During the World Tour
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The Sargasso invade the coasts of Mexico: Beaches spared, Tips (2020)
During our trip to Florida, we were shocked by the massive presence of stinking sargasso (algae) on the beaches of Florida. Not only is it visually unpleasant, but also the stench is such that we were not able to swim at some of the beaches. This phenomenon, particularly affecting the Caribbean zone, is due to the excessive use of fertilizers in areas near the Gulf of Mexico and the Amazon Basin. These fertilizers end up in the ocean, feeding algae. Studies have shown that after a first wave in 2015, the phenomenon exploded in Mexico in 2018 with the arrival of 24 million cubic meters, the equivalent of 3,000 soccer…
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How to buy Playa del Carmen – Cozumel and Cancún – Isla Mujeres ferry tickets online with Ultramar Ferry? (Mexico)
The question deserves to be asked because, apart from the homepage, the rest of this site must date back to the 2000s. There are so many ferries to Cozumel and Isla Mujeres that most people just show up at the port and ask “which boat leaves first”. The rates are the same for all companies. No stress! However, I have to be on Cozumel Island at a specific time and since it’s Christmas time, I prefer not to miss my ferry and have to cancel my trip. Contrary to what the Internet says, it is possible to buy tickets online, and even from abroad. However, I had to tear my…
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[Travel Guide] Car Rental in Mexico: Insurance, Scam, Credit Card
I have read a lot of conflicting information about car rental in Mexico. Today, I will make you a small, easy to understand guide to avoid the most common pitfalls. Thank you Karen and Karl, who spent a vacation in Mexico this summer, for helping me write this guide, we then supplemented it with our own experience. To make it easier to understand, this guide will be in the form of FAQs. I hope I have brought you the necessary information. Follow our adventure in Mexico & read our different guides about Mexico here Road trip in Mexico #1 : Chichen Itza, Cenote Ik Kil, Valladolid, Cenote Zaci, Ek Balam,…
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Prepaid 4G SIM card in Mexico: How much does it cost? Where to buy it? What speed? Speedtest (2020)
Arrived in Mexico, we are looking as usual to buy a local SIM card. If you have a Free Mobile subscription, you can use 25GB of data for free. However, calls and SMS to France will be charged extra. Exchange rate in December 2019: 100MXN = 4,73€ Buy a SIM card at Mexico City or Cancun airport Having only made one stopover at the airport in Mexico City, we did not have the time to inquire about available tourist offers. If you have any information, do not hesitate to share it as a comment Buy a SIM card at Merida airport At the time of our arrival, we did not…
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Airport lounges: How does it work? How much does it cost? How to get there?
Recently, I have been lucky enough to be able to access airport lounges during my travels. Like many, I have often wondered what is behind those beautiful doors of “Airport Lounges”, “VIP Space” or “Lounge Space”. Let me explain how it works. An airport lounge: what is it? An airport lounge is a space that allows passengers to wait for their flight in more comfortable conditions than traditional waiting areas at boarding gates. These spaces are rented : Either by airline companies who make them available to their customers Either by private companies that market access to these fairs Either by bank cards such as Mastercard or American Express which…
- America, Around the world, Country Guides, During the World Tour, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, TDM, Tips
Border crossing in Central America – Entry fee, Exit ticket: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
Here is a summary of the entry and exit fees for Central American countries. These countries like to use the US dollar very much. Some of them use ONLY US dollars, so plan on using dollars before coming here (or get some from distributors who also offer dollars). Some countries require proof of exit from the territory (Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama), it is better to think about it in advance. A bus ticket will suffice. Mexico Entry: When you enter Mexico, you will be asked for your proof of exit. You can simply buy a bus ticket on the ADO website (e.g. to Guatemala) and exchange it afterwards. You can…
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Shuttle between Concepcion de Ataco (El Salvador) and Antigua (Guatemala)
Last week, we took a shuttle between Concepcion de Ataco and Antigua. I’ll tell you how it happened. We booked the trip on a whim the same day and we contacted gekkotrailsexplorer.com in a hurry on Whatsapp. They confirm very quickly that there are still 2 places available. Then I have to: either make the reservation directly on the site and pay a deposit with PayPal (10$/person) either give the info via Whatsapp and I receive an email with a link to pay the deposit via PayPal (10$/person) The appointment is taken and at 1:30 pm, a driver comes to pick us up and drop us off at a service…
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Prepaid 4G SIM card in Guatemala: How much does it cost? Where to buy it? What speed? Speedtest (2020)
As we arrive in Guatemala, I continue to use my SIM card purchased in El Salvador (a SIM card that you purchase in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras or Guatemala will be usable in each of these countries). However, Anh’s offer has expired, so we are looking for a SIM card for him. Buy a SIM card at the airport Having arrived by land, we couldn’t take note of the tourist offers proposed at the airport. If you have any information, do not hesitate to share it as a comment. Buy a SIM card in the city As everywhere in Central America, it is very easy to find a place…
- America, Around the world, Country Guides, During the World Tour, El Salvador, Our Itinerary, TDM, Tips
[Travel Guide] Itinerary 8 days in El Salvador: Budget, Transport, Digital Nomad in El Salvador
We just spent a week in El Salvador and fell in love with this beautiful country. The landscapes are beautiful, everything is green, easily accessible, the people are very nice. We don’t really understand why a bad reputation sticks to it, because we onlyhave good things to say about El Salvador. Why go to El Salvador? Because you will be the only tourist in the village. Quite simply. The trip becomes much more interesting all of a sudden. What about security in El Salvador? Despite the highest rate of intentional homicide in the world, the crimes are mainly committed by gangs (or victims of gangs who refuse to pay a…
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Orbitz Test: Cancellable Aircraft Tickets for Proof of Exit from Territory
As you may know, some countries require travellers to have proof of exit from the country. It is usually the airlines, at check-in, who are responsible for checking that you have an exit ticket. Not being aware of it, we were almost prevented from taking our flight from Hong Kong to Manila, we had to buy an emergency exit ticket, otherwise we stayed at the airport. Since then, we have been using an airline ticket rental service. This service works very well but costs $12 per person. I recently discovered a 100% free solution: Orbitz. Orbitz is an online travel agency, a subsidiary of Expedia that allows you to book…
