OLLI Oaxaca 2013 “Low Touch” program announced!

Are you adventurous?
Are you independent?
Do you value flexibility and spontaneity?
Do you love culture, fabulous food, the arts, museums, and 70 – 80 degree sunny days from January through March?

In response to repeated requests for a follow-up to our sold-out Oaxaca, Mexico tour in 2011, OLLI is offering a unique program for independent travelers who want to visit this unforgettable spot.

With the help of a local, knowledgeable and fun OLLI member who spends the winter in Oaxaca, you can sign up for travel advisor services on how to get there, where to stay, and what to do.

And if you’re on the fence about visiting Mexico, give us a call and you’ll be convinced. As noted in the NY Times, “with Oaxaca’s long-established studio art scene, a vibrant café culture, music-filled nightlife, and one of Mexico’s most exciting regional cuisines, Oaxaca is as cosmopolitan as it is architecturally stunning.” And there are few places in the world where this comes at such an affordable cost.

Choose a time to travel between January 20 and March 5 and contact us to sign up. If needed, the travel advisor will provide advice on picking a hotel or home-stay located in the best area for your interests and needs.

Oaxaca is a friendly and welcoming city, but even more so with this resource to find out where to go and what to do.

Want to enrich your trip with a little Spanish? The travel advisor will help arrange classes in Oaxaca at a UVM special rate. Want to take a cooking class? She’ll know just the place. Want to meet up for cocktails on the veranda overlooking the city? She knows exactly where the drinks are the best. Want an excursion out to the villages where they make world-class carpets? The travel advisor can help.

With this personal advice, discover remarkable but little-known restaurants, the best rooftop cafes, the don’t-miss art galleries and museums, the best music, dancing, and even lectures on the fascinating history of ancient Mexico. Learn how to get around to neighboring villages, using transportation for any budget. Even locate free Zumba lessons in the park.

Interested in cooking and food? The travel advisor knows the best cooking classes in the region.

She will put you in touch with great local guides to:

• Arrange small unique tours to the nicest specialty villages
• Help you cut through the touristy stuff to find incredible wood and ceramic art.
• Take you to visit the home of a local tinsmith and even try your hand at this centuries-old art form.
• Learn the distinctions of mescal and visit a hidden mezcalaria.
• Arrange a day with a women’s weaving cooperative and learn how they create natural dyes and hand weave their remarkable rugs.
• Your time can be as planned or unplanned as you like.

Think of her as your contact on the ground in Oaxaca. The objective: to maintain your independence and freedom, while helping you get oriented, understand the city, and set you up for the adventure of a lifetime.

Who this is for: the independent traveler who is confident in new places and enjoys freedom from the rigorous schedule of group travel.

Who this isn’t for: Those who feel they need the structure and planning of an organized tour.

Cost is just $225 per person, OR $325 for a pair traveling together. This includes help with pre-planning; an orientation gathering in Oaxaca; and the travel advisor’s assistance during the week.

No hotel, flight, admissions, food and drink, transportation, tours and classes are included. Keep in mind that these costs are very reasonable in Oaxaca.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: I like the idea of this, but I am a little nervous about traveling completely on my own. Will I meet other OLLI members, or fellow travelers to spend time with?

A: Oaxaca is filled with people looking to connect! And there may be other fellow OLLI travelers going at the same time. The language school organizes dances, outings, and other activities for groups and individuals attending classes.

Q: If I am paying for all activities on my own, how do I handle cash and credit card charges.

A: Most hotels, restaurants, and stores take credit cards, and there are ATM’s throughout the city to easily access cash.

Q: Will there be enough for me to do? I’m used to tours where every second is scheduled.

A: Oaxaca is a vibrant city filled with museums, music, dancing, spectacle, markets, food and culture. There is SO much to do – and everything is very reasonably priced. You can be busy every moment if you choose! Our guidance will help you understand all the offerings in this energetic and exciting place so that you can access as much, or as little as you like.

Interested and want to know more? Contact us at uvmolli@uvm.edu and we will be in touch.