viernes, 28 de junio de 2019

Guide to leave the airport of Santiago de Chile



Today I am writing this guide, given the increasing amount of stories I have heard from travelers who do not know how to get out of the airport to get to Santiago and move to the city. The "Arturo Merino Benítez" airport is located outside the city of Santiago and above all, if this is your first time in Chile, this information will be useful.

Some considerations…


  • Until today there is no subway line that arrives at the airport, although its construction is planned, this will not happen until a few years later (between 2025 and 2045). Therefore to get to the city you have 4 options and to a large extent it will depend on the arrival time of your flight to the country and the money you want to spend on your transport.
  • The airport of Santiago since 2016 has free wifi. This will help you to stay connected and evaluate other options.

These are the options to leave the airport...

Turbus: these buses offer a shuttle service to the metro and bus station "Pajaritos", a nerve center that will connect you to the rest of the city of Santiago or take a bus to other cities of interest such as Viña del Mar and Valparaíso, which are an hour and a half from Santiago and are very touristy.
These buses departure from the first level of the airport, next to door number 5.

  • Good: It is the most economical of the options, the one-way trip has a price  of $ 1700 Chilean pesos (2.8 US dollars or 2.5 Euro or 53 Mexican pesos) and $ 3.400 Chilean pesos if they buy round trip. They have good frequency, they leave every 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Bad: These buses operate only between 6 AM and 11:30 PM, if you arrive after that time, you have to use another option or to make the time at the airport. The space for suitcases is a little uncomfortable and small. It only reaches Pajaritos Metro station 
Bus Centropuerto: these buses offer a shuttle service of several stops to the metro station "Los Heroes", central point of Santiago that will connect you with the rest of the city
  • Good: the one-way trip has a price  of $ 1700 Chilean pesos (2.8 US dollars or 2.5 Euro or 53 Mexican pesos) and $ 3.400 Chilean pesos if they buy round trip.
  • Bad: Having several stops the time to get to Santiago increases and you only have buses from 6 in the morning until 11 at night which is the time in which the metro is open
Taxi: Just leave the control area and you will be besieged by official and unofficial taxi drivers. Before boarding any taxi, request the fare immediately, if the taxi driver says it is a taximeter, ask the approximate value.
  • Good: faster and more comfortable, it can be economical if you share it with friends and operate 24 hours a day.
  • Bad: It's more expensive than taking a bus. Even if it works all night, if your goal is to get to the Santiago metro, keep in mind that this does not work all night. If you aren't cautious you can be scammed with the prices. Always take the car's license for any subsequent problem. There are many who  will try to cheat you.
Transfer: It is a service shared with other passengers, which decreases the value a little, but this will always depend on the specific address to which they are directed. Some companies that operate in Santiego airport (which I suggested) are Delfos (https://transferdelfos.com/transfer/) and Transvip (http://www.transvip.cl/), in whose pages you can consult in a specific way according to the address to which you are heading and the value of the trip. From both companies, I have used the second one, and they are extremely serious and responsible.
  • Good: The cost decreases because it is a shared service, but always depending on the distance traveled. It is the most comfortablea way to get directly to your accommodation.
  • Bad: Longer waits in getting where you are going depending on where the other passengers go.
Uber: Uber or Cabify works a long time ago in Santiago and other cities in the country. It is a service that does not have legal regulation and does not have permission to operate at the airport. Even though the service of both Uber and Cabify is usually better than that of ordinary taxis (yes, they have tried to cheat me countless times), I think it is not responsible to recommend the service from the airport considering the latest events, it is preferable to use the options listed above and not take unnecessary risks.

Whichever option you choose, with these tips you will save yourself the bad moments in your arrival to the country and you will be ready to enjoy the kindness that it offers, once you get to the metro, it is very easy. 
If you have any questions, write us here https://www.facebook.com/InternationalStudentsSantiago/ we will be very glad to help you.

lunes, 24 de junio de 2019

Cost of living in Santiago


Espero les sirva la informacion hecha con cariño por International Students Santiago. Para los que necesitan una ayuda de cuanto vale vivir en santiago he querido escribirles este post, pero recuerden todo lo que gasten dependera de su estilo de vida, esta de mas decirles que nuestros viajes siempre intentamos entregar la mejor experiencia al mejor precio. Vamos a ello !!!
I hope you find the information made with love useful for International Students Santiago. For those who need help how much is worth living in Santiago I wanted to write this post, but remember everything you spend will depend on your lifestyle, it is more to tell you that our trips always try to deliver the best experience at the best price. Go for it !!!

