We spent hours at the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombia. We often used taxis supplied by the hotel and had no problems.

I would echo a lot of the same things mentioned by the last post...my wife and I spent three days in Santiago before heading up to Portillo for a ski week and enjoed the city very much. The sights I would recommend are the San Francisco church, the Pre-Columbian Art Musuem, the presidential palace, their is a mansion (the name of which I forgot) which is a well-preserved musuem of 19th century aristocratic life which was interesting, San Cristobal hill has nice viuews if you go up in the morning (the smog is terrible!) and the quite streets of Providencia, Pablo Neruda's house at the base of San Cristobal, the main square has a beautiful cathedral and the Mercado central is you enjoy looking at lots of fresh fish! The city is huge and we enjoyed our time there quite a bit although we regret that we do not speak any Spanish. The Chilean people are wonderful--very warm and friendly--you should enjoy your stay.

Will be visiting Santaigo at the end of November with friends and am considering traveling to the wine country. Are there any special places to stay at? We're giving up a well planned trip to Burgundy so we want something really nice with good food. Also considering Patagonia. Is Explora worth it?

I will be arriving in Valparaiso, by ship, in the January 20th, 2002.<BR>I would like to make sightseeings in Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar and then go to Santiago.<BR>The travel agency is trying to charge US$120 per person.I think this famous taxi driver would do the same for less.<BR>Can somebody help me with his name & telephone number? Thanks.

We spent the last 3 days of our honeymoon in Chile and have some mixed feelings about the place.<BR>Our first night we spend in Puerto Montt, which Fodor's compares to Puget Sound. Try Detroit, MI instead! What a dump of city! If you decide to cross the lakes from Argentina, please stay in Pto. Varas, a quaint, beautiful German town close to Pto. Montt. Hotel prices are exactly the same, so why stay in such an undesirable location.<BR>Also, travel agency Andina del Sud which monopolizes lake crossing trip in the region only provides transportation to Pto. Varas hotels. Our hotel in Pto. Montt was only five blocks from Andina's office, yet the guide refused to take us there, claiming that they could not make the trip. So she had one of her agency emplyees to provide a transfer service, which was 4times overpriced. Surprisingly enough, the guide took a bunch of exchange students to our same hotel the next day because the group had booked some tours with them. The guide's name is Jenny and she has to be one of the most corrupt and unethical people ever. She referred us to this restaurant Dino's for dinner, which is the equivalent of a Chilean TGIF's and asked us to mention her name. Undoubtedly she was taking kickbacks.<BR>If you plan to dine in Pto. Montt, go to the Club Aleman. Excellent seafood as well as other German dishes!<BR>Again, whatever you do, do not stay in Pto. Montt. We stayed in Hotel Viento Sur and they charged us $98 for accommodations comparable to those of a youth hostel.<BR>STAY in Puerto Varas.<BR>As for Santiago, avoid the marketplace and the restaurant "DOnde Augusto" regardless of what others might say. The service is worse than that at Cambodian street stands. You get eaten alive by flies and the food is loaded with salt.<BR>Try Mare Nostrum for dinner. Excellent Peruvian restaurant in la Concepcion. Phenomenal service as well and very reasonably priced. Aqui Esta Coco is not bad either.<BR>Santiago is a very beautiful city with pleasant tree-lined streets and parks. Views from Cerro San Cristobal are spectacular.<BR>Chileans in general tend to smile while they literally rob you. It is a very petty population. Cab drivers smile and give you details of the sites, while they deliberately drive around the block to rack up your fare. Taxi metwers vary from 70 pesos per meter to 90 pesos per meter. Needless to say, watch out. 90 peso cabs wait outside nice restaurants and hotels. Walk a couple of blocks to catch a decent cab.<BR>Our bell boy took the maid's tip when we sent him to get our luggage and we had stayed at a top five-star hotel.<BR>Chileans are simply shameless and very slimy. Tourists beware!

Hi,<BR><BR>Did anyone get the driver's contact info and price info? I tried to email Jay but the email didn't get through. Thanks in advance!

I have just returned from Chile and had a bad experience with Mr. Gaston Lux.<BR>He simply did not show up in Valparaiso.<BR>After waiting for a long time, I took a taxi, went to Vi&ntilde;a Del Mar bus station and took a bus to Santiago.I missed my tours in Valparaiso & Vi&ntilde;a.<BR>Be carefull with tours contracted by internet.

I know this is a VERY old post but I am trying to find out if anyone did get the name of the driver/guide that spoke English in Santiago???? Thanks.