FROM BACKPACKER TO BILLIONAIRE.......

Common Sense Travel Advice for El Salvador and the rest of Central America for Sensible People!

Remember, advice is cheap, it usually takes me a few minutes of my time to answer some sensible travel questions and to point you in the right direction, as well don't just take my word for it, check with others who have traveled to the areas you wish to visit, usually you will find these persons, eager and willing to aid you, on the travelers forums such as:

Join:

www.travellerspoint.com/

www.bootsnall.com/

www.gonomad.com/

www.tripadvisor.com/

www.travelingo.org/south-america/el-salvador/san-salvador/fo... El Salvador Backpacker's Forum

www.worldtraveltips.net/centralamerica/ Select your region and country to view tips, i.e.

www.worldtraveltips.net/centralamerica/view.cgi?country=El+S...

www.gocentralamerica.about.com/od/elsalvadorguide/El_Salvador.ht...

www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Caribbean_and_Central_America/

www.studentuniverse.com/i-central-america-travel.html (Student Travel, has Student Airfare Booking on line)

www.travel-journal.org/ central-america/

www.airfare.bootsnall.com/ Good Airfares, Bootsnall can help you 'plan' your trip

www.exitotravel.com/ Consolidator, Airfares, Hotels, Tours, Latin America only.

www.goodtimebob.com/buseslinks.htm Bus Links

www.ticabus.com/ Tica Bus serving all Central America

Information and Maps: www.enjoycentralamerica.com/

Lots of links on this site: www.travel.org/central.html

Surf this site for lots of Central America only information: www.alfatravelguide.com/english/index.htm

Surfing these websites, then if you wish, posting on the forums and asking questions should be a good start.

I, the writer, am not a traveler, I am what is called an “ex pat”, a long term resident in El Salvador, Guatemala and some time as well in Honduras and Nicaragua since 1985. So I know the local customs, culture, language and many subtle things travelers have not the time to learn, in fact your best 'in depth' travel advice, anywhere in the world, comes from 'ex pat' residents, missionaries, long term humanitarian aid volunteers and teachers, as well as those locals who either assist or host visitors traveling to their country or region, to find out what I am 'talking about' join the Hospitality Sites on line, non profit projects like 'Couch Surfing' www.couchsurfing.com/about.html
Hospitality Club www.hospitalityclub.org/
and the newest site, under development:
www.bewelcome.org/
basically you contact members where you are planning to travel and you may be able to stay in their homes, or at least meet them for advice, coffee or even a short tour or night on the town at your destination, not for large groups neither commercial travel agents, usually most members are able to host 1-3 travelers. Now you're getting somewhere planning your own trip!

Hotels and Lodgings...depends on your budget, upscale 4-5 Star accommodations in Central America may be easily booked on line, http://www.tripadvisor.com/

For those travelers on Medium Budget, Moderate Budget to Upscale I would recommend the 'Alpha Travel Guide to Central America', a no nonsense, practical portal about and for all the Central American countries in English, Spanish and Swedish (see list above also) www.alfatravelguide.com/english/index.htm

If traveling on a low/backpacker budget you'll find many small hotels and other unique lodging places in El Salvador and the region that are quite economical compared to European/North American prices, for comfort and safety I would check out the B and B's and Guest Houses in the cities and large towns and even cheaper 'hostel/backpacker' style accommodations are plentiful in travel destinations such as Antigua and Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, Granada in Nicaragua and many of the popular beach and mountain destinations in Costa Rica. There are many lodging bargains in El Salvador, but make sure you do not stay in the crowded, dangerous and polluted 'Centro' or Downtown, when in San Salvador, stay in the western part of town near Metrocentro Mall and the National University, the lodgings located on pleasant tree lined streets in nice areas, near San Salvador's 'Bohemian District' for nightlife view: http://www.lalunacasayarte.com/ (español), www.travelpages.com/el-salvador/san-salvador/guides/87001.html
and www.cityguides-worldwide.com/ElSalvador/86998.htm
A great site for Budget-Moderate travel has many other El Salvador city pages such as: Suchitoto, the Colonial City where this website is based....
www.cityguides-worldwide.com/ElSalvador/35653.htm

For many, many Adverts and a few very good articles, which will give one an overview of Guatemalan and El Salvadorian travel, lots of articles in their archives, read the 'Guatemala Revue Magazine' in pdf only, url: www.revuemag.com/ Large Guatemala section, El Salvador section and small Belize and Honduras sections. Monthly, in English.

