Most people assume that because our blog is in English that we are American or Canadians or something. Actually, we are very much Latin, but choose to write in English because a big group of… More
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How to Make the most of a Skiing Day Trip
Winter Vacations are coming up, and many people take advantage of the break to hit the slopes. It is a great plan, and one of the many advantages of Santiago. It is close and almost always sunny. I mean in one day you can enjoy the mountain and the snow, and then head back home for a full calorie dinner (pizza after skiing is so deserved!)
In order to make the best of a Day Trip to La Cordillera from Santiago, these are some things you have to consider during the weekend or holidays:
1) Wake up very early! You should be on the road up to Farallones no later than 7:15 am. We mean this! At this time the drive should be up to 1 hour and 30 minutes. If you leave later be prepared to be stuck in HEAVY traffic, and a very looong 4 hour trip
2) If you are planning of going in different Cars, a great meeting point is the last Copec before the intersection to Farallones in Av. Las Condes. It is open, and it has coffee. (No more to say)
3) Make sure to have chains inside your car. They are obligatory during skiing season; even if it is not snowing you might get pulled over by the Carabineros, which will ask to see them.
4) As an alternative, you can rent chains on the road going up. You will see the guys installing the on the right hand side. There is a small Carabinero checkpoint going up Farallones, make sure to have the chains before this point.
5) Very curvy road going up and it can get icy (Particurlaly when going to Valle Nevado) So, it is better to take it slow.
6) Once up in Farallones, you could decide to go to El Colorado, La Parva or Valle Nevado. They are three different ski centers. Our favorite is Valle Nevado because it has the most modern infrastructure (Express lifts and gondolas). But, try all of them as part of the experience.
6) You could save some money if you rent your skis in Santiago instead of up in the mountain. These places are very affordable, with average equipment. (Don´t expect fancy rentals)
– Da Ski
7) Try avoiding the crowds during the day. Since you will open the ski center, have lunch an hour earlier, and enjoy the slopes when everyone is at lunch.
8) Have in mind that food at the ski center is expensive and not very good. So if you don´t want to spent too much money, prepare food and leave it in the car. There are a couple of places where you can eat your own food.
9) It WILL be crowded. It is a fact, so relax and enjoy the day. Breathe the fresh air and burn some calories.
10) Leave one hour before closing! We know you want to ski until the last minute, but trust us it is not worth the heavy traffic going down. Besides a pizza, or a burger are waiting for you back in Santiago.
Hope these tips are useful =) =)
Have something to add? Share it with us in the comments!
How to Make the Most of SMOGGY DAYS in Santiago
The air conditions in Santiago are BAD to say the least, it is normally recommended that you stay indoors to avoid getting sick from all the stuffy dust flying around. But, that does not mean you should have to stay cooped up inside, so we made a List of 5 interesting indoor activities you can do in the city. (Be extra careful with kids and elderly parents)
Visit Museo La Memoria
Learning from the past is a way to stop events from repeating, and this is exactly the objective of Museo de La Memoria, a remembering of the awful human right violations that happened in Chile. It is part of this countries dark history that in no way should be forgotten. If you have not been there, you should go with open eyes, and learn more about the people around you and there struggles.
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Go Bowling
This is nothing new, but of course we wanted to remind you what a cool plan a day out bowling with the family might be. Here are a list of the bowling venues around town:
Bowling Parque Arauco: We have been here several times, is good fun. They will have special prices during July, even on the weekend. 15.000 Pesos per hour from Monday to Sunday (6 people max)
JapiMax Bowling: located in Puente Alto this bowling venue has really good lanes.
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Take a cooking class
Always wanted to make your own Chilean empanada?? Well here is your chance to learn how to cook traditional Chilean food, and have fun while you are doing it. We found Cooking in Chile, a place where you can take a cooking class, and learn how to make many chilean dishes. It sounds like a nice plans for visitors also. We have been meaning to take a class with them, because we are Instagram peeps and have been savoring over their pictures for a while now.
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Get some culture at Centro Cultural Estacion Mapocho
There is always an event, gallery or show going on at Centro Cultural Estacion Mapocho. But, the most interesting thing about it, is the building itself. We love this old train station with its steel beams; it is a beauty worth the visit.