Super Mercado / Super Market:

- Leche / Milk (1lt) $800
- Pan / Bread (1kg) $1.200
- Arroz / Rice (1kg) $900
- Huevos / Eggs (12Unit) $1.900
- Queso / Cheese (1kg) $6.500
- Pollo / Chicken (1kg) $3.600
- Carne Roja / Meat (1kg) $5.500
- Cerdo / Pork (1kg) $4.500
- Pescado / Fish (1kg) $4.500
- Aceite / Oil (1lt) $900
- Pasta / Pasta (1 Unit) $900
- Cereal / Cereal (1 Unit) $2.500
- Manzana / Apple (1kg) $1.000
- Platano / Banana (1kg) $800
- Naranja / Orange (1kg) $800
- Tomate /Tomato (1kg) $1.000
- Papa / Potato (1kg) $600
- Cebolla / Onion (1kg) $1.000
- Lechuga / Lettuce (1 Unit) $500
- Agua / Water (1,5 lt) $900
Fiesta / Party:
- Vino / Wine (1 Unit) $3.500
- Ron / Ron (1 Unit) $6.000
- Vodka (1 Unit) $8.000
- Pisco (1 Unit) $6.000
- Cerveza / Beer (1Lt) $1.600
- Cigarros / Cigarette (20Unit) $3.000
- Entrada Disco / Disco Entrance $5.000
- Piscola / Pisco + Coke in disco: $3.000
Transporte / Transport :
- Bus o Metro Tarifa Normal / Bus or Subwaw Normal Ticket $720
- Pase Escolar / School Ticket $220
- Taxi (1km) $1.000 approx.
- Uber / Cabify / Beat (1km) $650 approx
Gimnasio por mes / GYM for Month $25.000

CHILEAN SLANG


Chilean Spanish has a multitude of words and expressions that are only used inside the country, or only a few of the neighboring countries. Many go back to the influence of the Quechua and Mapudungun languages spoken by the native population of the area.
The following list can only present a selection of the most common words and expressions. We have tried to limit this list to true Chilenisms and regionalisms that are hard or impossible to find in common dictionaries.
In general, we would advise you not to use those words actively - it's too easy to put your foot in your mouth. Often, the meaning of a word can depend greatly on tone or context, and it's almost impossible to get those right without much practice.
The favorite Chilean swearword, "WEON", can be intended to sound like a put-down, buddy-buddy, or a term of endearment, depending on the situation. The majority of words and expressions listed are only used in informal communication. Extremely vulgar expressions have additionally been marked 

A

Aweonao/a: idiot
Altiro or Altoque: immediately
Apretado/a: stingy
Arrugar: bail/flake out
Atado: problem, difficult situation; argument
Atinar: do the right thing; get it

B

Bacán: great, terrific (people and things)
Bomba: gas station
C
Cachar: understand (from 'catch')
**¿Cachai? Get it?}
**Me pegué la cachada. I got it.
Cacho: difficult situation
Cagada: misfortune, mishap; disaster
**El dejó la cagada. He wrecked everything.
Cagado/a: stingy; very; "fucked"
 **Estoy cagada de calor. I'm [very] hot
**El está cagado. He's in a fix
.Cagar: screw somebody, screw up
**La cagaste. You screwed up
 **Ni cagando not under any circumstances, no way, never
Caleta quite a lot, very
Callampa: slum
Caña: hangover
Capo: expert; clever guy
Careraja* impudent, rude
Carepalo: impudent, rude
Carrete: party
Concha: vagina (literally: shell)
**Concha de tu madre son of a bitch, asshole; also: general expression of anger
Concho: leftover, dregs (esp. in a bottle)
Condoro: mistake
Copete: alcoholic beverage, liquor
Crema: mess (literally: cream)
**Quedó la crema. It was a disaster.
Cuico/a: snob, upper class person (derogatory)
Culeado/a: fucker (big insult)
Culear: fuck
Culo: butt, ass
Curado/a: drunk
Chacotero/a: joker, person who tries to be funny
Chancho: literally: pig
**Irse al chancho exaggerate
**Pasarlo chancho have a good time, enjoy
Chato/a: full
Chela: Cerveza
Chiva: white lie, excuse
Chocho/a: content, proud, happy
Choreado/a: angry, upset
Choro/a: cool, neat (people or things)
Chueco/a: dishonest, false
Chucha: vagina; also: general expression of anger, see 'chuta'
**¡Andate a la chucha!* Go to hell!
Chupar: drink; steal
¡Chuta!: Shit! Also, expression of surprise
D
Despelote: mess
E
Embarrarla: mess something up
Encachado/a: great, interesting (people or things)
Ene: lots (from math symbol 'n')
Escoba: disaster, mess (literally: broom)