Now, here's where your Guidebook(s) come in!! Unless you've been here a dozen times or have a Salvadorian or Central American spouse and planning on a family visit, you'll require a good up to date Guide Book or two or three, which I recommend you read and study and re-read again before your arrival, magically on arrival you'll know more about the native culture, customs, history and getting around El Salvador, Guatemala, etc. than most natives, Latins are generally not 'mobile' nor are they 'independent travelers' as are North Americans and Europeans, those Central Americans that go legally or illegally to the USA to work do so out of economic necessity, not to travel and 'broaden their horizons' (usually a 'coyote' or people smuggler will charge from $5-6K per person to get them through México into USA!) and when Central Americans do travel within the region, usually weekends or holiday periods, they travel with family members in large groups.
Many locals often travel weekends to make pilgrimages to Catholic Shrines in Antigua and Escuintla, Guatemala, etc. Religion is practiced here in El Salvador by a large majority of people, Roman Catholic or Evangelical, be polite and respectful of other's beliefs and opinions at all times.

Speaking Spanish. .If you don't at all start learning at home before your departure, tapes, a tutor, conversation club, classes, whatever, if on a basic conversation level or above find someone to practice with, it is my opinion that if you are traveling, say 3-4 weeks in the region, it is really useless to spend the first week or two in a “Spanish School”. If worse comes to worse bring a very good phrasebook and do a lot of pointing. A tip: I've lived down this way, way down south, 21 years and used to escort a lot of visitors to the highlands/carib coast/honduras/el salvador out of Antigua, Guatemala, some couples had studied for several weeks at Antigua's best Spanish Academies, in school proper Castillan Spanish is taught, no “street lingo” nor slang of any kind, as soon as we were in the countryside, my clients froze up, when I ordered for them and used the word 'vos' (slang familiar for 'you' in El Salvador and Guatemala), these poor gringoes asked what 'vos' meant! They were taught to use Usted and Ustedes (formal) at all times and in the Indian Markets in Chichicastenango and Panajachel these people 'flipped out' literally when I began speaking the local native Kak'chiquel and Quiche dialects! Some newbie travelers are usually self concious(I can walk down any street in Antigua and tell by body language who is a new arrival and who lives there!), take themselves very seriously, in the “Gringo Ghettos” such as Antigua the newbies often 'compete' with each other, who knows how to speak Spanish best, who is not afraid to go the Capital on the Bus, who has been the most places on their visit, etc. Well, Latinos and Indingenous people really have a different sense of humor than yours, part of it is liking 'slapstick' and really liking people who make fun of themselves, whether you speak Spanish or not makes no difference, use pantomime and you'll make friends really fast. Anyway, I am listing a few good resources for locating Spanish Schools:

www.salvaspan.com / El Salvador Spanish Schools

In El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and rural Costa Rica locals often speak quite rapidly and drop some of the vowels in conversation, so if you do not understand ask them politely to speak more slowly más despacio. If you get lost, go into a store off the street and ask directions, always be patient.

www.123teachme.com / A great resource! School Directory plus Free On Line Courses to start.

www.xelapages.com / Spanish Schools and Travel in/around Guatemala's Highland city of Quetzaltenango(Xela)

www.aroundantigua.com / Antigua's best web guide, Spanish Schools and more!

As well buy a detailed map at home (or download one) of the country or region you plan to travel to.

Don't bring expensive toys... Laptops, Blackberries, iPods, Video Cameras, unless you are a Business or Upscale Traveler, staying in a Hotel or resort with a room Safe and traveling on organized tour with security.

Please DO NOT EVEN ASK ME...

1. Is El Salvador, Guatemala, etc., dangerous ?

2. To quote our friend “Good Time Bob” and old Guatemala hand.. http://www.goodtimebob.com see below***

3. So and So on this and such forum/bloq got robbed in -------, will I be robbed?

Quick Answer:
4. I am neither Nostradamus nor The Prophet Daniel!!

