"Mr. R" wrote in message
...
I agree with Nick and Judy. Although Costa Rica, by Central America
standards, is safe and prosperous, the roads can get a little tricky in bad
weather ... particularly the secondary roads.

As for package vacations, I wish more people would only use them in
exceptional circumstances. There are so many excellent resources (travel
books, Internet, etc.) where a great trip can be planned. Not only is it
cheaper ... it's just more fun, and it's the difference between a traveler
and a tourist.

Oh my God, do you know how snotty you sound? I haven't heard that hateful
phrase in years. I'M A TRAVELER beats chest not a tourist tourists look
down and try to hide their sobs I take it you deem yourself a 'traveler',
so tell us how many countries you've 'traveled' through without looking at
the sights, staying in the fancy hotels, checking out the local cuisine,
like you would as a tourist. Tourist does NOT mean bus, anymore than
'traveler' means rental car.

Costa Rican roads are pitiful by any standard, in any weather. As a result,
rental cars are expensive, and usually beat up. I drive there without
hesitation, but that's me. We saved a ton once by taking a 'bus' vacation
in CR, meaning the local converted school buses. It was a ball, but we were
young then, and didn't have children in tow. We barely spent what's lunch
money these days.

To the OP, if you can find a tour that's geared to families with kids, and
within your means, by all means take it. Only Mr. R. will look down his
nose at you, and I'm sure you'll all love CR in all its beauty, its people,
and its great food. If you go to Guanacaste, the beaches are great, and you
can rent horses to ride on the beach. Unlike most places, you can actually
run the horses.

Arenal is kind of astounding if you don't already live near a volcano. It
goes off all the time, and you can stay in a facing cabin, where you can
watch the almost constant eruptions from your bed or porch. La Fortuna, at
the base, is a town with an old-west flavor.

By all means, budget in a canopy tour, and there are many. Not cheap, but a
lot of fun and very memorable.

There are also all kinds of day tours - river rafts, birding, jungle hikes,
fishing ... the list goes on.

You can feast on fresh fruit every morning, and native dishes (lots of meat,
fish and rice, and on the salty side) the rest of the time, and if you stick
to local places that's where you'll save big time.

I trust you'll have a great time there as a tourist. We always do, and will
be returning permanently as residents in just a few more years, and we will
not be living in a gated 'community'. Not.

keith