Last month Cartagena, Colombia was all over the tabloids. It wasn’t about the city’s beauty or history, but about what transpired before the Summit of the Americas – Twelve Secret Service & Military personnel were caught paying for prostitutes. The scandal was all over the news and trumped anything positive that came from this huge event, which was supposed to highlight Cuba, the Drug War and the United State’s economic/trade involvement with Latin America. This event was also a huge stepping stone for Colombia, which in years past was considered one of the most dangerous countries to visit in the world. It was time to showcase the country’s #1 tourist destination (Cartagena) and show the world that Colombia can host an event of this magnitude in which 33 Heads of States were in attendance. I’ve traveled all over the world and Cartagena is by far one of the safest cities I’ve been to. Colombia is one of the hottest tourist destinations in South America (1.5 million foreign visitors a year) and Colombia’s Tourism Board’s marketing campaign exudes that in its slogan – “Colombia – The only Risk is wanting to stay”.
The media is what it is and the juiciest and most scandalous story is going to triumph over anything else. The world learned about how some bone-head secret service agents could not control themselves instead of the real story – Colombia is becoming a key player in South America (just signed a Free Trade Agreement with US) and Cartagena, Colombia is becoming one of the most up and coming tourism destinations by hosting such a high-caliber event.
Cartagena has a highly developed tourist infrastructure, and it’s just a short hop from the U.S. — only a 2.5 hour flight from Miami. The city sits on the Caribbean coast and is a wonderfully picturesque, walled-in fishing village of pastel-painted buildings, fine cathedrals, and plenty of Spanish colonial architecture and 17th-century forts that allow you to steep yourself in history. In 1984, it was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site and was recently named by Frommers as one of 9 destinations to visit in the world.
If you are looking to travel to Cartagena, I suggest going during its high season if you are looking to party – The second week of November for the Colombian National Beauty Pageant (Check out the Tours Gone Wild Trip during this time), Mid December – Mid January & Holy Week (Semana Santa). If you are looking to just relax, Cartagena is perfect any time of the year. TGW also offers travel packages to Cartagena year-round.
My Top Picks:
Hotels: Sofitel Santa Clara (5-star), Capilla del Mar Hotel (4-star)
Restaurants*: La Vitrola, Quebracho, La Casa de Socorro, El Santisimo, Club de Pesca
*Foodies will go crazy here!!!
Fast Food: Kokoriko, El Corral
Best Club: Babar
Drink: Aguardiente
Excursions: Head to Islas del Rosario
Trips: Check out Tours Gone Wild Trip during National Beauty Pageant - Miss Colombia Cartagena Travel Package
Posted in Travel News by .
Mar 12
13
Ibiza Travel Advice for First-Timers
When I first visited Ibiza I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew it was one of the one of the premiere party spots in the world, but other that I had no clue about the island. To Europeans, Ibiza is a little bit like Vegas or South Beach. It’s a magical party place where they can go and get away from their normal lives not to mention close geographically (30 minute flight from Madrid). For us Americans, it’s a long journey, the dollar isn’t worth as much as it used to and we have a limited number of vacation days so planning is definitely needed to make sure this trip is an epic one.
I’ve traveled to Ibiza for the past 5 summers, so I can consider myself a seasoned Ibiza Vet. I also run a travel company (http://www.ToursGoneWild.com) that takes people to Ibiza, so I need to know the ins and outs of the island as well as get great feedback from my suppliers that live there all year.
To make your Ibiza Trip ONE FOR THE AGES, I’ve compiled a brief list of suggestions to make sure you don’t make some of the mistakes I and others have made in the past.
- WHERE TO STAY – Try to stay in Ibiza Town or close to it. Great suggestions are Playa d’en Bossa, Figueretes or Talamanca areas. All are close to the center of town and to 2 of the islands best clubs – Space & Pacha. AVOID SAN ANTONIO. It is a little grimy and full of young college students. If you are looking for an upscale holiday, do not stay there.
- PICK YOUR NIGHTS IN ADVANCE – If you have a set DJ in mind that you want to see, definitely purchase the club tickets or make table reservations in advance. Most clubs in Ibiza sell out for the big DJs so you don’t want to get there and not be able to see your favorite DJ. If you book with TGW, an Ibiza Expert will assist you in picking the best nights for your dates. Your club tickets will be delivered to your hotel when you arrive. The nightlife in Ibiza changes every year and each night the clubs have a different party. For instance, Tiesto and Armin Van Buren are playing at new clubs in 2012. Tiesto will be at Pacha and Armin will be at Privilege on Mondays.