5. Safety & Security
"This is the number one question. Way over hyped. I’ve been going to Guatemala since the 70’s. Even with the current economic and political issues it is still a lot better than back a couple decades. You do all the common sense stuff listed in the Lonely Planet guide (or any other Guidebook)…it increasingly reads like it is written by someone’s grandmother…lawyers must do the editing. Some paranoia is worth while….
Here are the don’t do its:
Don’t hike between villages around Lake Atitlan. Too many spots where folks can watch you coming and make sure no one else is around. There have been well documented robberies and rapes.
Don’t go up a volcano alone. Tours are cheap and they have some kind of guard.
In Antigua don’t walk to the cemetery or to the cross alone. The tourist police have set times they will escort folks up. Usually a good group is rounded up.

Also in Antigua…think twice about walking alone late at night…especially more than a couple blocks from the Plaza. That is just common sense but I was surprised where the language schools placed some lone females.

Last Antigua warning…seems to be the trendy thing for young gringa girls to pick up Guat. guys in the Plaza. This is especially popular on weekends when the Guat. city boys drive in. For the price of buying him a few drinks and a meal or two you get to brag back home about your Latin boyfriend. Just so you don’t think its love…he will be back for someone else the next weekend. If you are not looking to get laid, realize that he is. “No” doesn’t always translate. Hang out in public places. Don’t climb into his car if getting into the back seat isn’t on the menu. Met some girls who thought they were just driving to another part of town when they suddenly found the car heading out of town. One of them went totally psycho which scared the guys into taking them back. I know this paragraph will be totally ignored…just don’t complain.
BTW...I am constantly amazed/amused at the number of people who are oblivious that they are in a risky situation. Latin American travel as a backpacker is not a trip to Disneyland or an all inclusive resort. Don't count on lawyers or cops and especially your embassy to protect you." By 'goodtimebob'
6.Source: www.goodtimebob.com/guatemala.htm
Great article on Coffee in the same Guatemala section.
My Words.....
7. For El Salvador the warnings about the same, don't walk alone or in pairs after dark and take a taxi home (if you don't have a ride)even if your lodging place is only three or four blocks away, sometimes it only takes 50 meters outside the bar or night spot if thieves are following you and they hit hard and fast.
**Be especially aware in second/third class bus terminals, crowded outdoor markets and city bus stops, never carry a digital camera on public transport unless concealed. Between countries take the international Tica Bus or other first class bus lines, remember all of the thieves now have cell phones, most travelers do not carry cell phones away from home so keep a low profile, got it?

8. The Police don't really care much if you are not injured in a crime, just as at home, the police usually have more pressing things to deal with, and the Consuls at the Embassies have seen hundreds of Police Reports and issued many new Passports for a hefty fee! Never carry your passport unless leaving the country, carry a photocopy.

9. Don't accept drinks, gifts, lodgings or rides from total strangers, say those met in a 'bar', especially young women traveling alone or in pairs, never tell strangers your itinerary and travel plans, nor where you are staying. Guys, never take a 'bar girl' you do not know back to your lodging place.

10. Older guys, don't go out to those exotic red light district nightclubs alone, you may wake up half naked, broke and very confused the next morning, In fact if you go out in the cities stick to the main entertainment districts, usually called 'Zona Viva' or 'Zona Rosa', well lit and fairly safe. See the city entertainment guides above.

11. Taxi Drivers and Hotel Employees are usually the worst people you can ask about where to go out, you'll usually always be directed to the most expensive places, especially if you don't speak Spanish.

12. Have a good trip, if you have sensible questions please send them to me, Donald Lee, via the contact page of the website below:

www.theotherelsalvador.com/Hompages/Contact.html

The Webmaster shall contact me and I shall try to answer your questions within one or two working days, if possible.

As well, if you are thinking of retiring, relocating or investing in Central America (except Costa Rica) I may be able to assist you or at least point you in teh right directions. There are lots of relocation Scams, especially on the Internet and especially involving Real Estate and Land “deals”. It is always better to travel first to your target country or region, look around with your own eyes and make contacts before you make the transition. Keep your questions brief, please. NO 'is ----- dangerous?' nor 'Will I be robbed in --------' questions shall be answered.

I am a “Baby Boomer” myself. Well over 50.

Le esperamos. Hasta la vista.