What about Costa Rica?

[Deleted]

So Florida was great and it's time to start dreaming about next year's trip. I have been looking at Costa Rica with the volcanoes and zip lining and water safaris...Have you been? What did you do? What do you recommend?

[marvholly]

I was there about 25 years ago off a cruise ship.  At the time DDs were about 9 & 13.  We did a whitewater rafting trip (that is still being discussed on the cruise discussion boards).  it was WONDERFUL.  Kids & I loved dit.  DH not so much.  I think the company we used is still in business.

Country is remarkable for many reasons but 3 top:
Oldest/Longest democracy in Central America/Carribean
Country has HUGE literacy rate - 90 some odd percent
Most everyone speaks English

[steph08]

I went to Costa Rica on a high school Spanish trip right after I graduated from high school.   We had a great time! We kayaked in Lake Arenal around Arenal Volcano (which was actually smoking for the first time in many years when I was there), swam in the pool at the base of La Fortuna waterfall, zip-lined through Monte Verde Cloud Forest, went horseback riding through the rain forest, went to the beach and swam in the Pacific Ocean, went to the beach and swam in the Atlantic Ocean, etc. Fantastic trip!

[Deleted]

May 4, 2013 5:37:29 GMT -5 steph08 said:

I went to Costa Rica on a high school Spanish trip right after I graduated from high school.   We had a great time! We kayaked in Lake Arenal around Arenal Volcano (which was actually smoking for the first time in many years when I was there), swam in the pool at the base of La Fortuna waterfall, zip-lined through Monte Verde Cloud Forest, went horseback riding through the rain forest, went to the beach and swam in the Pacific Ocean, went to the beach and swam in the Atlantic Ocean, etc. Fantastic trip!

You're describing my dream vacation!

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

My brother and his wife opted out of going to Costa Rica again (they'd been before) and chose the Dominican Republic instead.

They LOVED it. They zip lined, snorkeled, dove/swam in waterfall pools, toured the mountains, hiked, sailed, visited art museums, churches and markets, etc. And the beaches were white sand heaven. And the restaurants, hotel, food were outstanding. I'd have to find out where exactly they stayed in the Dominican if anyone was interested, but they found it much nicer than Costa Rica overall - but that's their opinion, and I guess it depends on what your interests are and what you expect to get out of such a holiday.

[Deleted]

The DR was okay but I wasn't too impressed with the people. Too much haggling and scamming for my money. I hear the people in Costa Rica are much nicer.

[marvholly]

Been to both.  MUCH preferred Costa Rica. 

[Deleted]

I like the look of this package. www.costaricavacationplanning.com/family.shtml

Is anyone familiar with the company?

[justme]

I was talking with someone who travels a lot and mentioned Costa Rica...he said the countries next to it are much nicer - not as touristy and such. Though this is a guy who takes months off work to go travel through Asia and the like, so I took it with a grain of salt.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 14, 2013 12:38:41 GMT -5 @justaposter said:

I like the look of this package. www.costaricavacationplanning.com/family.shtml

Is anyone familiar with the company?

You stay in 4 different hotels in 7 days.  Seems like a pain to keep moving that frequently.

[Deleted]

May 14, 2013 12:45:09 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

May 14, 2013 12:38:41 GMT -5 @justaposter said:

I like the look of this package. www.costaricavacationplanning.com/family.shtml

Is anyone familiar with the company?

You stay in 4 different hotels in 7 days.  Seems like a pain to keep moving that frequently.

It's 8 days and 7 nights and the first and last ones are just to get me close to the airport. I want the mountain and the ocean experience so I'm don't see how to get around it.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

So of the 6 days you are there, you're going to be spending 3 of those days where you are in the car 4 hours or so.  My suggestion would be to either limit what you do, or extend your stay a couple days.  Or to put it another way, of 8 days of vacation, you will be on the road for 5 of them.

But then, when I travel I tend to stay put for several days and try to see and do everything in the area.  I hate wasting vacation time to travel from point A to point B.....less so with so short a time.

[Deleted]

Or to put it another way, of 8 days of vacation, you will be on the road for 5 of them.

I'm not sure how you get to that conclusion. I only see 3 drives of about 3.5 hours each.

Anyway, right now I am more concerned about the company. Is anyone familiar with them?

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 14, 2013 15:07:09 GMT -5 @justaposter said:

Or to put it another way, of 8 days of vacation, you will be on the road for 5 of them.

I'm not sure how you get to that conclusion. I only see 3 drives of about 3.5 hours each.

Anyway, right now I am more concerned about the company. Is anyone familiar with them?

2 days of getting to CR, 3 days of 4 hour drives.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 14, 2013 15:07:09 GMT -5 @justaposter said:

Anyway, right now I am more concerned about the company. Is anyone familiar with them?

They claim to be in the business or 20 years, but Trip Advisor has no info on them.  Not only that, there are no reviews on their web site.  That sends up a red flag to me.

Have you looked at reviews for the hotels that they use, or the expedition outfits?

[Deleted]

May 14, 2013 15:32:50 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

May 14, 2013 15:07:09 GMT -5 @justaposter said:

Anyway, right now I am more concerned about the company. Is anyone familiar with them?

They claim to be in the business or 20 years, but Trip Advisor has no info on them.  Not only that, there are no reviews on their web site.  That sends up a red flag to me.

Have you looked at reviews for the hotels that they use, or the expedition outfits?

They appear to go by the name JD Watersports, as well.



www.jdwatersports.com/index.htm

[Deleted]

Hmmm, maybe I will check with a local travel agent for options. I really like the set up of this trip, including the travelling. For 2015 I am going to be staying in one place. It's the year I turn 50, I'm going to rent a villa on a beach in Italy for 2 weeks.

[ilovedolphins]

Have you picked out the villa in Italy yet?  A friend went to Italy this year and it looks gorgeous.  I want to go but I don't know if I would go with a tour company or a cruise.

[Miss Tequila]

I've never been to Costa Rica but my dd's friend's family has gone a few times...they love it but they are more into camping and that's the kind of trip they do.  Based on their description, it is not something I would like

We are going to Punta Cana in 2 weeks.  I will let you know what i think of it. 

[Deleted]

May 17, 2013 21:13:11 GMT -5 ilovedolphins said:

Have you picked out the villa in Italy yet?  A friend went to Italy this year and it looks gorgeous.  I want to go but I don't know if I would go with a tour company or a cruise.

Not yet, that's still 2 years out. A friend just got back from a resort called Riu in Costa Rica. They loved it and said it has the best ziplining. I'm going to look that up.

[Deleted]

Hi Later

I just saw this, I don't usually post here. We had an INCREDIBLE few days at an eco-lodge in Costa Rica but access is not easy. Close friends are going there next year when they visits their kid who is doing a year abroad in CR. It is right at the entrance to the Corcovado National Park, which is one of the most biodiverse parks in the world. We went there a few years ago when DS1 was working in Panama for 4 months. He went there with a friend (they stayed at the campsite, not the lodge) and he INSISTED we go. 

Google "la leona lodge costa rica". Our guide was Bolivar.

Feel free to PM me for more info if I forget to check back here!

That and our recent few days in the desert in Jordan and finally seeing Crater Lake after hearing DS3 go on about it FOR YEARS are my three most favourite travels. 

[Deleted]

Also, you mentioned zip-lining. I did that in Panama. Too bad I was too scared to keep my eyes open LOL.