Tips for family travel to Machu Picchu May 2018?

[mel-world]

I think enough has been written about the altitude sickness you might encounter during the trip, except to say that we were 70 and 60 and of average fitness when we did the trip in 2016. We went to the Sacred Valley straight after arriving in Cuzco and had a day to acclimatise. We did suffer but enjoyed the whole experience. Find time to explore Cuzco and Lima as well as MP and the Sacred Valley as they are all fascinating.



I would fly Sydney to Santiago on QF but maybe come back from Buenos Aries via AKL to Brisbane on Air New Zealand. That would give you a chance to also fly from Lima to the Iguazu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina and Buenos Aries. The kids would love the Falls as there a lots of walking trails and many birds and animals to find. Buenos Aries is a beautiful city and not too expensive.

 

[Straubs]

Allocate plenty of time to see the Sacred Valley - it's just as impressive as MP IMO. We had three nights in the Valley and I wouldn't recommend any less than that. We stayed two nights at MP and thought that was perfect, but if you're time poor I'd prioritise extra nights at Sacred Valley.

How long is your trip and do you want to see other things i.e. Lake Titicaca ?

The trip will be no more than two weeks as that is part of the issue - not letting it too big, thereby upping the cost and time commitment and ending up with us feeling overwhelmed. But Lake Titicaca keeps coming up as a suggestion ... have you been and can you tell me more about your experience of it?

 

[Straubs]

Plus realise that the tourist industry there is very used to the altitude sickness issue. Most reputable operators will be alert to the issue in their clients. We stayed at the Novotel in Cusco and on check-in they told us first about their earthquake evacuation procedures, then how they had oxygen on demand.

Oh, do the kids have guinea pigs as pets?

No, but is SA where guinea pigs are from? Have seen some of the photos with lots of guinea pigs represented in sculpture etc!

 

[Straubs]

I think enough has been written about the altitude sickness you might encounter during the trip, except to say that we were 70 and 60 and of average fitness when we did the trip in 2016. We went to the Sacred Valley straight after arriving in Cuzco and had a day to acclimatise. We did suffer but enjoyed the whole experience. Find time to explore Cuzco and Lima as well as MP and the Sacred Valley as they are all fascinating.

View attachment 105075

I would fly Sydney to Santiago on QF but maybe come back from Buenos Aries via AKL to Brisbane on Air New Zealand. That would give you a chance to also fly from Lima to the Iguazu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina and Buenos Aries. The kids would love the Falls as there a lots of walking trails and many birds and animals to find. Buenos Aries is a beautiful city and not too expensive.

View attachment 105076
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Oh my, those falls are gorgeous! Yes, that would be amazing to see and you're right ... the kids would love the falls.
Hubby has always wanted to see the Amazon and Galapagos, but I think they deserve some prolonged time and we can do those on a future trip ... this looks spectacular though and might need to join this itinerary!

 

[Milboo]

Ummm no. Cuy is common on menus there - aka guinea pig.

Expect to see this sight - there is an area outside of Pisac town that specialises in cuy.

 

[Straubs]

Ummm no. Cuy is common on menus there - aka guinea pig.

Expect to see this sight - there is an area outside of Pisac town that specialises in cuy.

Ooh, missed the mark on that one then ... well, maybe its better they don't have them then.

 

[tgh]

Others-MMV.. but I found Lake Titicaca a classic tourist trap, albeit very well done
The area has serious Anthropological attractions and I would , in hindsight, have preferred this option

 

[Jacques Vert]

When booking your paid flights, be aware of the earn rates on LAN. See the table below:

LANThis link will open in a new window. (LA, LU, LP, XL, 4M, 4C*)	Qantas Frequent Flyer Earn CategoriesThis link will open in a new window. on Partner Marketed Flights
		Discount Economy	Economy	Flexible Economy	Premium Economy	Business	First
Eligible Booking ClassThis link will open in a new window.	All flights^	AGNOQ	LMSVX	BHKY	PW	CDIJZ	-
Qantas Points and Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes, except on LAN and LAN affiliate codeshare flights operated by an airline other than Qantas or a oneworld alliance airline. ^ Qantas Points are not earned in GNOQ classes on flights within Chile, GKLMNOQSV classes on flights within Argentina, GLMNOQSV classes on flights within Peru and GNOQS classes on flights within Ecuador. * LAN affiliates include LAN Express (LU), LAN Ecuador (XL), LAN Argentina (4M) and LAN Columbia (4C). See our points calculatorThis link will open in a new window. for the easiest way to find out how many Qantas Points and Status Credits you'll earn, or visit the tableThis link will open in a new window..

I always struggle with the "Simpler and Fairer" rules but it seems to me that points will not be earned on most of the cheaper internal (Chile, Peru, et al) flights on LAN; I am not sure about status credits.

Maybe someone else can clarify the above.

 

[Straubs]

When booking your paid flights, be aware of the earn rates on LAN. See the table below:

LANThis link will open in a new window. (LA, LU, LP, XL, 4M, 4C*)	Qantas Frequent Flyer Earn CategoriesThis link will open in a new window. on Partner Marketed Flights
		Discount Economy	Economy	Flexible Economy	Premium Economy	Business	First
Eligible Booking ClassThis link will open in a new window.	All flights^	AGNOQ	LMSVX	BHKY	PW	CDIJZ	-
Qantas Points and Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes, except on LAN and LAN affiliate codeshare flights operated by an airline other than Qantas or a oneworld alliance airline. ^ Qantas Points are not earned in GNOQ classes on flights within Chile, GKLMNOQSV classes on flights within Argentina, GLMNOQSV classes on flights within Peru and GNOQS classes on flights within Ecuador. * LAN affiliates include LAN Express (LU), LAN Ecuador (XL), LAN Argentina (4M) and LAN Columbia (4C). See our points calculatorThis link will open in a new window. for the easiest way to find out how many Qantas Points and Status Credits you'll earn, or visit the tableThis link will open in a new window..

