Tours To Chile
Chilean Travel Specialists
Chilean Travel Specialists
Group Travel Fly Fishing Hotels Car Rental About Us
Tours To Chile
Tours To Chile
Chilean Travel Specialists
Chilean Travel Specialists
Group Travel Fly Fishing Hotels Car Rental About Us
Tours To Chile
Tours To Chile
Chilean Travel Specialists
Chilean Travel Specialists
Group Travel Fly Fishing Hotels Car Rental About Us
Tours To Chile
Tours To Chile
Chilean Travel Specialists
Chilean Travel Specialists
Group Travel Fly Fishing Hotels Car Rental About Us
Tours To Chile
Contact us: info@tourstochile.com
Toll free: 1-855-484-3946
Toll free: 1-855-484-3946
In my 18 years as a tour operator in Chile I have heard many times the same questions which many of my guests asked me before traveling. But there were some people who simply didn't inquire anything and had to learn the hard way. You don't like to get bad "surprises", right? Neither do I. A sour start is not the way to begin a wonderful travel experience. That is why I decided to put together a list of the 10 most important things to have in mind for a traveler's arrival to Chile. All of them are details, but they make a big difference when visiting this beautiful and unique country:
At your arrival to the International Airport:
1- American citizens don't need a visa to enter Chile. What is required is a valid passport (with a due date of at least 6 months after your trip is finished) and to pay a "reciprocity fee" or tax, which is $140 (at the time this article was written). You can pay in cash (only good bills) or with credit card. This fee payment is valid until your passport's expiration date.
The reciprocity fee has to be paid before going through the international police immigration service booth at the airport.
US Currency and Payments:
2- In many places in Chile you can pay with US dollars. The one thing to have in mind though is that in Chile you can use only good dollar bills. No markings, cracks, missing pieces (even the tiniest ones) or stains of any kind. They won't be accepted or exchanged (policies from our Central Bank). Before leaving home, go to your bank and ask for clean new dollar bills. Don't get higher denomination than $20 dollar bills. Smaller change is better. Credit cards are widely accepted but not everywhere. Ask first. If you want to bargain, cash is the best.
3- Banks in Chile don´t exchange currency. Only exchange houses do. In all cities where there is tourism, you can find exchange houses. If you can avoid it, don't exchange currency at the airport. They will give you the worst rate. Also hotels are not the best.
4- ATM's are found in banks, malls, pharmacies and supermarkets. They are not everywhere like in the US. In Chile ATM´s have the most convenient exchange rate.
Passport:
5- Leave your passport in the safe at your hotel room. Carry a photocopy of it with you. No one will ask for your passport at all, except when you will want to exchange traveler’s checks (in any event is better to use your credit card). Chile is very safe but in larger cities or places with lots of people, is not infrequent to find pickpockets.
6- If for some reason you loose your passport, you can get a new one at the U.S.A. embassy in Santiago. They are pretty fast but you have to allow a day or more for them to issue it. Please find more information here.
Water and Health:
7- At least the first two or three days don't drink tap water, have ice cubes or raw vegetables. Tap water is perfectly safe all around the country but you have to allow your body to get used to Chile´s intestinal flora ("good bacteria"), which is different from the one from your country of origin. Bottled water is available everywhere and more convenient in supermarkets. Avoid eating street food. Just make your stay safe food wise.
Tips:
8- In Chile is not customary to give a tip to taxi drivers. Just pay the fare on the meter and that is perfectly alright.
At restaurants the usual is to give at least 10% tip. If the service has been really good, then you can leave a better one. Just make sure the tip is not already included in the bill. This is not usually the case but in some places it might be.
Tips for bellboys and luggage carriers is at your discretion. A dollar per bag is a more than enough.
Again, if someone has gone out of his/her way you can certainly give a tip, which are very appreciated in Chile.
Transportation:
9- At the airport, if you don't have previously arranged with your travel consultant, use only authorized transportation. These companies have a booth within the airport building and are located near the domestic and international arrival exits, in the ground floor. At the airport the taxis are blue. Some transportation companies can have sedan cars with other colors than blue. Just make sure it is the company you contracted the service with previously.
