Melissa5

Please help me pack! Headed for Arenal, Manuel Antonio, and Monteverde in June for first family trip. It's rainy season, but will it be hot and humid? How cool is Monteverde weather?

Jeans or no jeans? Capris or shorts? Zip-off pants? Nylon or polyester zip-offs? Cotton zip-offs? Cool Max shirts, breathable shirts with ventilation... plain old cotton T-shirts? Wind-breaker?

I can use more clothes but not sure what to buy.

I have picky feet and always wear Nike walking shoes (leather). Will these work for easy hikes on the trail? I have comfty sandals...will I have use for them in Costa Rica?

What would you pack, for 3 nights in Monteverde, 3 nights in Arenal, and 3 nights at Manuel Antonio? Will also need to advise hubby and 23-year-old son and 2 older teen daughters on packing...Does anybody wear spaghetti strap tops in Costa Rica? Need advice for teen daughters too...

We have 1 night in Alajuela and 1 night in Heredia at start and end of trip.

Thanks for packing tips! We would like to try to pack light...one wheeling carry-on and 1 18" duffel bag each, if we can stuff everything in there and do laundry somehow...It's a 13-day trip.

Muchas gracias...

faithie

Jeans would be too heavy , they could get damp , never dry , etc. ..... Zip- offs are super , in whatever light fabric u r comfy with..... We take plain cotton or whatever T's and tanks , works perfectly ! Hiking or walking shoes , and a pair of "Teva" style sandals are great .Take a windbreaker style coat , a long sleeved cotton shirt ( protect from burns and bugs ). Take mostly shorts , but a pair of capris for evening ...

Melissa5

Hi Faithie! Will it be so hot that I'll feel like I MUST wear shorts? In San Diego I wear capris when I can, and shorts only when I must. (I'm almost 50, don't have the "young" legs I used to, and actually hear rude people making unflattering comments when I wear shorts!)

Okay, I won't bring jeans. Too heavy in the suitcase anyway.

What are "Teva" style sandals? Do you mean sandals that are okay to get wet? I have leather sandals but I don't have any "water shoes". Should I get some? Where do you wear your "Teva" style sandals? I have some flip-flops for the beach.

Thanks!

faithie

Tevas are the original rafting/hiking sandal , I wore them EVERYWHERE !!! Your Capris will be just fine if they are lightweight .... And the zip-offs perfect for Monteverde etc. In M.A. it can get pretty darn hot and humid , I mean you feel like u r in a steamy jungle in Central America , wait ....... You ARE !!!! lol . faith .

rex_skidmore

Oh, perfect. They've found each other.

Melissa5

Faith, thanks for your practical advice, and positive support! You and Shillmac have a special way of looking at the positive side of things that is happily contagious...

Okay, so let's see if I can stuff all this in my little carry-on and small duffel, along with mosquito repellant and an extra pair of walking shoes...oh, the challenge of it!

Is there anything you packed that was a waste of space and you wish you'd left it behind?

Has anyone done laundry in Manuel Antonio? I'm thinking that is the middle of our trip, when we might need to do laundry. Have you tried to find a local laundromat, or is it easy and cheap to have your laundry done through your hotel? (We're staying at Hotel si como No. Also have 3 nights in El Sapo Dorado, Monteverde and Lost Iguana, Arenal.)

When I plan everything ahead it eliminates family arguments on vacation. Our final itinerary includes laundry time, free time, etc. The whole family votes on it. We used to spend our family vacations arguing, but not any more!

faithie

Laundry was inexpensive through our hotel .... and I always pack too much ! And Hey ! Dont worry Rex , you'll find your "someone" .(maybe....) lol . Faith

Melissa5

Faith, adding on to my reply above...Do you pack enough clothes for a 2-week trip or deal with doing laundry on family vacation?

Rex_skidmore, may you find someone too, who's on your wave-length.

faithie

We ended up doing laundry 2x on the 13 day trip . Have a 6 yr. old boy , so lotsa T-shirt washing !!! Probably 1 long pair pants , 4 pairs shorts , 1 capri , 2 long sleeved shirts , windbreaker , 4 tanks , 5 T's , something like that !!! ( couple of casual dresses ) It is a very casual place for the most part .... Faith.

shillmac

I'd say Rex is giving you two a hard time--gave me a small smile! I could just hear the tone of voice!

faithie

It's you that keeps me in line Shillmac ! lol , goes way back to my trolling days ! ( sorry Rex , inside joke !!! ) Faith . I try to stay on the straight and narrow !

papagayo

Add some light rain gear to your list. We are having a little more rain this year in all three areas.

