Worrisome level of petty crime in S.A.

[LuAnn]

Paul,

 

The last line of your previous post is good advice no matter where you are in the world, not just BA or Rio. To me there comes a point where you just have to stop worrying, use common sense and go about your business. Otherwise one's travel is confined to TA cruises where you never get off the ship.

 

you and Paul and I LOVE them as well!!!...:D But your point is so well taken...!!!! LuAnn

[cindilouwho]

Common sense is KING. It seems that when on vacation some folks just throw all caution to the wind. I have seen people leave all their valuables and cash on an airplane seat when going to the lav. Nothing like setting a buffet for potential thieves!

 

I travel solo, for the most part, and have learned that you must be aware of your environment at all times while still finding that balance of enjoyment vs. vigilance. I was in Rio last year and stayed at most fabulous B&B in a penthouse off Ipanema. My host, who came from France and now lived in Rio, was a flight attendant for United for 25 years and took good care of me. When I got there he stripped me of my watch, my ring and my cash. He put all in the safe and handed me 1 credit card, the photocopy of my passport and several Reals to spend. He shoved the cash in the left side of my bra, the credit card in the right side of my bra, put the passport copy, a map and a note in Portugese telling where to return me if I got lost and my cell phone in my cross body bag and told me to go have fun. :eek: I was to walk wherever there were people but not on empty streets - he did take me to the Favela which was close by for a visit and all was well but I was not to walk there by myself.

 

Over the years I have learned to thwart the pickpockets, scammers and other nefarious creatures that darken the doorways of the places I adore traveling to. They will NOT stop me from seeing everything that I can see before I take leave of this world. I will flourish in spite of them - knowing they are there and will not be able to make me so fearful that I won't live my dream. For the most part, they are petty criminals and if they do get a few sheckels or roubles or reals or pesos out of me - it will be a minimum and karma will repay them in kind. I just have to trust that they will derive more of a benefit from the material things than I, and wish them well ......

 

Your personal safety is another matter. I do try to avoid travel to areas of the world that are in flux. I am not a "storm chaser".

 

So the best advice I can give is mitigate your risk. Carry nothing of great value with your person. Rule of thumb is that if you cannot bear to part with it - DO NOT pack it! Leave it at home. You don't need to impress anyone - you probably will never see them again. If you are a professional photographer and want to take your best stuff then plan for the eventuality of missing valuables. If the quality of the pics are worth the risk - and they are to those who love photography, then go for it. But to my mind, there are amazing small inexpensive cameras now that take great quality pictures. My smartphone takes better pics then my little panasonic.

 

Stay safe and GET OUT THERE!!!

[wripro]

How can the Copacabana Palace compete with a B&B where the owner personally stuffs your credit card in to your bra????

[burm]

How can the Copacabana Palace compete with a B&B where the owner personally stuffs your credit card in to your bra????

 

 

LOL. I feel cheated. Our handsome young B&B host in Rio did not provide that service.

[LuAnn]

How can the Copacabana Palace compete with a B&B where the owner personally stuffs your credit card in to your bra????

 

 

No Way...guess I stayed at the wrong 'day room" ;) LuAnn

[cindilouwho]

Yes --- he was tall, charming, handsome, suave, gentlemanly, fun and we had a WONDERFUL time. We went for cocktails and had breakfast together on the terrace overlooking Ipanema.

 

His partner was absolutely the same!

 

Doesn't it just figure.....all the good ones are either gay or married! :(

[wripro]

Now you have to give us the name of that B&B!

[LuAnn]

Now you have to give us the name of that B&B!

 

We want to stay there next time!!! LuAnn :p:D:):confused::rolleyes:

[Floridiana]

You really don't have to look like a tourist in Buenos Aires. No fancy camera, just the small one in my small shoulder bag. No baseball cap, no back pack, no jewellery, no fancy watch, no walking through difficult neighborhoods. Dark shoes and long pants that look like they belong in a city.

[vaitape]

and no Tilly or similar looking hats either. Those are tourist identifiers for certain!

[Floridiana]

What's a Tilly? Something Aussie?

[no fuss travel]

What's a Tilly? Something Aussie?

 

No Canadian. It is a hat that can be ordered online now all over the world. All four of us traveling together in Brazil, Argentina and other South American countries wore our Tilly's, used due diligence and had no problems. Our guide in Rio though was keeping a very close eye on all of us to make sure that we had no problems.

