Some people want to take the slow boat to China deal by doing a cruise to Costa Rica leaving out of Ft. Lauder-dale, Florida with stops in Costa Maya, Limon, and Colon, Costa Rica and you can spend 8 days on a Carnival Cruise down to Costa Rica and experiencing port of calls along the way. This is a lot more exciting than being cramped on a flight when you can spend all the time relaxing and having a good time before you get to the ports of call, which is on days 3,5 and 6. Each stop is approximately one day long and there's only one stop in Costa Rica that is on day 5 of the trip.
You can just sit back and look out on to the ocean and take in the next breath of air so clean you forgot you're not in the city. Par t of the fun about a cruise is the nighttime sky when you can walk out on to the deck and look at the clearest sky around. Most tourists enjoy that where they can go walking around the deck at night and the cost doesn't come cheap you're looking at about $3-5 grand for a week and a half or longer that's why tourists need to plan their trip well to make sure you can get the most of out of it financially.
Carnival cruises is one of the lines that does have stops in Costa Rica as their port of call and usually there's a trip through the Panama Canal, but it's just straight down south winding your way through the Caribbean islands and stopping in some places, but you spend more time out on the water than you do stopping on land. Sailing instead of flying just buys you more time to relax comfortably instead of being squashed up inside a plane for a few hours when you can spend a few days chilling out on the deck and enjoying a drink while taking in some rays. There are a lot of cruise ship websites out there that can tell you when you should book your trip since like the airlines prices change quickly in a matter of a day.
So it's ideal to get email notices about the fares so you can book them quickly. Doing your homework can ensure you get the best fare possible for your money since it's not exactly cheap to go on a ship. The average person spends a couple years saving up for a cruise and booking when the price is not so high since like flying cruises are costly at certain times of the year.
Booking a year early is your best bet in getting the dates you want so you're not paying full fare when the reduced rate is offered to you in advance to give you a chance to book your cabin. Cabins are booked by level and are priced differently. The most expensive would be towards the front.
Costa Rica
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Costa Rica: Conventions and Conferences
Large companies and corporations sponsor destination business meetings and Costa Rica is one of prominent spots to have a conference and conventions. Exotic locations combine business and vacation at the same time and give a fresh look to business. When you want to bring some relaxation to your company and employees having it in an exotic locale like Costa Rica it's offering employees a chance to kick back and relax and take advantage of getting in some quality time to go fishing, swimming, horseback riding, golf, tennis, or taking in getting a body massage and spa treatments.
Some companies host their annual company trips to exotic locations for a chance of scenery and environment and to give people a chance to get in some vacation time without actually taking off and holding business meetings and conventions. Most resorts have special packages for companies to book a specific number of rooms and have arrangements for all budgets and to have someone on hand to help with the arrangements of the convention or conference.
This actually is a great way for employees to get out of the office and yet do something fun and not feel stressed. Most companies who do something to take the employees out of the office tend to have less stressed out workers because a change of scenery is usually good for someone not to feel burned out. Getting in some sun, hiking, horseback riding, diving, fishing, tennis, snorkeling, swimming, soaking in the hot tub, and taking in a full body massage and spa treatment is key in lowering someone's stress level because it's a way for someone to relax and cool out.
Some social organizations plan their annual trips to exotic locations as a way to change the scenery too and to give their people a chance to relax and do something fun instead of the same stuff. Flamingo Beach Resort has a staff that handles groups and events and can help plan out the stay exactly specified to your instructions and meeting your budget restrictions.
You can go on their website and request information for catering and planning your group event to Costa Rica and the resort can hold meeting space for up to 190 people which is ideal for people planning moderate sized events. The catering menu can serve everything from elegant to international cuisine and casual poolside.
This is what you call an awesome business meeting you get to spend it in a foreign country and getting in your vacation without exactly taking off since you're actually working at the same time. You can even have the planning staff plan mixers, welcome receptions, and themed ice breakers to get employees to interact with each other if some of them work in different departments and aren't around others from the same office. Group discounts are given if 10 or more rooms are booked. An event like this will make one feel rejuvenated and refreshed after a week in a luxury hotel and being in a peaceful environment.
Some companies host their annual company trips to exotic locations for a chance of scenery and environment and to give people a chance to get in some vacation time without actually taking off and holding business meetings and conventions. Most resorts have special packages for companies to book a specific number of rooms and have arrangements for all budgets and to have someone on hand to help with the arrangements of the convention or conference.
This actually is a great way for employees to get out of the office and yet do something fun and not feel stressed. Most companies who do something to take the employees out of the office tend to have less stressed out workers because a change of scenery is usually good for someone not to feel burned out. Getting in some sun, hiking, horseback riding, diving, fishing, tennis, snorkeling, swimming, soaking in the hot tub, and taking in a full body massage and spa treatment is key in lowering someone's stress level because it's a way for someone to relax and cool out.
Some social organizations plan their annual trips to exotic locations as a way to change the scenery too and to give their people a chance to relax and do something fun instead of the same stuff. Flamingo Beach Resort has a staff that handles groups and events and can help plan out the stay exactly specified to your instructions and meeting your budget restrictions.
You can go on their website and request information for catering and planning your group event to Costa Rica and the resort can hold meeting space for up to 190 people which is ideal for people planning moderate sized events. The catering menu can serve everything from elegant to international cuisine and casual poolside.
