Updated 02/08/06
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| Frequently Asked Questions | Updated 02/08/06 |
| This page addresses some frequently-asked questions about the trip we're planning to take to Ecuador when the Guayaquil Temple is completed. The page will grow as I get more questions and, especially, more answers. Specific questions can still be directed directly to me or to the group, using the Mailing List. Any questions (and answers) that would likely interest a lot of people will be posted here. |
| 1. | What is the current status of the temple construction? |
| The open house took place June 26-July 17, and was very successful. The dedication will be August 1-2, 1999. The temple will be open for regular operation on August 3, 1999. See Latest News. | |
| 2. | How much should I expect to pay for the round-trip air fare? |
| A common, standard fare from most western states (including Arizona and Utah) is around $800 (Continental). PanAmerican Travel in SLC has a special rate of under $700 from most western states. Contact Trevor Walton for more information. If we get any better offers, you can find out about them by joining the mailing list. | |
| 3. | Can we get a discount on a hotel? |
| Yes. Several hotels are offering great discounts to anyone who has been invited to the Temple dedication. | |
| El Grand Hotel Guayaquil is offering a steeply discounted rate (about $32). There are a lot of us staying at Hotel Guayaquil, but it is not in a very nice part of town, and it's not close to the temple. To reserve a room, contact (in Spanish, preferably): | |
| grandhot@gye.satnet.net www.grandhotelguayaquil.com Alexandra Neira - Gerente de reservaciones |
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| Hotel Oro Verde, a five-star hotel near the U.S. Consulate in Guayaquil, is offering a special rate of about $50. Oro Verde offers a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel and back. | |
| You can contact Magaly Enriquez (EnriquezSM@ldschurch.org), in English, to make reservations. | |
| Hno. Jorge Villacís has found the following special offers as well: | |
| El Hilton Colon: $85 (nicest hotel in Guay, close to the airport and temple) | |
| El Apart Hotel Kennedy (behind the Hilton): Single: $40 + 20% Double: $50 + 20% Suite for 4 people (w/ dining room and kitchen): $100 + 20% (Includes breakfast, laundry, and a shuttle to the temple) |
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| To make reservations, you can e-mail Hno. Villacis at jorge_villacis@hotmail.com, or fax at 593-4-448958. | |
| 4. | How should we travel in Ecuador? |
| Don't plan to travel by bus--it's just too dangerous, and wouldn't be the same "adventure" for your spouses that it was for you. Taxis are better, but it might be very frustrating trying to find a taxi at odd hours of the night, etc. | |
| I had previously recommended renting a car. It is relatively inexpensive (Budget Rent-a-Car is offering us a 20% discount), but there is a very large deductible. For more information, you can visit their website at www.budgetrentacar.com.ec, and contact Sofía Villacís at sofiavillacis@hotmail.com. | |
| Sofía offered another option as well: "El Plan Ejecutivo". For $10/hour, you can rent a car with a driver to take you anywhere you want to go. That's a lot more expensive than a taxi, of course, but safer, and possibly less expensive than a regular car rental, since you are only charged for the time that you're actually traveling. You also avoid the deductible. | |
| Probably the best option will be provided by a taxi coop operated by members of the church, including at least one bishop. It is being arranged by Pres. Paredes, a stake president in Guayaquil who is responsible for security at the dedication and open house. | |
| If you would like transportation from the airport to your hotel, send me the name of the airline you are flying on, your flight number, and time of arrival. There will be enough taxis that no more than 3 people will need to ride in each, and they will charge a lower rate than the airport taxis. When there are more people arriving than they can handle, other members of the church (including Pres. Paredes himself) will be there to help. | |
| You can also employ their services for travel within and outside Guayaquil after your arrival. They will hand out business cards with phone numbers at the airport. | |
| 5. | How do we get tickets (invitations) to a dedicatory session? |
| I have compiled a list of people who want to attend the dedication and have forwarded it to Bro. Winston Flores, Executive Secretary of the Guayaquil Temple Committee. | |
| To be added to the list, please send me an e-mail with the following information, which I will forward to Winston: | |
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| We will be meeting for breakfast on Saturday, July 31, between 8 and 10 a.m. to distribute the invitations. If you don't get your invitation there, then you can pick them up at the temple when you arrive for your session (at least an hour before it starts). You will just need to show your current temple recommend to receive your invitation. | |
| 6. | How do I get a passport, and what kind of vaccinations do I need? |
| To find the closest place to apply for a passport, and for other information, including how to renew your passport by mail (if it was issued less than 12 years ago), go to http://travel.state.gov/index-services.html. County courthouses and some post offices can accept your application. No visa is required for a stay of 90 days or less. | |
| No vaccinations are required, unless you plan to travel to Peru also. Just to be safe, talk to your doctor. There is an oral prescription drug available for Malaria, and, generally, inoculations for Yellow Fever and Hepatitis A are recommended. By the way, the nasty "peanut butter shots" (gamma globulin) for Hepatitis have been replaced by a series of shots. | |
| 7. | What kind of group activities have been planned? |
| Click here for a list of activities. | |
| 8. | Do I need temple clothing? |
| To attend the dedication, you do not need temple clothing, just nice Sunday clothes and a white handkerchief. Remember that you may be standing in line for an hour or more, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes, and don't dress too warmly. | |
| The temple will be open for regular operation on the day following the last dedicatory sessions. If you plan to attend a regular endowment session, you can take your own clothes, or, since the Guayaquil Temple is a full-service temple, you can rent them at the temple. | |
| 9. | What about the state of emergency? |
| A state of emergency was declared a couple of months ago because of an unusually high crime rate, probably caused by the devastation of El Nino. (Also, a truce was declared with Peru, so army troops were reassigned to police duty.) | |
| The danger to extranjeros in Ecuador is viewed differently by different people that have contacted me. Most seem to believe that it is just as safe now as in the past, because, although the crime rate is high, there are more police officers patrolling the streets. Others feel that it is much more dangerous, and we need to take heightened precautions. | |
| In any case, I don't believe that any of us should give up on our dream to visit Ecuador during the dedication of the temple. If we are careful, I think we can be safe and have a great trip. More information will be sent out as it is made available to those on the mailing list. |