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Explore the tomb of Bernardo O´Higgins
I am a history buff, and this place was very interesting for me, as I got a closer look at Chilean history. In the tomb you will find a mini museum with old artifacs and replicas of old uniforms. It is right across La Moneda, and many people don´t know it. Also, make a note when having visitors over. =)
How to Watch U.S TV Shows from Chile
Do you know how to access your favorite U.S shows or sport games from Chile? For many this is a very important topic. So for this week, we have a professional technology writer to help clarify the issue. Thanks to Thomas Ujj, our Guest Blogger for his work.
Hope it helps! Leave your questions below.
For anyone visiting or living in Chile, it is easy to enjoy the beautiful landscape, the rich culture, and the fantastic people. It is truly an excellent place for travelers and expats alike. So you say, what could possibly make being in Chile any better? Well, maybe some HBO NOW or watchESPN might do the trick!
So, you say you want to catch up on that last episode of Game of Thrones? Or catch the World Series? Super Bowl? Well, according to most American media companies, having an IP address(a unique code that identifies where and who you are)that is not in the U.S typically means that watching these things is not allowed. So what is there to do? Thankfully, there are a few options to help “maneuver” around these silly geographical restrictions.
In today’s technological world, there are really two services that really stand out in helping users access geo-restricted content. A more traditional service that you may have heard of would be a VPN(or Virtual Private Network), while something a little more new and relatively unknown is SmartDNS. These two both have similar characteristics: simple to setup and use, both hide the user’s identity and location well, and both are available for a relatively low monthly cost. In order to gain a better understanding, lets take a brief look at both services.
Starting with VPN’s, lets take a peek at what exactly they are. Basically, a VPN takes your computer and puts it through a private virtual tunnel where the user can choose where he/she is “from”, thus allowing users to access geo-restricted content while also protecting your identity and connection from intruders. VPN’s are relatively easy to setup and use and even the most top-rated services cost no more than 6-8 dollars a month. If you think a VPN could be the right solution for you, take a look over at Best VPN.com for more information and which provider might be right for you.
SmartDNS(or Smart Domain Name Systems) services operate in a similar fashion, but tend to be a little bit simpler and more affordable. SmartDNS services also tend to offer multiple device support, so having multiple devices access restricted content is very much possible. SmartDNS essentially “renames” your computer so that anyone looking at your IP would just see you as someone from your target country(in this case, the U.S). SmartDNS services will run you between 3-5 dollars a month, but a lot of free trials are available if you aren’t sure. SmartDNS is also definitely a newer technology, so if you want some help or want to look at some of the providers, check out SmartDNS.com.
While both services are really useful, it is important to remember that these services will only allow you to use American streaming services, but won’t pay for their subsciptions! You will probably still need a HBO NOW account to access any HBO content, or a ESPN account to watch sports. Once your VPN or SmartDNS is setup and working on your device, you can go the respective websites and access the content. (But now the computer recognizes you with a U.S location!)
Whether you are a local, an expat, or just traveling through Chile, hopefully this brief guide can help you access U.S content. Streaming media is expanding rapidly throughout the world, and becoming familiar with and using services such as VPN and SmartDNS are effective, safe and cheap ways to access digital media while traveling abroad.
If there are any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below!
Thomas Ujj Bio:
“Born in North America but living in Europe,one of Thomas’s lifelong goals is to travel the world, no matter what the cost. As a writer for SmartDNS.com, he blogs about mostly anything technology related, whether it is streaming media or internet security. In his spare time you can either catch him passionately watching AS Roma games, or attempting to master Italian cooking”
Fashion alert! Ropero Paula is here
Hello fashionistas insiders!
Today, fashion takes place with this very recommendable option for your weekend panorama 🙂
The famous chilean women magazine Paula, launched their new successful edition of Ropero Paula 2015 fairy! Located in Portal La Dehesa mall, this year offers fashion shows with very wellknown national and international designers, a lot of free make up, styling, cooking courses and 150 clothing, shoes and accesories exhibitors selling their collections.
Here below a glance of day 1:
For more information, and to see full schedule please check: HERE
enjoy!!!!!!!
see u
What to consider when receving your property (“Pre-Entrega” Checklist)
If you have been living in Chile a little while longer, you probably decided to invest in a house or in an apartment. There are many projects in the city, with different price ranges, sizes and location. So, if you are thinking of staying here the long term, it might be a good decision to buy your own property.
If you have already bought it (Congrats!!!!) and are waiting to receive your new place, then it is very important that you CHECK every detail of it IN and OUT during the “Pre- Entrega”.
What happens is that the construction company writes down all the problems you found, from bad paint jobs, to water leaks and crooked doors, and then they will fix them before you officially get your key. It is very common; we actually had our shower plumbing missing, and ended up with a pool when we turned it on the first time!!
