Tag Archives: medium

  • 14
    Oct 24
  • 1
Boca Chica and Boca Brava

Bocas to Boca Chica Panama by Boat & Bus 🚏

Tags : 

Traveling from Bocas del Toro to Boca Chica, Panama, by boat and bus presents several challenges that can test even the most seasoned travelers.

The journey involves multiple transfers, including a boat ride to Almirante, followed by a lengthy bus trip to David, and another bus to Boca Chica. The route is often subject to delays due to weather conditions and limited transportation schedules, making it essential to plan meticulously.

Despite these difficulties, the trip offers a unique glimpse into Panama’s diverse landscapes and local culture, rewarding those who navigate its complexities.

Highlights

 

A Trip that Requires Patience…

Following our 8-day stay in Bocas Del Toro, we prepared for the next stage of our journey – travelling from Bocas to Boca Chica by bus.

This trip requires a little more organisation since the Hello Travel bus shuttle company which operates from Bocas Del Toro does not provide a service to Boca Chica.

Boarding the boat in Bocas

Boarding the boat in Bocas

Since there’s no direct connection between Bocas Del Toro and Boco Chica, the trip involves a messy succession of sub-journeys.

We learned that we would first have to travel to David. From there we should be able to switch to another bus to Boca Chica.

Bearing this in mind, we started early from Bocas.

In-transit to Almirante

In-transit to Almirante

Starting from Bocas Del Toro

We took the 7:30 am boat from Bocas to Almirante ($6 per person). The sea was rough. It had been raining all night, and the dark sky didn’t bode well.

It took 30 minutes to reach Almirante, from where we took a taxi to the bus station ($1 per person). After waiting at the bus station for half an hour, we climbed on the bus heading to David.

Bocas to Boca Chica by Bus

Bocas to Boca Chica by Bus

When I say ‘bus’, I mean a small 20-seater white minivan. The van was packed to capacity, and then some. Incredibly, it still kept stopping along the way to cram in more standing-only passengers.

The journey over the mountains has some spectacular views and more than a few hair-raising high-altitude bends in the road. If you’re a nervous passenger, don’t sit at the front of bus.

We reached David after just 2 hours 45 minutes – including a short bathroom break. The journey cost us $8.50 per person.

At David bus station we quickly found a connecting bus (again read minivan) to Boca Chica. We were off again in less than 20 minutes.

We were on a roll!

This leg of the journey cost us another $2 each. However, after an hour we were unceremoniously dumped off at the junction between the Panama City highway and the turnoff to Boca Chica.

Panama City to Bocas

No Direct Connections to Boca Chica

With 30 kms or so still to travel, we waited next to the highway. After 15 minutes we hailed another ‘van’. He picked us up, and took us the rest of the way for $3 each.

We arrived in Boca Chica at 2:30pm, for a total journey time of 7 hours and a cost of $20.50 per person.

Bocas to Boca Chica by Bus

Bocas to Boca Chica by Bus

Not really the worst of journeys, and considerably cheaper than using the Hello Travel bus shuttle company, which in any case would only have taken us as far as David.

Hotel Deals in Boca Chica

If you enjoyed Bocas to Boca Chica by Bus, check out our Panama Roundtrip. You may also like:

 

Spice up your inbox…

… with discounted hotel deals, cost-saving travel itineraries and SandSpice escapades! 😉

  • 20
    Sep 24
  • 0
Qatar Airways ✈️ Inflight Experience

Qatar Airways ✈️ Inflight Experience

Tags : 

Wondering if Qatar Airways is any good? Renowned for its exceptional service and luxurious amenities, Qatar Airways consistently ranks among the top airlines globally, with accolades for its business class.

But how is the inflight experience for the majority of its passengers sitting in economy class?

In this article, we recount our 1st-hand impressions of flying Qatar Airways economy on a long-haul flight to Indonesia. All is not necessarily as it appears in the airline’s glossy advertisements.

Highlights

 

Why we chose Qatar Airways

With their elitist television commercials and tip-top rating in the World’s Best Airlines, we were expecting great things from our Qatar Airways inflight experience.

This is why we snatched up the opportunity to fly with them from Rome to Jakarta for around €500 per person, economy class.

We could have chosen cheaper flights with other airlines, but we thought it would be worth paying the extra just to savour the inflight experience of an airline which is regarded as one of the best in the world.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways Economy Class

Longhaul Rome to Jakarta via Doha

Our return flight to Jakarta comprised 4 flight legs, stopping in Doha on both outbound and inbound flights.

The first leg from Rome to Doha took around 5 hours, and was something of an eye-opener.

Qatar Airways Inflight Experience

Crammed into the central row section, your legs will feel it…

Cramped Seating & Mediocre Service

Fairly cramped seating and distinctly average food and beverages made the flight quite unremarkable. This was the first long-haul flight we have taken where the red wine was served into plastic cups from an open bottle on the trolley.

Forget individual small wine bottles and spirit miniatures.

A 10-hour layover in Doha, with nothing offered to ease the discomfort, did little to improve our impressions.

The 8-hour onward flight from Doha to Jakarta provided us with more of the same mediocre service, leaving us jaded and somewhat disappointed by the time we arrived at our destination.

Qatar Airways Inflight Experience

We’ve seen better food on budget airlines

These are perhaps some of the reasons why Qatar is dropping in the ratings.

Yes, each seat has its own USB charger, and there is free Wifi during the flight, but these are services that are now being offered by more and more airlines.

We’ve had better inflight experiences on KLM and Emirates, and even on Turkish Airlines.

On our return flight, we were packed uncomfortably in the central seating section, with the same minimal food and beverage offerings.

So is Qatar worth the extra cost?

With an increasingly competitive market for flight tickets, Qatar Airways economy inflight services do not merit their premium costs and inflated reputation.

You’d do better to book with another airline, and use the money you save on upgraded accommodation at your destination.

If you’ve also suffered an underwhelming Qatar Airways flight, check out our other Airline Experiences. You may also like:

 

Spice up your inbox…

… with discounted hotel deals, cost-saving travel itineraries and SandSpice escapades! 😉

←Older posts Newer posts→