Bolivia: Exploring the South Lipez by Self-Drive (page 9 of 21)

Man, the manager is tough in negotiations—this price includes the meal, right, with wine for the thirsty? 😏 (you know who I'm looking at). And she barely budges. It can't be easy, but we should’ve just walked away and come back around 6:30 PM to check.

Not a critique on the price, though—I don’t care about that 😇

Yep, there’s no other option in the area. But if we had to do it again, I think we’d sleep in the car.

😏😏 I can just picture Isabelle packing baby wipes for four days straight without a shower!! That said, we survived just fine, even if we eventually couldn’t stand the smell of the wipes anymore! When I was a kid, we’d only take a bath once a week 🤪, and I wasn’t the only kid in my village "living" like that in the countryside. Thankfully, times have changed, and we’ve all swung to the opposite extreme...

in this price, the meal is included too, right, with wine for those who are thirsty? 😏 (follow my gaze)

Is Attila there?

Hey Guillaume,

For all the unlucky ones who complain they can’t manage to photograph viscachas properly, you know what you’ve got to do!! And without realizing it, of course 😛...

Does that even exist? Viscachas are super easy to photograph since they stay still for so long. On the other hand, I had no idea they were little thieves!!!😏

in this price, the meal is included too, right, with wine for those who like a drink? 😏 (follow my gaze)

Is Attila here?

I wasn’t thinking about her 😏

On the other hand, I didn’t know they were little thieves!!! 😏

I’d say more like opportunists (shouldn’t have left stuff lying around), whereas monkeys *are* thieves and would’ve trashed everything 🤪

Hi Régis,

I’d say more opportunistic (shouldn’t have left it lying around) whereas monkeys are thieves and they would’ve trashed everything 🤪

You’re right. Actually, it’s not just African monkeys that are thieves—there are also coatis, which you find in large numbers near Iguazu Falls. They don’t hesitate to rummage through tourists’ bags looking for food. I saw a couple get their sandwich stolen right after they bought it—it was wild. 🤪

Yep, there’s no other option around here. But if we did it again, I think we’d sleep in the car.

😏😏 I can just tell Isabelle’s gonna pack baby wipes for four days straight without a shower!! That said, you survive just fine, even if we ended up not being able to stand the smell of the wipes anymore! When I was a kid, we’d only take a bath once a week 🤪, and I wasn’t the only kid in my village "living" like that in the countryside. Thankfully, times have changed, and we’ve all gone to the opposite extreme...

For now, I’m not ready for baby wipes... but if Carmen’s doing it, why not me?? And you’re absolutely right about the once-a-week bath... but that was back then! 😏 😇

Well, if there’s hot coffee and Isabelle survived it (and trust me, in Grenoble they’re a bit fussy 😄), the question might come up...

Uh! I’m not a walking coffee machine... 😛

Wow, the manager was tough in negotiations—this price also included the meal, right, with wine for the thirsty? 😏 (follow my gaze) And she barely made any effort. It mustn’t have been easy, but we should’ve walked away and come back around 6:30 PM to check.

It’s not a critique of the price, though—I don’t care about that 😇

I should mention our Spanish didn’t help us negotiate well. Hard to be effective with Google Translate.

Coming back at 6:30 PM could’ve been a solution. Anyway, this hotel was on the itinerary because of the good reviews from some forum members. But they paid for a double room, not the family suite, and prices may have gone up. When you read the reviews on TripAdvisor, a lot of French travelers seem to like this hotel.

Well, no—the meal wasn’t included😐, just a little aperitif glass was part of the deal. But we didn’t even drink it... no messing with alcohol at this altitude.😉 Okay, I’m being harsh—the tea, coffee, and little biscuits were also included in the price. And let’s not forget, there was heating, which is rare in these parts. I even had a little thought for Diamina.😄

For the rest of the trip, we’ll only have cheap or free accommodations. We balance things out when we can...😛

😏😏 I can totally see Isabelle packing baby wipes for four straight days without a shower!! That said, you do survive, even if you end up not being able to stand the smell of the wipes anymore! When I was a kid, we’d only take a bath once a week 🤪, and I wasn’t the only kid in my village "living" like that in the countryside. Thankfully, times have changed, and we’ve all gone to the opposite extreme...

