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January in Ghana

A trip from January 15, 2008 to February 04, 2008, travelling to Accra, Cape Coast, Axim
Traveling to Ghana to do a little volunteer work, travel … More  
Traveling to Ghana to do a little volunteer work, travel, and see some soccer. We'll be based in Accra for the first couple weeks and then traveling around the second two weeks.
Trip Tags:Adventure, Africa, ArchitectureMore  

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Africa, Ghana
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Day 0 - DO NOT USE PALACE TRAVEL


Well, we're off to a bit of a rocky start.  The courier service that was supposed to FedEx our visas overnight mail messed up the label and didn't check Saturday delivery.  So now our visas and passports are sitting at a FedEx hub in Indianapolis waiting to be delivered by Monday.   We've been using Judy at Palace Travel for our tickets.  She has been very helpuful in getting us a good price and rescheduling for us. 

On the upside Victor has been amazing in helping us plan.  A friend of his has set us up with an apartment in Accra.  This is really lucky because the city is booked up with people visiting for for the African Cup of Nations, the tournament that qualifies teams for the World Cup.  The city will be buzzing with all the energy of the soccer fans.  Hopefully, we'll get to go see a game. 

His mom has also set us up with a volunteer organization that is doing some great work.  They are called Tongu Youth and Children Evangel (ToYACE).  We will be volunteering with them for a week before Kristen shows up. 

Monday Morning

We were able to rebook the tickets but KLM is charging us a huge fee.  Boston got a bunch of snow last night.  Hopefully, we won't have too much trouble flying out tonight.  Time to call the courier service and try to get some money out of them for screwing up our visa delivery.

Monday Afternoon

KLM canceled the ticket for some reason and will not give us our money back.  I can't figure out yet if this is their fault or the travel agent's.  We're trying to book on another carrier.  Who knows when we'll get our original money back.   

Monday Afternoon Part 2.

The travel agent, Palace Travel, purchased the tickets through a consolidator.  The airline tried to help us but cannont because they can't change the reservations of consolidators.  Beware of these type of tickets.  They have extra restrictions put on them by the consolidators that the travel agent should inform you of.  Now our money is locked up with this consolidation company.

Ok, looks like I'll be flying out on Saturday.  It cost me an extra $500 to rebook but at least I don't have a useless credit with this company.  I just wish I had known the risks of booking this type of ticket.  The agent did not do a good job of informing me of the restrictions and fees.  If you are going to book a discount ticket make sure to get the travel insurance.   It costs about $120 for insurance that will cover most any situation from changing the tickt to emergency medical in the country.  An extra $120 still makes the ticket cheaper than buying a full fare ticket.  If you don't want the ticket insurance the emergency medical coverage cost me $32. 


 
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Talk about this trip (10)
My husband is from ghana. I am going to meet his family. Make sure you get the insurance. It is safe to be safe than sorry. Remember to see the doctor, because immunization is priority. Read all you can and learn basic parts of the language, I think this is very helpful.
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I met a guy that is from Poughkeepsie, New York and working in Ghana, Accra. He wants me to fly over to spend time with him there but I dont know what all I need to do to get there. But he is coming to visit me here in Indiana for Christmas. I wanting to just pack up and move there cause it is so beautiful there. I cant wait to go see Cape Coast Castle with him and the others and their wives.
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A Yahoo! Contributor
The passport and visa are not the same thing. They will attach your visa inside of your passport book. Don't know why they ask for the photos because they didn't include mine with or on my visa.If you're going to Ghana, you must have a visa.
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A Yahoo! Contributor
If I may ask isn't a passport and a visa the same thing?
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Hi, I'm not from around here, and I came to look for my girlfriend, but I am really lost and my compass doesn't work well, and I don't want her to know I'm lost, I'm just gonna keep walking around in Ghana.I wondered my way over this fence and off the jungle I went,now I'm stuck on a tree looking down at a lion,my cell had a heart attack and died before me,and I just paid my bill....ok,tie my shoe laces.
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A Yahoo! Contributor
I was in Ghana from January to February. I am so ready to go back. The first thing you need to do is get your passport if you expediate you will have in about 7-10 days, then send to washington, dc for you Ghana Visa and you will have to send your visa with your request form. Expediate and you will have it back in a week the Visa is $50.00 the US Passport is $80. After that book decide when you are going and book your flight right now the flights are about $1350.00. Before you leave get you shot for yellow fever at the health dept that is $40. (recommend 10 days prior to leaving)
Dress comfortable it is tropical HOT!!!! if you going to Accra make sure you go to the beach. The local food is an aquired taste but if all else eat in the mall food court. lol
Hopefully you are staying with a friend for free but take about $600 - $1000. that should be more than enough unless you have alot of gifts to bring back home.
Let me know if you have any other questions as I am planning my next trip very soon. yOU WILL HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE I DID
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i lways want to go to accra ghana and check out how they live and what they do for intertanment,i also wanted to know if they have many good looking women there i could talk too.
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oh what a peaceful country i love Ghana
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im planing a trip to ghana need to know what airline goes there how mutch it cost and the hothels will be travelin from new york city
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hi, i have met a great guy online and we have been talking for about a year now. When i talk to him on the phone, he try to tell me about all the things that are going on there. I would like to plan a trip and visit him there for about 3 weeks. Can anybody tell me what i would need to do first. I know i need a passport, then what do i do? Thanks to anyone that has info on this.
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Planned Activities
Wed 01/16/08 (day 2)
Thing to Do
Fri 01/18/08 (day 4)
Thu 01/24/08 (day 10) - Accra
Fri 01/25/08 (day 11) - Cape Coast
City
Transportation
Sat 01/26/08 (day 12)
Tue 01/29/08 (day 15) - Axim
Transportation
Transportation
Wed 01/30/08 (day 16)
Thing to Do
Thu 01/31/08 (day 17)
Sun 02/03/08 (day 20)
Transportation
Unscheduled - Accra
City
 
 
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