Grinning Gecko Travel

04/30/2026

Good morning, travelers!

We've updated our service map for 2026, adding a few more destinations.

Green- We've got extensive on-the-ground experience.

Purple- Limited on-the-ground experience but extensive planning and coordination.

White- Unexplored/Unavailable.

*Please note that we've indicated EVERYWHERE we cover. However, certain events in the world currently prevent travel to areas we have been to in the past, such as Ukraine and Russia, and we can & will reject plans to areas that we deem dangerous due to warfare, crime or arbitrary laws toward foreign visitors.

03/19/2026

Today we're working on our own itinerary down to French Polynesia for later this year, an adventure taking us to Tahiti, Moorea and the crown jewel- Bora Bora!

Also today, we're offering 10% off YOUR planner for ANY of the places mentioned above within French Polynesia!

We're only offering this today, so get that message to us if you're the least bit interested.

As budget travelers, we can say we're actually quite surprised by this one and how easy it has been. Also, Tahiti itself is way more expensive than Bora Bora. Who'd have thought?

03/18/2026

We've been there!

Talk to us about taking a trip to Slovenia this year, you won't regret it!

Lake Bled, Slovenia

02/05/2026

Just a friendly reminder to those traveling the US this year, National Park sites are still requiring entry tickets at SOME places.

Be sure to get these as early as possible if you intend to visit when you want, rather than having to come in after the reservation period is over for the day (usually 4pm)

Carlsbad Caverns, Glacier National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park are just a few that are requiring this, there are others so please check before making your plans around a specific time!

02/02/2026

Love this....

You only live once, so take it from us- Seeing the Great Wall, Machu Picchu, Taj Mahal, Petra, etc. in person is a moment you will live in and remember forever!

01/30/2026

Good afternoon, travelers!

Here's another reminder that if you're using Booking for your hotels (we do as well) to be aware of any calls, texts or emails asking for payment details as this is most likely a scam as you can see here.

We had booked a hotel in Montana for this summer, ended up cancelling due to obligations elsewhere but we still ended up getting this message through our WhatsApp.

Anytime you get any sort of communication from what appears to be your hotel- verify what's in the message by calling the hotel directly and asking. DO NOT interact with links, even if it looks like it came directly from Booking.

This is a very annoying recurrence we've had to deal with the past few years, being especially bad in Southeast Asia and in Australia, but it's on the rise here in the US as well.

If you're on an itinerary through us, you can forward the email to us and we'll take a look for you if you aren't quite sure or can't call the hotel (it's in another country, etc.) directly.

01/06/2026

Beautiful country, the American West!

11/06/2025

We are doing our best to keep up with the developing news on the FAA cutting 10% of flights starting tomorrow, 11/7/25.

As we ourselves are flying this weekend, it is a big concern for us and we know many of you are quite worried about your tickets and what may happen if this goes on much longer.

*Show up at the airport extra early (4-5hrs)
*Check in ONLINE.
*Have accurate contact information for the airline to reach you.
*Have the airline(s) app and enable notifications.
*Know YOUR rights if facing a lengthy delay/cancellation.

It may also be a good idea to only have carry-on bags in the event the TSA lines are longer than normal, I know Houston was at +5hrs the other day and that is INSANE. Having to check a bag at the desk is a time consuming task and a risk for time right now.

Send a message to learn more

10/01/2025

Travelers, be aware of any changes before heading out to any of the NPS sites as things may be limited or unavailable at this time.

We are here to help those who currently have active planners with us and will do our best to guide those who are yet to travel with us should their plans be impacted.

Operations in the Absence of Appropriations

09/16/2025

If you are interested in visiting Machu Picchu where we've just returned from, we'll happily help you out on your adventure!

At first glance, the whole process seems very complicated and it is more difficult than it should be- but we've gone through it all and are here to help you every step of the way!

Send us a message, we'll get you there!

**Added note: We're short on time to be posting a lot any more but we are very much open and active, we appreciate your support and your business!

09/14/2025

Hello, travelers! We're back from our latest adventure and are gonna review a few things for you so that you know what to expect if taking the same itinerary or a similar one.

So first up, we're gonna review some airports:

Bogota: Arrival was decent, immigration lines weren't too bad and it was a straight shot to the exit from baggage claim. Traffic to/from the airport is risky so leave at least 4hrs before your flight to have time to get there from your hotel. Departure was a breeze but there is currently some work being done, so expect jackhammers even at 4am. We did notice a LOT of flights to Bogota getting cancelled, it's a very rainy place and they get strong winds from time to time as well.

Lima: I hate it! Immigration times have improved but are a still a big risk, we advise at least a 4hr layover. You must clear immigration and go back through security if transferring from international to domestic and vice-versa, thus making the connection much longer. The airport is new but still under construction, which means there is only one bathroom near the food court that is ALWAYS packed full of people so you may need to move towards the C-gates for space. Air traffic seems to get crowded and cause delays as well so again, leave yourself time!

Cusco: Hate this one too. Terminal is very hot and humid, with only one food option post-security that has very basic things. Flights are risky with delays due to winds and rain so we advise taking the earlier flights just in case you run into problems, especially during high season. Beware that landing and take off can be a bit scary with rough air and maneuvering.

Quito: Pretty good airport overall. If you need a TCT for the Galapagos Islands and weren't able to get the website to work (we couldn't) there is a special office in the departures hall for it, opens 5am-midnight. Be EARLY to that though, lines can be long and you risk missing your flight. We arrived at 4am, line was full by 4:45am. Not very many good breakfast options unless you wanna pay $16 for flimsy pancakes, but this seems universal anymore.

Miami: Very good airport, lots of food options and everything ran smoothly. If you're departing by shuttle though, be aware it is hectic when being picked up as EVERYONE pulls into the drop off and some people will just sit there for 5mins or more, totally blocking your view of whoever is coming to pick you up. Be aware that a 4 mile trip to your hotel can take upwards of 20mins or longer due to traffic, even at 3pm.

Send a message to learn more

08/24/2025

Afternoon, travelers!

This is just a quick reminder that we will be closing on Friday, August 29th and reopening Wednesday, September 17th during our adventure down to South America.

You're free to send us inquiries during this time and we'll get back to you as soon as we reopen but as always if you can't get a message to go through, please leave us a comment to let us know and we'll get with you!

Send a message to learn more