Stanley, the packing tips Tauck offers is very generic. We just returned from this trip. Our weather may be different than what you experience. However, Patagonia is going to be cool and probably rainy. I would prepare for that. Igazu will be hot and humid. The other thing to consider is evening wear. The trip is casual and there are a few nights you are getting to the hotels late from the flights. We wore our daytime clothing for dinner.
Bring layers and have fun.
Tim,
There was a post in another thread from a moderator that quoted some laundry prices at the hotels on the tour. Some of them seemed exorbitant. Another poster asked if the prices quoted were in dollars but I couldn't find a reply. Could you please clarify? My wife and I are going on the Essence tour starting Feb 13, 2015 and we have several tours before and after. We were counting on using limited hotel laundry services but at those prices we will have figure something else out.
I'm not sure what exactly you looked at (were you talking about this laundry list?), but most often the prices we get asked for are the prices on the riverboats. Those prices are in Euros, not USD.
As far as this itinerary goes, valet laundry is available at all of the hotels on the trip, but I don't have prices at present. I would expect that the prices would probably be comparably expensive; valet laundry does tend to be pricier. If price concerns you, you can always pack a travel pack of detergent in your checked luggage, and wash things in the sinks/tubs at the hotels. You'll have three nights at the Caesar Park Buenos Aires, two at the Sharton Iguassu, and three at the Caesar Park Ipanema Hotel, which should be enough time to wash and dry a few items if you plan accordingly. If that's not to your taste, though, valet is always an option. I'll make some inquiries with our operations team here, and if we have pricing information I'll be happy to post it here.
Jim and Stacy,
That was my post and you are correct, I never received a response from Tauck Emily. We sent three pieces for laundry service (our pajamas and my husbands pants) in Buenos Aires. It was $30 US, so yes, it is expensive. We washed some items out. With the exception of Iguazu, most everything dried very quickly. We were lucky. The weather was cool enough that clothes lasted a bit longer.
Thanks Crackeroo and TauckTim,
That helps. $10 bucks a piece isn't cheap but it is a lot different than the $80-$100 mentioned in the other post. We will be prepared!
We just got back this week. It was early spring and we got 2" of snow in Bariloche. And it was in the 90s at Iguazu so packing is a challenge.
Here's my list:
Health Issues
I always travel with pharmaceuticals in anticipation of problems. Easier to take things with you than to try and obtain them on the road, especially in a foreign country. I usually take:
After-Bite
Allergy/cold
Antacid tablets
Antibiotic topical
Antibiotics (for respiratory and digestive)
Aspirin
Band-aids
Cane, collapsible
DEET packets
Eye drops
First aid kit
Ibuprofen
Immodium/Lomotil
Saline nasal spray
Vitamins
Zinc tablets
I mention this because there was a need for meds on this trip. Not me personally, but others. It started with one cold and spread to perhaps 25% being affected for a day or more. One couple actually left the group a few days early because of illness. The group took it hard.
Jim and Stacy, I checked with the Operations Manager for this trip, and found that the prices mentioned in the other thread were in the local currency, hence the confusion! Sorry about that!
Tommye, wow! Between this list and your blog, you've been posting a lot of great advice about this trip; thank you!
We just got back this week. It was early spring and we got 2" of snow in Bariloche. And it was in the 90s at Iguazu so packing is a challenge.
Here's my list:
What a wonderful list! SO much of this is generic travel stuff, too. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to list everything. I am immensely gratified to see someone else takes duck tape! It is so useful. I can only commend you on meeting the packing challenge for this trip. Bravo!
Dear Tommye,
Your list is indeed wonderful and so, so comprehensive. Thank you. If there are any others travelling on Jan 23rd, my wife and I would love to hear from you.
Just got back from this trip right before Thanksgiving
weather perfect not a rainy day
cool in Patagonia, not freezing,a sweater and windbreaker are enough
hot at the end
Casual wear during the day
At night, sometimes you may want to dress a bit, certainly no tie needed ever
Bring a swimsuit for Ipanema beach.....right across the street from the hotel.....free chairs and umbrellas for us
Great trip enjoy
AND..................do the zodiac ride at the falls (optional during free time).....a thrill of a lifetime!
Comments
Packing tips are available on the trip itinerary page, under the "Packing Tips" section. I hope this helps!
-Tim
Bring layers and have fun.
