jspen

Help! I am totally sold on CR as a great family destination--can't wait to get going!--but my DH is not convinced. He thinks our kids are too young (5 and 9) and that we should wait until they're older. He's concerned about safety (primarily health issues), difficulty of travel, "third world" atmosphere--not for himself but for the kids. (He's actually been invited to do some field work there but just doesn't see the trip as right for the kids.) My feeling is that this kind of travel is great for kids and will open their eyes to how other people live--plus it doesn't sound like CR is really that difficult or backwards or whatever it is that he's worried about.

I've read some posts from people who have traveled to CR with young kids--any advice on how to sell the trip to my hubby?

Also, if he does go down for the field work, we would be near the town of Atenas, which is in the Central Valley I think. If I stayed nearby with the kids, would there be things for us to do on our own in that area? Any suggestions on where to stay?
Thanks!

flycatcher06

In March it will be our 4th trip with our children, now 18 and 13. Costa Rica and the people there have changed all of our lives. There really are not any health concerns - I did have them get a Hepatitis A shot which everyone should probably have anyways. No matter where you are there are plenty of day trips that you can take and nature is just behind every bend. My children cry all the way home every time. I do not really believe it is a 3rd world country but all i can say is in 4 trips my kids have made friends that they kee in touch with and we have never really felt unsafe. I would be more worried in the Dominican Republic or Jamaica than in Costa Rica. They are a very happy, friendly people and they love kids.

shillmac

You couldn't find a nicer part of the country to stay in than Atenas--it is billed as one of the outstanding climates of the world!

I have been surprised over time at how "un-Central America" Costa Rica feels. Very up to date, modern. Truly, I've never felt a risk there that we wouldn't also have at home. Our little granddaughter has spent weeks at a time there as an infant and as a toddler. We're taking her back as a 2 year old this summer. It is a part of her life (she also spent her first "trimester" there) and always will be. I look forward to the time that she will be my birding partner--and hoping she will love it as much as I do. She is already quite interested!

You may not be able to "sell" another person. There are many people in my life I've not been able to convince. Their minds are made up and 3rd world is 3rd world. However, CR is a very highly developed 3rd world country (I call it 2nd world) with a sound infrastructure. I do think he would be very surprised, and hope he will concede to a few days of vacation just to see. Your little ones are NOT too young to enjoy lots of monkeys, lizards, all kinds of wild life. They're not too young to appreciate beautiful flowers and plants. They're not too young to ooh and aah over a waterfall--good luck! Let us know how it all comes out!

If all else fails, you guys take a trip by yourselves for a few days. . .is that a possibility?

Suzie2

Atenas is a pretty well developed area just a short distance from the airport (15 miles). We have driven through it several times but never really stopped. It is very popular with expats because of the beautiful climate. The town has most of what you would need. You should be able to live comfortably there while your husband is in the field. You can easily get back towards Alajuela to do day trips. Not far from the airport is Zoo Ave. A small zoo but the kids might enjoy it. From there you can go lots of places.

In all the years we have traveled in CR we have never had a problem with food/water and I have a pretty sensitive stomach. Large jugs of water are readily available and many people have them in their homes for cooking and drinking.

Problems occur in CR just like any place else. It isn't unusual for me to travel by myself for a week or two after my husband leaves the country. I have never felt threatened.

jspen

Thanks to all for the great responses. I know it may be hard to "sell" someone, but I always feel that information is the key to understanding! When it comes to vacations, my DH and I often operate on the "if I plan it, he will come" approach, so I was surprised to find he wasn't supportive of this trip. But maybe he just needs more time... I don't think he understands how modern CR is--or how family-friendly.

I know my 9-year-old son would love it--my mother, who is a birder and has been to CR, gave him a good pair of binoculars a couple of years ago and has really sparked his interest in birds and wildlife. And I'm sure my 5-year-old daughter would find things to enjoy as well. (I'd love to invite my mother along, but that might really send my husband over the edge!)

It's good to hear that we could find things to do if I was on my own with the kids for a few days. I think that is one of the things that concerns my husband. But a zoo or other short day-trip would work well. Would it be easy to get around there on my own--ie, if we had a rental car? Or would it be better to take a taxi or hire a driver?

Thanks for the help... We wouldn't be going until next winter (late Dec./early Jan.), so I have time to keep working on this!

gannetmusic

Costa Rica is a wonderful place for kids.

I can't imagine how delighted I would have been at that age to see all of the monkeys, birds, butterflies, scary crocodiles, neat insects etc.

Ticos love kids and I'm certain you and your family will have a wonderful time there. A couple of great spots for kids are La Paz waterfall gardens [snakes, neat frogs, etc] and Zoo Ave in Alajuela which has quite a collection of birds and some other creatures.

Regarding health issues - hep A and B shots, updated tetanus etc are all you should need.

Jerry

wayfarer

We've got third world here in the states. We live in the Detroit area - I can show you many 3rd world neighborhoods within five miles of my house. The same holds for pretty much every major city.

I call CR "third world light". CR isn't 1st world, but I've been to the 3rd world and CR is definitely a step above. I don't know how you sell DH, but depending on your kids CR is very kid friendly. (if your kids are travelers - no problem. If they are couch potatoe home bodies that need Mickey D's for lunch everyday, maybe not)

With respect to his concerns about exposing the kids to a 3rd world atmosphere, I actually think it is a healthy thing for your kids. We've been fairly fortuante in life (we can afford to take international trips!). I think it helps keep kids grounded when they are able to see the 'privilege' they have. (when they play soccer, they have uniforms, new shoe, new balls, grass fields and goals with nets - CR is a bit different...)