I always struggle with the "Simpler and Fairer" rules but it seems to me that points will not be earned on most of the cheaper internal (Chile, Peru, et al) flights on LAN; I am not sure about status credits.

Maybe someone else can clarify the above.

Thanks - I would not have been aware of this at all, and would need to come into my calculations ...

 

[dk4]

The main other tip I would give is to give yourself two opportunities to visit MP - say the afternoon of the day you arrive, and then the following morning, just in case the weather is rainy/cloudy on one or the other.

Agreed, plus MP is busiest with day trippers in the middle of the day - so getting there last thing in the day and first thing in the morning gives the best opportunity to see it with less people around, and also appreciate it lit from two different angles (which makes photographing everything easier). I would also suggest not staying at the resort at the top of the mountain, as that is all that there is up there, and the village down around the river (at the train station) is quite a nice small destination in itself, so spend the night somewhere there. But do organise to have the buffet lunch at the mountain resort (on the day which you visit MP in the morning) so right when you walk out of MP, you can sit down and refuel/recover from all the sightseeing (and easily spot when the queue for buses to go back down becomes shortest).

 

[Milboo]

That buffet was surprisingly good!

 

[kpc]

We stayed 1 night at the hotel at MP itself....was it expensive? Yes (over $1K per night). Was it worth it for the experience? Yes as we don't intend of ever going back to MP again so it was a once in a lifetime experience. All food and drink are included and you can duck back for a rest in between visiting MP itself. We arrived at about 1130am on Day 1 and left about 3 pm on Day 2 to maximise our time at MP. We also could sleep in (a bit) and be at the entrance to MP at 6am and at the gate for the climb to Huanya Picchu at 7am ( which I won't recommend if you have youngish kids) as it is slippery when wet and can be quite dangerous.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Hey Straubs,

I've just booked some internal flights in Peru and Chile with LATAM (via QF points). Pretty good value if you have points available IMHO. Refer to my post here:

Machu Picchu & S America Planning + India?

 

[amaroo]

We enjoyed two nights at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge - total bliss! Highly recommended...

 

[Jacques Vert]

We enjoyed two nights at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge - total bliss! Highly recommended...

Unfortunately it's beyond my budget.

 

[amaroo]

The trip will be no more than two weeks as that is part of the issue - not letting it too big, thereby upping the cost and time commitment and ending up with us feeling overwhelmed. But Lake Titicaca keeps coming up as a suggestion ... have you been and can you tell me more about your experience of it?

Sorry, just noticed I haven't replied to this Q.

Yes, we've been to Lake Titicaca, and like you we combined it with SV/MP/Cusco over a two week trip. We loved it! If I had my time again I would have pushed into Bolivia, so close, and taking advantage of the altitude acclimatisation we'd built up - just makes perfect sense.

I did a TR on our trip - you can see the Lake Titicaca section here Peruvian Celebrations!

 

[Straubs]

Belmond is out of my budget too ... though it sounds amazing ...
JV, thanks for the tip - will check it out ...

 

[Straubs]

Amaroo, I'll check out your TR - can't believe I hadn't come across it already! Thanks!

 

[k_sheep]

When booking your paid flights, be aware of the earn rates on LAN. See the table below:

LANThis link will open in a new window. (LA, LU, LP, XL, 4M, 4C*)	Qantas Frequent Flyer Earn CategoriesThis link will open in a new window. on Partner Marketed Flights
		Discount Economy	Economy	Flexible Economy	Premium Economy	Business	First
Eligible Booking ClassThis link will open in a new window.	All flights^	AGNOQ	LMSVX	BHKY	PW	CDIJZ	-
Qantas Points and Status Credits are earned on all eligible booking classes, except on LAN and LAN affiliate codeshare flights operated by an airline other than Qantas or a oneworld alliance airline. ^ Qantas Points are not earned in GNOQ classes on flights within Chile, GKLMNOQSV classes on flights within Argentina, GLMNOQSV classes on flights within Peru and GNOQS classes on flights within Ecuador. * LAN affiliates include LAN Express (LU), LAN Ecuador (XL), LAN Argentina (4M) and LAN Columbia (4C). See our points calculatorThis link will open in a new window. for the easiest way to find out how many Qantas Points and Status Credits you'll earn, or visit the tableThis link will open in a new window..

I always struggle with the "Simpler and Fairer" rules but it seems to me that points will not be earned on most of the cheaper internal (Chile, Peru, et al) flights on LAN; I am not sure about status credits.

Maybe someone else can clarify the above.

And yet, when you plug it into the earning points calculator, it says points and SC will be earned. Economy "Top" G.

So simple and fair *rolleyes*. Any first hand experience? LATAM is not too much more than Star Peru for my dates.

 

[Jacques Vert]

And yet, when you plug it into the earning points calculator, it says points and SC will be earned. Economy "Top" G.

So simple and fair *rolleyes*. Any first hand experience? LATAM is not too much more than Star Peru for my dates.

I noticed that on the calculator as well but came to the conclusion it was more likely that points will NOT be earned.

No first hand experience here and still no idea about status credits. As i'm now doing my internal flights on points it won't make any difference to me.