We cannot make any recommendations regarding whether or not you should travel to El Salvador to "pick up" your missionary. We fully support the position of the church or the mission president on this matter. We can say that it can be a wonderful experience or a burden, so you should pray and carefully consider whatever course of action you take. The following suggestions are put together for anyone traveling to El Salvador, whether it be to pick up a missionary or just for a visit of the country.

El Salvador is hot and humid any time of the year. Rainy season begins usually at the beginning of May and runs through November, so plan accordingly. Bring light weight clothing, but appropriate clothing. In many areas it is inappropriate for women to wear pants and especially shorts so be sure to pack some skirts, sisters.

Good shoes. Please bring comfortable shoes. Even if you rent a car in El Salvador some walking will be required, and it won't always be down paved sidewalks, so bring some good, sturdy and comfortable shoes.

Leave all your valuables at home. No flashy jewelry, no fancy watches, nothing that will make you stand out in the humble villages you are bound to visit at some point.

Getting There

There are several flights daily into San Salvador from Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, New York, and Miami (as well as other Central and South American cities). Shop around and start early and you may actually find a good deal. Don't rule out the national airline, Grupo Taca. Their service may not be the same as some of the US carriers, but they usually run a little cheaper.

Try checking into some travel agencies that work specifically with Latin America. There is also a website, skyauction.com, that generally has a couple of tickets to San Salvador up for auction, but we cannot vouch for their service, reliability, etc... we have only seen that they offer cheap rates. Read the fine print and study before making any purchases.

You will need to purchase a $10.00 tourist card when you arrive in El Salvador and the airport tax leaving El Salvador is $27.00 (not included in the price of your ticket usually). Remember that the airport for El Salvador is actually about 40 kms. from San Salvador (about a 45 minute ride to the capitol).

San Salvador
There are several places to stay in San Salvador. If you are looking for first class hotels with U.S. business class service try the Hotel Princess, Marriot, Raddisson, or Holiday Inn. The Princess Hotel is very close to the mission office and the Zona Rosa, a nice tourist area with expensive boutiques and restaurants. The Marriot is close to the Princess. The Raddisson Hotel or Hotel El Salvador is tucked up in the ritzy neighborhood of Escalón. It is quiet and very safe in the surrounding areas. The Holiday Inn is the newest large hotel in San Salvador. It is in the neighborhood of Santa Elena, just a block away from the U.S. Embassy. It is at the edge of town and will allow you to leave San Salvador for the western part of the country without having to fight the traffic of the capitol. All of these hotels have shuttle service to and from the airport. Prices in these hotels range from $65-$100+ per night depending on how many occupants you will be traveling with.

If you are looking for something nice but less ritzy, try one of the bed and breakfasts in the Colonia Escalón. The Hostal Verona and the Meyer's House are two very nice bed and breakfasts with U.S. quality service. They have private rooms and bathrooms, but are not as large as the hotels, generally with less than 15 rooms. Prices for the bed and breakfasts range from $50-$75 per night depending on how many beds you want.

Cheaper accomodations can be found at some of the smaller hotels closer into town. These may not be bad hotels, but will not offer the same services the above accomodations provide. If you are a real adventurer, it shouldn't be hard to find something for close to $20.00 a night, but anything less than that should be avoided. Not only are you paying for luxury, but you're paying for safety, security, cleanliness, privacy, etc... If you're looking for something with U.S. quality, make arrangements at one of the above facilities.

Santa Ana
The Hotel Sahara is the nicest hotel in Santa Ana. It is not a luxury hotel, but it does have air conditioning, hot water, and clean rooms. If you are planning on staying in Santa Ana, this is the place you want to stay. We are not aware of any other accomodations that we would feel comfortable recommending to families wanting to stay in Santa Ana.

Metapan
There is a nice hotel in Metapan called the Hotel San Carlos (I think). Any missionary that has served in the area of Metapan will know what you're talking about: it's the only decent accomodation in the town. There is also a nice restaurant in the hotel. Accomodations are fairly inexpensive and the hotel does have clean rooms and hot water.

