Because You Need To Know
Travel in Ecuador is often fraught with questions. Feel free to ask and we will provide an answer.Ecuador-related FAQ
Technology Related Questions
Free-wifi is standard in populated locations in Ecuador. In fact, so many Ecuadorians own smartphones and rely on wifi connections to use apps like Facebook Messenger and Whatsapp that restaurant, hotels, and cafes often provide wifi without a password.
Wifi is not standard in less-populated regions, especially those in the remote jungle or cloud forest locations. It can be difficult for repeaters to get a signal within the folds of the high Andes or hundreds of miles away. Some locations are not even cellphone friendly. Most locations will include this information on their websites.
Cellphones in Ecuador work using Sim cards so having a phone with Sim capabilities is key. Your phone also needs to be unlocked. Then, it’s a simple case of choosing which company you would like to work with (generally Claro or Moviestar) and purchasing a Sim card for your phone from one of their offices.
If you are unsure whether your model of phone will work, check out the government list of models and brands that should work. Recently, the government has started charging to use phones that re not on their approved list: http://www.tucelularlegal.info/tucelularlegalimei/TuCelularLegal.aspx
Some US companies, like T-Mobile, offer free texting and data services while overseas. That means you could use an app like Skype, Facebook Messenger, or WhatsApp to call home using data instead of calling by telephone. Check with your cellphone company BEFORE you travel to see what you might be able to add to your plan.
Health Related Questions
The CDC provides the best explanation of which vaccines are recommended, as well as other medical concerns, before traveling in Ecuador. But the quick explanation is this:
Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccinations like tetanus and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella).
Everyone traveling to Ecuador should get Hep A and Typhoid, no matter your destination.
Only some people need to get Hep B and Rabies. The more remote your travel, the more important these two vaccines.
Only some people need to get the Yellow Fever vaccine. However, Ecuador may ask for proof of vaccination if you are traveling from a country with risk of Yellow Fever.
Only some people need to take Malaria meds. This is most important if you are visiting the Amazon Basin and plan on spending a lot of time outdoors.
The vast majority of travelers are unlikely to contract diseases from mosquitos. However, it is best to take precautions when traveling in mosquito-prone regions like the coast or the Amazon Basin. But even the Andes can have some varieties of mosquitos that transmit diseases like Chikungunya. Please read our article on Zika and Other Mosquito Viruses before you travel.
Anyone can get altitude sickness. Unfortunately, doctors have very little understanding of why some people have more trouble at altitude than others. There are a few precautions that you can take in order to lessen the symptoms of minor altitude issues, like headaches from severe dehydration. But altitude sickness can be dangerous and it is very important to learn the warning signs BEFORE you travel. Please read our article on high altitude sickness and best practices for travel to high altitude locations.
Distilled water is called agua destilado. It can be found in some auto parts stores for use in car batteries or in some hardware stores like Kiwi.
How To Use Our Website
How do I become a member?
To become a member of Not Your Average American, navigate to Main Menu > Account > Join Now. Alternatively, visit https://notyouraverageamerican.com/register/
Where do I login?
To login to Not Your Average American, natigate to the Main Menu > Account > Login. Alternatively, visit https://notyouraverageamerican.com/login/
How Can I Change My Password?
If you forgot your password and would like to change it, navigate to the Main Menu > Account > Forgot Password. Alternatively, visit https://notyouraverageamerican.com/forgot/
If you are already logged in and would like to change your password, navigate to the Main Menu > Account > Change Password. Alternatively, visit https://notyouraverageamerican.com/change/
How do I update my account or my profile?
Account
If you would like to update your account, navigate to Main Menu > Account > Account. On this page you can change your role on the website, your name, your email address, and your bio. Alternatively, visit https://notyouraverageamerican.com/account/
Profile
If you would like to update your profile, navigate to Main Menu > Account > Profile. Alternatively, visit https://notyouraverageamerican.com/profile/
On this page you can change your profile picture and your banner photo, view your posts if you are an author on the website, view your comments left on posts, your reviews left on listings, your favorite listings, and access your published listings for editing or deletion.
What's the difference between my member profile and a listing?
In the past on Not Your Average American, a member could join as a Guide and their name would automatically appear on our Guide Registry. We found that this system wasn’t working for everyone. Not only did it slow down our website, but it didn’t fit the needs of a lot of Ecuadorians working in tourism. Today, we have several listings available. The Guide Listing is only one of them.
Therefore, it is possible to have one member profile and multiple listings. Your member profile will be harder for search engines to find but your listings will be crawled by the search engines so that potential clients can more easily find you. Your member profile has limited information and your listings will have tons of information.
How To Add A Listing
First, you must be a member of Not Your Average American to add a listing to any of our directories. You must also be logged in. If you are registered and logged in, then navigate to the Ecuador Directory menu at the top of the homepage. Select “Add to Directory.” Select the listing that you would like to add.
Any member can add any listing. Although the forms are aimed at Guides filling out a Guide listing and a Lodge filling out a Lodge listing, it is possible for any one to add any listing. This is especially true if you would like to leave a review for a guide or a driver and they don’t have a listing on our website. Please feel free to add a basic listing for them. We will contact them and ask if they would like to take over that listing.
Here are some quick links:
- Add a Guide (before adding a guide listing, learn how to boost your listings ability to rank well on Google)
- Add a Community
- Add a Lodge, Hostel, or Hotel
- Add a Driver
- Add a Service
- Add a Place
- Add an Event
How To Translate A Listing
After you click submit on your new listing, click on the “can be viewed here” button. On the righthand side of the page, you will see a small box that says “Translate Listing.” The first step is to click the box and click the word “Duplicate”. This will make a second listing on our alternate language page.
How to Translate a Listing
However, you aren’t finished yet. You can ask us to translate your listing from Spanish to English. Or you can attempt the translation yourself. To do so, navigate to your profile (Main Menu > Account > Profile). Using the language switcher, change to the alternate language. Click on Lists. You will see the duplicated listing. Click on the the three gray buttons to open and edit the listing. Replace any text with the translation. You may also need to confirm that all fields have carried across correctly. Click submit. The listing will now appear in both English and Spanish.
How To Leave a Review
First, you must be a member of Not Your Average American to leave a review. You must also be logged in. If you are registered and logged in, then navigate to the listing that you would like to review. You will see a listing of icons with titles reading from right to left: Profile, PHotos, Map, Reviews, Contact, Our Guides, Our Events. Click on Reviews. There you will see any reviews already left by other members and be offered to opportunity to add your own review.
How to Leave a Review on a Listing
I want to add a review but there isn't a listing for the place, guide, driver that I want to review!
Any member can add a listing. Although the forms are aimed at Guides filling out a Guide listing and a Lodge filling out a Lodge listing, it is possible for any one to add any listing. This is especially true if you would like to leave a review for a guide or a driver and they don’t have a listing on our website. Please feel free to add a basic listing for them. We will contact them and ask if they would like to take over that listing.
Here are some quick links:
- Add a Guide
- Add a Community
- Add a Lodge, Hostel, or Hotel
- Add a Driver
- Add a Service
- Add a Place
- Add an Event