[vaitape]

No Canadian. It is a hat that can be ordered online now all over the world. All four of us traveling together in Brazil, Argentina and other South American countries wore our Tilly's, used due diligence and had no problems. Our guide in Rio though was keeping a very close eye on all of us to make sure that we had no problems.

 

they're great hats and good to wear when doing nature tours/at the beach but in the cities, they stick out big time. Never saw a Tilly on a local in any city we've been to. However, have seen locals in baseball-style hats. Best idea is just to be aware of your surrounding and don't wear your valuables. If you can't stand to lose it, don't wear it.

[burm]

they're great hats and good to wear when doing nature tours/at the beach but in the cities, they stick out big time. Never saw a Tilly on a local in any city we've been to. However, have seen locals in baseball-style hats. Best idea is just to be aware of your surrounding and don't wear your valuables. If you can't stand to lose it, don't wear it.

 

Tilly makes a lot of wonderful travel clothes, and hats in styles other than the most famous one. I have a pretty ladies sun hat that has a tie I can use while on boats.

 

http://www.tilley.com/?lang=en-GB

 

Best of all are their pants that come with secret pockets. We never leave home without those. Some come with a lifetime warranty, and if you find they have worn a bit after several years, they allow you to replace them in a size up. :p

 

I have several great memories of my Tilley pants with those secret pockets in Buenos Aires. :D

[smalltowner]

I don't know if this is the right place on the boards for this question, but there seem to be a few people here who have been in SA with Oceania, so I'm hoping someone will be able to answer this. My DH and I are booked on a 38-day Miami to Buenos Aires B2B next Jan/Feb. - start Miami, through Panama Canal, down west coast of SA, round the tip, and up the east coast to end in Buenos Aires. I'm just starting to research, and am looking into the ports in SA that are on our itinerary. Many of them seem to be in an industrial area some distance away from where we could start to walk about on our own or even get a taxi. Some, like Callao, seem to be downright dangerous. What I'm wondering about is whether Oceania provides any kind of complimentary transport from the ship to a safer area for getting a taxi or whatever for independent travelers (ie not on an O. tour)? Also, has anyone recently been on O. for the port of Pisco? If so, can you tell me if the ship docks at Pisco or at nearby San Martin? Thanks.

Penny

[no fuss travel]

Penny, if you give us a list of the ports you will be calling at you will probably get a better response. Several of us have done some of the ports, but not all of the ports and have not done the particular cruise you are sailing on.

[smalltowner]

These are the ports that I am wondering about regarding arriving there on Oceania's Regatta:

 

Guayaquil, Ecuador - not even sure where the port is here - can anyone help with that? If it's in walking distance to the old city, we're fine.

 

Callao, Peru - is there a shuttle into Lima, or at least away from the dock area, which appears to be dangerous? Some cruise lines provide a shuttle, but Oceania hasn't provided them on any previous cruises I've been on.

 

Pisco, Peru - I think all cruise ships now dock at San Martin, and I think there are taxis available there, but can anyone confirm that?

 

Matarani, Peru - several websites say there are no taxis available at the port and there's nothing to do or see at the port location. This port is the gateway to Arequipa (which is too far for me to consider at a 2.5 hr. bus ride). Nearest town is Mollendo, 12km south. Oceania offers an excursion to Mollendo, but is it possible to get there independently?

 

Thanks for any help that may be provided.

Penny

[Paulchili]

In Callao there was a shuttle to the Marriott hotel in Miraflores (we had a private tour).

I believe there was also a shuttle to town in Pisco (we had a private tour) .

We had a private tour to Arequipa out of Matarani - very interesting town but a long ride.

I hope that this will help

[jpalbny]

In Callao there was a shuttle to the Marriott hotel in Miraflores (we had a private tour).

 

Have not been to Lima with O, but - familiar with the Miraflores portion from having stayed there about 18 months ago. If O is offering the shuttle to the Marriott, then it will let you out in a part of Lima where it is reasonably safe to walk around on your own. There's a nice park, beautiful cliff walk, and plenty to see here.

 

The pics1 link right after Celebrity Xpedition - Galapagos - November 2011 in the signature below will show you a sampling of what's within walking distance of that shuttle stop.

