I'm Carli a world traveler and frequent solo traveler. I've visited all 7 continents and have been to just under 40 countries. Subscribe to my newsletter to get tips or inspiration for adventures of your own.
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Where in the world is Carli San Diego? V.3 March 2025
Published 8 months agoΒ β’Β 4 min read
MARCH 2025
Adventures With Carli
A monthly round of tips, travels, adventures and what's next
Hello adventurers!
Welcome to Aries season. If you don't know what that means, it's my birthday this month! π₯³
There's so much to share about the beauty of Antarctica, more to come later!
Where in the world is Carli San Diego?
After returning from my 2 week trip to Argentina and Antarctica, I'm now enjoying the sights of glamorous *drumroll* π₯π₯... Minnesota. I happened to win a (2) night stay to the Hyatt in downtown Minneapolis thanks to the Minneapolis Downtown Council! This seemed like the perfect way to enjoy my birthday with some of my oldest friends, and my family, while also getting a free staycation of sorts.
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Travel Lessons Learned
While traveling to South America for the first time I flew the bulk of my flights on Aerolineas Argentinas because they (1) are partnered with Skyteam (just like my beloved Delta) and (2) since this was already the most expensive trip I've ever/will ever take, I figured why not go for broke and upgrade to business class.
Turns out, just because the airlines are in the same loyalty program, they don't all communicate with one another. Delta has strategic partnerships with KLM, Air France and Korean Airlines, which means they can book flights and connects reservations. This is not the case with Aerolineas. I booked flights from Seattle to Miami on Delta with miles, then the direct flights from Miami to Buenos Aires on Aerolineas. I had a short layover, and thought I'd be able to get my bags checked all the way through.
NOPE!
Instead I had to exit the secured area, collect my bag, find the Aerolineas check in, re-check my bag (I barely made the cutoff) and then head through security. What I didn't realize was my TSA number was not in my Aerolineas account, and not listed on my boarding pass. I didn't have time to run back and get it sorted, so I got the line manager to take pity on me and cut me in front of other travers, but I was stuck in the general (not pre-check line). Thankfully I managed to get through security and run to my gate while they were in the middle of boarding.
Once in my seat I enjoyed my pre-flight glass of sparkling wine and could relax for the 10 hour journey south.
Travel Tip: Always double check that you have linked all your programs (like TSA and your loyalty programs) into your reservation.
How I almost swam with humpback whales in Antarctica
On our second (excursion) day in Antarctica we had the opportunity to partake in a polar plunge. This is where you jump from a small zodiac boat (alongside the ship) into the freezing cold waters of Antarctica. We all knew this would be an memorable experience (mostly because of the temperatures) but we did not know it would be a truly unforgettable experience.
Like all our off the ship excursions, we were organized into our color groups. Since we were in the final group, my roommate and I decided to watch and cheer on the the plungers from our balcony. While they were starting, a whale was off in the distance breeching (eeee!!!) and going wild.
What we did not expect was that a second whale would swim up during the polar plunge and hang out for over 30 minutes. While they put the swimmers on hold, the whale was swimming next to and under the zodiac boats and alongside the ship. It was lifting its head out of the water, and doing spins. At one point, the whale even swam right under our cabin. It was truly the most surreal experience I've ever had.
Since we didn't have people jumping in the water anymore for the whale to play with, it eventually got bored and swam off for us to continue our plunges.
Southwest Airlines branded themselves on their no fee policies for changes and baggage. Well, they just just took a huge 180. After announcing that they'd be changing from the pick your seat to assigned seats later this year, they just announced that bags no longer fly free starting in May. If you were a Southwest regular and looking to change your loyalty to a different (better) airline, I'm always going to recommend Delta. Delta has hubs across the US and hands down better service than American or United.
Any Delta frequent flier should have my favorite co-branded card in their wallet. It does have a higher annual fee but that includes: 1 free checked bag per person on your reservation, $150 annual rideshare credit, $100 annual Resy credit, $150 annual Delta stays credit AND a companion ticket (starting after your first renewal) that can be used across North America, Central America and the Caribbean. It also gives 2,500 MQDs towards your Delta status (Silver starts at 5,000) and 15% off award flights, plus many other travel benefits. You can easily earn back your annual fee with all the included benefits.
They currently have an elevated bonus to earn 90K Delta miles. See all benefits here.β
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Don't Forget!
I've joined with World Via Travel Network, a Travel Leader's Network Associate, to become an independent agent.
I have access to hundreds of travel suppliers from airlines to hotels, cruises to tours, transfers to rentals. I can assist you with booking and planning any portion of your next travel adventure.
I bought some new storage bags for my Antarctica trip because I had a lot of bulky winter items and had to pack for multiple climates. These are very helpful especially for any cold weather travels.
I'm Carli a world traveler and frequent solo traveler. I've visited all 7 continents and have been to just under 40 countries. Subscribe to my newsletter to get tips or inspiration for adventures of your own.
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