This is what you call an awesome business meeting you get to spend it in a foreign country and getting in your vacation without exactly taking off since you're actually working at the same time. You can even have the planning staff plan mixers, welcome receptions, and themed ice breakers to get employees to interact with each other if some of them work in different departments and aren't around others from the same office. Group discounts are given if 10 or more rooms are booked. An event like this will make one feel rejuvenated and refreshed after a week in a luxury hotel and being in a peaceful environment.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Costa Rica Tourist Traps
Costa Rica has a great tourist industry. They are welcoming and friendly and in most cases they are honest and genuine. But human nature being what it is, sometimes we end up getting less than we bargained for. The following are just a few tips on what to look out for before you pay out of pocket.
In most cities these days, when the local cops aren't busy they park in a discreet spot and scrutinize drivers to see if they can catch them in an infraction. One person I read about got stopped for speeding and the cops told him that it was an expensive ticket. The cop told them that for $100 he would look the other way. Later he was told that he could have settled the ticket at any Bank of Costa Rica.
This is a great example of why you should take the bus and taxi whenever possible. You may think you are free with your own vehicle but you won't be very free if you are stuck in a hole on a dirt road in a foreign country. Just figure into your budget, taxi and bus fare. Always hide extra cab fare on you somewhere just in case of emergency.
Another trap is that using travel agent doesn't always pay off. You could end up paying as much as $50 a night more on your lodging because of the travel agent's cut. Go ahead and book your own rooms and make payment arrangements. Also try to find out the distance from your hotel to your destination. Why pay a cab to drive half a mile when you can walk it, unless it's raining of course.
This next thing isn't necessarily a tourist trap but you should know about this ahead of time. In the Monteverde Cloud Forest there are the attractions of the Sky Bridge and Canopy tours. A sky bridge is a bridge made over the tops of the trees. Canopy Tours are like ski lifts, the canopied car moving on a cable from tree to tree. The idea being, that you are able to see a great variety of wildlife from this vantage point. I hope you don't have vertigo.
You are walking off into a bridge into the trees and the clouds, or your are taking the Canopy ride through the clouds but your purpose in doing this is to be able to see the wonderful wildlife. You will see nothing unless the clouds clear. It does cost you money to get across the bridge and to ride the Canopies but why pay the money if you can't see anything. Better to wait until you have a clear day.
The next one is really important. Look before you sit when using the restroom in remote locations. One lady said that someone had stolen the toilet seat and she had no place to sit. To make matters worse there was no toilet paper. So my advice to you is to always go to the restroom in a store or restaurant if you have the chance before going into on tours and always, always take some toilet paper
In most cities these days, when the local cops aren't busy they park in a discreet spot and scrutinize drivers to see if they can catch them in an infraction. One person I read about got stopped for speeding and the cops told him that it was an expensive ticket. The cop told them that for $100 he would look the other way. Later he was told that he could have settled the ticket at any Bank of Costa Rica.
This is a great example of why you should take the bus and taxi whenever possible. You may think you are free with your own vehicle but you won't be very free if you are stuck in a hole on a dirt road in a foreign country. Just figure into your budget, taxi and bus fare. Always hide extra cab fare on you somewhere just in case of emergency.
Another trap is that using travel agent doesn't always pay off. You could end up paying as much as $50 a night more on your lodging because of the travel agent's cut. Go ahead and book your own rooms and make payment arrangements. Also try to find out the distance from your hotel to your destination. Why pay a cab to drive half a mile when you can walk it, unless it's raining of course.
This next thing isn't necessarily a tourist trap but you should know about this ahead of time. In the Monteverde Cloud Forest there are the attractions of the Sky Bridge and Canopy tours. A sky bridge is a bridge made over the tops of the trees. Canopy Tours are like ski lifts, the canopied car moving on a cable from tree to tree. The idea being, that you are able to see a great variety of wildlife from this vantage point. I hope you don't have vertigo.
You are walking off into a bridge into the trees and the clouds, or your are taking the Canopy ride through the clouds but your purpose in doing this is to be able to see the wonderful wildlife. You will see nothing unless the clouds clear. It does cost you money to get across the bridge and to ride the Canopies but why pay the money if you can't see anything. Better to wait until you have a clear day.
The next one is really important. Look before you sit when using the restroom in remote locations. One lady said that someone had stolen the toilet seat and she had no place to sit. To make matters worse there was no toilet paper. So my advice to you is to always go to the restroom in a store or restaurant if you have the chance before going into on tours and always, always take some toilet paper
Costa Rica on a Dime
If saving money while you vacation is your concern then don't worry, it can be done without sacrificing your comfort and good time. You should know that the off season is referred to as the Green Season and this last September to December. The Christmas season would be the time that they come out of the Green Season. I don't know if this means their rainy and hurricane season has ended but Christmas is a time when some families decide to go on vacation.
The first consideration is trying to get a good deal with the airlines to get you into Costa Rica. There are 2 airports, Liberia airport and San Jose International Airport. Liberia is located on the coast and San Jose International is inland outside of San Jose. If you purchase your plane ticket scheduled during the green season you can save up to $150 per person on airfare. It is possible to fly standby as well.