Ahuachapan
The Hotel Parador is about the only place to stay in or around Ahuachapan. It is situated between Ahuachapan and the Guatemalan border. The Hotel has a nice restaurant, pool, clean rooms, hot water, and is very inexpensive. It is one of the nicest facitilities outside the capitol.

Sonsonate
There is a hotel between Sonsonate and Izalco called Agape. It is actually a large Catholic retreat, and you'll find statuettes and pictures of the Virgin Mary throughout the facility, but the hotel itself is okay. I wouldn't recommend staying in Sonsonate, but if you must, this is the place to be.

Please do not make arrangements to stay with member families. They are always accomodating, but you can often be a burden in many ways for them. Their ability to host you may not be great and it may cause a financial strain on them.

Never expect accomodations at the mission home. This is not appropriate and the mission president and his family do not have time to host you and your family.

Public Transportation
The busses in El Salvador are crazy. If you enjoy a thrill, feel free to use the public bus system to get around. It can be slow at times, but it is extremely cheap. Even if you choose not to use the public transportation, you should take one bus ride just for the experience. There's nothing quite like it... believe us!

Taxis within the city of San Salvador are reliable. Simply flag one down on the street and determine a price before you get in the cab. There are also dispatch services that you can call and have pick you up. All the major hotels have taxi services available for clients.

Rental Cars
Renting a car is generally a good idea, especially with the current situation after the earthquakes. There are several car rental companies in San Salvador that you will recognize.

Avis has good service. They are reliable and you can make reservations (supposedly) over the Internet or from the U.S. before you go down. They do have an office at the airport, but make sure you confirm your reservation at the airport before you leave so the people are waiting for you with your rental car when your flight arrives (especially if you are coming in around lunch time!!).

Uno Rent a Car is another good company. They will take your car to your home, apartment, or hotel room in the city to drop it off and then pick it up again when you are done. They also have a location at the airport, but we recommend you make reservations and let the people know when you will be arriving so they are at the office waiting for you.

Paradise Rent a Car has the best customer service by far. We recommend them hands down over the other companies. The sales manager, Reina, is extremely accomodating. Paradise does not have a location at the airport, but they will drive out to pick you up from your flight. They will also drop the car and recover it where you want them to. Our experience with Paradise has only been positive.

Other International Car Rental Agencies (Thrifty, Hertz, Dollar, etc...) are also in El Salvador. Prices range from $35 for a small economic car, $50-$55 for a four door sedan, $75-$100 for a large pickup or SUV.

You will need some way to get from the airport to the city. Do not expect the mission office to provide any transportation for you and your family. You need to make these preparations before you go down.

What to see n' do

There are a few things you shouldn't miss while you are in El Salvador. Here are a few activities that you could do with your missionary if you happen to be picking them up.

Chorros de Juayua
The Chorros de Juayua are a set of waterfalls outside of the town of Juayua. The hike down is not difficult, but the path is not easy to traverse. It is definitely worth it, though. The secenery around the waterfalls is beautiful and the hike down is also very scenic. Ask the local police in Juayua if they would be willing to provide an escort as local thieves occassionally hide out along the trail. If you do encounter a thief, however, simply give him some money and be on your way. They are usually local teens that do not intend to harm anyone, but are looking for an easy buck.

Cerro Verde and Coatapeque Lake
These two sites are beautiful. Cerro Verde is a lush park near the lake. You can get directions from the hotel or guest room where you are staying. The lake is very scenic. It is a crater lake and there is a nice hotel and restaurants along the edge. A nice day for lunch.

Montecristo Cloud Forest
This is supposed to be a beautiful hike by Metapan. One of the few cloud forests in Central America, Montecristo winds to the top where Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador are all visible.

