Santiago Chile

Got some time off before going to training and looking at flight loads, we can non rev with relative certainty of making the flight home if we go to Santiago Chile, Munich or Dublin. We have a 6 month old and have been to Munich but I'd be happy to go back.

Highlights of Santiago? Is it walkable? What areas are good and where to avoid. AirBNB's are cheap so that's a positive. Google searches have me going meh but if some of ya'll have been there, I'm sure I could get more excited about it.

I searched and saw someone had a bad experience at the airport. When I was in Guatemala years ago we had to pay a tax or something to get a stamp on our ticket. My wife can speak Spanish so we maybe better off in the airport this time but anything to note about the airport? The flight leaves late so if we don't make the flight we'd be getting an uber or taxi late at night back into the city.

 

Its a walkable city. There are some nice parks downtown to explore. My buddy and I were both pickpocketed on the subway train. The thieves are damn good. Typical Latin American city, which means there are def shady areas to avoid. Andes are nearby if you can go explore a bit, they are spectacular. I rode a motorbike up into the mountains to the Argentina border. Valpraiso is the nearby wine region. Some good wineries.

 

Where haven't you been?

 

I'm at only about 130 countries, so definitely many more to go. But its getting tough to get to new ones!

 

Man...I've got to stop working so much. I've had NZ on my list for a long time, and can't seem to even get there. Only been to Germany as far as Europe, and that was for work. In and out in 10 hours. FML.

 

@Steak Travis Viña del Mar and Valparaiso are both nice areas to check out and only a short drive to the coast.
"Playa Hueso" is nice.
The Santa Rita winery is there https://www.santarita.com/en/visit-us/ beautiful gardens.

 

If only time to visit 1 country, NZ might be it!

 

Fantastic place.

 

Back in 2014, I spent 7 weeks in Santiago (consulting gig).
While it's not a place I would have ever chose to visit, it was an unforgettable experience and I'm glad I went.
I found the Chileans to be kind, gracious, and friendly. Definitely some nicer areas - and rougher/grittier ones.
I was there solo, so I'd dress down & watch my step when I was out & about - zero issues. There's a fair amount of European DNA historically scattered throughout the population, so Anglos don't stick out much. Dark-haired Latinas with blue eyes = breathtakingly beautiful. But that's just me.

This.

And this.

A few noteworthy experiences from my trip:

• I hiked up to the top of Cerro Manquehue, an ancient volcano just NE of the city. Pretty cool.
• I took a day to go skiing at Valle Nevado - bucket-list item to ski in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Museum of Pre-Colombian History was fantastic. Special.
• One night, I drove far out of town, and viewed The Southern Cross (the constellation Crux). A curiously emotional moment for me, as it was my first trip across the equator.

If an easy opportunity ever presented itself, I wouldn't hesitate to go back.

.

 

Pablo Neruda's house was fun.

IIRC, Uber is not strictly legal, but more a problem for drivers than passengers.

You must eat a completo.

 

Personally, if I was traveling with a 6-month-old I would
stay away from areas with more exotic diseases.
Plus you may not want to be carrying an infant around when
"I'd dress down & watch my step when I was out & about"
is the advice you're getting, but I'm a rather cautious person.
Save Chile for a later date and go dub around in Dublin.

 

We had considered going to Chile this summer until we realized that our summer is their winter (duh).

 

I had a rocking good time on Calle Suecia. But that was 2002 or so.

 

Used to fly a freight loop around (Tower Air) S America that did 4-5 days at a time in SCL. Awesome place. Would definitely recommend. Would also recommend not ending up in the Crowne Plaza lobby on a Friday night in your underwear…

 

Mmmm...

 

Exotic diseases?
Not sure what the fuck you are reading, but it's not know for that.

Dressing down and watching your step is just plain smart so as not to get profiled till you open your mouth & the accent gives you away.
I dressed down in Argentina, Dublin, London, Berlin and other places.

You've either not traveled much, or maybe you just believe the hype & are fearful of something foreign.

 

What?

You mean you shouldn’t dress up like Carmen Miranda?

 

Most places don't advertise the diseases you might catch when you visit.
The CDC warns travelers to Chile to take precautions against the following diseases:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/typhoid
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/measles
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/hepatitis-b
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/hepatitis-a
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/tuberculosis
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/hantavirus
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/chagas-disease-american-trypanosomiasis
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/leptospirosis
as well as a few others.

As far as safety when out and about, I got that from a poster talking about his
personal experience, not my "fear of something foreign". Even you advise pretending
to be something other than an American in order to be safe.
Pay attention to your own advice.

 

I like the Santa Rita red wines. I've never been to Chile.