The 2 main airlines into Costa Rica from the U.S. are Continental and Delta. Another possibility for saving money on airfare has just surfaced. Costa Rica has given the official okay for 3 other airlines to land on their airstrips. One of them is an American airline and it is the economy company of Frontier Airlines. I don't know if rates are available yet but you might want to check with them. If you are going to Costa Rica during the Green Season you are a person that likes rain. It might just be worth the extra money to go during the High Season when it is dry and sunny.
The most affordable lodging I have found is the Bed & Breakfast trade. One way of searching is to go to Pamela Lanier's Bed & Breakfast website www.lanierbb.com. When I navigated her website and put Costa Rica in her search window I pulled up nothing. So I clicked on the map that is to the side of the search window and I got Latin America. Click near Central America and you have a list of Costa Rican cities that you can search for a B&B from.
As an example I clicked on a B&B in Monteverde. I found La Colina, which is located in the Cloud forest and surrounded by the local Quaker community. The rates run from $38 - $40 per night and they have quite a few amenities. This facility also offers showers and baths to campers, although I am not sure I would want to camp in the jungle. Give me 4 walls please.
The most inexpensive lodging I found was the Kalexma. This B&B is owned by a woman that is an English teacher. She first started this rooming house to offer lodging to her students. She believes in immersion as a way of learning the language and offers low cost rooms as bridge to that end. These rates are as low as $15 per night. This is a bare bones arrangement and you have a bed and a bathroom. The site can be found at www.Kelexma.com.
Villa Mango located in Nosara, Costa Rica, has the most moderate of prices. A room will cost you approximately $59.00 per night, and $385.00 for a week. This B&B is a 10-minute walk from the beach.
The Villa Decary has rates that run about $85 a night and it is located about 10 miles from the Arenal volcano. The hotel sits on the shore of Lake Arenal with a view of the lake from you window.
If you are a woman traveling on your own I would check our Bed & Breakfast rooming, as it is easier to meet people in this type of environment. A good travel resource for women is journeywoman.com. This site gives great info for the single woman traveler.
My final advice is on eating. The water is good in Costa Rica, you don't have the problems that the Mexicans do with Montezuma's Revenge. There are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to eat that are very cheap to buy. Also there are many Mom & Pop restaurants that cost much less than the big fancy restaurants. My advice is to pick a meal a day to eat big, then, keep on hand snacks for the rest of the day. You don't want to go home heavier than you arrived do you?
The first consideration is trying to get a good deal with the airlines to get you into Costa Rica. There are 2 airports, Liberia airport and San Jose International Airport. Liberia is located on the coast and San Jose International is inland outside of San Jose. If you purchase your plane ticket scheduled during the green season you can save up to $150 per person on airfare. It is possible to fly standby as well.
The 2 main airlines into Costa Rica from the U.S. are Continental and Delta. Another possibility for saving money on airfare has just surfaced. Costa Rica has given the official okay for 3 other airlines to land on their airstrips. One of them is an American airline and it is the economy company of Frontier Airlines. I don't know if rates are available yet but you might want to check with them. If you are going to Costa Rica during the Green Season you are a person that likes rain. It might just be worth the extra money to go during the High Season when it is dry and sunny.
The most affordable lodging I have found is the Bed & Breakfast trade. One way of searching is to go to Pamela Lanier's Bed & Breakfast website www.lanierbb.com. When I navigated her website and put Costa Rica in her search window I pulled up nothing. So I clicked on the map that is to the side of the search window and I got Latin America. Click near Central America and you have a list of Costa Rican cities that you can search for a B&B from.
As an example I clicked on a B&B in Monteverde. I found La Colina, which is located in the Cloud forest and surrounded by the local Quaker community. The rates run from $38 - $40 per night and they have quite a few amenities. This facility also offers showers and baths to campers, although I am not sure I would want to camp in the jungle. Give me 4 walls please.
The most inexpensive lodging I found was the Kalexma. This B&B is owned by a woman that is an English teacher. She first started this rooming house to offer lodging to her students. She believes in immersion as a way of learning the language and offers low cost rooms as bridge to that end. These rates are as low as $15 per night. This is a bare bones arrangement and you have a bed and a bathroom. The site can be found at www.Kelexma.com.
Villa Mango located in Nosara, Costa Rica, has the most moderate of prices. A room will cost you approximately $59.00 per night, and $385.00 for a week. This B&B is a 10-minute walk from the beach.
The Villa Decary has rates that run about $85 a night and it is located about 10 miles from the Arenal volcano. The hotel sits on the shore of Lake Arenal with a view of the lake from you window.
If you are a woman traveling on your own I would check our Bed & Breakfast rooming, as it is easier to meet people in this type of environment. A good travel resource for women is journeywoman.com. This site gives great info for the single woman traveler.
My final advice is on eating. The water is good in Costa Rica, you don't have the problems that the Mexicans do with Montezuma's Revenge. There are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to eat that are very cheap to buy. Also there are many Mom & Pop restaurants that cost much less than the big fancy restaurants. My advice is to pick a meal a day to eat big, then, keep on hand snacks for the rest of the day. You don't want to go home heavier than you arrived do you?
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Costa Rica: Hungry? What's to Eat!
I was mistaken when I thought I would be eating mostly Latin food but Costa Rica has a phenomenal diversity in the foods that it serves. You would be surprised to find that there are many Asian restaurants and just as many European restaurants. The food is plentiful and the cost is reasonable. Of course every fine hotel has a restaurant on the premises but you will want to eat at the local restaurants.