Our experience - we went to CR about 14 years ago sans kids. Our oldest son went to Europe twice before CR (including Czech Republic - 2nd world), youngest only once to Europe before CR.

We took them both to CR two years ago when they were 6 & 9 and they loved it. We boogie boarded on the beach, went snorkeling, hiked in the jungle, saw monkeys, sloths, tarantulas, cotis (etc.) did a zip line, hot springs, visited a church festival (next to the El Cafetal Inn in Atenas!), etc, etc, etc.

I can't think of a better place to take kids - in fact we are going back in two weeks. (last year we all traveled to Guatemala and Belize).

If your hubby is worried, stick to the very mainstream places - Manuel Antonio, Monteverde and Arenal (our last trip).

I don't know if your kids like pizza (I think all kids do), but CR has some of the best pizza in the world. It seems like every town has a restaurant with a wood fired brick pizza oven. The Ticos are very friendly & good to kids.

Good luck convincing DH, it would be a shame to travel there and not give your kids a chance to see it.

Heather49

My kids were 6 and 9 for their first trip to CR. They loved it for all the reasons mentioned by other posters.

My 9 yo got an infection (which had nothing to do with CR) and we were very pleased with the medical care she got. Her regular doctor said it was exactly what she would have done.

jspen

Thank you, everyone! It's good to hear about others' experiences with kids of similar ages. It all sound so great! And other than the infection Heather49 mentioned, it doesn't sound like people have had any issues with taking fairly young kids.

My kids are pretty experienced travelers--just not this kind of trip. We fly regularly from Boston to SF to see my family in Calif., so they have no problem with long flights, and last year we went to the Caribbean for the first time (Cayman Islands), which they loved. We always do hikes when we're in the Bay Area, so they're definitely not couch potatoes, and McDonald's is barely on their radar, so that's not an issue--my son could live on beans and tortillas!

I know my kids would have a blast in CR--it's more my husband's perception of the atmosphere, I think. Guess I'll just have to educate him! Thanks!

shillmac

As for getting around yourself, you can feel pretty comfortable doing that, if you are a confident driver and don't mind a new experience. I've done it a lot as has my daughter.

Taxis are also an option and fairly inexpensive.

jspen

Thanks, Shillmac. I appreciate all your thoughts. Do you know how far a drive it is from Atenas to Alajuela and activities such as Zoo Ave or La Paz? I'm pretty comfortable driving on my own, as long as the roads aren't too complicated.

Thanks also, Wayfarer! I completely agree about how great it is for kids to get exposed to how others live--that's one of the reasons I want to do the trip! Funny you mention the Czech Republic, because that's a place my husband wants to take the kids--his father, who passed away a few years ago, grew up there. But in some ways, Europe with young kids might be trickier than Costa Rica--it seems like beaches, pools, volcanoes, animals, etc. might be more entertaining for them than museums and stuffy old buildings

Can you tell me where you went snorkeling in CR? My son snorkeled for the first time last year in Grand Cayman and loved it.
Thanks!

faithie

Snorkeling in Costa Rica would in no way compare to Caymans. You could enjoy mediocre in some areas, in MA at Biesanz Beach for one. We have been 4x now, 2x with our children, we were there over the xmas holidays in fact. The 1st trip they were 6.5 and 8.5. this last time 8 and 10. Both times were great, its a very special place to take children. We felt safe, healthwise, and otherwise. click on my name for old reports.

shillmac

Atenas to Alajuela is about 20 min. You actually cross the highway into La Garita (there are signs for La Garita). That is where Zoo Ave is located. Staying on that road, continuing on past Zoo Ave, it goes right into Alajuela. Very simple, good roads.

wayfarer

Jspen,

We went on a sail/snorkel trip from Quepos to some of the islands off of Manuel Antonio. The sail was nice, as Fathie pointed out the snorkeling was marginal (in my eyes). My son loved it though - we saw a bunch of fish. We learned to scuba last year and dove in Belize (which was pretty darn good). We are going to dive off of MA this year. It will be interesting to get my son's POV after Belize.

Off topic for CR, but you should go to Czech with the kids (perhaps a compromise deal with your husband?!) When you travel with young ones, you just have to modify your plans to keep everyone happy. I think we spent more time at the local playgrounds in Prague than the typical tourists, but that's part of the fun of travel and you get some real local color.

travellin4

Faithie or Shillmac, when u went with younger children, did you find that you valued accomodations that had at least a small kitchenette? Am travelling in july with my 2 kids ages 7 and 9. My thoughts are that the kids would be happy but so tired from all the activities during the day that flexibility to do "take out" and eating dinner back at lodging might be a good option. May help lessen potential cranky, meltdown, whiny episodes! Is ordering take out food common enough in CR? Also, what time is dinner time at restaurants in CR? Was in Europe w my kids last summer and boy, those 8pm start times sure got tough at times.

faithie

We always had a small kitchenette and NEVER used it. My kids are basically same ages as yours and no meltdowns occurred at supper hour. ( we were out all day as well) We looked forward to eating out each meal.

jspen

Travellin4--I also like to have access to a kitchen when we travel, so I have been looking into places to stay in CR where we can stay in and cook (at least some of the time). As I mentioned on another post, this is mainly because my 9-year-old son has food allergies, so eating out can be a challenge.

For those who have done some cooking in CR, I'm wondering if heat and humidity would be a factor? And are most restaurants air-conditioned? If I can't stand the heat... I'll probably want to get out of the kitchen!

Earthtraveler

"Are most restaurants airconditioned?"

Yes, when the doors are left open if there are doors. Doors don't help much when there are only walls around the kitchen.
We haven't been to many "classy" restaurants which may have AC in the city.