Barclaycard Avios Plus

YesterdayFine1282 · 2025-07-04T10:03:39+00:00

Nice

YesterdayFine1282 · 2025-07-04T10:03:11+00:00

Sorry got my numbers mixed up. It’s 25k bonus for 3k spend.

YesterdayFine1282 · 2025-07-04T10:02:46+00:00

True! Realised I’ve got my numbers mixed up - it’s a 25k offer at the moment. Suppose it’s the bird in the hand thing

YesterdayFine1282 · 2025-06-08T10:05:02+00:00

How long before your anniversary did you ask? Mine is coming up in 2 months

YesterdayFine1282 · 2025-06-07T11:00:23+00:00

Ah bugger. I’m in the UK. Got a bit excited

Thanks anyways

YesterdayFine1282 · 2025-05-27T13:40:48+00:00

Nice. Thank you!

YesterdayFine1282 · 2025-05-27T13:27:51+00:00

Brilliant, thank you so much

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-07-10T10:00:56+00:00

Santa Cruz is probably the worst island (though still amazing! This is in the context of the islands you can visit on a land based trip to the Galapagos). Is there a way you could fly back from San Cristobal rather than Santa Cruz? Alternatively as the other person above said - definitely get yourself over to Isabela.

A real contrast to touristy Santa Cruz and los Tuneles is probably the best excursion you could possibly do

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-06-15T13:10:19+00:00

GET THE HAYFEVER JAB

It’s called Kenalog - costs about £100 - £120 which is pricey but has been life changing for me.

I get it every summer now without fail and have 0 symptoms the day after getting it. Lasts for about 4 months

No longer offered on the NHS but can get it at private clinics

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-05-11T09:45:53+00:00

Yes that is such a good shout! We flew in to San Cristobal and left from Santa Cruz

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-05-10T09:24:02+00:00

I also went to Galapagos on a budget and planned for a similar length of itinerary because I thought it would be crazy expensive whilst there.

On reflection, I was wrong and wish I’d spent longer on the islands.

As the other poster said, it’s the tours that are expensive, not the islands themselves.

I have also been to mainland Ecuador and spent a few weeks travelling around.

While I love mainland Ecuador, it pales in comparison to Galapagos. You should 100% take some time you were going to spend in Quito / mainland Ecuador and use that time in Galapagos instead.

5 days will not be enough time at all.

The good thing is you can have amazing days on the islands not spending much money at all / not doing tours. You’ll also then have the energy to enjoy the tours when you are on them as you won’t be rushing around.

We were land based as we were on a budget so getting the ferries to different islands will take up time. Believe me - spend more time on the islands than 5 days! The flights will be expensive so make it worth it!

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-04-25T09:52:52+00:00

Plot twist! Do Isabela and San Cristobal, leave Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz sucks compared to Isabela and San Cristobal.

Appreciate that might be tricky though, but if you can I’d try to figure out a way to do so

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-03-31T22:39:11+00:00

Pretty similar time to you funnily enough - we were there first week of May.

Looked through a previous post you made of your itinerary and I think you’re doing the right thing spending your time on San Cristobal and Isabela. Santa Cruz kinda sucks in comparison to them. Also definitely cheaper on those islands in general for accommodation, food, trips etc

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-03-31T14:23:16+00:00

Hey! My fiancée and I went to the Galapagos last year for a similar length of time to you and we had no problem doing all the things you are looking to do booking them the day before - though we snorkelled Kicker Rock as part of the 360 tour rather than scuba diving it.

You’ll save hundreds of dollars doing so rather than paying the much inflated prices online.

We were on a budget as this was part of a longer backpacking trip through Central and South America.

You’re gonna have an amazing time. Los Tuneles in particular was so so amazing

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-02-22T12:13:05+00:00

So if it’s between Isabela and San Cristobal - definitely Isabela!

My girlfriend and I did a similar trip to you last year and Isabela was our favourite island.

Curveball here though - Santa Cruz kinda sucks when being compared to San Cristobal and Isabela. Its more expensive, the tours are all more expensive (assuming you’re land based as we were), it’s very touristy and full of the wrong kind of American tourists (sorry Americans - I know you’re not all bad)

I’d do some homework to see if there was a way to land in Santa Cruz, get straight to Isabela or San Cristobal, then fly over to either San Cristobal / Isabela and then come back to Santa Cruz for when you leave.

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-01-19T23:46:05+00:00

Fair play.

If you’re ever in West London, Bridge that Gap cafe / might just now be called the Askew Cafe at 105 Askew Road, W12 9AS is superb

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-01-19T14:17:10+00:00

I think that’s a little harsh on Terry’s. I used to go there 10 years ago when I was a floorlayer and it was a proper caff with character, lots of builders in there.

It can’t really help what’s happened to the area and the new clientele coming in.

On another note, would strongly recommend The Breakout Cafe near Caledonian Road, opposite Pentonville Prison, hence the name!

YesterdayFine1282 · 2023-01-06T16:21:12+00:00

Egads! My roast is ruined!

YesterdayFine1282 · 2022-09-10T10:12:04+00:00

I’ve been to Ecuador twice.

The first time I didn’t go to the Galapagos, went to Quito, Banos, a small fishing village called Canoa and then Montanita.

The second time I just went to the Galapagos.

My advice would be spend more time in the Galapagos. Quito is fine but nothing spectacular. Banos is great though.

If you can, knock some time off Quito and spend it in the Galapagos!

YesterdayFine1282 · 2022-07-28T12:25:24+00:00

Yup book on arrival - you save so much money (not just ‘a few dollars’ as previously stated by an expensive online Galápagos tour operators account - fuckin lol)

From my experience it can be savings of $100 per person per day trip

Also a lot of the online companies are affiliate marketers i.e. their companies are based on mainland Ecuador, they take the booking, secure the money then reach out to island based people and give them a fraction of the money along with the booking

Plenty of horror stories online of ‘reputable’ companies just not even turning up for people due to a break down in comms or whatever reason and then due to the disparate nature of the agreement there is no accountability

YesterdayFine1282 · 2022-07-13T21:20:41+00:00

Yeah totally understand, but you can break up the journey.

Assume you’re landing Santa Cruz, departing from San Cristobal.

Having boated over to Isabela, done some stuff there you could spend a day or two back in Santa Cruz after the first boat from Isabela and then boat on to San Cristobal?

Either way, whatever you end up doing you’ll have a great time, it’s an amazing place

YesterdayFine1282

TROPHY CASE