Off-the-Rails: Testimonials

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Member Spotlight

Carole
Fremont
Member Since: 2005
Trips with OTR: 1

trip testimonial: Carnival - Trinidad & Tobago

Why Off-the-Rails?
My husband Don and I had heard of Trinidad Carnival—that it's one of those once-in-a-lifetime events that people rave about. But neither one of us had the time or contacts to organize such a trip. When we heard about Off-the-Rails and the founder's personal connection to Trinidad we thought "why not"? We liked the comfort factor of traveling with someone who'd been going for years. And the itinerary was packed with activities only a native would know about but flexible enough to let us decide what we wanted to do.

Trinidad Carnival 2004 Experience
Well, the pictures say it all. We got right in the thick of all the must-do events concerts, local parties and then of course the 2-day Carnival parade with our band appropriately named Wild Thing. What really made the trip unique was the access to the hottest local events things we would never have found on our own. We topped off the festivities with 3 days of well deserved rest and relaxation on the gorgeous island of Tobago where we stayed in private villas overlooking the beach. Just what we needed.

One of the unexpected surprises of the trip was the friends we made from places such as London, Sydney and Trinidad great people that we look forward to seeing again.

Highlight
Waking up at 3 A.M. while on vacation is usually not my idea of a good time. But one exception was J'Ouvert. That's a pre-Carnival festival that starts early in the morning and consists of many organized bands of revelers dancing through the streets till sunup, sipping rum drinks along the way and wearing warm, brightly colored mud on their bodies. The former Miss Universe, a Trinidadian, was in our band so needless to say people lined the streets cheering us on. It's hard to describe the joy that is J'Ouvert but trust me when I say that it's not to be missed if you ever decide to do Carnival.

Where to next
We like the idea of the Off-the-Rails wine tasting in Chile trip but then again a return to Trinidad for another Carnival would be great. Who said it has to be once in a lifetime?!

Melissa
San Francisco
Member Since: 2005
Trips with OTR: 1

Destination spotlight: panama

Staggering Choices
I've spent most of my professional life in Latin America. While travel isn't my profession it's definitely my passion! One of my favorite countries in the world is Panama, a spectacular and often overlooked adventure destination that was my home for 4 years.

The choices of things to do in Panama are staggering but tourism is still a nascent industry, and I've never found a guidebook that does the place justice. For example, most tourists head straight for the Panama Canal upon arrival then quickly beeline for the islands of Bocas del Toro. Not a bad itinerary but you can do better.

My Favorite Way to Start
Start your trip into Panama City by taking a 30-minute drive over the beautiful Bridge of the Americas to Veracruz. It's a very local beach (i.e. not many gringos) where you'll find some of the freshest pargo frito (fried red snapper, a Panamanian favorite) and the coldest H&B beers in the country. Be sure and look for Mary's—yes, the English spelling—her food stall is the best on the beach.

Exiled Kings and Rare Birds
Then, rather than a hotel on Bocas, rent a local beach house on Contadora. One of my favorite villas is near the home of an exiled Persian King. It's a gorgeous and secluded place to unwind. If trekking is your thing, take a trip to the Darien, one of the last unspoiled and unexploited jungles in the world. Take a local ornithologist as your guide because the rare birds are breathtaking but they aren't always easy to spot. I can recommend some excellent ones that I've used.

Panama Awaits You
Panama won't remain undiscovered for long. If you're ready to check out this jungle paradise, I'd be glad to share what I know. Just contact the guys at Off-the-Rails for more info.

Where to Next
While I'm a San Diego girl at heart, I've always had serious wanderlust. And it doesn't seem to be subsiding! I'm off to Mongolia this summer to do a little reconnaissance work for my travel tribe of friends that are interested in going.

My Travel Style
I love to trail blaze, to check out places that haven't been discovered by mainstream tourists, or any tourist if possible. And I love to share what I've learned with people who have the same sense of adventure.

Mike
San Francisco
Member Since: 2005
Trips with OTR: 1

Destination Spotlight: Philippines

Awaiting Surprises
As a former expat based in Hong Kong for twelve years, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have traveled extensively throughout the Asia Pacific region. One of my favorite vacation destinations in the region is the Philippines. This is probably due to having developed close personal ties to local Filipinos who showed me the inside track and the many awaiting “surprises” I have encountered in this beautiful country. I look forward to giving back to the Off-the-Rails community some of the knowledge I've picked up after many years of getting to know the Philippines. Here are a couple of thoughts to whet your appetite.

Whale Sharks
One of the most memorable surprises was the experience of swimming with 30 foot whale sharks near the village of Donsol by day and lounging by night with a view of the perfectly shaped Mayon volcano. While the occasional whale shark sighting isn't completely unheard of in Southeast Asia, swimming with more than 50 over two days is rare! Duplicating an experience like this is possible but you'll need very reliable intelligence about the conditions in the area before going. Leave that to Off-the-Rails.

Divers Paradise
For those who like to dive, snorkle or just like the idea of getting away from it all, there are literally thousands of remote islands and spectacular coral reefs. We capped off our own PADI diving course on the island of Boracay with a 7-day journey on a live-aboard yacht. While our beach-based vacation was a blast, it was the experience aboard the yacht, complete with a full-staff, bar, dining room, library and even a home theatre, which made the trip so unforgettable.

Manila Memories
No trip to the Philippines is complete without visiting some local haunts in Manila. On the exterior, Manila can be intimidating, dirty and congested, but with the right connections, there's a very sophisticated and different world—places like the private Manila Polo Club, a quiet oasis where you can play tennis on clay courts, lounge by a luxurious pool and finish off with a massage.

For nightlife in Manila, be sure to check out the Dream Bar. It's Asia's version of a hip New York bar where Filipino celebrities mix with locals and traveling professionals. Ask for Ito, one of the club owners, and he'll be sure to point you in the right direction that evening. On the other extreme, there's the Hobbit House, a funky little restaurant/bar in the Malate district with excellent live folk music and where all the wait staff are dwarfs. Yes–I said dwarfs! See what I mean about surprises?

Where to Next
I've never been to Africa and have always dreamed about going with a group of friends on a safari. Having recently started a new business, I don't have a lot of time to plan the kind of trip I usually would. Off-the-Rails is putting together a trip that will help me to fulfill this dream—superb lodging, incredible food and adventurous activities all packed into 14 days.

My Travel Style
I like to feel that I've accomplished something on my vacation, seen and done something really unique. Hey, life is short and so is my vacation time! Things like learning to scuba dive or trekking up a challenging trail with my partner and group of close friends, those are the sort of experiences I'm looking for. That said, I do love the creature comforts like a luxurious villa stocked with great food and wine to relax after a day of adventure. It's all about the balance.