Today is our last day in Nica. We decide that we haven't really had enough time to do any actual shopping. Beyond that first day at the Masaya Market, we haven't purchased anything at all and now we decide we must be good American consumers and leave some cash in this country! And now that Ian has spent two weeks here, the hustle and bustle of the market doesn't seem so overwhelming. We head south towards Managua and continue on to Masaya again. We frantically search out our favorite vendors from our previous expedition. I start to get nervous as I can't find the one guy with the best pottery and I don't want to bring home sub-par ceramics. We finally find him and I accidentally buy 4 different pots. And I look over and Ian has done the same. Oh well - they're pretty! We finally collapse after our shopping at the place our trip started: the smoothie stand at the market. We order exactly what we did 12 days ago and enjoy the cooling effects of the licuados. Afterwards, we head back to Managua and the Best Western Hotel. We drop off the rental car without any incidents and research a good restaurant for our final dinner. Strangely enough, Nica is known for its excellent steaks. Well, we're from Montana, so we are a bit skeptical if they will live up to our high standards. We take a taxi to the #1 rated restaurant on Trip Advisor (how I love that iPhone app). We haven't really seen much of Managua and now I regret not spending a day here. It seems like one of the better Central American capitals I've seen, which isn't saying much (Guatemala City, Tegucigalpa, Belize City, San Jose ....), but still worth a poke around! We won't get that chance, but at least we get dinner and an awesome taxi driver who watches out for us and takes a few detours to show us some sights we would have missed. Dinner is delectable. Beyond delectable. The service is beyond good and the food is ... life altering ... seriously go to Los Ranchos when you're there. You won't regret it!
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.