Hola everyone! I thought I would share some of my top tips for students travelling to Chile/ some things I found helpful while preparing to travel and while in Chile.
- I recommend ordering a Wise card before you depart and using it while abroad in Chile. A Wise card is a multi-currency card you can order online and easily convert NZD to CLP. It was a great option for me to avoid a foreign transaction fee on my NZ card.
- I recommend getting some cash out in CLP before travelling to Chile, as ATM fees were quite high. You can get cash out of ATMs with your Wise card, but to avoid the extra charges, it would be best to bring some cash.
- I recommend downloading an Airalo eSIM before travelling to Chile. It was easy to download, and I got data, calls, and texts. I recommend this rather than relying on hooking onto Wifi networks in case of emergency and to help you navigate around the city.
- When packing for your trip, I recommend packing well below the weight limit if you want to do some shopping while away to avoid the stress of overweight luggage.
- In New Zealand, we don’t really have a tipping culture, whereas in Chile, you should expect to tip around 10% of the total bill when eating out. This is useful to know to avoid awkward situations and in budget planning for your trip,
- To ensure the safety of your belongings, I recommend a money belt, or if you have an interior pocket in your clothing, that would also be great. This is useful for your phone, card, and cash. When travelling on the metro, I recommend not getting out your phone and holding onto your cross-body bag or putting your backpack in front of your body. I used a travel padlock to ensure no one could reach into my backpack when moving around the city. I would recommend staying aware of your belongings at all times to avoid pickpocketing,
- Before arriving, make sure you understand/ are familiar with your medical insurance/ travel insurance, for example, who to call in an emergency. It might seem unnecessary or annoying, but trust me, it is very important.
- I also recommend researching dangerous animals. For example, there was a highly venomous spider in my room at our accommodation, and it is important to be able to identify dangers. If you are interested, google my unexpected roommate, the Chilean recluse spider.
- Before arriving in Chile, I bought a travel adaptor, but because the building we were staying in was older, the travel adaptor didn’t fit the socket. I would recommend purchasing an adaptor when you get to Chile rather than before to avoid having to buy another one.
- Lastly, make sure to be careful about what water you are drinking when in Chile. Not all the water is safe, so drink filtered water or buy bottled water to avoid getting sick.
I hope these tips are helpful! Have fun in Chile!