These tips apply more for a new property. But in Case it is a used place, this process is even more important, and it should be done with an inspector before you even decide on buying the place.
Besides the finishing details, here are some more practical and functioning points that you MUST check: (Pre- Entrega Check List)
–Electrical: turn on all electrical appliances at full throttle and check that the breakers don´t fall.
-Heating: Turn on the heater system. With hot water (floor or ceiling) within an hour if it is a strong leak you might see sign of leakage. If not make a note to ask the person in charge about the guarantees.
-Water: Leave all the faucets, showers and bath tub running, to make sure there are no leaks. Fill bath tubs completely to make sure they are correctly sealed. Empty them at once, to make sure they drain properly.
– Kitchen: Check the appliances. Turn on Oven and kitchen. Check cabinet doors to see if they open properly, and if they are aligned.
-Floors: If they are ceramic floors, use your hand or a wooden stick to tap on each of the tiles to find out if they are properly placed. A hollow sound means they were installed incorrectly and they have to be replaced.
-Windows: Check that they open, close or slide correctly. With PVC window frames make sure they don´t have cracks.
-Hot water: Turn on to make sure it works. Plug in all electrical water heaters in case it is necessary to double check.
Have in mind, that with a new apartment you have three years to claim problems to the construction company: from finishing details, to more complex facilities issues.
Hope this was useful for the new property owners! =)
Found! Exotic side of peruvian food
Hello again insiders,
This time, our gastronomic weekly recommendation takes place in Recoleta neighbourhood, a bohemian part of Santiago which offers a lot of exotic foodie options worth to experience. Sarita Colonia is our top pic. This restaurant was born for the first time in year 2000 and became a “must” for Santiago art scene, but 4 years after it was closed and all of their fans waited a long time before its re opening. So now, with a very exotic new proposal, they call it “peruana travesti”, they created a kitsch maximalist place (with very exotic decoration), where you can find typical peruvian food, and this peruvian travesti exquisite option you must try!
Tattoos in the walls, kitsch deco, and great enviroment invites everyone to join this experiencie
But the most important thing is food!!! please, you must try Wendy in Thailandia and ceviche chino, to incredible dishes of peruana travesti food
important: it opens only at nights
for reservations and more information:
http://www.saritacoloniarestoran.cl
address: loreto 40. Recoleta neighbourhood
Romantic Getaway to Mendoza. Where to Stay. Eat and drink.
We celebrated our wedding anniversary by going to Mendoza, and enjoying the food and the wines in the region. We had an amazing time, so we wanted to share with you our tips and experiences for a Romantic Getaway in this Argentinian wine region. Note: We do have to say that it does come with a high price tag, (but 5 years was worth splurging for) =)
Where to stay?
We stayed at a really nice high quality Hotel Boutique called Entre Cielos; which in 2012 won for best new hotel boutique in the world. The service is amazing, when you get to your room you have little details awaiting, from cupcakes to chocolate, and of course a bottle of wine. The rooms are elegant and colorful, each one named after a different smell from wines (chocolate, Figs, Berries) their restaurant is also worth the visit, very gourmet.
The Spa is a traditional Hamam, which is a very old concept where you are guided through different rooms with different temperatures to drain toxins and relax. I particularly enjoyed lying on a hot rock surface and then taking a dip in a small pool.
What to do?
There are so many wineries to see in Mendoza, but unless you stay like a month you probably wont have time to see them all. So choose wisely and give yourselves time to spend in each place, talk to the owners (this is the best part of visiting the smaller wineries) and drink a lot. We recommend the following ones:
– Visit Dominio del Plata: this winery was created by one of the first women enologist in Argentina. Try to have lunch at their restaurant Osadia, because the food is one of the best in all the wineries. They have great wines, and I personally enjoyed the Susana Balbo signature Malbec the most.
– Visit Ruca Malen. You can also accompany your tour with a 5 course menu in a splendid glass like restaurant.
– Visit Clos the Chacra. A family owned winery with a beautiful old house, and a great restaurant also.
– Visit Chandon. This is a more commercial choice, but I love bubbles so it was a must in my agenda. Skip it if you have less time or are not into sparkling wine.
– Visit Achaval Ferrer. One of the priciest wines in the area, Achaval Ferrer has very strong wines with great taste. The old house is beautiful and the view from it worth the visit.