- IF YOU ARE A DRINKER, GET TABLE SERVICE – Some people find this out the hard way (…meL). Keep these numbers in mind – 60 – 80 Euros Cover & 15 Euros per drink. It’s very easy to spend over 200 Euros in 1 night without getting the VIP Treatment. If you have connections in Ibiza, you can get a minimum consumption with bottle service between 150 to 300 Euros per person per night. It’s definitely worth it because you will spend just as much and get a lot more. Check out TGW’s Ultimate Package – http://www.toursgonewild.com/en/special-events/ibiza-package.html – from July 10 – 17, 2012. It includes table service as well as transportation throughout the island. If you can’t travel during those dates, we also have our exclusive concierge add-on.
- RENT A CAR/SCOOTER OR HIRE A CAR SERVICE – Although Ibiza can be considered a small island, it’s actually pretty spread out. From my experience it also seems that the more posh the event or place, the further it is from everywhere. Keep in mind that the island does crack down on drinking and driving so if you are drinking, the best choice is hiring a driver.
- GO IN JULY OR SEPTEMBER – July is a very good month to go in that all of the top DJs are on the island and it’s not as unbearably packed as August, which is the most expensive month to go. You will get the best deals in September and if you wait until mid to late of the month, you will have access to some of the best parties of the season – The Closing Parties.
- DO NOT MISS AN IBIZA SUNSET – Ibiza sunsets are world famous. Two of my favorite places to watch the sunset are in San Antonio by Café del Mar and Sunset Ashram. An Ibiza sunset is extremely cool especially as it’s done to chill out music and once it sets, the place erupts in claps and cheers as if it was a big time production.
- CHOOSE A TRAVEL COMPANY OR TRAVEL WITH A GROUP – If you want a no hassle experience, go with Tours Gone Wild. We take care of everything. We also have an exclusive group if you are traveling by yourself or want the VIP Experience in Ibiza.
MY TOP PICKS:
Place to Stay: Ushuaia Hotel
Favorite Night: F*** Me I’m Famous with David & Cathy Guetta @ Pacha
Favorite Sunset: Sunset Ashram
Favorite Beach: Salinas Beach
Favorite Restaurant: Café Sydney
Favorite Place to Chill on a Sunday: Blue Marlin
Favorite Beach Bar: Bora Bora
Favorite Club: Amnesia
Oct 11
14
Top New Year’s Eve Destinations
One of my favorite holidays of the year is New Year’s Eve. It’s definitely a holiday that gives you optimism. If you’ve had a tough year, you celebrate good things to come next year. If you’ve had a great year, you celebrate that you will top it!
New Year’s Eve is about celebrating a better future, setting goals and objectives for the next year and achieving them, and also about letting loose and having fun. If you are single it’s about getting that New Year’s kiss at midnight with the hottie you have been eyeing all night. If you are in a relationship or married, it’s about celebrating the coming year with your loved one and celebrating the years past.
Although its fun to spend New Year’s Eve in your home town with friends and family, there’s nothing like spending it in an exotic destination especially if you can do it with friends or family and if not, it’s still one of the best ways to ring in the New Year!
I’ve traveled extensively in my day and below are my top 3 New Year’s Eve destinations.
