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Old 01-04-2006, 02:10 PM   #1
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I want to spend about 30 days or so in central america with my wife. <im 24 she is 21>. I went to europe a while ago for about 3 months, just got a eurorail pass, and flew over, no plans or preperation. It was great, got bored in a country, hopped on a train and went to another.

But, central america is NOT europe and has no similar rail system or pass. SO, I was looking into this http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/JCS by gap travel.

In your oppinions, what would be better. wing it, bring a big pack and extra cash and probibly some more preperation, or get a package. I have never been to that part of the world, except northern mexico.

Has anyone done both, either? What would you prefer?
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Old 01-04-2006, 02:18 PM   #2
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I'd say plan very carefully and thoroughly, then go independently. I'm of the thinking that packages tend to be a rip-off (unless there's an insaaaaane special and they provide you freedom to roam), especially in places that are normally very cheap, like Central America.

I went to Costa Rica last may and basically followed the typical path a package would, then threw the Caribbean coast into the mix. Considering buses were available at US$4 to anywhere in the country and hostels were only $9 a night, it really wasn't a big issue in terms of scheduling or price - I was just limited by the shorter amount of time I had there. And then there's private transport - for less than US$40 you can get to just about anywhere in a South American country, usually with air conditioning and stops for lunch, etc. Your total transport cost in CA could very possibly wind up being less than the cost of one European rail ride! You simply have to research what's available in each country and get advice from fellow 'packers - that's what I did and I wound up having a relatively cheap vacation, but I still got to do just about everything I wanted.
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Old 01-04-2006, 02:48 PM   #3
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Backpacked around parts of central america and Mexico a few months ago with minimal preperation and had an absolute blast. It's an easy place to get around and very very cheap. The lack of rail system is no problem at all because they have a very good bus system in most parts, you may have to jump on the odd chicken bus, but that's all part of the experience. Central America is a lot better prepared for traveller's than i thought it would be, you would have nothing to worry about if you decided to take the wing it option.....and it would be a lot more fun in my opinion.
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Old 01-05-2006, 10:37 AM   #4
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thanks alot. I think mayby a little preperation couldn't hurt. Make an itineriary <sorry for that spelling> to let the woman think its more planned than it is and convince her to go. Then, alot of luck. How much $$ do you think it will cost, not including airfare. I have never been so i got no idea what prices are. Hostel? Food? Busses? enterance fee to mayan ruins and rainforest preserves?
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Old 01-05-2006, 02:19 PM   #5
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Yeah, a little preperation is always a good thing. I think the best way to go is to know the things that you wanna see (ruins, rain forests, etc.) and make up your route while you're over there, kinda keeps it exciting when you don't know where you're gonna be tomorrow or next week.

As for $$$, central America is a pretty cheap place to travel, especially Guatamala, i paid $2 a night at one of the hostels i stayed in!! Where do you plan on going?? I can tell you that Guatamala is pretty cheap, you'd probably average about $5 a night or less for hostels, food is very cheap (can't remember exact prices), and buses were around $20 - $40 to anywhere, depending if you went 1st class or not. A good way to save money is to get chicken buses everywhere, they cost pretty much nothing and are crazy good fun, the drivers are pretty freakin crazy so it can get a little scary at times, but it's all good fun, oh and they get might cramped, they squeeze about 4 people to a seat and have the isle packed...it's crazy!! Mexico (dunno if you're going there) was a bit more expensive, it was about $7 - $8 a night for a hostel. Can't remember how much Belize was, i think it was a little on the pricey side, maybe a little more than Mexico, but i could be wrong. Can't remember how much El Salvador was either, about the same as Mexico i think. And that's all the countries around that area i've been to.

However, price varies greatly depending on what part of a country you stay in. If you stay on the gringo trail and just do the real touristy things you will pay more, if you get off the beaten track things become a lot cheaper.

You'll have a blast dude!!!
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Old 01-05-2006, 08:49 PM   #6
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I'd wing it, but plan well!
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Old 05-18-2006, 09:08 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally posted by kingcrazylegs@Jan 5 2006, 11:49 PM
I'd wing it, but plan well!
[snapback]96956[/snapback]
Can you elaborate a bit more on this concept?? :D
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Old 05-18-2006, 12:36 PM   #8
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pick up Central America on a Shoestring by Lonely Planet at your local Borders or Barnes and Nobles and buy the ticket for tomorrow.

That's how I think it should be done. Forget the planning and the iteneraries and just do it.
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Old 05-18-2006, 12:39 PM   #9
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^ yep. I'm already covered, except my ticket is for Sept.
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Old 05-18-2006, 07:23 PM   #10
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adventure. that is the way to go. i suppose the lovely lady might be opposed...if she's into spontaneity, do it.
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Old 05-18-2006, 09:24 PM   #11
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Do a little digging, have a rough idea of what you wanna do, and do what I did: Buy the ticket, then get the Rough Guide and read it on the flight down :D

You'll find it helpful to get some advice from other travelers you meet along the way (mostly for where to stay/go in certain areas. I'd hate to take a bus for 5-6 hours and wind up in a town without cabinas or hostels to crash in. However, many don't take reservations so you are on a first come, first serve basis. I looked at a few places online, and wound up staying somewhere Omi stayed because they came highly reccomended. Very glad I did, but they didn't take reservations at all. Unfortunately a ton of folks came into town wanting to stay there but they were loaded... but the folks there found every one of them a place to stay that night... so you never know.

I'd say if I were gonna go through CA, and not just Costa Rica again,, I'd find certain things I wanted to see, like the ruins in Mexico, the volcanoes in Nicaragua, the turtle beaches in Costa Rica, etc etc. However, if I couldn't get everything in, I wouldnt be dissappointed. I didn't set foot on a beach in CR, but didn't care.
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Old 05-18-2006, 09:37 PM   #12
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I'm plotting to travel from texas to oh I dunno argentina somewhere using whatever means available. I've the general framework down, I'm really into letting things just happen as they will happen, especially when Im traveling. Careful planning kind of gives me the shits.

Being able to speak at least semi-passable spanish is a good idea. I'm not talking about walking around with a lp phrasebook...
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Old 05-19-2006, 08:55 AM   #13
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Everyone keeps asking me what my itinerary is.... I keep saying:

I just think I want to be in Guatemala by mid October, I think. I definitely want to be in South America by Januaryish...so i can get to Rio by Feb. But...everything else will just kindof happen.

I feel pretty good about it. I've been a planner my whole life...so, I'm looking forward to just waking up most mornings and letting the wind carry me...



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Old 05-19-2006, 03:12 PM   #14
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^pretty sure guatemala is my favorite of all of central america. and that's a pretty sweet itinerary
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Old 05-19-2006, 07:03 PM   #15
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Thanks. I'm pretty excited. I can't WAIT for Guatemala.
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