In San Jose there are quite a few fine restaurants. Ristorante Bohemia is a fine European restaurant that serves a formal European dinner with a fine wine list. While looking for restaurants to try out, I repeatedly found Tin Jo's on the list. This is a restaurant that seems to have stood the test of time and is still in business. The food is considered Pan Asian and you can find Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and even some East Indian food. The deserts are delicious.
I once went to a Cuban restaurant and found out the hard way that not all Latin food is like Mexican food. I embarrassed myself and asked for chips and salsa. Big oops, I got a dirty look for that one. The same is true of Costa Rica; don't go expecting the native food to be like Mexican food. It could be considered bland and is healthier than the Mexican food that we usually eat here in the States. Costa Rican food is considered healthier because it is more fresh and natural. No canned peas here!
The nicest thing about eating in Costa Rica is that all fruits, vegetable, and seafood are very fresh. In some cases the beef and pork are actually fresh as well. In all restaurants the juice served is usually fresh. It seems that it is cheaper to serve fresh rather than frozen. Many smaller restaurants actually grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs There is also the cheese made by the Quaker community from Monteverde and if you travel through Monteverde you will get a chance to meet the Quakers. .
One thing that I have to have in the morning is a hot cup of coffee. I don't care if the weather is hot or not, I must have a cup of hot coffee to get moving in the morning. One nice thing is that Costa Rica produces a fine crop of coffee. You may want to stock up and take bags of coffee home with you as gifts for friends and family. Many of the hotels are located on either old coffee plantations or on actual functioning coffee plantations.
One of the local dishes is Ceviche, which is wonderful and is made from seafood. I make my own version here at home with cooked shrimp and crab. One of the delicacies found in most salads is Hearts of Palm. I think that is great, especially since I love Hearts of Palm. Here in the states they are expensive and I haven't had any for quite some time.
As with any Central American country, Plantains are a staple it the diet of Costa Ric-ans. When I was a kid my Puerto Ric-an friend was served fried Plantains for breakfast made by her mother. I was shocked to see her put ketchup on a fried banana. Well I soon found out that Plantains are in the banana family but they are used more like potatoes.
Because of all the fresh produce available, Costa Rica is a heaven for vegetarians or those with vegan diets. You will find many vegetarian restaurants available for your dining pleasure.
Most of the big hotels have buffets and you can always eat at these but you will do yourself a disservice if you don't try the local cuisine with it being as fresh and original as it is. There are a many Americans and others that come to Costa Rica and open up businesses. No matter where you are in Costa Rica, get out and try the food. Visit someplace new every day.
In San Jose there are quite a few fine restaurants. Ristorante Bohemia is a fine European restaurant that serves a formal European dinner with a fine wine list. While looking for restaurants to try out, I repeatedly found Tin Jo's on the list. This is a restaurant that seems to have stood the test of time and is still in business. The food is considered Pan Asian and you can find Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and even some East Indian food. The deserts are delicious.
I once went to a Cuban restaurant and found out the hard way that not all Latin food is like Mexican food. I embarrassed myself and asked for chips and salsa. Big oops, I got a dirty look for that one. The same is true of Costa Rica; don't go expecting the native food to be like Mexican food. It could be considered bland and is healthier than the Mexican food that we usually eat here in the States. Costa Rican food is considered healthier because it is more fresh and natural. No canned peas here!
The nicest thing about eating in Costa Rica is that all fruits, vegetable, and seafood are very fresh. In some cases the beef and pork are actually fresh as well. In all restaurants the juice served is usually fresh. It seems that it is cheaper to serve fresh rather than frozen. Many smaller restaurants actually grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs There is also the cheese made by the Quaker community from Monteverde and if you travel through Monteverde you will get a chance to meet the Quakers. .
One thing that I have to have in the morning is a hot cup of coffee. I don't care if the weather is hot or not, I must have a cup of hot coffee to get moving in the morning. One nice thing is that Costa Rica produces a fine crop of coffee. You may want to stock up and take bags of coffee home with you as gifts for friends and family. Many of the hotels are located on either old coffee plantations or on actual functioning coffee plantations.
One of the local dishes is Ceviche, which is wonderful and is made from seafood. I make my own version here at home with cooked shrimp and crab. One of the delicacies found in most salads is Hearts of Palm. I think that is great, especially since I love Hearts of Palm. Here in the states they are expensive and I haven't had any for quite some time.
As with any Central American country, Plantains are a staple it the diet of Costa Ric-ans. When I was a kid my Puerto Ric-an friend was served fried Plantains for breakfast made by her mother. I was shocked to see her put ketchup on a fried banana. Well I soon found out that Plantains are in the banana family but they are used more like potatoes.
Because of all the fresh produce available, Costa Rica is a heaven for vegetarians or those with vegan diets. You will find many vegetarian restaurants available for your dining pleasure.
Most of the big hotels have buffets and you can always eat at these but you will do yourself a disservice if you don't try the local cuisine with it being as fresh and original as it is. There are a many Americans and others that come to Costa Rica and open up businesses. No matter where you are in Costa Rica, get out and try the food. Visit someplace new every day.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Music, Dance and Nightlife:Costa Rica
Music in Costa Rica is music to dance to. From Salsa to Chamber music there is something for everyone. Live bands play at different clubs all over the country. Salsa, Jazz, Rock, Tango, Tex-Mex, and Calypso are all on the venue at different nightspots in Costa Rica.