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Rio is one of my favorite destinations in the world. The combination of the people, beaches, landscape, party yet laidback atmosphere is what keeps me coming back. It’s a sexy city and for New Year’s it’s electric. The days leading up to New Years are amazing. The nightlife is probably the best it is all year because you not only have people from all over Brazil in Rio but also the world. The beaches are packed and guess what; it’s the middle of summer! So while most of us are freezing, it’s in the 80s & 90s in Rio. For New Year’s Eve, Millions of people hit Copacabana Beach to experience an incredible fireworks show and party on the beach. There are also a ton of great parties all around the city. I personally enjoy going to the parties because the crowd is more upscale, less hectic and most are all-inclusive, but TGW offers both options. New Year’s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Cartagena, Colombia – This may be an impartial choice as I’m Colombian, but if you’ve ever been to Cartagena, you’ll know why this is my top 2 pick. The Old City is incredible. It’s conserved so well that you literally feel that you are in the Spanish Colonial Era. During this time of year, the city is packed with Colombian tourists. It’s the #1 destination for Colombians from the interior (Bogota, Cali, Medellin) as it’s a beach city and there are a ton of events especially for the country’s jet-set. There are a ton of New Year’s Eve parties all over the city, but we take our clients to one of the best, which is located on top of the historic wall and thrown by one of the best and most luxurious hotels in Cartagena. New Year’s in Cartagena, Colombia
- Punta del Este, Uruguay – This was definitely one of the chicest places I’ve spent New Year’s Eve. Punta del Este is where the rich & famous from Buenos Aires & Sao Paulo spend their holidays between Christmas & the beginning of January. It’s extremely pricey, but if your wallet can handle it, it’s totally worth it. I’ve never partied with so many models in my life. Besides the nightlife, Punta del Este is a beautiful city. The beaches are extremely beautiful and they can range from calm waters to incredible waves for the surfers. If you are looking for a chic and beautiful beach town to spend New Year’s, you should consider Punta del Este. New Year’s in Punta del Este, Uruguay
Other destinations for New Year’s are of course Las Vegas, New Year’s in South Beach – Miami, and New York, but if you are looking to get out of the country, I highly recommend you check out the ones above.
Also, give me your feedback on some great destinations you have experienced for New Year’s. I’m open to suggestions and who knows, maybe your suggestion will be the next TGW NEW YEAR’S EVE HOTSPOT! You can comment directly on this blog.
May 11
17
World’s Top 10 Party Destinations
TGW Travel Group is a full service travel company that provides vacation packages to South America and Europe. The company has been in business for 7 years and its packages to some of the world’s hottest special events are the best in the industry. Below is the list of the Top 10 Party Destinations in the world. TGW offers packages to each and every one of them!
1. Summer in Ibiza
Ibiza is the party capital of the world. It’s the perfect combination of great weather, beautiful people, incredible beaches, and the hippest, most sophisticated nightlife in the world. If you love electronic/house music, it is definitely the can’t miss destination of the summer as the best DJ’s in the world make Ibiza their home from the End of May until the End of September – any other time most of the clubs in Ibiza are closed. TGW offers two types of packages for Ibiza, an exclusive package on set dates or for bigger groups and a lower-scaled package. See Ibiza Travel Packages.
Dates: May 27 – October 02, 2011 / VIP Group Dates: July 12 – 19, 2011
2. Oktoberfest in Munich
Imagine 6.3 million Drinkers & 7 million Liters of beer. Munich’s Oktoberfest is one of the world’s biggest festivals, attracting people from all over the world for a 2-week celebration of beer. With more than a dozen massive beer tents (actually fourteen beer tents, spread out over an area the size of about 60 soccer fields), Oktoberfest is one experience you will never, ever forget. Oktoberfest officially kicks off on the third Saturday of September when Munich’s mayor taps the first keg. Then, the beer halls open their doors, and row after row of wooden benches and tables quickly fill with thirsty visitors. See Oktoberfest Travel Packages
Dates: Sept. 17 – Oct. 03, 2011 / TGW Dates: Sept 20 – 23, 2011**
** (TGW will only be offering packages during these dates)
3. Carnival in Salvador, Brazil
Brazilians consider Salvador, Bahia as the best and most fun Carnival in the country. The Guinness Book of World Records considers Carnival in Salvador as the biggest street party in the world. Millions of people hit the streets and it’s literally 5 days of chaotic fun. Just imagine millions of people on the streets just going crazy with some of the hottest bands from Brazil playing in the background. TGW offers a package that includes airfare, 5 night hotel accommodation, airport transfers and 4 nights of parties as well as 24/7 On-Site staff. See Salvador Carnival Package
Dates: Feb. 16 – 22, 2012
4. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro Carnival is called the greatest show on earth. Its origins are said to come from Europe, where Carnival festivities comprised mostly of balls & masquerade parties. The modern day Brazilian Carnival has evolved to include Native American and African culture in its celebration.
Rio de Janeiro Carnival is a wild 4-day celebration. Year after year it starts on Saturday and ends on Fat Tuesday. It normally takes place in February, which is right in the middle of Summer and Brazil’s hottest month. For Brazilians, Carnival is a celebration to let loose and release their inhibitions before Ash Wednesday. Rio Carnival mainly consists of the Samba Parade, Scala Balls, & Street Parties. The TGW Rio Carnival Package gives you access to the hottest parties that week.