The taxis in the cities are black with yellow roof. All taxis should have a working meter at all times. The hotels work with a good transfer company they trust so you can ask in the front desk for that service.
Internet:
10- All hotels have internet service and Wi-Fi available in their rooms. Some charge for the service and some others don't. There is always a business center which you can access as a complimentary service. In cities and towns you can find "ciber cafes" where you can use a computer for a very inexpensive fee (only cash to pay there. No credit cards). There is Wi-Fi internet at the Starbucks cafes (yes, we have them too) but there is a fee for the connection.
Hope this helps. If you need to know anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@tourstochile.com
Please share this list with a friend.
Warmly,
Patricia
At your arrival to the International Airport:
1- American citizens don't need a visa to enter Chile. What is required is a valid passport (with a due date of at least 6 months after your trip is finished) and to pay a "reciprocity fee" or tax, which is $140 (at the time this article was written). You can pay in cash (only good bills) or with credit card. This fee payment is valid until your passport's expiration date.
The reciprocity fee has to be paid before going through the international police immigration service booth at the airport.
US Currency and Payments:
2- In many places in Chile you can pay with US dollars. The one thing to have in mind though is that in Chile you can use only good dollar bills. No markings, cracks, missing pieces (even the tiniest ones) or stains of any kind. They won't be accepted or exchanged (policies from our Central Bank). Before leaving home, go to your bank and ask for clean new dollar bills. Don't get higher denomination than $20 dollar bills. Smaller change is better. Credit cards are widely accepted but not everywhere. Ask first. If you want to bargain, cash is the best.
3- Banks in Chile don´t exchange currency. Only exchange houses do. In all cities where there is tourism, you can find exchange houses. If you can avoid it, don't exchange currency at the airport. They will give you the worst rate. Also hotels are not the best.
4- ATM's are found in banks, malls, pharmacies and supermarkets. They are not everywhere like in the US. In Chile ATM´s have the most convenient exchange rate.
Passport:
5- Leave your passport in the safe at your hotel room. Carry a photocopy of it with you. No one will ask for your passport at all, except when you will want to exchange traveler’s checks (in any event is better to use your credit card). Chile is very safe but in larger cities or places with lots of people, is not infrequent to find pickpockets.
6- If for some reason you loose your passport, you can get a new one at the U.S.A. embassy in Santiago. They are pretty fast but you have to allow a day or more for them to issue it. Please find more information here.
Water and Health:
7- At least the first two or three days don't drink tap water, have ice cubes or raw vegetables. Tap water is perfectly safe all around the country but you have to allow your body to get used to Chile´s intestinal flora ("good bacteria"), which is different from the one from your country of origin. Bottled water is available everywhere and more convenient in supermarkets. Avoid eating street food. Just make your stay safe food wise.
Tips:
8- In Chile is not customary to give a tip to taxi drivers. Just pay the fare on the meter and that is perfectly alright.
At restaurants the usual is to give at least 10% tip. If the service has been really good, then you can leave a better one. Just make sure the tip is not already included in the bill. This is not usually the case but in some places it might be.
Tips for bellboys and luggage carriers is at your discretion. A dollar per bag is a more than enough.
Again, if someone has gone out of his/her way you can certainly give a tip, which are very appreciated in Chile.
Transportation:
9- At the airport, if you don't have previously arranged with your travel consultant, use only authorized transportation. These companies have a booth within the airport building and are located near the domestic and international arrival exits, in the ground floor. At the airport the taxis are blue. Some transportation companies can have sedan cars with other colors than blue. Just make sure it is the company you contracted the service with previously.
The taxis in the cities are black with yellow roof. All taxis should have a working meter at all times. The hotels work with a good transfer company they trust so you can ask in the front desk for that service.
Internet:
10- All hotels have internet service and Wi-Fi available in their rooms. Some charge for the service and some others don't. There is always a business center which you can access as a complimentary service. In cities and towns you can find "ciber cafes" where you can use a computer for a very inexpensive fee (only cash to pay there. No credit cards). There is Wi-Fi internet at the Starbucks cafes (yes, we have them too) but there is a fee for the connection.
Hope this helps. If you need to know anything else, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@tourstochile.com
Please share this list with a friend.
Warmly,
Patricia
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10 Things You Must Know When You Travel to Chile