If you are staying in and around San Jose the best nightlife is found at El Pueblo in Escazu. Here you can find restaurants, nightclubs and shops. Club Twister is one club that is very popular playing contemporary and Latin music. Another is El Tobagan and while they are open only on the weekend they are always packed.
Somewhere in El Pueblo the Tango Bar is located. It has a couple of older gals that serve drinks and perform sentimental ballads. If you are lucky an Argentine visitor will be able to translate the lyrics. Occasionally you will have the treat of seeing a good tango performed.
Costa Ricans love to dance and they are so good that it is scary. Not too much cha cha, but there is plenty of cumbia, merengue, lambada, and salsa. If you get a chance before you go to Costa Rica try to get in some salsa lessons. It is the most fun you can have and it sure makes you know that you are alive. There is dancing at night in any number of clubs all over Costa Rica but most of the better hotels have music at night.
If you speak a small amount of Spanish and you are looking for local happenings then you can try to read the local papers the Tico Time and La Nacíon. These should help you find local movie times and info on concerts and festivals.
Every year in February and March there is the Monteverde Art Festival, which has local musicians and visiting guest musicians. The venues for the music change from year to year depending on what festival planners have in mind so check the local newspaper or simply ask around. The local Ticos will be more than happy to give you any info they have on where the next performance is.
Costa Rica is predominantly Catholic so most of their holidays follow the usual Catholic holidays such as Christmas and Easter but one holiday that stands out is the celebration of the Black Christ Esquipulas. This festival originates in Guatemala but is celebrated all over Costa Rica. There is large population of Guatemalan immigrants so this may have something to do with the celebration.
The Teatro National was built over a hundred years ago an in that time Costa Ricans have developed there own national theater company. Additionally Costa Rica has their own Symphony and Ticos love classical music almost as much as Salsa.
For those of you that like a different kind of nightlife there are also a few nature and wildlife tours. In the Mountverde Cloud Forest there are night tours that show you the beauty of wildlife that only shows itself at night
If you are staying in and around San Jose the best nightlife is found at El Pueblo in Escazu. Here you can find restaurants, nightclubs and shops. Club Twister is one club that is very popular playing contemporary and Latin music. Another is El Tobagan and while they are open only on the weekend they are always packed.
Somewhere in El Pueblo the Tango Bar is located. It has a couple of older gals that serve drinks and perform sentimental ballads. If you are lucky an Argentine visitor will be able to translate the lyrics. Occasionally you will have the treat of seeing a good tango performed.
Costa Ricans love to dance and they are so good that it is scary. Not too much cha cha, but there is plenty of cumbia, merengue, lambada, and salsa. If you get a chance before you go to Costa Rica try to get in some salsa lessons. It is the most fun you can have and it sure makes you know that you are alive. There is dancing at night in any number of clubs all over Costa Rica but most of the better hotels have music at night.
If you speak a small amount of Spanish and you are looking for local happenings then you can try to read the local papers the Tico Time and La Nacíon. These should help you find local movie times and info on concerts and festivals.
Every year in February and March there is the Monteverde Art Festival, which has local musicians and visiting guest musicians. The venues for the music change from year to year depending on what festival planners have in mind so check the local newspaper or simply ask around. The local Ticos will be more than happy to give you any info they have on where the next performance is.
Costa Rica is predominantly Catholic so most of their holidays follow the usual Catholic holidays such as Christmas and Easter but one holiday that stands out is the celebration of the Black Christ Esquipulas. This festival originates in Guatemala but is celebrated all over Costa Rica. There is large population of Guatemalan immigrants so this may have something to do with the celebration.
The Teatro National was built over a hundred years ago an in that time Costa Ricans have developed there own national theater company. Additionally Costa Rica has their own Symphony and Ticos love classical music almost as much as Salsa.
For those of you that like a different kind of nightlife there are also a few nature and wildlife tours. In the Mountverde Cloud Forest there are night tours that show you the beauty of wildlife that only shows itself at night
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Costa Rica, Spas and Retreats
Costa Rica, Spas and Retreats
If your goal is to escape cigarettes, whiskey and wild, wild women, then you might consider the benefits of a Costa Ric-an Vacation that is a Spa or Retreat. There are those of us that cannot just vacation, we have to have more meaning in our adventure. In this case, instead of getting away from it all, you are getting to it all. It seems the result is the same you get to relax and unwind.
I found many, many yoga and meditation retreats so I will just try to tell you about the ones that stand out. I encourage you to do your own search
Pancha Mama
Pancha Mama means Mother Earth in Spanish and if you are a time-warped hippie that had a go around with communes this is gonna ring your bell. Pancho Mama is referred to as a Spiritual Eco Village. The fees are extremely reasonable, if I read their fee chart correctly. A number is listed with no digits behind it so I am relatively sure these are the rates. For a tent it is $12.00 for a single and $20.00 for a double. For a House it is $28 for a single and $50 for a double.
Offered are lessons in yoga, meditation, tai chi, surfing and horseback riding. This is also a total vegetarian cuisine and the meals approximately $4.00 a piece with children meals costing a mere 1-2 dollars.