Dates: Feb. 16 – 22, 2012
5. New Years in Rio de Janeiro
New Years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is one of the most amazing cities in the world and one of my favorite travel destinations. Its annual New Year’s Eve extravaganza puts all New Year’s celebrations to shame. Millions pack the city for an all-night festival of music, food, and fun, punctuated by spectacular fireworks. From mind-blowing scenery and incredible beaches to wild nightlife and beautiful people, Rio de Janeiro will make your New Years an unforgettable experience. TGW’s New Year’s in Rio package includes airfare, accommodation, airport transfers, ½ Day Tour, VIP Service, and the choice of watching the fireworks on Copacabana Beach with a guide or attending one of the most exclusive parties in Rio for New Years. See Rio New Years Travel Package
Dates: Dec. 28, 2011 – Jan. 02, 2012 (Customizable)
6. Running of the Bulls
The Running of the Bulls is held every year between July 6th and 17th. It is one of the world’s craziest and wildest festivals where people run through the streets of the medieval city with actual live wild bulls. Every year over one million party-goers flock to Pamplona and party day and night drinking Sangria, eating delicious tapas and for the brave ones – run for their lives in front of angry bulls! For the Running of the Bulls, TGW offers airfare, hotel accommodation, airport/hotel transfers, a city tour, and access to a VIP Balcony to watch the running of the bulls with breakfast. See Running of the Bulls Travel Package
Dates: July 5 – 15, 2011
7. National Beauty Pageant in Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena is the home of Colombia’s National Beauty Pageant, one of the country’s hottest events of the year. The most beautiful women from all over the country compete to be crowned Miss Colombia. The event is usually held the 2nd week in November. That week is absolutely nuts as the city erupts in Exclusive Parties, Parades, Beach Events, and the Best Nightlife in the country. The TGW Package includes airfare, accommodation, airport transfers, a city tour, 4 nights of VIP Service to the city’s hottest clubs, Boat Party, Entrance into the Swimsuit Competition, and 24/7 On-Site Staff. See November Cartagena Travel Package.
Dates: Nov. 10 – 15, 2011
8. Mykonos in the Summer
Mykonos is Greece’s party island during the summer. If you want to party for 24 hours straight, you can do it in Mykonos – hit the beach parties during the day, head to Mykonos Town to watch the sunset, have dinner and party at night and if you want to keep on partying there are several options for after hour spots that open at 3:00AM and go through the morning/afternoon hours. TGW offers packages that include Mykonos as part of a 7 night tour which includes Athens and Santorini. Tours Gone Wild offers a package for all summer as well as a Group Package that takes place at the beginning of July. See Greek Islands Travel Package
Dates: May 27 – Oct 02, 2011
9. Miami Music Week
The Ultra Music Festival in Miami brings the top DJs from all over the world. The 3-day event/concert is just a part of Miami Music Week and to be honest, it’s just a minor part of the wildness as other events throughout the week pass it in overall craziness as well as musically. From private parties, where you can catch guest DJs spinning for the pure love of music, Yacht parties featuring Mandy, amazing pool parties involving sexy models, to the closing of Ocean Avenue for the Swedish House Mafia, the 2011 Music Week surpassed the Winter Conference of years past. For 2012, TGW will be offering packages that include accommodation plus nightlife. See South Beach Travel Packages
Dates: Week of March 23, 2012
10. Jet-set Summer Parties in Florianopolis, Brazil or Punta del Este, Uruguay
If you are looking to go where the South American Jet-set as well as International Jet-Set are going this winter (Summer in South America), mark your calendar for Florianopolis or Punta del Este. The best time of the year to travel to Punta del Este is mid-December to mid-January. There are a ton of special events during this time and New Year’s Eve is one of the highlights. Florianopolis is a great place to go between mid-December to right after Carnival (End of Feb.). It is considered by many as the most up and coming Jet-Set destination in South America and a place that provides you with incredible beaches, surf, beautiful people, and up-scale parties. TGW offers packages to both of these destinations, but keep in mind to book early as hotel options are not plentiful and they sell out very quickly.
