Category: Uncategorized

Using a travel agency vs online booking websites In an age where you can buy almost everything online, many thought that travel agencies would soon disappear. Although many travel agencies had to close their doors, studies show that there’s a comeback. The arrival of online booking websites made it much easier for independent travellers to book their own holiday online. But do they also make it easier to travel? In this article we compare the use of travel agencies vs booking online with popular travel booking websites. The advertisement of booking websites like Booking.com and Expedia make you believe that you don’t need any travel agency anymore to plan your holiday and if you use their website it will be very fast, easy and cheap to travel around the world. But is it really? Is it really faster, easier, cheaper and better to book your holiday through an automatic online booking website instead of using a travel agent? There is no universal answer to this question. The ‘right answer’ will depend on your timing and what you’re looking for, for example, flexibility, the lowest price or less stress. Travelling by yourself If you have time, like to organise, are flexible and speak the language of the country where you want to travel, then DIY (do it yourself) travelling is the most authentic and cheapest way to travel and really get to know a country and its people. But what if you don’t have much time, don’t like planning, don’t speak the language and/ or just want to be able to relax as much as possible during your holiday? Planning your holiday is time consuming Different studies show that modern travellers are spending more and more time online to plan their holidays. A study from ComScore and Expedia in 2016 shows

Ecuadorian Tourist Visa Extension Important visa travel information for tourists who want to stay longer in Ecuador: Since December 2017 the Ecuadorian government has adapted a new extension of the immigration law (acuerdo N° 907). According to this new agreement each regular foreign tourist who arrives in Ecuador has the right to stay 90 days for free as a tourist in Ecuador. Tourists who want to stay longer in Ecuador can apply once for an extra of 90 days extension on their tourist visa. This visa extension cost at the moment of writing exact 129.63 US$. South American tourists with the following nationalities: Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Perú, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela (all countries that belong to UNASUR), do not have to pay extra. Citizens of these countries receive automatically 180 days for free. Citizens from the following countries always first have to apply for a visa before entering Ecuador: Afganistán, Bangladesh, Cuba, Eritrea, Etiopía, Kenia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistán, República de Corea, Senegal y Somalia. How to apply for a tourist visa extension: 1- Go to the website of the Ecuadorian Ministry of interior (address below) and look for the Visa application form called: “Formulario de Solicitud de Prórroga”. Print this form and fill it in with either a black or blue pen (sometimes you can also already fill it in online). 2- Make color copies of your passport and the Ecuadorian immigration stamp. 3- Go to Banco de Pacifico and fill in a small bank deposit form to be able to make a deposit of exact 128.67 US$ (May 2018). The information on this form should be as followed: * Passport number; * The code of the province where you apply for your Visa (Loja is number 11) + your last name and your first name.