Luna Lodge
Lana Wedmore has worked in the tourist service industry for years and her final destination for her own Lodge is the Osa Peninsula in the southern region of Costa Rica. Her rates are not cheap but they are competitive with the larger hotels and she has included a Wellness Center where you can learn or practice Yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki, or massage. The buildings are beautiful and in harmony the ocean and jungle that surround it. Her rates run from $125 - $200.
Tree Houses Hotel
I didn't see any ads for yoga or massage but I did see info on the Hot Springs. That's gotta be healthy. So, here is another unusual way to spend your holiday.... in a tree house. Mind you, these tree houses have full bathrooms with tubs and they have Air Conditioning. You have got to at least visit the website, the rooms are very cool. The rates run $75 -$85 per night.
Costa Rica Quilting Retreat
I can't imagine making quilts in the jungle, but if there are any enthusiasts out there, this is your lucky day. Bungalows are offered in a private gated community. The Main building has a swimming pool and they have BBQ's out by the pool. The fee for this is $925 for the B&B arrangement in the main house, or you can pay $950 for a cottage. With only the $25 extra for the cottage, I would take the cottage
In Conclusion. I have found that most of the spas or retreats are very spendy, and atmosphere is the largest offering. They do many weddings in Costa Rica and the luxury Hotel/Spa experience is the fancy pampering newlyweds enjoy. I have listed retreats that are a bit less expensive and more individualized than the normal offering.
If your goal is to escape cigarettes, whiskey and wild, wild women, then you might consider the benefits of a Costa Ric-an Vacation that is a Spa or Retreat. There are those of us that cannot just vacation, we have to have more meaning in our adventure. In this case, instead of getting away from it all, you are getting to it all. It seems the result is the same you get to relax and unwind.
I found many, many yoga and meditation retreats so I will just try to tell you about the ones that stand out. I encourage you to do your own search
Pancha Mama
Pancha Mama means Mother Earth in Spanish and if you are a time-warped hippie that had a go around with communes this is gonna ring your bell. Pancho Mama is referred to as a Spiritual Eco Village. The fees are extremely reasonable, if I read their fee chart correctly. A number is listed with no digits behind it so I am relatively sure these are the rates. For a tent it is $12.00 for a single and $20.00 for a double. For a House it is $28 for a single and $50 for a double.
Offered are lessons in yoga, meditation, tai chi, surfing and horseback riding. This is also a total vegetarian cuisine and the meals approximately $4.00 a piece with children meals costing a mere 1-2 dollars.
Luna Lodge
Lana Wedmore has worked in the tourist service industry for years and her final destination for her own Lodge is the Osa Peninsula in the southern region of Costa Rica. Her rates are not cheap but they are competitive with the larger hotels and she has included a Wellness Center where you can learn or practice Yoga, Tai Chi, Reiki, or massage. The buildings are beautiful and in harmony the ocean and jungle that surround it. Her rates run from $125 - $200.
Tree Houses Hotel
I didn't see any ads for yoga or massage but I did see info on the Hot Springs. That's gotta be healthy. So, here is another unusual way to spend your holiday.... in a tree house. Mind you, these tree houses have full bathrooms with tubs and they have Air Conditioning. You have got to at least visit the website, the rooms are very cool. The rates run $75 -$85 per night.
Costa Rica Quilting Retreat
I can't imagine making quilts in the jungle, but if there are any enthusiasts out there, this is your lucky day. Bungalows are offered in a private gated community. The Main building has a swimming pool and they have BBQ's out by the pool. The fee for this is $925 for the B&B arrangement in the main house, or you can pay $950 for a cottage. With only the $25 extra for the cottage, I would take the cottage
In Conclusion. I have found that most of the spas or retreats are very spendy, and atmosphere is the largest offering. They do many weddings in Costa Rica and the luxury Hotel/Spa experience is the fancy pampering newlyweds enjoy. I have listed retreats that are a bit less expensive and more individualized than the normal offering.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Finding the Best Airfares to Costa Rica
Airfares to Costa Rica
When you're traveling to Costa Rica you want to get the cheapest airfare and the issue with flying is that the prices change every few minutes to an hour and it's ideal to research sites like Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com and Cheaptickets.com because they offer rates for flights at different times whether it's high or low travel season.
Most of the major carriers have fares that are early bird specials for when the peak season of travel happens usually during the summer and holidays. Nailing the perfect airfare when you want to travel to Costa Rica will be a work in progress because you could be sitting in front of your computer for hours surfing travel sites for the perfect airfare because the rates change quickly and they can be up one moment and down the next. Your goal is to book the cheapest rate possible and it's ideal to do it through travel sites like Orbitz, Travelocity, Cheaptickets, Priceline, Hotwire, Expedia and Hotels.com because independently owned websites may not be reliable and you will get a better deal through these reputable sites.
Book your flight at least 90 days before you travel so you can have time to get your tickets if mailed to you and any documentation with travel visas and passports.
Usually the summer is the best time to book flights for the fall season because late summer is when you can get the best deal on airfares. Airfares aren't cheap to Central America since you're looking at least a couple grand and that even depends on who you're flying with since the major carriers out here will change rates quickly usually on the hour because of the competition that's out here they have to be able to keep up with the current rate for airfares. So it's ideal that if you have an account with the travel sites on the Internet always check on a frequent basis usually early morning, mid-day and evening to see how the airfares to one place change within 12 hours.
