About Rhonda Albom

Is South America Safe? Safety Tips for Travellers

June 14, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 26 Comments

Thousands of people visit South America every day without incident, yet some are not so lucky. The question we are often asked, ‘Is South America safe for travellers?’ We examine this from two sides: personal and health. For us, we followed the tips listed below and had almost no South America safety issues. Statistics don’t …

Our South America Itinerary: Highlights of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay

June 11, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 25 Comments

We spent nine weeks travelling around South America, visiting five of the southern countries. A whirlwind of new aromas, sites, landscapes, and culture, our South America itinerary provided an ever-changing environment. Below are the highlights of Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Our South America itinerary map Highlights of Argentina We visited five regions of …

Quebrada de las Conchas: Best of Salta to Cafayate

June 4, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 31 Comments

Deep red jagged rock formations with golden highlights compete for our attention as we drive from Salta to Cafayate in Argentina. Over a million years in the making, the highlight of this road trip is the 80 km section called Quebrada de las Conchas (Shell Ravine). Here, we find northwestern Argentina’s most stunning drive, a …

Alaska Cruise Tips: Know Before You Sail

May 28, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 20 Comments

Alaska is like few places on earth. Wild, rugged, scenic, and abundant with wildlife, it is a paradise. We cruised southbound from Anchorage to Vancouver. However, these Alaska cruise tips apply equally to northbound cruises, or those that loop. Alaska Cruise Tips: Planning 1. Plan early. More than other destinations, Alaska cruises tend to book …

How to Visit Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro

May 17, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 36 Comments

It’s easy to understand the attraction luring nearly 2 million visitors to the top of Corcovado mountain each year. Here, Christ the Redeemer monument, an icon of Rio de Janeiro, overlooks the city from an urban rainforest. For many, the visit is a spiritual attraction. For us, it was the panoramic landscape with a glittering …

How to Tour Chiloe Island: See Penguins or Palafitos

May 7, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 34 Comments

Chiloe is a rugged windswept Chilean Island defined by ancient myths and traditions. South America’s second largest island boasts old fishing villages intermixed with incredible nature. Sixteen of its over 100 island churches have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites that draw visitors from around the world. However, it was the penguins and palafitos (stilt …

16 Unique Things to Do in Cordoba Argentina

April 30, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 29 Comments

Cordoba caught me by surprise. Frequently off the tourist track, Cordoba is one of Argentina’s oldest cities. It’s a university city with an eclectic mix of mostly Jesuit historic sites and modern enthusiasm. We discovered more than enough things to do in Cordoba Argentina and had to make some tough choices for our limited time. …

Choosing the Best Day Trips from Auckland New Zealand

April 23, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 45 Comments

Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and the port of entry for nearly all visitors. It’s a mecca of things to do, but there are also plenty of fascinating places outside the city worth a visit. Day trips from Auckland range from glowworms to geysers, from beaches to caves, and from Māori culture to hobbit …

Colonia del Sacramento Uruguay: A Day Trip from Buenos Aires

April 16, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 34 Comments

Colonia del Sacramento, or Colonia as the locals call it, is Uruguay’s oldest city. A beachfront town founded by the Portuguese in 1680, it sits across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Colonia’s distinctive character is defined by winding cobblestone roads and the colourful architecture of its historic old town. However, there …

Scotland Road Trip: Edinburgh to Scottish Highlands

April 12, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 23 Comments

An impromptu Scotland road trip presented fascinating nature, fairytale castles, stunning scenery, and even a bit of Harry Potter magic. Our initial plan took us only to Edinburgh. However, Scotland captivated us and we had to see more. With blue skies and unseasonably delightful 24c (75f) degree temperatures in May, we were lucky. Rather than …

Cruising to Tahiti: Things to do in a day (besides the beach)

April 9, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 43 Comments

Tahiti instantly conjures up images of an exotic tropical paradise. For us, it was a cruise port that I could hardly wait to reach as we crossed the Pacific. Sailing first from Los Angeles to Tahiti and then home to New Zealand, French Polynesia was to be one of the highlights of our three weeks …

Things to Do in the Bay of Islands

April 2, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 56 Comments

New Zealand’s Bay of Islands holds the key to its history. Visitors and school children flock to the region as it is home to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. This is where Māori chiefs and Britain’s representatives signed the original document creating the New Zealand we know today. Locals come back year after year for the …

Valparaiso Street Art: Vibrant Expression in Chile

March 29, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 60 Comments

Valparaiso street art is a bold and dramatic example of personal expression. It is different from other cities. Not so much in its style, but in its artists’ passion, respect, and backstory. Unlike the rest of Chile, where street art is illegal or restricted, the Valparaiso government almost encourages this freedom. As a result, Valparaiso …

24 Unique Things to Do in Buenos Aires Argentina

March 22, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 48 Comments

Elegant yet energetic, Buenos Aires has it all. The cosmopolitan capital of Argentina offers an eclectic mix of modern and European colonial styles. Filled with Argentine traditions, it’s the unique things to do in Buenos Aires that drew me here. A city pulsing to a tango beat, it has a few surprises. Unique Things to …

Our South America Boutique Cruise on Azamara Pursuit

March 15, 2019 // by Rhonda Albom// 54 Comments

From the first moment I stepped onboard the Azamara Pursuit, I was home. A boutique cruise, the ship’s understated elegance is unmistakably welcoming, as is the crew. The Azamara Pursuit caters to fewer than 700 passengers, yet our worry that there might not be enough to do on this smaller ship melted away as we …

Rhonda Albom