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| Oaxaca Culinary, Crafts and Cultural Tour |
| Frequently Asked Questions About Our Oaxaca Tour |
Q. What level of physical activity should I anticipate? A. The B&B has some rooms on the ground level and others are up one flight of stairs. The streets in Oaxaca are narrow in places and some are cobblestoned. The visit to Monte Alban takes about 1.5 hours and involves some climbing. Our day in the Sierra Juarez Mountains will take us up to about 9,000 feet with a noticeable drop in temperature. Q. What is the food like? A. In general, we will be having three full meals each day. Pace yourself, we try to limit the amount of food but our hosts like to show off their culinary skills to their guests. Breakfast will feature a variety of items including fresh fruit, fresh squeezed fruit juice, an assortment of bread and cakes, tortillas, a different entree each day(eggs different styles, tamales, etc.) and your choice of chocolate or coffee. The spices and chiles will be typical of the Oaxacan cuisine and may be "hot". Pork, chicken and beef are the usual meats. The ingredients will always be local and seasonal and all the fruits and vegetables will be treated prior to use to eliminate harmful bacteria. Water used for cooking will be purified. Drinking water will be either purified or bottled. Beer and fruit drinks will be available. Q. Are the cooking classes hands-on? A. There is hands-on and demo in the classes. You do not have to be a cook to enjoy this tour. Sit back, observe, relax, enjoy the aromas and wait for the meal if you so desire. Q. Will I have a choice at meal-times? A. Yes, there is always a variety of food available. Q. I have food allergies or sensitivities? A. Please advise us in advance and we will let you know if the tour is appropriate for you. Q. I don't drink alcohol? A. Fruit drinks and water are always available. Beer is the typical alcoholic drink. Q. What are the rooms like? A. We stay in a B&B and each room is individually furnished and decorated. There are several sitting areas, a large central patio and a comfortable dining area for breakfast. Q. Is there free time? A. Yes, it depends on the day's schedule. Usually, we return to the B&B by 4pm and allow time before any evening activities. Q. Is Oaxaca safe for the tourist? A. Yes, but one should take the usual precautions that you would take anywhere. Pickpocketing is the most common form of crime, however, we have never had any problem on our tours. Q. What is our transportation like? A. Transport will be by air-conditioned motor coach with fully licensed and insured drivers. Q. Who will be accompanying us? A. Sue Baldassano and Jeff Rickin of To Grandmother's House We Go and at least one other person will be accompanying the group. Q. I am traveling alone, do you arrange for a roommate? A. There is limited space available for two people rooming together and requiring 2 single beds. We do not arrange for roommates. There is a single supplement charge. Q. I will be arriving early or staying on after the tour, can you help me with accommodation arrangements? A. We can assist you with these arrangements. Q. What is not included in the tour price? A. Airfare to and from Oaxaca, travel insurance, tips to B&B personnel and drivers and any meals not specifically listed in the itinerary. Q. Is airfare included? What time should I plan to arrive on the first day? A. Airfare is not included. Arrive as close to noontime as possible on February 8th this will give you enough time to settle in before the tour begins. The tour will begin with the walk to the zocalo and dinner leaving from the B&B at 7pm. Q. What is the best way to get to Oaxaca from the U.S.? A. We recommend coming down thru Mexico City where there are connecting flights to Oaxaca. The flight to Oaxaca from Mexico City is less than one hour. There are direct flights to Oaxaca on Continental from Houston, however, they are not scheduled every day and the planes are small and if you are delayed getting to Houston there could be a problem being re-booked. There is a first class bus service from Mexico City that takes about 6 hours to Oaxaca. Q. Do you provide transfers to and from the airport in Oaxaca? A. Yes, but only on February 21 for arrivals at Oaxaca Airport and on February 28 from Mis Recuerdos B&B to the Oaxaca Airport. Q. Should I purchase travel insurance? A. Yes, we advise you to protect your tour investment with insurance. Q. What is there to buy and bring back from Oaxaca? A. We advise our tour members to pack light and bring an extra bag to have space for the purchases you will make. Wood carvings, pottery, textiles and rugs are typical crafts purchases. Dried chiles, spices and mezcal are popular food items to bring back. Packing and shipping is available. Q. What time do activities begin in the morning and end in the evening? A. Breakfast is available from 8:30am. On most days we will depart the B&B by 9:30am. Generally, we return about 4pm, allow time for a break and leave for scheduled evening activities at about 6pm.. Q. What clothing should I bring? A. Casual dress is always appropriate. Bring good, broken in walking shoes and an all weather jacket. The sun is strong, protective hat and clothing is recommended. Laundry service is available if needed. Q. What is the weather like in February? A. February is the dry season, rain is rare. Daytime highs can be in the mid to upper 80's with strong sun, overnight temperatures can get down to the high 40's. Q. Do I need to speak Spanish? A. No, but basic phrases are helpful. We provide bilingual guides. Q. What about phone and internet service? A. The B&B has WiFi service for your laptop. There are internet cafes available. If you have a cell phone that is "unlocked" you can purchase a SIM card to get service. Phone cards are also available to call home. Our Verizon phone works in Oaxaca but roaming charges apply. Q. What is the electric service like in Oaxaca? A. The rooms all have U.S. style outlets. Q. How do I obtain pesos? A. ATMs are the best way. Casa de Cambios (money exchanges) are available to exchange cash. Banks do not eschange cash or offer advances on credit cards. Q. What credit cards can I use? A. Visa is most widely accepted, Master Card and AMEX are also accepted at certain locations. Q. How long has To Grandmother's House We Go been taking groups to Oaxaca? A. Sue led her first tour to Oaxaca in 1994. Q. Do you accept credit cards for tour payment? A. No, a personal check is acceptable. |
| Click below for more information on Oaxaca tours. |
| Itinerary for February 21 - 28, 2011 |
| Accommodation in Oaxaca, Mexico |
| Terms/Condtions |
| Our Teachers in Oaxaca |
| Frequently Asked Questions |
| Be sure to check out our Sicilian Treasures tours! |
| F o r more information: Phone: 718-768-4662 or 718-541-2091 e-mail: info@tograndmothershousewego.com |