See Florianopolis Travel Packages / Punta del Este Travel Packages
Dates: Punta del Este – Dec. 15, 2011 – Jan. 20, 2012 / Florianopolis – Dec. 15, 2011 – Feb. 28, 2012
If you are looking for a Vacation of a Lifetime to anyone of these special events, contact TGW Travel Group (www.toursgonewild.com). The company also provides vacation packages year round to South America (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru & Colombia) as well as South Beach. You can contact them toll free at 1-877-456-WILD or (786) 522-3667.
TGW is always on the look out for opening new destinations and special events. If there is a destination or special event that is not featured on this blog entry and you feel we should provide it to our clients, Send us a Comment or email us at info <at> toursgonewild.com!!!
Tours Gone Wild offers two different packages to Ibiza. Our Ultimate VIP Ibiza Package, which is on set dates and includes VIP, Excursions Transfers, Security and VIP Hosts, and the Ibiza Summer Package, which is offered the entire Ibiza Summer Season and is a bit more standardized.
Both packages are great, but if your dates and budget allow, we highly recommend traveling for the Ultimate VIP Package, which is for July 12 – 19, 2011 (usually around the same time each year). If not, the Ibiza Summer Package will work for you.
Below is a break-down of what each package includes:
Ibiza is a very expensive destination and if you are going to do it, you might as well do it right. Below is some breakdown of the costs as well as the benefits of booking an Ibiza Trip with Tours Gone Wild.
Drinks: Drinks in Ibiza are extremely expensive. Clubs charge about 15 Euros per drink. With the Ultimate VIP Package, a ½ a bottle of spirits is included. One 750 ml bottle accounts for about 18 shots, so 18 drinks. That’s 9 drinks that are already included in your package.
Cost: 9 drinks @ 15 Euros (US$20) are US$180.00 plus tips that’s US$200 just on drinks!!!! Multiply that times 4 nights and that is $800.00.
Total Cost of Drinks: US$800
Cabs/Transportation around Island: With the Ultimate VIP Package, all transportation to/from the clubs is included in the package as well as extra excursions. You may be thinking to yourself, that’s not a big deal, most clubs are close to my hotel. Two of the best clubs in Ibiza (Privilege & Amnesia) are located away from all hotels. Getting a cab to the clubs is not difficult it’s the way back that’s a problem as there are limited cabs and they will probably charge you a lot extra for the way back.
-
- Cabs to/from clubs
- i. Amnesia/Privilege – 50 Euros
- ii. Space/Pacha – 30 Euros
- Cabs to/from clubs
- Cabs to/from Salinas Beach – 80 Euros
- Cabs to/from Café del Mar – 80 Euros
- Cabs to/from Beach Bar - 70 Euros
(you will not find a cab back from this place unless you call one) - Cabs to/from Sunset Restaurant – 120 Euros
(you will not find a cab back from this place unless you call one or make the person wait) - Cabs to/from Airport: 40 Euros
Just in cabs to/from the clubs plus airport transfers, you will spend about 200 Euros, which is about US$280. Divide that by two and you are spending US$140.00 just on cabs for the week.
One of the great things about the Ultimate VIP Package is that we show you the real Ibiza other than just the clubs. Ibiza has some incredible beaches as well as beach bars and some perfect places to check out the world famous Ibiza sunsets. Some of these places are very hard to find and mostly only locals or people “in the know” go to them. If you were to check these out on your own, it would be about 350 Euros in cabs (US$480). Divide that by two and that’s US$240 and that’s low-balling it as you will most likely need to hire a car service or have the cab wait and that would be a lot more.
Total Cost of Cabs: US$380
Cover Entrance & VIP vs. Non-VIP: If you were to go with our Summer Package, a TGW Ibiza Expert would contact and assist you in picking the best parties based on your preferences based on the line-up during the time you are there. He or she would also give you advice on things to do in Ibiza and answer all of your questions regarding the World’s most famous party island. Once your parties have been chosen, you will get an email with your Electronic Club Tickets, which you will print out and present at the door of the clubs, as well as the Ultimate Guide to Ibiza, a written guide with advice and recommendations about Ibiza. With the Summer Package option you would need to get to the clubs by a certain hour (usually midnight depending on the party). A special line will be set up for Electronic Club Ticket holders and it is advised to get there earlier to avoid the long lines.
