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Chile First Class My husband and I traveled together to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary and my 60th birthday and wanted undivided, first class service throughout the trip. We chose Chile: the country's majesty wonderful diversification in geography and climate closed the deal. We wanted the entire experience from the northern desert, modern sophisticated Santiago, the central lakes/glacier region—all the way to Patagonia in the far south. With so much territory to cover in two weeks, we wanted to guarantee at least four nights in a resort at the front and back ends to relax. Our Travel Consultant, Donna Salerno, an affiliate of Virtuoso, planned our itinerary perfectly. We favored our four days in the Atacama Desert region, mainly due to the hospitality of the Awasi resort hotel. We were treated as pampered children—fed a hearty breakfast, sent out to play with our private guide to explore the other-worldliness of the region. We were fed gourmet picnic lunches in either the shade of an oasis or mountain side, and returned to the hotel in time for a lazy poolside siesta. Plenty of time to refresh for cocktail hour and delicious dinners prepared by a gourmet chef. After dinner we would retire to the blazing fire pit in the outdoor lobby with a glass of wine and plan the next day, then toddle off to bed. Two nights we were lulled to sleep by the Andean flutes softly played by neighboring locals. The staff at this resort was remarkable in their professionalism and kindness—truly gentle, well educated, and with the pleasure of their guests first in mind. This is the finest resort my husband and I have experienced in our many years of travel, including our former careers in the hotel industry. Awasi has only eight suites so the property felt very private, quiet and soothing. Many hours would pass before we would see or hear another guest. The natural springs/hot thermal baths are not to be missed. I felt like Cleopatra bathing in the Nile with the giant pampas grass towering over my head, waterfalls rushing and, of course, Juan our guide, to hand me a cool drink or bathrobe as I climbed out of the black sand bottomed pools. This excursion can get crowded, so go early in the day. My husband is not a spa type, but even he enjoyed this experience because of its unique location secluded in a valley high in the Andes. My husband asked one guide if we could put our toes over the Chilean border into Bolivia for a photo op. Without missing a beat, he drove us to the top of the Andes (15,000 feet), took our photo at the border crossing, then on the way down the mountain, he served a gourmet picnic lunch with perfectly chilled wine and beer. Overall, the guides, drivers and private vans were excellent on our trip. Polite, attentive, prompt, well educated in local geography, history, and international news as well. All drivers and guides were waiting for us at the airports or hotels. If our flights were delayed (common in Chile), they waited until we arrived with news of hotel confirmations, any flight changes the next day, etc. We were encouraged to adjust our daily itinerary to include any special events or sites we wanted to experience. The Cox & Kings staff rates a 10 and all hotel personnel were exceptional. I left with the feeling that the Chilean people are naturally calm, and all were polite, conservative, educated, immaculately groomed, and sincerely friendly. Special notes that we would give future Cox & Kings travelers to this destination: • Beware of altitude sickness in the north, and always keep a full bottle of water with you, the only cure. • Ladies should bring an illuminated magnified make-up mirror. The lighting in many of the hotel bathrooms throughout the country was extremely dim. • I assumed that we would not need our cell phones because we would always be in a deluxe property, and our guides had phone and radio contact in the vans. Due to the unforeseen earthquake on February 27, communication was shut down to all but those with laptops and Skype. • Chile is the cleanest country we have visited. Even the bathrooms at roadside rest stops and national parks were spotless. —Cheryl & Walter Gottwald, Chicago For more on Chile, see our Private Travel Journey Chilean Odyssey. Do you have a C&K travel story you would like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Submit your travel tales and reflections to tours@coxandkingsusa.com. 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