[Paulchili]

Have not been to Lima with O, but - familiar with the Miraflores portion from having stayed there about 18 months ago. If O is offering the shuttle to the Marriott, then it will let you out in a part of Lima where it is reasonably safe to walk around on your own. There's a nice park, beautiful cliff walk, and plenty to see here.

 

The pics1 link right after Celebrity Xpedition - Galapagos - November 2011 in the signature below will show you a sampling of what's within walking distance of that shuttle stop.

 

Yes, that is the area - thank you for the great pictures. I believe there is also a shopping mall there which many people found as an added attraction.

Speaking for myself, if one has not been to Lima before, one would be making a serious mistake by not visiting the historical center of Lima - much more interesting than the Marriott or the shopping center :D

FWIW, we've been to Lima twice before and still found it interesting to explore more of the historical area on our third visit

[jpalbny]

Speaking for myself, if one has not been to Lima before, one would be making a serious mistake by not visiting the historical center of Lima - much more interesting than the Marriott or the shopping center :D

FWIW, we've been to Lima twice before and still found it interesting to explore more of the historical area on our third visit

 

Yes, we missed out on that part of Lima, though we did walk all the way to the pre-Incan ruins... Hopefully we'll get back there some day! Definitely agree with you that Colonial architecture trumps a modern shopping center.

 

Note that we didn't go to the shopping center, other than to find an ATM - and a very nice restaurant there, with outdoor seating, pisco sours, and a very relaxing lunch with a killer view of the Pacific!

[Travelcat2]

These are the ports that I am wondering about regarding arriving there on Oceania's Regatta:

 

Guayaquil, Ecuador - not even sure where the port is here - can anyone help with that? If it's in walking distance to the old city, we're fine.

 

 

Thanks for any help that may be provided.

Penny

 

The port in Guayaquil, Ecuador is not close to old town. We took a Regent cruise there and took a shuttle bus into town. This city has had serious crime problems in the past. Our shuttle bus had two police escorts. However, once you are in old town, there is enough police presence that you will feel safe. We were there 2 1/2 years ago and they had yet to build many areas for tourists. The Malecon (by the sea) is beautiful to walk down. IMO, it is the best part of Guayaquil. Hope this helps.

[Floridiana]

We are just back from a similar cruise on a Holland America ship. Lima is quite a distance away from the industrial port of Callao. In addition, downtown Lima with its marvelous colonial plaza is quite a distance from the fancy neighborhood of Miraflores.

 

I am sure there was a shuttle in the port so people would not walk on the pier. There was also a shopping area on the pier - silver, hand-knit sweaters, bags) I don't remember if there was a privately run shuttle into downtown Lima or to Miraflores. The ship did not provide one.

 

We had booked two different ship's tours which picked us up directly at the ship. I would recommend either taking a ship's tour or organize one privately beforehand. The public bus system did not look very promising. We saw lots of small private commuter busses and no bus stations, just waiting passengers at the side of the street.

 

One of the young crew members and her friend took a public bus downtown and from there to Miraflores. She speaks fluent Spanish and lived in Lima and other South American countries before. If you are up to it ...

[Floridiana]

One more thing on Tilley hats and clothing. Great for nature outings, but a give-away that you are a tourist in any South American city. If you are in a group, it does not matter because groups are obviously tourists or school children on outings. We took pictures of each other in Lima's Pueblo Libre neighborhood. The kids had a blast.

[Birder1]

Salvador, Brazil, HAL Rotterdam in 2008: One gentleman in my cruise (Rio to Lisbon) was seriously injured when an attacker attempted to pull-off the victim's necklace; others on tours were pick-pocketed. I had 2 teenagers try to "confuse" me, but yelled at the little boogers & they acquiesced (maybe I reminded them of Mon). The necklace-snatch is still very prevalent in Santiago...I lived in 2 S American countries & my sister still lives in Chile...do NOT (as you are always advised), where any jewelry, even on a ship excursion. When I was on a ship's excursion elsewhere in Brazil recently, crew members were circling around us & repeatedly warning all about pick-pocketers. Heed the warnings you'll receive onboard. Even us as locals have been approached by scammers (taxi) and just last week, a friend had her necklace & earrings ripped-off her...they are fast!!