Getting To and Around Santiago

Traveling to a hot spot like Santiago, Chile, both literally and in terms of popularity, can seem tricky on a budget — especially if you’re bringing the kids along. With a few trusty, savvy travel tips in your back pocket, you can plan you next family trip to a dream destination on a very real budget.

Getting There

As with any international flight, affordable airline prices can be tricky and fickle. Shop around for your family’s as early as possible and set price alerts. Use Hopper, Google

and Skyscanner to check flights for you and give you updates for price increases and drops.

Another great way to save on flights, and really any applicable online shopping, is to download coupon-cutting internet extensions like Retail Me Not and Honey. These tools can help tack on an additional savings at checkout, without scouring the internet for deals — but still scour the internet for deals.

Pro Tip: Stick to your trusted airlines (earning miles for future trips) instead of giving into the siren call of budget airlines. Especially when traveling with the kids, cutting corners on price often means additional fees for carry-on luggage, water and really anything else you may take for granted on another airline. More often than not, budget airlines can bump passengers with little recourse and charges add up to approximately the same price as a non-budget airline, but without the amenities.

Where to Stay

Don’t be afraid to bundle with apps like Kayak and Priceline. Sometimes you can save on flights, rental cars and hotels, but the affordable hotel market for families heading to Santiago is plentiful — don’t let up-charged pricing get the best of you out of convenience. Upgrade to the more inclusive stays, offering amenities like a hotel concierge and easy access to the city, or do your research and find the best locale for your family. Check out fun neighborhoods like Providencia, Lastarria and Bellavista to get the most out of the city. These regions offer a bit of that quiet residential vibe for family time (Providencia); authentic cultural history at the heart of the city (Lastarria); and even the more artistic side with a bohemian flare (Bellavista).

Check the surrounding neighborhood and land on where you want to see, then search here with price limits, amenities and anything else that’s a necessity for you and make sure you’re paying the lowest price.

Spending Money

The Chilean peso to United States dollar is a vast difference, so be sure to exchange some cash at your personal bank before traveling. The U.S. dollar is rarely accepted in Chile, so make sure you bring some with you and be mindful of the conversion.