South America | Travels With Two

Exotic Destinations on a Budget: How to Experience the Trip of a Lifetime for Less

My latest article for BootsnAll.com takes five destinations/travel experiences that are known for hefty price tags and shows you how to visit/have them at a relative discount.

If you’re both interested in touring the Galapagos Islands, relaxing in French Polynesia or Mexico’s Riviera Maya, taking an African safari, or exploring Antarctica for yourselves, this here’s the resource for you:

Exotic Destinations on a Budget: How to Experience the Trip of a Lifetime for Less

Please enjoy reading — and trip-planning!

Filed Under: Africa, Antarctica, Ecuador, French Polynesia, Mexico, Oceania, Polynesia, The Americas, The Galapagos, Yucatan Peninsula

TWT Travel Binder: Colombia

By Melanie 5 Comments

After we watched Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations episode on Colombia, we were surprised to find ourselves pining for the beaches of Medellín, the romantic, vine-draped courtyards of Cartagena, and the art, design and restaurants of Bogotá. We’ll get there someday, but for now…Here are some resources to help you plan your own “travels with two” to Colombia.

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Filed Under: Colombia, South America, The Americas

A Dream Trip to Peru & Ecuador: Quito

By Melanie 5 Comments

Quito, Ecuador - Photo by Eric Chan

Continued from
A Dream Trip to Peru & Ecuador: The Galapagos

*A few Junes ago, my parents took their dream trip to Peru & Ecuador through a U.S. tour company, Adventure Life.

My parents both strongly recommend Quito, Ecuador as a place to really get South America; the first UNESCO World Heritage site ever named, the country’s capital still has the best-preserved, least-altered city center on the continent.

They also have just what ails you when a travel crisis threatens to melt your spirit into a ball of goo.

A Dream Trip To Peru & Ecuador: The Galapagos

By Melanie 6 Comments

Continued from
A Dream Trip to Peru & Ecuador: Machu Picchu
A Dream Trip to Peru & Ecuador: Cusco

*A few Junes ago, my parents took their dream trip to Peru & Ecuador through a U.S. tour company, Adventure Life.

3911097352 d69b4de991 204x300 A Dream Trip To Peru & Ecuador: The Galapagos

Kicker Rock, San Cristobal, Galapagos Photo by Suzan Wynne

The third leg of my parents’ dream vacation to Peru and Ecuador was a cruise to the Galapagos Islands… aka Ground Zero for Evolution…aka Yes, Please.

A Dream Trip to Peru & Ecuador: Cusco

By Melanie 3 Comments

Continued from
A Dream Trip to Peru & Ecuador: Machu Picchu

*A few Junes ago, my parents took their dream trip to Peru & Ecuador through a U.S. tour company, Adventure Life.

3910313755 2e497a01ed 201x300 A Dream Trip to Peru & Ecuador: Cusco

Cusco's Sacred Valley - Photo by Suzan Wynne

My parents found Cusco, Peru a fascinating place to visit, an ancient city with a mixture of pre-Colonial and Colonial buildings. One of the highest sites on Earth to have been settled by human beings, it’s located over 11,000 feet above sea level in the southeast Andes Mountains.

Here you can compare the seismically sound architecture of the Incas with far less sturdy Spanish churches, explore a sacred valley, and enjoy one of South America’s most adorable rodents…for dinner.