Speaking of which, times *have* changed... and when I was a kid, I wasn’t climbing 5,000 or 6,000-meter peaks. 😛 After a good effort, a little hot shower isn’t a luxury. But you get used to everything.

For you, though, the family room could be a great tip. With five people, the price is already more reasonable.

Last time I paid 240 € for one night, it was... well, I’ve never paid that rate in my life as a traveler...

No, no, it was $240, so you see it’s not that expensive in euros. 😛

Careful, no judgment—everyone does what they want...

Or what they can... The fact that there’s no other option in the area, the desire to take a shower and eat a good meal... Anyway, we got caught in our own trap by our own desires.

But if we did it again, I think we’d sleep in the car.

By booking in advance, you should be able to get a double room that’s a bit cheaper. Still $160 though...😐

If anyone here feels like getting into the hotel business, there might be a niche to fill in Bolivia!

By offering rooms at half the price of the competition, I think the occupancy rate should be optimal! 😄

The last time I paid 240 € for one night, it was... well, I’ve never paid that rate in my life as a traveler...

No, no, it was $240, so you see it’s not that expensive in euros.😛

Careful, no judgment—everyone does what they want...

Or what they can... the fact that there’s no other option in the area, the desire to take a shower and eat a good meal... Anyway, we got caught in our own desires’ trap.

Hi Carmen. Never regret your choices (unless it’s a disaster)—we only live once. Bernard.

Last time I paid 240 € for one night, it was... well, I’ve never paid that rate in my life as a traveler...

No, no, it was $240, so you see, it’s not that expensive in euros. 😛

Careful, no judgment, everyone does as they please...

Or as they can... the fact that there’s no other option in the area, the desire to take a shower and eat a good meal... Anyway, we got caught in our own desires’ trap.

Hi Carmen. Never regret your choices (unless it’s a disaster), you only live once. Bernard.

+1! YOLO, as the kids say!

But if we did it again, I think we’d sleep in the car.

By booking in advance, you should be able to get a double room that’s a bit cheaper. Still $160 though...😐

Booking in advance usually gives you the best value for money and, most importantly, guarantees you a room. But, as explained in the intro, we weren’t really sure which way we’d be doing this trip—Uyuni-Tupiza or the other way around. Plus, with the *bloqueo* issues in Bolivia, you can quickly lose a reservation, and the hotel owner won’t hesitate to charge your credit card.

If anyone here feels like getting into the hotel business, there might be an opportunity in Bolivia!

By offering rooms at half the price of the competition, I think occupancy rates would be optimal! 😄

True...😄

But, as explained in the introduction, we weren’t really sure which direction we’d take for this trip—Uyuni-Tupiza or the other way around... with the *bloqueo* issues...

Yeah. 😉 My comment was aimed at future travelers who, setting out outside election periods and other protest movements, could plan their route.

My comment was aimed at future travelers who, traveling outside election periods and other protest movements, could plan their route.

If it's like in France, and elections always take place in the spring, then it'd be best to leave in July-August. And even more reason to book as much as possible then, if it's doable and there's internet—I’d hate to end up camping in -20°C at night 🤪, just because Los Flamencos is fully booked, even with sleeping bags rated for -12°C comfort and -28°C extreme!! And at that point, even at $240, the suite rate will seem like a steal 😏 !

I think Bolivia is a bit like Zimbabwe. You’ve gotta keep an eye on the situation!

Personally, it was super quiet when I went. No elections, so I could plan my bookings in advance.

In August, it gets really cold at night in the Salar. I felt like I was skiing in January... We left a bottle of water in the car and it turned to ice by morning...🤪

I think I’m too much of a cold-weather wimp to sleep in a bivouac out there.😊

For timing, I think Carmen picked the best window. From May to September, it’s way too cold (spring-like during the day), and from November to March, the rain can really mess things up...

Hey Guillaume,

Bolivians don’t just block the roads during election periods—they do it whenever something doesn’t sit right with them. The big blockade in Uyuni back in August-September wasn’t related to the presidential elections.

A few years ago, another forum member ran into teacher-led bloqueos in La Paz. But this issue isn’t unique to Bolivia—it happens in other South American countries too, though maybe less often. Late October to early November saw some bloqueos in Chile. Peru is another country where bloqueos are pretty common.

Carmen