There was a post in another thread from a moderator that quoted some laundry prices at the hotels on the tour. Some of them seemed exorbitant. Another poster asked if the prices quoted were in dollars but I couldn't find a reply. Could you please clarify? My wife and I are going on the Essence tour starting Feb 13, 2015 and we have several tours before and after. We were counting on using limited hotel laundry services but at those prices we will have figure something else out.
Jim M
I'm not sure what exactly you looked at (were you talking about this laundry list?), but most often the prices we get asked for are the prices on the riverboats. Those prices are in Euros, not USD.
As far as this itinerary goes, valet laundry is available at all of the hotels on the trip, but I don't have prices at present. I would expect that the prices would probably be comparably expensive; valet laundry does tend to be pricier. If price concerns you, you can always pack a travel pack of detergent in your checked luggage, and wash things in the sinks/tubs at the hotels. You'll have three nights at the Caesar Park Buenos Aires, two at the Sharton Iguassu, and three at the Caesar Park Ipanema Hotel, which should be enough time to wash and dry a few items if you plan accordingly. If that's not to your taste, though, valet is always an option. I'll make some inquiries with our operations team here, and if we have pricing information I'll be happy to post it here.
-Tim
That was my post and you are correct, I never received a response from Tauck Emily. We sent three pieces for laundry service (our pajamas and my husbands pants) in Buenos Aires. It was $30 US, so yes, it is expensive. We washed some items out. With the exception of Iguazu, most everything dried very quickly. We were lucky. The weather was cool enough that clothes lasted a bit longer.
That helps. $10 bucks a piece isn't cheap but it is a lot different than the $80-$100 mentioned in the other post. We will be prepared!
Here's my list:
Health Issues
I always travel with pharmaceuticals in anticipation of problems. Easier to take things with you than to try and obtain them on the road, especially in a foreign country. I usually take:
After-Bite
Allergy/cold
Antacid tablets
Antibiotic topical
Antibiotics (for respiratory and digestive)
Aspirin
Band-aids
Cane, collapsible
DEET packets
Eye drops
First aid kit
Ibuprofen
Immodium/Lomotil
Saline nasal spray
Vitamins
Zinc tablets
I mention this because there was a need for meds on this trip. Not me personally, but others. It started with one cold and spread to perhaps 25% being affected for a day or more. One couple actually left the group a few days early because of illness. The group took it hard.
COMPLETE PACKING LIST
Belt
Blouses/tops
Capris
Flats
Gloves
Hat
Jacket
Jeans
Nightwear
Poncho
Purse, evening
Raincoat, w/liner
Sandals
Scarf
Shoes, waterproof
Shorts
Skirt
Slacks
Socks/knee-highs
Sweater
Swimsuit
Tees
Underwear
Walking shoes
FOOD
Coffee (inst.)
Crystal Light
(I normally travel with nuts and nutrition bars but Chile is very strict about those so I complied.)
SECURITY
One should carry docs
Other carry Xerox of passport/visa/credit cards front & back
Take iPhone photos of docs to keep on pho
STUFF
Aftertan
anti-bacterial wipes
Bags-dirty clothes
Band-aids
Batteries/charger
binoculars
Business cards
Candle
Cane/seat, collapsible
CDs, burnable
Comb/brush
Cream/itching
Converter/adaptor
Fanny pack
curler clips
Curlers: travel
Curling iron
Detergent
Duck tape
Envelope-tipping
games/cards
hair dryer
hair spray
hand sanitizer
Hot water bottle
Kleenex
Lint roller
Luggage (packable)
Luggage strap
Make-up kit
Manicure items
mirror, handheld
Money belt
nail polish/remover
Night light
Razor
Rubber bands
Sewing kit/pins
shampoo/condition
sun block/lotion
Thumb-drive
Tote, canvas
Tripod
Visor
Jim and Stacy, I checked with the Operations Manager for this trip, and found that the prices mentioned in the other thread were in the local currency, hence the confusion! Sorry about that!
Tommye, wow! Between this list and your blog, you've been posting a lot of great advice about this trip; thank you!
-Tim
Cheers,
Jan
Your list is indeed wonderful and so, so comprehensive. Thank you. If there are any others travelling on Jan 23rd, my wife and I would love to hear from you.
weather perfect not a rainy day
cool in Patagonia, not freezing,a sweater and windbreaker are enough
hot at the end
Casual wear during the day
At night, sometimes you may want to dress a bit, certainly no tie needed ever
Bring a swimsuit for Ipanema beach.....right across the street from the hotel.....free chairs and umbrellas for us
Great trip enjoy
AND..................do the zodiac ride at the falls (optional during free time).....a thrill of a lifetime!