Costa Rica Vacation plan in late June and early July

We are a family of two adults and three kids : 12, 11, and 3. We are
exploring
a trip to Costa Rica. Do we really have to buy a package? We'd rather not
to save some money and be able to do extra activities and/or stay in better
accommodations. Any recommendations
thanks
AL

A package is not necessary. Allow extra time if you are renting a car,
because what may look like a short distance mileage-wise will take longer
depending on road conditions. Luckily it should be dry that time of year. Do
not miss the canopy tour in Monteverde, worth every penny! Beautiful country
..
"AA" wrote in message
...
We are a family of two adults and three kids : 12, 11, and 3. We are
exploring
a trip to Costa Rica. Do we really have to buy a package? We'd rather
not
to save some money and be able to do extra activities and/or stay in
better
accommodations. Any recommendations
thanks
AL

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.

"Nick and Judy" wrote in message
et...
A package is not necessary. Allow extra time if you are renting a car,
because what may look like a short distance mileage-wise will take longer
depending on road conditions. Luckily it should be dry that time of year.
Do not miss the canopy tour in Monteverde, worth every penny! Beautiful
country

"AA" wrote in message
...
We are a family of two adults and three kids : 12, 11, and 3. We are
exploring
a trip to Costa Rica. Do we really have to buy a package? We'd rather
not
to save some money and be able to do extra activities and/or stay in
better
accommodations. Any recommendations
thanks
AL

"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

We never rent a car, but have found good transportation everywhere we've
wanted/needed to go in Costa Rica. (We've been there 3 times) When you go
with a driver who knows the area, they can get you there faster because they
know all the back roads (which are unmarked on the maps and have no street
signs). They know where the roads are washed out in rainy season. They
know where the pot holes are--some the size of a Volkswagen! You also don't
have to worry about your car pooping out on you when you are in a more
remote location. When that happens, you are STUCK! We met some folks up
around Arenal that that happened to. The were literally stuck until the
rental company that they had rented from in San Jose decided to bring
another car up. In the meantime, they were liable for the car, if they were
to leave it. You can also find a chatty driver who is more than happy to
tell you about his country. Unless you have unlimited time to try to
navigate the backroads of CR, I'd tell first timers to CR to use a driver,
the buses, and minivans. BTW, Best Westerns have minibuses that go between
all their locations--I think there are 5 around the country. Which ever way
you decide to go though, you will love Costa Rica. Jane

"k" wrote in message
. net...

"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

On May 29, 9:54 pm, "k" wrote:

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.

I think you are the one who is being snotty. Mr. R's response was
fine and not in the least bit offensive. Yours was. He came across
to me as someone who wants to encourage people to travel having done
their own research. Why do you assume that he, and travelers like
him, would somehow miss good hotels and food? Travel books have all
that stuff.

"NealR2000" wrote in message
ups.com...
On May 29, 9:54 pm, "k" wrote:


I think you are the one who is being snotty. Mr. R's response was
fine and not in the least bit offensive. Yours was. He came across
to me as someone who wants to encourage people to travel having done
their own research. Why do you assume that he, and travelers like
him, would somehow miss good hotels and food? Travel books have all
that stuff.

Sorry, but Mr. R describes a tourist, then claims travelers are somehow
better and would never do what a tourist does. It makes no sense, and it's
a phrase that's been banned from all the good travel magazines. Travel is
the part where you waste time in airports, sit in cramped planes and buses
and trains, and go from point A to point B, where you become a tourist if
you do anything else at all. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a
tourist, and there is nothing at all wrong with the people who choose to go
on group tours. Nothing.

We prefer solo travel, but will often take a tour to somewhere new,
especially somewhere with a language we can't decipher, which describes most
of Asia. If we go back to a place, it's on our own. A lot of the fun of
going places is meeting people, and you will never do that if you're already
viewing them with disdain because they're 'tourists' and you're somehow
better than that.

Mr R advised against being a tourist, and offered nothing useful. I made
several suggestions and comments about my favorite country. I guess I'm
just not accustomed to being talked down to by elitists like Mr. R, but if
that's your thing, go for it.

OK.
I have already booked the airlines and car (12 full days). Also, based on
the responses I this newsgroup and many web sites: We decided to visit the
following 5 areas :
1) San Jose
2) Arenal
3) Monteverde
4) North Pacific Coast (Guanacaste)
5) Central Pacific (Jacó, Manuel Antonio).

My three questions a

1) How would you order the itinerary given that we will fly in and out of
San Jose
2`) How many days do you suggest we should stay in each spot
3) Do you have a recommended accommodation (we don't mind spending a little
more money for a luxury accommodation), and a contact information that gets
us a good deal

thanks for those who responded to my inquiry ad to those who will help with
these questions.
thanks again
AL


"AA" wrote in message
...
We are a family of two adults and three kids : 12, 11, and 3. We are
exploring
a trip to Costa Rica. Do we really have to buy a package? We'd rather
not
to save some money and be able to do extra activities and/or stay in
better
accommodations. Any recommendations
thanks
AL