Just received an email from Lan Airways mentioning they are having a big sale on their flights from Sydney to Santiago,Chile.
Flights from 1,399 return. Travel period is from April to September 2015 (there may be blackout dates).
They also are offering codeshare services from Melbourne (around $1,500) , Brisbane (around $1,500) and Perth (around $2,000). All via Sydney.
Then from Santiago, there are connections to all latin destinations.
Interesting, LAN just had a huge 2x1 sale a few days ago. Like guidedlight said before, argentina's internal issues allows you to get dolars in their "black market" at an excellent rate. I went there in Jan 2014 and after asking around almost everybody wants to buy your dollars, making almost everything you buy half-priced. You will really enjoy the food there also.
For chile, i would definitely recommend going to easter island.
also the conditions are favorable to get mugged on the streets , by someone connected to the black markets
not really, argentina is (or was as far as i remember) fairly safe, you just have to avoid being a dumb tourist and walking around with your wallet in one hand and your camera in the other one, all distracted.
The problem is that the guy who buys you the USD could signal another guy to go after you and get back the pesos.
Easter Island is a MUSt guys! at least for one week! thats amazing place! I have been there once…but wanna be back again and again!
who knows how to book Multi city flight on LAn?
can't find BNE- IPC (Ester Island.)
Even though it looks like LAN are advertising this, I think it's actually the Qantas sale. After doing a search, the LAN dreamliners are all full price, the Qantas 747's are the cheap ones.
Doing a search on the Qantas site gives very similar prices.
If it's any consolidation…a four-engine Qantas 747 is probably far safer than a two-engine LAN Dreamliner, when it comes to flying over the most remote ocean area on the planet.
Downvoted because a decade-year old QF 747 is not any safer than a brand-new 787, and I bet you would not hesitate to fly any of the numerous twin-engined 77Ws that ply the same ocean between Australia and the US.
Unusually, this is now even cheaper than Auckland-Santiago return.
This is just what I've been waiting for. Question is - what's a minimum timeframe to make it worthwhile and where should I go. Pardon my ignorance to date (but my mind is open!)
IMO South America needs 3-4 weeks minimum. If you are moderately fit, I highly recommend doing the Inca Trail… but you need to book 6 months in advance with a tour company, and organise flights around this.
Hiking in huaraz in the north of peru was great. Iguazu on Argentina border was spectacular as was many Quilmes and steaks. Salento in Colombia (sp) was amazing. Salar de uyuni was amazing. I had 14 weeks for one trip and then 5 weeks the second. If only I could take one of these flights I would head down south and check out ushuaya! Explore one or a couple of countries if your time is tight
This is just what I've been waiting for. Question is - what's a minimum timeframe to make it worthwhile and where should I go. Pardon my ignorance to date (but my mind is open!)
Is it fairly safe to travel by myself around these countries?
why do you ask? what sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into before?
I didn't have any problems. I have heard Venezuela can be interesting, and there were some areas of Bogota that sounded like clear no-go areas.
It pays to be sensible about things. Don't carry all your cash and cards in one spot. Unless you have to, don't carry your passport with you and keep it somewhere safe. And get a sense of good and bad places to go. Other travelers and locals will tell you.
It does pay to learn some Spanish though if you are heading beyond the main cities and tourist areas
Thanks exactly what I was looking for :)
I've flown on this airline and route multiple times.
Lan Chile is a great airline… close to Qantas in terms of service. This route now uses brand new Dreamliners (Qantas uses its aging 747's).
Argentina is the ultimate destination for the OzBargainer, due to their currency crisis. You can easily get 13 Argentine Pesos for $1 USD on the streets of Buenos Aires), which is an amazing exchange rate (Google "Blue Dollar"). It's easy and fairly safe. The official exchange rate is 8.60 Pesos for $1 USD… so you get 50% more money, for FREE !!!!
In fact, you can actually make money by buying Argentine Pesos using the "Blue Dollar" in Calle Florida in Buenos Aires, and sell the Pesos to the National Australia Bank back in Australia. It's crazy!!!
EDIT: I just added an example in the forums about how to turn AUD$100 into AUD$106.43 using this method (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/181151)