I'm glad to hear you have got all your holiday plans sorted! You will be spoiled for choice on the National Parks tour as all the parks have gift shops and you'll be visiting lots of tourist-dominated towns packed full of gift shops, crafts etc so I think you'd better go for an increased luggage allowance as well!

Happy travelling,

Bob

Hiya Bob

Very wise on the increased baggage. I guess you'll be flying Latam for most of your Chile/Patagonia trip (and certainly will be for Rapa Nui). From what I saw, they are very strict about weight limits in Economy so good luck with the walking boots, the camera gear and the souvenir wood carvings!

As for me, in May I'm doing a WWII trip to Colditz and Zagan, where the Great Escape took place (the real one, not the Steve McQueen version!). But in September, I'll be back on the Just You Fun Bus doing the US National Parks. I know you've already done it so, as usual, any tips (fridge magnet hot spots etc...) would be gratefully received.

Then, in January 2018 (with a bit of luck and careful budgeting...) I should be heading back down the Moai roads of Rapa Nui....after all, I've got unfinished business with the Poike peninsula and, you know me, never one to back away from a challenge!

All the best

Mandy

Hi Tom,

My other colleague has returned with the following:

The Lake District can be rainy, but Puntas Arenas is about the windiest place on Earth. A wind-breaker is a must. San Pedro in the north is dry, but cold at night due to altitude.

I would suggest layers but March in the south is the end of the Summer in that area so not exceptionally cold.

Hope this all helps with your packing list!

Kindest regards,

Julia

Thanks again Julia, it is pretty windy in Scotland right now so I do have the appropriate gear. Regards Tom.

My other colleague has returned with the following:

The Lake District can be rainy, but Puntas Arenas is about the windiest place on Earth. A wind-breaker is a must. San Pedro in the north is dry, but cold at night due to altitude.

I would suggest layers but March in the south is the end of the Summer in that area so not exceptionally cold.

Hope this all helps with your packing list!

Kindest regards,

Julia

Many thanks for the info, I will go well stocked! I've asked JY for an increased baggage allowance for my connecting flights from Dublin as 20kg will not go very far on this tour....

Cheers,

Bob

PS Where are you planning on going in 2017?

Hi Tom, Also doing this trip in March so info. very helpful. Looking forward to the trip.

Look forward to meeting up. Used to walk a bit on Pendle. Tom.

Hi TomC

The member of our overseas team who currently looks after this region is currently off for the festive period. I have spoken to another colleague who travelled across Chile in January for their advice and she said...

"I would suggest to dress in layers. It can be quite hot during the day time, but will get very chilly in the evening. I usually had a base layer and a fleece during day light and warm jacket in the evening. Also it can get quite windy down south in Punta Arenas.

Also my main advice would be don’t forget about sun protection, ozone layer is almost non-existent in that part of the world so sun is very aggressive and you can be sunburnt in a matter of minutes. I hope it helps."

In March they will be coming out of the summer so it may be a bit cooler than what my colleague experienced but I think the key piece of advice is dress in layers.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Many thanks for that Julia. Regards Tom.

You do make me laugh - thank you! I could not help laughing out loud when I read your comments about the lady who went on the pony trek!

Kind regards

Jaya

With your colouring I would recommend buckets of sunscreen for Rapa Nui as well... (but also take a waterproof jacket!) I met a lady at breakfast one morning who had done a pony trek the previous day but hadn't bothered with the sun screen as it was a bit over cast. I'm not kidding - her face was glowing so much they could stick her in Piccadilly Circus next time they have a power cut and no one would notice :D

Have a super New Year (I suspect your holiday countdown has already begun...)

Mandy