Melissa5

Papagayo, we don't get light rain in San Diego. When it rains, it pours! You get cold and soaked. So you stay indoors. Sometimes your umbrella turns inside out if you're outside. Then it might rain for a week. It stays dry most of the year.

What sort of light rain gear do you use? Is this like, a warm rain? The kind of rain you might still want to take a walk in?

radiacabeza

Hi Melissa5, a fellow San Diegan here. I lived in shorts during the day the entire 9 day trip. At night in Arenal, I wore my zipoff pants and was comfy. The long sleeve shirts helped with the bugs. I had a poncho that came in handy when it rained in Arenal. It was a cheap $2 poncho from WalMart - worked like a charm. I walked most of Manuel Antonio in flip flops but changed into my running shoes as we hiked. You would do fine in Nikes. I also wore spaghetti strap tank tops and did not feel out of place at all. There was a little laundromat on the main road into Quepos (it was close to a custom made bathing suit shop). The newsletter Quepolandia may have listings of other laundry services too! (How I wish I would have brought that home as a souvenir).

Have a great trip!!

Melissa5

radiacabeza, it's reassuring to know what a fellow San Diegan wears comfortably in Costa Rica. And I agree, that list of laundry services would have made a totally cool souveneir.

I have a wrinkled napkin as a souveneir of Mother's Day celebration at Disneyland! It's hanging on my family bulletin board.

The cheap $2 rain poncho from Wallmart sounds good to me. I will especially enjoy the look on my fashionable teen daughters' faces when I tuck one into their suitcases too. I will laugh even harder if they leave it behind and get wet while I stay dry and unfashionable.

Faithie and Shillmac, I feel like you are both here packing with me. There can't be any problems that you 2 don't have the answer to. Muchas gracias!
Cree en los extraterrestres? This is straight from my new Lonely Planet Costa Rica Spanish phrasebook. You never know when this phrase will come in handy. It means "Do you believe in extraterrestrials"

faithie

lol...... ummmm....???

phieaglefan

Melissa & Faithie,

Thanks for this thread - We're leaving in 41 days. Very helpful stuff.

I've been considering a pair of shoes from land's end that are hikers but are partially open (ie more straps than actual shoe top, but toes are covered). They look like they'd dry quickly and be cooler than regular nikes. Any input on something like this?

Thanks again,
H

faithie

That sounds perfect !

Melissa5

Faith and Shillmac, I'm getting excited...just had an e-mail reply from Elaine at Lost Iguana and she says the weather in Arenal has been beautiful and they have been able to see lava flow from the Lost Iguana almost every night!

Of course there are no guarantees. Lava flow and weather can change, but that's okay. I picked Lost Iguana because of the facilities and grounds. but it's exciting to dream about!

Now, how do I get off of fodors and go shopping for some clothes, plus not to mention other jobs calling...

shillmac

Yes, Melissa, I know what it means! LOL! That little book was my first Spanish class--and I've made some darned good progress from there! You'll enjoy it. It really does cover an amazing amount of information--including the conjugations of some very helpful verbs.

I, too, am in the throes of last minute craziness--leaving in the a.m. to lead 23 people on an Alaskan adventure! Actually, a mission trip, but for sure it will be an adventure as well. I've been tending to details, details, details for 3 days now. Just about to get it all in place. But must get off Fodor's--I've resisted all day until now!

Melissa, have great fun!

Faithie, I've also been busy yesterday and today trying to get some of our lodgings reserved for July. So far, I've reserved Savegre (again, love it there), Pacific Edge (Dominical), La Quinta de Sarapiqui, Casa Turire (looks wonderful), and Aguas Claras (the little 2 bedroom red bungalow) at Puerto Viejo. In and out of Hotel Villa Bonita a few nights. . . we'll stay Las Orquideas the night before flying home, and will worry about Pacific Coast lodgings later! Also staying at Neta's for a couple of nights. Not enough time now to get everything done! Hopefully will be able to book Flamingo at their $69 per night per room rate through August, maybe Paradisus for a couple of nights, and possibly Hotel Sugar Beach. Although, I'd like to plan a couple of nights at Hotel Borinquen in the Rincon de la Vieja area. Too many cool places, not enough nights! ALWAYS A PROBLEM!!!!!

Have fun, Melissa. Enjoy every minute!

And Faithie, you keep 'em lined out on Fodor's!