When you see the airfare that you want book it right away because within the hour it will likely go up since travel sites usually change their information when the carriers change up. The only downside is that if you book online you have to have a major credit card and not everyone has a credit card to book their flights with.
Now it's easy to use your debit card since many banks issue them with the VISA or MasterCard logos on them so that people can use it to book an airline ticket right away when they spot the fares they want and can catch it before the fares change in the next few minutes to an hour. If you can access the Internet wherever you can it's easy to nail the fares you want if you catch them early and often. Some sites offer email notices that can inform you of when a discount or reduced fare comes up during the hour since emails are sent on a daily basis so you can keep tabs on when the airfare you want is posted and sent out by email.
When you're traveling to Costa Rica you want to get the cheapest airfare and the issue with flying is that the prices change every few minutes to an hour and it's ideal to research sites like Orbitz.com, Travelocity.com and Cheaptickets.com because they offer rates for flights at different times whether it's high or low travel season.
Most of the major carriers have fares that are early bird specials for when the peak season of travel happens usually during the summer and holidays. Nailing the perfect airfare when you want to travel to Costa Rica will be a work in progress because you could be sitting in front of your computer for hours surfing travel sites for the perfect airfare because the rates change quickly and they can be up one moment and down the next. Your goal is to book the cheapest rate possible and it's ideal to do it through travel sites like Orbitz, Travelocity, Cheaptickets, Priceline, Hotwire, Expedia and Hotels.com because independently owned websites may not be reliable and you will get a better deal through these reputable sites.
Book your flight at least 90 days before you travel so you can have time to get your tickets if mailed to you and any documentation with travel visas and passports.
Usually the summer is the best time to book flights for the fall season because late summer is when you can get the best deal on airfares. Airfares aren't cheap to Central America since you're looking at least a couple grand and that even depends on who you're flying with since the major carriers out here will change rates quickly usually on the hour because of the competition that's out here they have to be able to keep up with the current rate for airfares. So it's ideal that if you have an account with the travel sites on the Internet always check on a frequent basis usually early morning, mid-day and evening to see how the airfares to one place change within 12 hours.
When you see the airfare that you want book it right away because within the hour it will likely go up since travel sites usually change their information when the carriers change up. The only downside is that if you book online you have to have a major credit card and not everyone has a credit card to book their flights with.
Now it's easy to use your debit card since many banks issue them with the VISA or MasterCard logos on them so that people can use it to book an airline ticket right away when they spot the fares they want and can catch it before the fares change in the next few minutes to an hour. If you can access the Internet wherever you can it's easy to nail the fares you want if you catch them early and often. Some sites offer email notices that can inform you of when a discount or reduced fare comes up during the hour since emails are sent on a daily basis so you can keep tabs on when the airfare you want is posted and sent out by email.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Vacationing in Costa Rica
When you're seeking an exotic spot to vacation or honeymoon Costa Rica is a beautiful country located in Central America nestled between Nicaragua and Panama and is just a few square miles smaller than West Virginia. According to reports done on this country you can find the beauty and tranquility in one small little place with a huge appreciation for life and the pursuit of relaxation.
Covering just less than 0.1% of the Earth's land mass and is home to 5% of the world's biodiversity. There are 26 national parks and protected areas spread out across the country. Costa Rica offers a lot of great ocean views since it's got the Pacific Ocean to the West and the Caribbean Sea to the East so those who want to catch a wave can stay in hotels along the Pacific Ocean side and those who want that tranquil island breeze can stay on the Caribbean Sea side.
There's so much you can do while on a Costa Rica vacation and the activities are endless where you can do like looking at the rare wildlife like macaws, leather back turtles, morph o butterflies, and the central American squirrel monkey. They offer tours of the rain forests there and even jungle safaris. You can also get an opportunity to see migrating whales, various dolphin species, sea turtles, and manatees when they migrate through the area at specific times of the year.
There are 3 volcanoes in the country and you can view one of them that's currently active and that's the Arenal, which is located in the northern part of the country, the other two are just to the midpoint and southern end of the country. Many people also love to go soak in the hot springs near the volcano.
Much of the most lush and beautiful plant life is near the volcanoes because of the ashes it gives off actually works as a fertilizer since the lava had burned away old plants giving new growth nutrient rich soil to grow from. Many people come from far and wide to spend a few days basking in the sun and taking in some of the culture and language since Costa Rica's national language is Spanish. The best time to visit Costa Rica is between December and April which is the period of the dry season and May through November when they go through the rainy season.
Usually it's best to visit when the weather isn't very hot and humid since Central America is only mere miles from the equator, which borders the northern end of South America.
Tourists should be aware of all natural disasters and who they tour the country with because if you don't know the area or language you're stuck and many Americans have gone missing in foreign lands because they go off with people they don't know very well. So to make your trip a memorable experience to do your homework thoroughly before you plan a trip to Costa Rica so you know all the important details of how long you're staying and where you'll be staying at in terms of hotels or resorts.
Covering just less than 0.1% of the Earth's land mass and is home to 5% of the world's biodiversity. There are 26 national parks and protected areas spread out across the country. Costa Rica offers a lot of great ocean views since it's got the Pacific Ocean to the West and the Caribbean Sea to the East so those who want to catch a wave can stay in hotels along the Pacific Ocean side and those who want that tranquil island breeze can stay on the Caribbean Sea side.