With our Ultimate VIP Package, the nightlife is set up where you experience the hottest parties at the 4 best clubs in Ibiza for the week you are there. You will receive your nightlife schedule with exact times that the TGW Staff members will take you to the clubs via private transfers. Once you get to the clubs you will enter via the VIP Entrances, which are separate from general admission. For instance, in Pacha, we will take you through the back via the kitchen and up to the VIP Area of the club. There is no waiting in line and your VIP Hosts will assist you with bottle service as well as any other request you may have while in the club. You can always move around the club, but the VIP Section is there for you to have a home base and chill as some parties will literally be so packed that the regular section of the club will be standing room only. The TGW VIP Section will also be in some of the best areas because of our reputation in Ibiza and the contacts we have established there with the clubs throughout the years.
Club covers alone in Ibiza are about 70 Euros per person/night (about US$100). Multiply this by the 4 nights and it is US$400.
Total Cost of Covers: US$400.00
Right off the bat, I came up with US$1,580.00 worth of value in Tours Gone Wild’s Ultimate Ibiza Package based on drinks, covers and transportation. This is a low-ball figure because the company flies TGW Staff members from its Miami office to be with the group, has security each party night, supplies its clients with “in the know” island experiences and provides 24/7 on-site assistance. The package is expensive, but you will spend as much or more by doing this package on your own and not be guaranteed A Vacation of a Lifetime!
Below are the Top Reasons you should not wait any longer and take Ibiza off your Bucket List by using Tours Gone Wild!
- The Rock Star Experience – With this package, you will be pampered like a rock star. No waiting in Line, Access to Ibiza’s best clubs/parties, VIP Access, Personal Security, On-call Assistance & Much More. You will be partying with the world’s elite at the hottest clubs on earth!
- “In The Know” Experiences – Although Ibiza is known as the party capital of the world, it does have a bit more than nightlife. The island has a magical way about it that only a handful of people know. Tours Gone Wild shows you some of Ibiza’s best kept secrets and places that you would most likely not experience if you went on your own.
- TGW Staff Members – These guys are in Ibiza to make sure you have an incredible time. They will give you advice about the island, are at the club with you each party night, make sure you get back to your hotel safe and sound, and are pretty much on the island to make sure you have an unbelievable holiday.
- Everything is already planned for you. – All you have to do is show up and have a great time. Flights, Transfers, Hotel Bookings, Nightlife, Restaurant Reservations, Extra Excursions, etc.
- Incredible Value for what you get – If you tried to piece this package together with a one or a couple of buddies, it would literally cost you an arm and a leg. The package is expensive but the value is incredible because of TGW’s connections in Ibiza as well as spreading the overall costs among a group of people.
Oct 10
15
The Best Carnival in Brazil is ….
Carnival is celebrated all over Brazil, but the the two most popular Carnivals are Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, Bahia. I have been to both and had the time of my life. It is extremely hard to pick which is better.
In Salvador, you feel as you are in a huge non-stop party because there are millions of people on the street – dancing, drinking, following their favorite bands – it’s actually the largest street party in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. In Rio de Janeiro, it’s literally one of the most amazing shows I have seen in my life – the costumes, choreography, music, passion – It beats the hell out of any Vegas Show (makes a Vegas Show look like a Highschool play).
Carnival 2011 packages start on March 3rd, but hotels and flights are already starting to sell out. If you are interested please contact Tours Gone Wild IMMEDIATELY at leads@toursgonewild.com or toll free 1-877-456-WILD or (786) 522-3667. It’s a can’t miss event and we offer the following packages:
Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Salvador Carnival, Ultimate Package (Combination of Salvador & Rio)
Below I have compiled a comparison of both Carnivals. If you have been to either one, PLEASE contribute.