F

Facha: looks, appearance (see also, 'pinta')
Filo: get lost; over
Filete: Incredible moment
Fome: boring
Fregado/a: difficult; exhausted
Frito/a: stuck, done for (literally: fried)

G

Gallo/a: guy (man or woman)
Gamba: 100 pesos
Ganso/a stupid, naive, slow
Gil: Idiot
Grado uno/dos/tres: "bases" of sexual relations: First base = Kissing; Second base = Petting; Third base = Coitus
Gringo/a:  American person
Guagua: baby
Guata: belly

H

hacer dedo: hitch-hike
hacer el quite (a alguien): Avoid someone
hacerse el leso: pretend
hacer tira: destroy
Hacer una vaca: go in on (buying sth.) (literally: vaca = cow)
Hachazo: hangover (alcohol-induced; literally: axe; see also, 'caña')
Hinchar: get on s.o.'s nerves

I

Inflar: boast, get on s.o.'s nerves; take sb. into accountn
J
Jotear: smoothtalk, talk someone into something (with lies)

L

Lata: boredom
**¡Qué lata! ! What a shame!!
Lesera: garbage
Lolo/a: teen-ager
Luca: 1000 Pesos

M

Micro: city bus
Mijito/a: Dear (from: 'mi hijito/a' = my little son/daughter)
Mino/a: man / woman (with erotic connotations)
Mortal: Great or amazing
Mostrar la hilacha: reveal one's real self (negative)
La Muerte: to die for; great

N

Nana: cleaning woman, nanny, cook (usually all in one)
Nica: Not wanting to do something
O
Once: "elevenses", tea time
P
Paco: pig (derogatory for: policeman)
Palo: 1.000.000 chilean pesos
Parranda: boozing
Pata: literally: foot, leg
**A pata on foot
**A pata pelada barefoot
**Meter la pata put your foot in (your mouth), mess up
**Mala pata bad luck
Patudo/a: impudent, rude
Pega: job, position
Pelotudo/a: idiot
Penca: cheap, boring
Pendejo/a: childish person
Picada: cheap (but good) place to eat
Picarse: be mad, upset
Pichanga: ipick-up soccer game
Pichintún: a little bit
Pilucho/a: (half) naked (see also, 'en pelota')
Pillar: catch someone
Pillo/a: clever, sharp; rude
Pinta: looks, appearance (see also, 'facha')
**Ella tiene buena pinta. She's goodlooking.
Pintar monos: ato show off, to act exaggeratedly (in order to call attention to oneself)
Piola: perfect; satisfied, full (from eating); quiet, relaxed
**Quédate piola. Stay calm.
**Pasar piola not call attention to oneself
Pito: joint
Pituto: (to receive special treatment or privileges)
Piscola: Pisco + Coca Cola
Po: emphasis; usually placed at the end of a sentence (from: 'pues')
**¡Ya po! Get going already!
Pololo/a: boyfriend / girlfriend
**Pololear: go steady, to have a serious relationship with someone
Ponerle color: exaggerate, embellish
Ponerle pino: make one's best effort with something
Ponerse las pilas: see, 'pilas'
Porfa: please (abbreviation of 'por favor')
Porsiaca: just in case; by the way (from: 'por si acaso')
Previa: Pre- Party
Pucha, Puta: oops!, shucks!; sympathy or regret for a bad turn of events (e.g., 'Pucha, Ricardo!')
Pucho: cigarette
Putear*: somebody out, insult, yell at someone

Q

Queque: Cake
Quiltro: Street dog
Quina: 500 chilean pesos

R

Raja* beat, very tired
** La Raja amazing, excellent
Rayado/a: crazy, insane
Rasca: of bad quality, poorly made (things); of bad taste or with lacking manners (people)
Re- very (emphatic prefix)
Regio/a: great, excellent (upper-class slang)
Regalonear: pamper someone; pet
Rico/a: sexy, attractive (literally: delicious)
Rollo: difficult situation (see also, 'pasarse rollo')
Roto/a: clumsy or vulgar or low class person (upper class slang)
S
Sacarse la mugre/cresta slave, work very hard
Siete: expression of highest appreciation (from the Chilean school system, 7 = highest grade/mark)
Soplado/a: a very fast; very simple; very clean
Subirse por el chorro: (try to) take advantage of someone or something

T

Taco: traffic jam
Talla: joke
Tincar: guess, have a hunch; like
tira: plainclothes policeman (derogatory)
Tirar: literally: throw, pull; also: fuck
Tuto: Sleepy
W
Wea: anything, usually unpleasant
Webeo: practical joke
Webear: get on s.o.'s nerves
Weon: depending on tone and context, can be friendly ("buddy") to vicious ("Idiot"); often at end of sentence indicating familiarity