distancia also has a promotion for 50,000 miles for a roundtrip to latin america from the us. maybe there is some confusion beween the distancia and latinpass promotions.

Now in GUA at the Radisson Suites. Called the hotel from the airport, and they had a free shuttle van there for me in less than 10 minutes. My room is on the 17th floor - large and very nice, free internet access downstairs. I do not see how you could beat this in Guatemala. Tomorrow I meet my sister here and we fly on together on TACA to MGA. I have reserved Best Western Las Mercedes -conveniently located across from the Managua International Airport - swimming pools, gambling, open-air bar -sounds great!-for 80 dollars plus 15 percent tax.
My problem at the moment is to figure out how to get connected in BOG to Aces and then another Aces without going through customs. We will arrive BOG on Avianca from CCS. We have over 5 hours connection time, but would rather not come out of international area, to avoid customs and departure tax -if there is one. ideas?
Also, still need a hotel in Lima. We will arrive very late, and leave very earlly, so would like to stay close to the airport. Hilton = $250 -too much! Intercontinental - so far away. More ideass? I can check here Sunday morning early.

BJJ - Your two questions:

1. My brother is going to LIM (I am only going on the 500K run, so will not get there). He could not find a hotel there either. But found a nice guest house in Miraflores where the owner speaks English and will pick him up and return him for a reasonable fee. Unfortunately, he is now is NZ and I don't have the name of place. But there is a Central Reservations Tel. 4466895 that you can check with. Or try San Antonio Abad Hotel T 4476766 that has a shuttle. A drive may be necessary, but better 4-5 hours sleep than staying at airport.

In BOG they are not supposed to charge you a fee if you are leaving on same day. But I think you can (from what I have read) stay in the transit area - assume no checked bags. But may be difficult to get an agent to get you boarding passes. If you leave, make sure they stamp passport with date of arrival so you can prove when you arrived.

Please post this info after your trip as, I think, the biggest question for most is how to handle plane transfers at the various airports without exit taxes. And BOG is a main transfer point and many concerned with possible problems there. Thanks and Good Luck!

BJJ, we couldn't figure out how to stay behind security in BOG, but it wasn't a big deal--especially if you have the time. Just present your boarding pass from your arriving flight to the airport tax counter (across from the Iberia counter, I believe) and they'll stamp it without charge. Then get your boarding pass for the next flight. I was somewhat nervous in there, having read about people stealing passports and luggage, but didn't have any trouble.

In Lima, we stayed at the Holiday Inn in Miraflores, booked through their web site. It was $85/night for a huge room. The place seemed nearly vacant when we were there. We took a bus from the airport to the hotel and back. It was pretty cheap--about $10/person I think. We had them pick us up early the next morning, and the driver was there as promised--or even 10 minutes early (something like 3:15 am). It's about 30 minutes from the airport to the hotel.

A better idea might be to pay business class for your flight the next morning and camping out in the LIM VIP lounge. Grupo Taca clase executiva tickets will get you in, for example. You probably won't get much rest no matter what you do.

I look forward to your report from the LIM internet cafe...

If you do not have biz tkts but are a member of Diners Club, consider hanging out in the 24hr DC Lounge at Lima airport. Complementary beverages etc. If anyone has been there, please confirm.

DC apparently also has 24hr lounges in the airports in Guayaquil, Quito, Miami.
http://www.dinersclub.com/diners_lounges.html

BillHallNY - Originally I was booked at the Holiday Inn, GUA, but after reading posts here I decided to go with the Radisson for $80 (plus megataxes), free shuttle to/from airport. I was able to arrange for the airport shuttle in advance on Radisson's 1-800 number (1-800-333-3333), but BJJ said he called from the airport and they arrived within 10 minutes. BJJ just posted that they have free net access ;-) there, so I'll comment when I get there on Tues (3/28)..

ALL - Anybody know what to see/do in Caracas? I will be staying at the Hilton and will have all morning (til 1pm). Do you think I can get a half-day city tour? Or should I just hoof/metro it?

Cheers,
ns

Re: BOG layover. My itinerary involves a layover of 7.5 hours in Bogota.. waiting for a late flight to Caracas.. Anybody know if I could get a late afternoon tour of Bogota arranged at the airport? Or should I just stay in transit and avoid tax and potential safety concerns?

ns

If anybody's making a 500,000 run from the Detroit area in the near future, I would be interested in hooking up. I also could make a trip from Mexico City as business may take me there in the next couple of months. I'm looking to make as quick a run as possible and obviously the least expensive as I didn't get my wife registered quick enough so I will be making a solo run. Thanks!

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I have a 6 hour layover in Bogota this Sat.
I had dinner with a customer last week who was from Columbia and he strongly suggested that we not venture out into the city.

Has anybody had any luck with getting boarding passes for a flight when you are not in the country from which you are flying from?

NSW and tomphot: Please see my report on Bogota El Dorado airport in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...002076-16.html

Also, I wrote a trip report about a week long stay in Bogota in the section "Flyer Talk Trip Reports" if you're interested.

I would be glad to answer specific questions as best I can here.

Hello all, and thanks so much for all of the information. I'm just finishing the booking of my million mile run leaving May 4 or 5 from MIA. I'll return there on May 14. I'm likely travelling alone, so would love to meet up with folks along the way. I'll post my itinerary later this week, when it is confirmed. Anyone else travelling in this time frame?

My husband and I are off on 3/30 for the 500K trip. Our route will be MIA_BOG_SJO stay the night in SJO (?Marriott, check out the volcano) Then SJO_SAL_GUA, the night in GUA (Holiday Inn), then GUA_MGA_MIA back on the 1st of April.

We were wondering about renting a car in San Jose to drive to the Volcan Poas. I beleive the Marriott has a shuttle rfom the airport. Any suggestions for restaurants in SJO and GUA? Thanks!

DGOLDS: I saw what you and Pudding Guy wrote about El Dorado airport (thanks guys. Most helpful). One specific question though: Assuming that one is able to get boarding passes for connecting flights (a big assumption to make in my case, but never mind...), is it possible to stay airside, or do you have to go through immigration in any event (arriving from Miami)?

NickB: I didn't see a way that you could stay in the airport without going through immigration, but that doesn't mean it's not possible. If you do have to go through immigration, allow at least an hour for clearing customs, and a couple of hours for checking in to your next flight.

You might give Avianca or ACES a call, I'm sure they could give a definitive answer.

Disregard my earlier request for information regarding day tours in Bogota. I am going to hole up in the airport for the 7-hour layover.

Check out the latest the State Dept. info on Colombia: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/eek.gif http://travel.state.gov/colombia.html