| Factors | Rio | Salvador | Comment |
| Weather | X | X | It’s late summer in both destinations. Expect weather in the high 70s to high 80s |
| Flight Time |
X | Rio de Janeiro is a much larger airport than Salvador and there are direct flights to Rio or Sao Paulo from all over the world. The only direct flight from the US to Salvador is on AA via Miami and there some flights from Spain and Portugual that fly directly there as well. The flight time between Sao Paulo and Salvador is 2.5 hours vs. a just 45 minute from Sao Paulo to Rio. |
|
| English Spoken |
X
|
Rio de Janeiro is a much larger city and English is spoken more in Rio, but generally you will not find a lot of English speakers in Brazil in general. There will be TGW staff members in both cities so they will help you out as much as possible. | |
| Food |
X
|
The Salvador cuisine is world reknown and delicious. If this was any other time besides Carnival, I would go with Salvador, but during Carnival, you will have a lot more options in Rio for food because it is a larger city. | |
| Beaches |
X
|
Salvador has a ton of beaches, but between both cities, you can’t top Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, especially because of the eye candy. | |
| For Singles |
X
|
The best carnival for singles is in Salvador. You have Brazilians from all over the country that go to this Carnival and the main slogan is “Solteiro em Salvador!”, which means Everyone is Single in Salvador! | |
| For Couples |
X
|
X
|
If you want a more romantic experience, I would definitely go with Rio because there are more touristy things to do and the party isn’t as wild. If you are a crazy couple (and we’ve had a ton within the years), then you will enjoy Salvador Carnival. |
| For Families |
X
|
Hands down, Rio de Janeiro is the best carnival for families unless the kids are over 18. There are more things to do in Rio and the Samba Parade is jaw dropping although it does end pretty late. | |
| For Brazilians |
X
|
Salvador is hands down the most popular Carnival for 18 – 35 year old Brazilians. You will meet people there from the South, Big Cities, Interior, Amazon and Northeast. |
|
| Age 20 – 30 |
X
|
Definitely Salvador, if your young and want to party, this is the place to be. | |
| Age 30 – 45 |
X
|
X
|
It all depends if you want a crazy party or a more sophisticated experience. |
| 45 Plus |
X
|
Generally, you will enjoy Rio de Janeiro more as it’s a little bit more tame, although don’t get me wrong, Rio de Janeiro in general is not at all tame, it’s just a bit tamer than Salvador Carnival. | |
| Party Atmosphere |
X
|
No doubt it’s Salvador. Imagine millions of people just going absolutely nuts. |
|
| Sophistication |
X
|
Rio is definitely more sophisticated than Salvador because it is a larger city and does have more exubarent parties like the Copacabana Palace Ball for instance. Although Salvador does have parties that are creme of the creme, like the Salvador Camarote. In both cases, all of the exuberant parties are very expensive. |
|
| Show |
X
|
Carnival in Rio is the Greatest Show on Earth and beats any other show/parade in the world. | |
| Tourism - Sites |
X
|
Salvador has some historic sites, but during Carnival everything is pretty much closed. If you do want to check some sites out, it’s definitely better to get there a couple of days before Carnival. | |
| Hotels |
X
|
Rio de Janeiro is the 2nd largest city in Brazil, so it is going to have way better hotels. There are some good hotels in Salvador, but do not expect the 5 or even 4 star hotels you have at home. |
|
| Music |
X
|
X
|
Axe (Salvador) vs. Samba (Rio). Samba is world reknown and has some crazy beats. You definitely have to have rhythm to dance. What I’ve seen is that the ladies usually get it and the guys just move their feet. Axe is a mixture of Brazilian pop, rock and Afro-rhythms and literally by the end of Carnival you’ll know the words to a lot of the songs. |
Posted in Travel Tips by .
The Ibiza Summer is starting to end as the closings for the hottest parties start this week. On Tuesday, Amnesia had it’s Release Yourself Closing as DJ’s Markus Schulz, Sander Van Doorn & Gareth Emery performed in the main room and Roger Sanchez in the terrace. Tuesday also had a another huge closing party at space for the Carl Cox Closing. 
We should have pricing for Ibiza Summer 2011 in the next couple of weeks. We will have our Ibiza Ultimate VIP Package (That is one of our best and most fun trips of the year) in mid/late July and our Summer Ibiza Packages (Air, Hotel, Transfers & Club tix) all summer. If you are looking to book, contact us and we will send you an email with pricing as soon as we have them. If you are still on the fence, check out our pictures from Ibiza and they will definitely change your mind. The experience is MIND-BLOWING!
These are our picks for the top closing parties of 2010.
- Defected Closing @ Pacha – Sept. 25
* Bob Sinclar
* Simon Dunmore
* Miss Divine
* Shovell (percussion) - We Love Space Closing – Sept. 26
- Cocoon Closing @ Amnesia – Sept. 27
Main Room
* Sven Vath
* Loco Dice
Terrace
* Ricardo Villalobos
* Zip
* Raresh - Swedish House Mafia Closing – Pacha – Sept. 27
* Axwell
* Steve Angello
* Sebastian Ingrosso
* AN21 - Tiesto Closing – Privilege – Sept. 27
- Subliminal Closing – Pacha – Sept. 29
* Erick Morillo
* Harry ‘Choo Choo’ Romero
* Jose Nunez
* Juan Diaz - Cream Closing – Amnesia – Sept. 30
Main Room
* Eric Prydz
* Style of Eye
* Anthony Probyn
Terrace
* Paul van Dyk
* Eddie Halliwell
* Gareth Wyn
* Giuseppe Ottaviani - F**k Me I’m Famous Closing – Sept 30
* David Guetta
* Afrojack
Posted in Travel News by .
