Pre-Trip Planning Assistance
When
considering travel in a foreign country, it is fine to gather
information from the Internet. However, it is also important to find
out what is really happening at your destination from people who
actually live there and have an understanding of the culture you are
coming from, as well as experience with the culture you will be
entering.
In
addition, especially when planning for a group excursion, it is
important to have a clear idea of what to expect in terms of housing,
travel and living expenses, and to be prepared for many of the
situations that might be encountered while traveling in Guatemala. This
is where the staff of Avivara can be of great assistance.
The services we offer in this area include:
Pre-Trip Budget Planning: When planning a
trip it is good to have a clear idea of what things will cost. Avivara will provide you with detailed Budget Planning Worksheet that will provide accurate and up-to-date cost estimates to assist you in planning a trip to Guatemala that is tailored to your budget.
What to Bring: How often have you taken a
trip only to find that you brought too much, or not enough? Or that the
credit or debit card you use so frequently at home, is not accepted in
the foreign country where you are traveling. We can help you avoid
those pitfalls. We can also provide recommendations for bringing things
that are difficult to find in Guatemala, or to leave at home those
things that are abundantly available here.
Planning for Accessing Money: Guatemala is
primarily a cash-only economy. Therefore it is important to
make arrangements prior to arrival for accessing money while here in Guatemala. We can help suggest the best ways to ensure that you will
have access to cash while traveling in Guatemala.
Medical Issues: While we always
encourage people to consult with their local travel medicine clinic to
find out what shots or medical precautions are recommended for travel
in Guatemala, we also have access to information regarding
recent and local medical warnings. In addition, the drug prescription laws are
considerably more lax in Guatemala than they are in the U.S. so we can
help provide information regarding which prescription drugs can be
purchased over the counter here in Guatemala. Also, if you have a
particular medical condition that might require attention while you are
here, we can, before your arrival, contact a medical specialist in that
field, to help your family doctor and and a local Guatemalan doctor know of your
situation and know how to contact with one another in case of an emergency.
Planning Excursions: Guatemala is an
absolutely beautiful country with a number of different tourist
destinations. We can provide first-hand information about some of the
more popular sites (Tikal, climbing volcanos, Lake Atitlan, the market
at Chichicastenango, etc.) In addition, we have the resources to also
help you or your group plan excursions to locales that are rarely
visited by tourists or foreigners, thus giving you the opportunity to
see more of the "real-life" of Guatemala.
Arranging for Lodging and In-Country Transportation:
Having worked with over 600 people from the U.S. and Europe who have
come to volunteer in Guatemala, our staff can help you or your group
arrange for lodging and transportation that is an appropriate match for
your budget and your level of need for certain creature comforts. Lodging can
range from having a private room and eating meals in a modest (but
clean) Guatemalan home to moderately priced hotel rooms. (For those with
unlimited budgets, we can also arrange for lodging at a 5 star hotel,
but we assume that the demand for that will be fairly small.)
Planning for the "Best Fit" Volunteer Service: Because
of our connections with many other non-profits and NGO's in Guatemala,
we know of a number of volunteer agencies that offer excellent
opportunities for meaningful service. Part of
our pre-trip planning help would be to acquaint you with these various
agencies, what their criteria are for accepting volunteers, and an
appraisal of how our staff and past volunteers have rated each organization.
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