Calle Litoral from La Libertad to Acajutla
This coastal highway runs along the ocean front for seventy or eighty kilometers. It is a beautiful drive that winds along the hills and through a set of five tunnels. Take time to snap some photos and have lunch in La Libertad or Sonsonate. If you're eating in La Libertad try La Curva or Punta Roca two of the nicer oceanside restaurants with a great view and wonderful food.

Carreterra from Sonsonate to Ahuachapan
Stop off in Nahuizalco and buy a few wicker souvenirs. The nahuizalqueños set up their shops right along the highway, but if you have time, go into the small town and visit some of the shops. The handicrafts are worth a few minutes of your time as is the market. Drive through Salcoatitan and take the detour into Juayua. If you're driving through on a weekend, they often have a market with traditional dishes set up around the central plaza. These are generally very clean and safe to eat. After Juayua visit Apaneca where you can have a bite to eat at the Cabañas de Apaneca and take in the view of the coffee fields and surrounding mountains. Continue to escape the heat by passing through Ataco on your way down to Ahuachapan.

Ruins at San Andres and Joyas de Cerén
San Andres and Joyas de Cerén are two Mayan ruin sites. San Andres has a new museum that is nice and offers free tours before examining the pyramids. If you have seen the ruins in Mexico or Guatemala, don't expect much from these ruins, but they are interesting to see if you are not familiar with Mayan culture. Joyas de Cerén is less developed. It is a very academic site with some displays explaining what has been unearthed, but is not completely built as a tourist attraction yet.

Cathedral and Theater in the Central Plaza of Santa Ana
The catedral in Santa Ana is famous throughout El Salvador for its classic gothic design. Be prepared for the pigeons and local photographers trying to snap your photo and sell you a picture. The theater on the other side of the park is a rare work of art in El Salvador. They are attempting to restore it, and it seems very "out of place" for Santa Ana with its classic design and architecture. There is a nominal fee (less than 50¢) to get in, but it is an interesting stop if you are in Santa Ana.

Guatemala
Most missionaries and their families travel for one day to Guatemala to attend the temple. You can stay overnight if ncessary at the guest house for temple attendants. It is clean, cheap, and right next to the Temple. We won't even begin to explain any of the sites in Guatemala to visit, but if you have time, check out Antigua. It is only a few minutes away from the capitol and it is a gorgeous little town with beautiful markets and souvenirs. If you like shopping the open markets, check out Chichicastenango, and a day's drive to Lake Atitlan is worth the effort. If you have a little more time and money to spend, check into flights from Guatemala City to Tikal.

Whatever your son or daughter has planned
It will probably be of great importance for your missionary to be able to say goodbye to some of his/her friends in the mission field. It will be a great opportunity for you to visit some of their old areas, families they taught, friends they met, and experience part of their mission. Be prepared as families will offer you food, drinks, refreshments, gifts, etc... that you may need to decline for health purposes or because it would be inappropriate. Follow the lead of your son/daughter. They will know best.

Do not plan a vacation. This is not the time to head for the beach and have a jolly ol' time in Central America. Remember your son or daughter is windin down from a very spiritual experience, and your activities while in country should reflect that.

Do not bring expensive gifts or money to families that your missionary knows or baptized. This sets up false expectations for other families and missionaries when they come to visit in the area. Many of the people you visit will be extremely poor, but the best thing to do is not to give them money or offer them jobs in the United States, etc...

Do not become a burden to the Mission President. He will more than likely invite you to meet him over lunch or dinner perhaps, but make an effort to not take up his time or abuse his hospitality. Ask him before you go down how he feels about your trip and what you can do to make things easy for the missionary and for him.

Do not plan too many days for your "pick up". There are only so many things to do in El Salvador while your son or daughter is a missionary, so don't let him/her get bored. It is difficult to be in the country as a missionary and not be doing mission work, so make sure you have things planned appropriately and you aren't wasting time or spending too much time "vacationing".

Do not plan elaborate trips and details that require your missionary to do a lot of preliminary work in country before you go. Do everything possible to make all the arrangements from the United States and not burden your missionary with travel details and planning or making arrangements for your stay.