Looking to escape? Here’s a recent trip local readers took to Argentina, Chile, Antarctica and India. Check it out, then find more reader travel inspiration at www.mercurynews.com/tag/wish-you-were-here/.

ARGENTINA, CHILE, ANTARCTICA: Brian and Donna Fernandez, from San Jose, took a three-week cruise from Buenos Aires to Santiago, with five days cruising in the Antarctic. They also took a hike in Punta Arenas, Chile, in the patagonia area.

TRAVEL TIPS: Brian Fernandez recommends going in late December or early January to get the “best of summer weather, which is still very cold,” he said. “Wear multiple layers – I ended with seven layers. It is hard to pack clothing as South America is very hot. We started in Buenos Aires at 80-plus degrees and then went places with temperatures as low as 0 degrees!”

Debbie and Pete Anderson from San Jose, California riding an elephant at the Amber Fort in India (photo courtesy of Debbie Anderson). 

INDIA: San Jose residents Pete and Debbie Anderson recently spent a month in India. They celebrated a wedding, visited temples and explored villages in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Varanasi, Chennai, Puducherry, Kumbakonam, Mahabalipuram and Bangalore. One highlight was an elephant ride in Amber Palace, a prominent fort and notable tourist attraction in Jaipur, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

TRAVEL TIPS: Debbie Anderson recommends using a bank ATM to get the best exchange rate on rupees. “Get them in small denominations for spending, since many vendors will not be able to change large bills,” she says. “Wear comfortable walking shoes, carry bottled water and toilet paper. We suggest arriving early for popular sightseeing destinations to avoid large crowds.”

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Join the fun! Send a photo of yourself on your latest adventures — local, domestic or international — to [email protected]. Tell us where you are, who everyone is and where they’re from, and share a travel tip or two to help fellow readers go there, too.