Vacation Planning-- Lima Edition

LIMA, PERU

Flights Dallas → Lima: https://www.google.com/flights/#search;f=DFW;t=LIM;q=dallas+to+lima;d=2013-05-04;r=2013-05-08


Proposed Itinerary:
Day 1- Flight from DFW→ LIM
7hrs nonstop

Day 2- Lima
Things to do: http://www.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1977548_1977464,00.html

Day 3- Lima to Cusco (around $300 RT)
Airlines: http://www.lan.com/en_us/sitio_personas/index.html, http://www.starperu.com/ 

Day 4- Sacred Valley

Day 5- Machu Picchu

Day 6- Return flight from Cusco → Lima
Afternoon massage?? http://www.cntraveler.com/hot-list/2012/spas/heavenly-spa-lima-peru

Day 7- Return flight from LIM → DFW


Lima Hotels:
Miraflores Park Hotel- $290USD/night

http://www.miraflorespark.com/web/olim/miraflores.jsp

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g294316-zfn15352-Lima_Lima_Region-Hotels.html
• Hotel Vila Santa Miraflores- http://www.hotelvilasanta.com/en/index.aspx

http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/hotels/lima/
• Hotel Antigua Miraflores- http://www.antiguamiraflores.com/rooms.php
• Casa Andina Miraflores, Centro- http://www.casa-andina.com/classic-miraflores-centro/
• Casa Andina Miraflores, San Antonio- http://www.casa-andina.com/classic-miraflores-san-antonio/


Helpful website: http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/

Vacation Planning- Peru/Machu Picchu Edition

Machu Picchu

Fun Fact: Machu Picchu is located at an altitude of 7,972 feet. 

Cusco is located at an elevation of 11,152 feet.

Dallas → Cusco flights: 
https://www.google.com/flights/?hl=en#search;f=DFW;t=CUZ;q=dallas+to+cuzco;d=2013-04-19;r=2013-04-23

Day Tour Information:

http://www.machutravelperu.com/TravelPeruTours/MachuPicchuTravelPeru-FullDay.html

Trains between Cusco & Aguas Calientes: 
https://www.perurail.com/index.php $140 pp  
http://www.incarail.com/?arw=1  $108 pp 

Sacred Valley Tour:
http://theantitourist.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/anti-touring-the-sacred-valley-cuzco-peru/

Hotels:

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Sacred Valley

http://www.sonesta.com/SacredValley/

Hotel Monasterio

http://www.monasteriohotel.com/web/ocus/hotel_monasterio.jsp

Encanta Casa Boutique

http://www.encantadaperu.com/en/hotel-cusco

Additional Information:
- The tourist high season in both Cuzco and Machu Picchu runs from May to September, with June, July and August being particularly busy. This is the dry season, with the clearest skies and the lowest daily rainfall averages.
- Take a train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. Buy ticket well in advance during peak tourist season. Purchase entrance tickets at Machu Picchu Cultural Centre in Aguas Calientes (10m from main Plaza, opens at 5:15am) The bus from Aguas Calientes up to Machu Picchu takes about 20 minutes and costs $6 each way. There is a small ticket office just opposite of the departure point but it speeds things up if you buy your bus tickets the night before from the Consettur offices in Cusco (located in Avenida Pardo opposite Parque Espana- its a short walk from the main post office or ask a cab driver to take you there).The first group of buses departs at 5:20am, then at 10 minute intervals until around 4pm. The last buses depart around 5:30 so be sure to check the schedule because its a long walk back to Aguas Calientes.
- Guides are available at the site. Expect to pay around $20 per guide for a 2 hour private tour.
http://www.perutreks.com/machu-picchu-by-train-1-day.html

Another useful website: http://goperu.about.com/od/planningandpacking/qt/Tips-For-Picking-A-Machu-Picchu-Tour.htm

Vacation Planning- Greece Edition

♥ GREECE ♥

general airfare research:
Dallas → Athens  $1100 RT
Athens → Mykonos  $70 (Aegean Air)
Mykonos → Santorini  $75 (Hellenic Seaways)
Santorini → Athens  $90 OW


Hotels:
Athens

http://www.oandbhotel.com/

Santorini:

http://www.chromata-santorini.com/


Mykonos:

http://www.mykonosgrace.com/


helpful website: http://www.cntraveller.com/guides