Sunday, 26 August 2012

South America Travel planning - reseach WIP

Planning a South American trip - Multi city - airpass
http://rtw.oneworld.com/
Here you can select all the flights & save your itinerary.
If you create an itinerary, when you come to save it, it will let you register/create a oneworld.com account.
e.g

LGW-CUN

Mexico city - MEX-LIM

Lima LIM-SCL-santiago

Santiago Chile - SCL - SLA salta

Salta - SLA to Buenos Aires

BA to El Calafate - FTE

FTE to BA - BUE

BUE - RIO

RIO to LHR

You can also save a PDF of the itinerary, so you can email that to air carriers for quotes.

Agentina

Buenos Aires
Perito Moreno Glacier
S.W. Argentina
www.viator.com - travel operator
Great images of the Glacier
http://ultimatechase.com/chase_accounts/perito_moreno_glacier_patagonia_expedition.htm
El Trena las nubes from Salta
N.E. Argentina
Train to the clouds, 15 hr train ride up to 4000m
www.tranalasnubes.com.ar to book tickets
07 December 2012, 02, 06, 06, 16, 20, 24 & 30th November dept. 07:05
Mendoza & Aconcagua
Aconcagua - climbing season - end of November to end of Feb
http://www.aconcaguatreks.co.uk/
17 day tour, leaving on the 27th December 2012 £2,214
Trips also leave on 3rd, 10th, 31st Jan 2013
Punta del Inca - Mendoza
Cachenta thermal baths http://www.termascacheuta.com/spa.php
Mendoza to Valparaiso, Chile
Bus takes 16hrs
www.andesmar.com
can't be booked with UK credit card I don't think.
MEXICO
Tulum -

Ahau - beach hotel & Yoga http://ahautulum.com/contact.php

Peru - Inca trail

As well as STA travel & G Adventures, there seem to be a number of approved Inca trail operators....

178 of them! The list can be found here:

http://www.incatrailperu.com/inca_trail_tour_operators.html

To see if there is availabily on your preferred start date of your 3-5 day trips, the government official website shows how many daily passes are left:
http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/
to find the tool, click on the "CONSULTAS" (TAB) + select the Drop down - "Camino Inka" & you can see the daily number of tickets left.

Information about tour operators & inka trail prices

http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/treks/incatrail4.html

www.saexplorers.org

Join South America Explorers & get independent advice on tour operators. Other benefits include the ability to store your luggage @ their club houses around South america.

Cuzco member information:

http://www.saexplorers.org/clubhouse/cusco-clubhouse

Recommended inca trail operators, discount information & contact details:

http://www.saexplorers.org/explore/peru/cusco-sacred-valley/cusco-city/services/tours-and-activities

Jabs for North America, central & South America

Hepatitis B

Rabies

Yellow Fever -

Malria areas in S Mexico - http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/destinations/north-america/mexico/mexico-malaria-map.aspx

Yellow fever in Peru - http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/advice/disease-prevention/yellow-fever/yellow-fever-risk-areas.aspx

Other places still to research:

Salar de Uyuni

Volcan Villarrica, Pucon, Chile.

Saturday, 25 August 2012

Tips & check list on how to sell items on ebay

I wrote this checklist for my dad so he could sell items on ebay & though others may appreciate the advice.

Prior to selling an item on ebay

You should ideally have been buying on ebay before, so you have some history & buyers know you’re not someone that could con them & not deliver the goods!

· Buy items on ebay & be a prompt payer, this will Build up your feedback history

· Set up a seller account takes a few days, so do this in advance if you haven’t got your photos/blurb ready

Creating your Sell item - advert

1. Research on ebay

a. Whether your item is being already sold there

b. How good/bad are the pictures

c. Select “watch” if some are ending soon, so you see how much they go for

d. Note what their starting price & postage is

2. Research on manufacturer website & other sites

a. Price they’re selling new & used for

b. Copy/save – Specification, key information & new £ RRP – cut & paste or link to a site.

3. Write blurb re:

a. condition, any scratches, any damage,

b. Any key features / summary – for those that don’t know the brand/model

c. Add any spec or information found on other sites.

4. Photograph item

a. On white/plain background

b. Good light

c. Different angles, make it look smart/shiny looking

d. If any scratches, include a photo

e. Ideally 3-8 photos if wanting more than £10-15

5. Postage –

a. Weigh item in packaging for postage price

b. OR select – collection only

c. Don’t round the postage up to an unreasonable amount, it will affect your feedback

6. Title –

a. include – Brand name, model n., any repairs needed

7. Tick/select - Categories,

a. tick as many categories/sub categories to aid with search

8. Price

a. Decide if there is a minimum price you’ll expect & you can set a reserve

b. Buy it now – if you don’t want it to be an auction & you want an exact price

c. Ideally make starting price 99p (even if it’s worth £300, if it’s popular only, it will go)

9. Number of days – end of auction

a. Make sure the auction ends on a day/time when people are in e.g. Sunday 7pm

b. Make sure it finishes on a day when you can post ideally within 24hrs

Once auction has started

· Check to see how many people are watching it

· Answer any email questions people have quickly

When auction has ended - posting

·        Print postage label – on/in ebay
·        Get it stamped @ post office
·        Post within a day or two – if you can’t email them to let them know.

This link may also help: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/sell/basics/start.html