Tips
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Car rental in Japan: how to get a translation of your driver’s license?
Since Japan is not like other countries, I made sure to check the conditions required to drive a car during our road trip. Good thing I did! While in the vast majority of countries, an international driver’s permit is sufficient, that’s not the case in Japan! To have the right to drive in Japan, you’ll need your national driver’s license, accompanied by a translation certified by the JAF (Japan Automobile Federation). The translation request can only be made from within Japan and requires a stated processing time of about two weeks. I tried to cheat by connecting to the website with a Japanese VPN , but nothing doing… it’s impossible…
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Itinerary: 8-day road trip in Japan (Spring 2024)
Here’s the itinerary I’ve put together for our upcoming road trip in Japan. If it helps, you can access the itinerary via this link. Note: this road trip is by car, not by train.
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Prepaid 4G SIM / eSIM card in Argentina: How much does it cost? Where to buy one? (2024)
Buying an eSIM for Argentina If you have an eSIM-compatible phone and want one for Argentina, you can go through Holafly (read our article on the topic). See eSIM deals for Argentina. Don’t hesitate to use the promo code TOURDUMONDE5CONTINENTS Holafly offers packages between €27 and €79 depending on the duration you want. With the advantage of unlimited internet data. Buying a SIM card at the airport Having entered Argentina by land from Bolivia, I didn’t get the chance to see the SIM card offers at the airport. If you have any info, feel free to share it in the comments. Buying a SIM card in town As is the case almost…
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Currency Exchange in Argentina: Official Rate, Blue Dollar, Western Union, … (2024)
Argentina is experiencing an endless economic crisis. During our first visit, in 2017, we already encountered problems withdrawing money. Many ATMs were empty, and when they weren’t, withdrawal limits were very low. Since then, we had a recommendation for travelers: come with lots of euros or dollars in cash, and exchange money locally. In 2024, this recommendation is not really necessary. The economic situation is no better than before; price inflation and the devaluation of the Argentine peso are impressive, but for foreign tourists, there’s an easier way. The first point to keep in mind is that when you want to convert a foreign currency into Argentine pesos, there is…
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Uyuni – Villazon – La Quiaca bus. Crossing the Bolivia/Argentina border
Most buses to Villazon leave at 10 PM or very early in the morning at 6 AM. The trip takes 6 hours, and the 10 PM bus arrives around 5:30 AM in Villazon. Who wants to be woken up at 4 AM to cross the border? Not us! Who wants to get up at 5 AM, walk among stray dogs to catch a 6 AM bus? Definitely not us! We had to go around the bus terminal in Uyuni asking each bus company what time they leave, and we finally find a company called Quechisla. They have buses leaving every day at 8 AM and 10 AM to Villazon. The…
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Copacabana – Uyuni Bus (2024 Fares)
From Copacabana, there are very few comfortable options to get to Uyuni. All buses stop in La Paz. We opted for the company Titicaca. On-site rates are higher than online, so feel free to buy online. We first need to take a bus at 1:45 PM to La Paz. On the way, there’s a unique crossing. The bus crosses on a somewhat worrying boat (which takes forever to cross). Tourists must take a small boat they pay for themselves (2Bs/person). Then you’ll arrive in La Paz around 6 PM, where you have to wait several hours before getting a bus to Uyuni (9:30 PM). We waited several hours in a…
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Cusco to Copacabana Bus (2024 Prices)
Several buses connect Cusco to Copacabana. I was torn between the different companies. The most luxurious one is Peru Tour, reserved for fragile tourists like me, as they even pump oxygen into the bus (for those suffering from altitude sickness like me). They stop for 3 hours in Puno and offer a tour of the floating islands of Puno during that time. For tourists in a hurry, it can be a good option, but it’s pricey (minimum $50). Since I’ve already visited Puno, I’ll gladly skip that stop. We chose Transzela (departure at 10:30 PM) 90 soles per person. Online reviews aren’t the most flattering, but we have no complaints…
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Taxi from Cusco airport: how much does it cost? (2024)
Just like at Lima airport, you’ll find a kiosk to prepay for an official taxi, right before the exit. The fare to reach Cusco’s historic center is 40 S/. There’s clearly a “tourist tax” because that’s roughly the price of a 30-minute ride in Lima, while Cusco’s center is only about fifteen minutes away. I had read that it was possible to pay less by leaving the airport and negotiating with “unofficial” taxis. Since we weren’t in a particular hurry, we gave it a shot. Sure enough, just a few steps out, drivers approach you. I’m offered 30 S/, I counter with 15. We settle on 20 S/, specifying that…
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How to withdraw money without fees in Peru?
When you withdraw money from an ATM in Peru, you are subject to two types of fees: In Peru, the vast majority of banks charge between 25 and 38 soles per withdrawal. That’s still between €6 and €10! You could get around this by withdrawing a large amount each time, but withdrawal limits are very low! Judged rather (figures observed in January 2024 in Lima). Bank Fixed fee Withdrawal limit Equivalent in % if you withdraw the maximum amount BCP 36 S/ 700 S/ 5% Scotiabank 25 S/ 400 S/ 6% BBVA 38 S/ 200 S/ 19% (!!!) Globalnet 25 S/ 400 S/ 6% These fees are colossal! If you…
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Repositioning Cruises: Sample Prices
If you enjoy traveling on the “giants of the seas” that are cruise ships, a “secret” for cheap cruises is well guarded. If you are flexible on dates, repositioning cruises might interest you! Repositioning cruises are cruises that have the particularity of not having the same departure and arrival port. These repositioning cruises are usually linked to the fact that the ship changes continent to adapt to the seasons. Mediterranean cruises are not very popular in the middle of winter, for example, while the weather is nice in South America at the same time. Some legs of these repositioning cruises can be difficult for cruise lines to sell. Rather than…