Sep 10
17
Iberostar Grand Amazon Cruise
If you want luxury on the Amazon, We recommend to for you to book this cruise. Check out our partner luxury travel site, SimpyJetSet.com to see the details of the cruise: IBEROSTAR GRAND AMAZON CRUISE.
We recently booked this for one of our recent clients and this is what she had to say:
| Michelle K. St. Louis, MS |
” You did a great job of setting up and organizing our trip for us. Having our airport transits alone was a big treat…and the guides were all good, some even exceptional. Some of the hotels were better than expected and some a little less—generally all pleasant and service was good. The Iberostar Amazon was a real treat—almost like being on a private yacht. The outings and tour guides there were outstanding. Thanks for all of your hard work.”
Posted in Where to Stay - Our Picks by .
Florianopolis (or Floripa, as the island is affectionately known by locals) is one of the world’s best surf spots and most beautiful locations, blessed with 42 pristine beaches, lush rolling hills, soft white sand dunes and sparkling lagoons. In addition, Floripa offers world-class dining and nightlife, as well as a tremendous array of extreme sports activities to please even the most discerning adventure enthusiast. Last but not least, Floripa offers a wealth of cultural attractions, including traditional Brazilian fairs and markets, Azorean architecture, and historical points of interest such as ancient forts used to defend the island against pirates and invaders.
Floripa is as renowned throughout Latin America for its golden beaches as it is for the golden-haired bombshells that abound—Germans, Polish and Italians colonized the South of Brazil, explaining the Giselle Bündchen look-a-like phenomenon that you will see all over the island. Most consider the ‘crowned jewel’ area of the island to be the region in the center of the east side of the island, in particular the Praia Mole and Lagoa da Conceição areas. Here visitors are enchanted by Floripa’s most stunning and unique natural beauty, with a number of fantastic beaches as well as lush green mountains, soft white sand dunes and the beautiful Lagoa da Conceição lagoon itself, which aside from stunning visuals also offers a large variety of leisure and sporting options such as boating, kiting, wakeboarding, fishing and swimming. If you are looking to stay in a place where the party/action is, we recommend Jurere Internacional, a chi-chi resort on the north end of the island.
To check out our Florianopolis package, click here: Florianopolis Vacation.
I found this great article on the New York Times about Rio de Janeiro. Check it out and if you are interested in booking, do not hesitate to contact us.
WITH the World Cup coming in 2014, followed by the Olympic Games two years later, Rio de Janeiro is thinking outside the beach. The historic port area is undergoing an extreme makeover, and museums by such vanguard architects as Santiago Calatrava and Diller Scofidio + Renfro are in the works. A long-anticipated bullet train to São Paulo seems to be finally happening, while the city is making strides (albeit fitful ones) tackling the problems of its notorious favelas. Indeed, there will always be sunshine, thongs and Carnaval, but these days, Rio has a whole lot more to strut about.
To see more of the article, click the link below:
Latin America Issue – 36 Hours in Rio de Janeiro – NYTimes.com – Reference
Posted in Travel News by .
Brazil Travel Advice- TSA to start enforcing rule on matching passenger data – USATODAY.com
- Tours Gone Wild recommended restaurants in Rio de Janeiro
- Rio 2016 logo to be unveiled New Year’s Eve on Copacabana beach
- Latin America Issue – 36 Hours in Rio de Janeiro – NYTimes.com
- AA Starting direct flights from Dallas to Rio de Janeiro
- RIO CARNIVAL DATES UNTIL 2030
- BRAZIL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (VISAS/PASSPORTS) TOP FAQ’S
- I’m very interested in traveling to the World Cup in Brazil for 2014. Can I book a vacation package now for the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil?
- All-Inclusive Option near Rio de Janeiro: Breezes opens up in Buzios, Brazil
- Despite Gulf oil spill, Florida tourism is up (Thanks to Brazilians)