– Visit Andeluna. It has Breathtaking view of the Andes, and its blue sky. They have a stunning old house in the middle of field of wine grapes. The restaurant is also supposed to be wonderful; but we did not eat there because it was full. So, reservations are needed.
– Visit La Azul. We loved this small family owned winery, because they make you feel home. We were greeted by one of the sons and had wine outside in the terrace, while they told us the story about the house, the land and the family. Simply charming! Great service and delightful wine also!
Where to eat? (If you have not had enough during the day) =)
Be prepared to eat and drink a lot. There are some really good restaurants in Mendoza city. We did not have enough time to visit the city. But, we managed to eat at two places we had on our list.
– Maria Antonietta. Our trip favorite. It is a small little bistro like restaurant, with delicious food and desserts.
– 1884 (by Francis Mallman) my husband is a barbecue fan, and enjoys Mallman´s show. So, it was a must. It was a great experience, the meat was perfectly cooked and everything just tasted better with a little burn. Try their burnt fruit dessert.
How to calculate your “sueldo líquido”
Nowadays, there are more expat packages which are host based. This means that a local salary is received. Also there are more global workers that move to other part of the world without an expat compensation. In this sense, it became more relevant to understand how to calculate your net salary in the country where you are working.
We are going to explain you how to do this calculation in Chile.
From your gross base salary, you should make the following deductions:
– AFP: it is the pension plan deduction. It is around the 10% with a cap of 72,3 UFs.
-AFP commission: around 1,3% (depending of your AFP).
– ISAPRE: It is the health care deduction (ISAPRE or Fonasa). It is the 7% with a cap of 72,3 UFs. If you have an ISAPRE and if the 7% is not enough to cover the plan, you can have an additional deduction.
– 0,6% Unemployment insurance. It has a cap of 108,5UFs.
In case you don´t know, the UF is an account unit used in Chile that is adjusted by inflation. In a lot of pages, you can check the value of the UF of the day.
After these deductions, you have the taxable income. From this base, you have to pay income tax. For that calculation, there is a table, you have to see in what part of the table you follow. You have to deduct the “cantidad a rebajar” and then from the remaining base, you have to apply the factor.
To facilitate this calculation, we recommend you the following web, you put your gross salary and then you have your net. That simple. http://www.calcular.cl/como-calcular-sueldo-liquido-chile.html.
For those that don´t have a pension or health plan in Chile, we will give you more important details in a following post.
Yes! ice cream, gelato, helado!
hello insiders!!!!!
we finally found in Santiago a great option for ice cream lovers. It is called El toldo azul, and its strategically located in the heart of el Golf de las Condes. At 2 blocks from W hotel, over Isidora Goyenechea avenue, you will find a little exquisite shop with the greatest ice cream i have tried in Santiago. 🙂
They have very original flavours you must try!
for more information, please check its facebook fan page, or information below.
please share your favourite flavour with us!
see you!
Working in Chile: Maternity Leave
You should know that Chile has one of the best maternity leave in the Region. Here you can find a summary:
Timing:
– Before the baby is born, the mother has the right of 6 weeks of leave (“permiso pre-natal”). After the childbirth, the mother is entitled to 12 other weeks (“permiso postnatal”).
– After that period, it is the parental leave (“permiso parental”). Here the mother can choose between:
- Full time parental leave: 12 weeks after the “permiso postnatal”.
- Part time parental leave: The mother return to work part time for 18 weeks
Payment
– During the maternity leave, the worker in reality does not receive the salary, receives a subsidy. To receive the subsidy, the employee should has 6 months of affiliation to an AFP and 3 or more, continuous or discontinuous contribution, within the 6 months prior to the “prenatal”. You also should be affiliated to a ISAPRE. This relevant to foreigner that are not paying social contributions in Chile, because they are doing this in home country. If this is the case, you should find out with your company.
– Amount of the subsidy: up to 66 UFs. If you choose the part time parental leave, you receive 50% of the subsidy.
Some companies pay as a benefit the complement of the difference between the subsidy and the salary.
Maternity Protection
The maternity protection last one year after the ending of the maternity leave (not counting the parental leave). During this period, the employee cannot be dismissed.
What about the fathers?
Fathers are entitled to 5 continuous days of paternity leave (excluding the weekly rest). They can use it when they wants after the delivery date.
Another entitlement for the fathers is that they can share the parental leave. If the mother choose the 12 weeks options, they can transfer 6 weeks to the fathers. If they choose the part time option, they can transfer 12 weeks to the fathers.
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