3 choices

This topic was created by Please help (kingsburyphoto@mindspring.com)
[Wed 12 May, 8:25 Tasmanian Standard Time]

I've got free air fare and 3-4 weeks for one of the 3 :
Venezuela or Peru, or Ecuador. Me: a 45 year old exp.
backbacker looking for cool people, good countyside, good
beaches, and diving, hikeing, you guys know what I'm looking
for I am sure. Done a lot of travel in CA but this is my
first adventure in South Am. Please help me make my first
trip to SA great! I would really like any sugestions from
exp. folks who have been. Please help me decide! thanks so
mu

[There are 7 posts - the latest was added on Thu 13 May, 7:36]

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  1. VENEZUELA - COOL PLACE BUT NO WARM WELCOME Added by: SEAN
    [Timestamp: Wed 12 May, 9:22 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Venezuela has some great places to see and except for car
    hire it is not very costly. If you are travelling alone one
    disadvantage about Venezuela is that in many place the
    people are rather indifferent to your presence. The warm
    welcome one hopes for as a foreigner is rather absent -
    probably a point worth considering if you are hoping for a
    truly great holiday.



  2. Venezuela Added by: Laura (lowens71@hotmail.com)
    [Timestamp: Wed 12 May, 10:40 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    I've been living in Venezuela for a year and I have to say
    that in is most definately not cheap.Count on spending
    $35-50USD a day here and that is only if you go with bare
    bare bare bones. I've not been to either of your other
    choices, but from what I hear Ecuador is pretty cheap and a
    great place with friendly people. The above post is
    partially correct about the lack of friendly people, but
    like anyplace you will find people on all ends of the
    freindly scale. I have net some wonderfully warm people
    here and I have also met some duds. Best of luck and buen
    viaje!
    Laura =>



  3. $$$ Added by: Wayne (wld@tampabay.rr.com)
    [Timestamp: Wed 12 May, 12:58 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Huh! I've found that both Venezuela and Ecuador are quite cheap, but I don't spend my time in Caracas or Quito either. Peru,
    on the other hand, is quite expensive (comparatively speaking). Seems like the pharmaceuticals, restaurants, and beer is
    cheaper in Venz, while the hotels and travel is a little cheaper in Ecuador. And, forget the beaches in Peru. Ecuador has some
    nice beaches, but Venz wins hands down for this category, no contest. The people are somewhat friendlier in Ecuador, but also
    quite nice in Venz, and in Peru ---- well, seems like they're nice most everywhere. I stayed in Cd Bolivar, Venz quite
    comfortably on a budget of $20 per day. The same would cost about $15-20 in Ecuador and about $40-50 in Peru.



  4. $$$ Added by: Wayne (wld@tampabay.rr.com)
    [Timestamp: Wed 12 May, 12:59 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Huh! I've found that both Venezuela and Ecuador are quite cheap, but I don't spend my time in Caracas or Quito either. Peru,
    on the other hand, is quite expensive (comparatively speaking). Seems like the pharmaceuticals, restaurants, and beer is
    cheaper in Venz, while the hotels and travel is a little cheaper in Ecuador. Car rental is expensiv ein most so American countries,
    and maybe a little expensive in Venz, but the gas is only $0.10 per liter. And, forget the beaches in Peru. Ecuador has some
    nice beaches, but Venz wins hands down for this category, no contest. The people are somewhat friendlier in Ecuador, but also
    quite nice in Venz, and in Peru ---- well, seems like they're nice most everywhere. I stayed in Cd Bolivar, Venz quite
    comfortably on a budget of $20 per day. The same would cost about $15-20 in Ecuador and about $40-50 in Peru.



  5. Budget Added by: josh
    [Timestamp: Wed 12 May, 15:59 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    I am also a bit surprised by Laura's post. I found living
    easily managable on some 15 - 20 USD per day a year ago in
    Venezuela. Since I'm going back in July, can you guys
    confirm that the prices has gone up this much ??? Of course
    definitions of budget travelling are as many as there are
    travellers.
    OK, Ecuador is definitely the cheapest of those countries
    (one can get by on some 10 USD per day). Forget car rental
    anywhere, it's expensive (and you're solo) and it's
    dangerous business to actually drive SA roads.
    On beaches, Venezuela is the one country that can match
    anything in the world, but yes, as mentioned by Wayne, you
    can find some nice beaches in Ecuador and even couple in
    Peru.
    Now, considering Ecuador is also the smallest of those
    (this saves travel expenses) and that it has the
    countryside and mountains that sometimes match Peru, I'd
    recommend Ecuador.



  6. Budget Added by: josh
    [Timestamp: Wed 12 May, 16:13 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    I am also a bit surprised by Laura's post. I found living
    easily managable on some 15 - 20 USD per day a year ago in
    Venezuela. Since I'm going back in July, can you guys
    confirm that the prices has gone up this much ??? Of course
    definitions of budget travelling are as many as there are
    travellers.
    OK, Ecuador is definitely the cheapest of those countries
    (one can get by on some 10 USD per day). Forget car rental
    anywhere, it's expensive (and you're solo) and it's
    dangerous business to actually drive SA roads.
    On beaches, Venezuela is the one country that can match
    anything in the world, but yes, as mentioned by Wayne, you
    can find some nice beaches in Ecuador and even couple in
    Peru.
    Now, considering Ecuador is also the smallest of those
    (this saves travel expenses) and that it has the
    countryside and mountains that sometimes match Peru, I'd
    recommend Ecuador.



  7. $$$ Added by: thomas (tbuerkli@yahoo.com)
    [Timestamp: Thu 13 May, 7:36 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Hi everybody
    I┤ve just travelled seven weeks in Venezuela from where I
    flew to Lima and spent one month in Peru.
    I was really surprised by amount of money I've spent in
    Venezuela. I agree with Laura, 35 to 50 US. But it is a nice
    country with very nice beaches and many things to see. I
    found most the people very friendly and helpfull.
    In Peru I spent less then 30 US. There are Beaches, have
    been to Huanchaco but the Water ist already very cold now.
    They say close to the Border with Ecuador it┤s warmer... But
    then, you could go to Ecuador directly because it┤s cheaper.
    I had no time to go there, but one day I┤ll go back.
    A part from the beaches Peru is a beautiful Coutry with many
    things to see. From ruins to jungle to great mountains,
    everything. Wow.
    not an easy decision but with all I know so far would go to
    Ecuador enjoy it
    thomas




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