Any interest in Montecristi/ Cuenca tour?

[Panamabob]

Any interest in a tour of Montecristi and/or Cuenca?

Ecuador is rather inexpensive, safe, and easy to get around (very small).


I certainly wouldn't benefit, so don't move to classified, please.

 

[Brad Bowers]

Robert,

I'd love to go, but it depends on money, and if the timing is right for me.

Brad Bowers

 

[Imahomer]

I'd also be interested but, I'd need to know more about it too.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

I'm in i'd better pull the passport out of the safe and make sure its not expired. I can see it now The Fedora Lounge Adventure

 

[rayk]

Contingent on dates and specifics of trip, and adequate reaction time, I'd be very interested. This would be a terrific opportunity for most of us to experience a part of the world from which comes a product that is a passion for all of us, and that would be attended by one very knowledgeable of the region, its people, and our beloved Montecristi hats. Tell us more, Robert!!

 

[Imahomer]

I'd suggest that some rough perameters be thrown out there. I think most people would want to know the approx. costs involved, when this would be and other items like that.

 

[Art Fawcett]

I'm in !! Let's get more info Robert.

 

[Panamabob]

I'll get some numbers together...of course, you can see what your airline costs are...COPA, Avianca, and TACA are the cheapest from Miami...I don't know about the West Coast.

Hotels are cheap, the one closest to Montecristi is about 22.00 single.

I'll get some things figured out and throw out a ballpark.

You'll faint upon hearing the hat prices...guaranteed.

 

[Panamabob]

So far I'm tallying about 1300 minimum

Here is what I find...air price may differ.

Ticket varies from 500-955.00, but if you can get to Houston with ATA or Southwest you can fly cheaper from Houston (Miami LA too). Copa airlines is cheap, avianca and LanChile are cheap, too.

Busses (safe) about $50.00.

Food, probably $10.00 a day would be enough.

Hat...the finest you can find for no more than $500.00...for those that have hats you know what you've paid.

I'd be willing to wing it if only 3 people really wanted to go.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Sign me up Robert. You pick a time, I'll be there

 

[Panamabob]

To the tongue in cheek emailer...here you go...


I've been asked to extend the invitation to one B Black and one M Johnson.

I'll edit this in a bit, I suppose.

 

[rayk]

And awwwaaaaaaayyy we go!!!!!! I'm in, barring a few dates on which I could have insoluble conflicts. But it's looking good so far.

 

[Imahomer]

I know there isn't a date picked out for this. I'm wondering if it might be better to select a time period that's way out there, or even ask when would be a good time to do this. For me, it's a matter of will it fit in with my other things I've already got in place. However, if it was way out there, I could block that time slot out and plan around it.

 

[Panamabob]

Since I teach I have free:

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Spring Break (Sometime in late march)

June, July, and the first two weeks of August.

 

[Imahomer]

Originally posted by Panamabob
Since I teach I have free:

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Spring Break (Sometime in late march)

June, July, and the first two weeks of August.

I don't know how anyone else feels, but if we were to plot this out for next year, for me it would almost be a slam dunk!

 

[Panamabob]

I'd say next June would be perfect for me...plenty of time to plan. I'm not opposed to going two times, either.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

I would not miss this trip for all the tea in China. I can't wait to meet the other guys that sell these hats its BB & MJ right?

 

[Imahomer]

Originally posted by Panamabob
I'd say next June would be perfect for me...plenty of time to plan. I'm not opposed to going two times, either.

Well if something were planned for next year, I would think that would enhance everyones chances of attending.

 

[rayk]

I agree that pushing the trip off until after the New Year would offer everyone ample opportunity to plan and save individually, as well as provide the group adequate time for trip-enhancing research and collective itinerary development.

I'm sure that there are better and worse times to travel to Montecristi and Cuenca: seasonal price hikes, festivals that would be fun to attend, holidays, weather (if applicable), etc... However, past experience has taught me that placement of too much time between the plan and its fruition often results in diminution of interest, unforeseen schedule conflicts, and sundry vicissitudes which could potentially undermine the trip.

Perhaps we should take sufficient time, but not too much time...at least that's my opinion. I can certainly say that, in my own experience, had I signed on last June for a trip this June, I might very well have had to beg off. I wouldn't want to see that happen to anybody (least of all, me ) , as I think that I know how much hats mean to all of you, and how terrific a trip this might be.

 

[Panamabob]

I'm a little trapped by my schedule and $$...remember I've just immigrated to USA.

If you'd like to go down yourselves I'd be happy to help you guys out on who to go to and who to see, but the busses might be tricky.

In Ecuador there is a festival, holiday, or feast every day of the year somewhere. The rainy season ends in April or May so June and July would offer clean roads up to Cuenca.

Flying in Ecuador is cheap to some, expensive to others.

If someone really wants to go they won't lose interest.

And Ray, I hope you speak Spanish as well as you speak English. I can't believe I actually have a license to teach English half the time...