There's so much you can do while on a Costa Rica vacation and the activities are endless where you can do like looking at the rare wildlife like macaws, leather back turtles, morph o butterflies, and the central American squirrel monkey. They offer tours of the rain forests there and even jungle safaris. You can also get an opportunity to see migrating whales, various dolphin species, sea turtles, and manatees when they migrate through the area at specific times of the year.
There are 3 volcanoes in the country and you can view one of them that's currently active and that's the Arenal, which is located in the northern part of the country, the other two are just to the midpoint and southern end of the country. Many people also love to go soak in the hot springs near the volcano.
Much of the most lush and beautiful plant life is near the volcanoes because of the ashes it gives off actually works as a fertilizer since the lava had burned away old plants giving new growth nutrient rich soil to grow from. Many people come from far and wide to spend a few days basking in the sun and taking in some of the culture and language since Costa Rica's national language is Spanish. The best time to visit Costa Rica is between December and April which is the period of the dry season and May through November when they go through the rainy season.
Usually it's best to visit when the weather isn't very hot and humid since Central America is only mere miles from the equator, which borders the northern end of South America.
Tourists should be aware of all natural disasters and who they tour the country with because if you don't know the area or language you're stuck and many Americans have gone missing in foreign lands because they go off with people they don't know very well. So to make your trip a memorable experience to do your homework thoroughly before you plan a trip to Costa Rica so you know all the important details of how long you're staying and where you'll be staying at in terms of hotels or resorts.
Costa Rica Is Calling To Me!
I haven't had an international vacation in 10 years...really. So when my husband started talking about wanting to take a vacation in Costa Rica, my ears began to perk up. He told me that it was a vacation destination that few people think of and because of that it can be more pleasant and less populated by other tourists.
I thought my husband was a bit crazy when he started talking about retiring there and buying property. He asked me if I would consider doing that. I told him that maybe we should just get a vacation under our belt and then we can think about moving there.
Planning a vacation is something totally foreign to me. My sister-in-law helped me with a trip to Germany, but she was in the military and learned to be a world traveler. I was just a country hick from Montana.
The Internet has cornered the market with online travel agencies but I really want to talk to a person and get the scoop. I have heard of how people plan trips and when they arrive, their luxurious accommodations turn into a community bathtub in a tent and a port-a-potty. I want to get the most for my dollar and avoid the pitfalls most tourists make when planning to get away.
I don't even have a passport and I have heard that it can take up to months to get one. So it is safe to say that I am planning a vacation in at least a year in advance. I am a researcher and I like to get all the information in place before I make plans to pay for a trip. Of course it is Sunday and no travel agency listed phone book is open.
I went to the library yesterday and found books on Costa Rica and I am reading like a fiend. The only travel guide they had for me to check out on Costa Rica was a 2003 edition. However, most of the restaurants and hotels have web addresses and toll free phone numbers, so I can contact them to get current information if I need to.
I decided to check into the different types of vacations you can plan. I came up with Spa Resort vacations, wildlife and national parks, sport vacations, historical, shopping, nightlife, and my personal favorite, the art vacation.
I will write about these as I find out about them. To begin with there are 7 areas to explore.
The most logical place to start is San Jose the capital of Costa Rica.
The other areas that follow are; the Northwest, Nicoya Peninsula, Quepos & Central Pacific,
Osa Peninsula & Golfo Dulce, South Caribbean, and Tortuguero/North Caribbean.
The first thing I have to do is start saving money for a vacation and plan the vacation. Then I have to get a passport. Since 911 there have been many changes in international travel.
So I am getting started now.
I thought my husband was a bit crazy when he started talking about retiring there and buying property. He asked me if I would consider doing that. I told him that maybe we should just get a vacation under our belt and then we can think about moving there.
Planning a vacation is something totally foreign to me. My sister-in-law helped me with a trip to Germany, but she was in the military and learned to be a world traveler. I was just a country hick from Montana.
The Internet has cornered the market with online travel agencies but I really want to talk to a person and get the scoop. I have heard of how people plan trips and when they arrive, their luxurious accommodations turn into a community bathtub in a tent and a port-a-potty. I want to get the most for my dollar and avoid the pitfalls most tourists make when planning to get away.
I don't even have a passport and I have heard that it can take up to months to get one. So it is safe to say that I am planning a vacation in at least a year in advance. I am a researcher and I like to get all the information in place before I make plans to pay for a trip. Of course it is Sunday and no travel agency listed phone book is open.
I went to the library yesterday and found books on Costa Rica and I am reading like a fiend. The only travel guide they had for me to check out on Costa Rica was a 2003 edition. However, most of the restaurants and hotels have web addresses and toll free phone numbers, so I can contact them to get current information if I need to.
I decided to check into the different types of vacations you can plan. I came up with Spa Resort vacations, wildlife and national parks, sport vacations, historical, shopping, nightlife, and my personal favorite, the art vacation.
I will write about these as I find out about them. To begin with there are 7 areas to explore.
The most logical place to start is San Jose the capital of Costa Rica.
The other areas that follow are; the Northwest, Nicoya Peninsula, Quepos & Central Pacific,
Osa Peninsula & Golfo Dulce, South Caribbean, and Tortuguero/North Caribbean.
The first thing I have to do is start saving money for a vacation and plan the vacation. Then I have to get a passport. Since 911 there have been many changes in international travel.
So I am getting started now.
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