britomart

Hey Fodorites,

Last year, thanks to lots of help on this board, I had a great trip to Costa Rica all planned and reservations made. Well, then my husband decided that he didn't want to go. Now I have managed to talk him into it again, but only on the condition that we go on a Tour. I have looked at a lot of Tours (GAP, Caravan) but would like to know the difference between these types of Tours and the "tours" where it seems that they will arrange all of your transportation and make your reservations, but you're not traveling with a group of people? I am confused... What's the difference? What's the advantage to doing a "tour"?

Basically, my husband doesn't want to travel by ourselves from place to place. I guess he is thinking there is safety in numbers. I'm interested in flying from place to place, but it seems like most of the major tour operators like GAP take buses or shuttles. I really don't want to do a Tour because I know I can plan it better for cheaper, but I really really want to go to Costa Rica, and I'm so frustrated by my inability to plan this trip and also my husband's irrational fears about going there.... Help!!! What would you do if you were me?

JeanH

I'd go without him, but, that's just me.

Assuming this isn't the only trip you're ever going to take, and the only way to get him to go is with a tour, I'd do the tour. Once he sees how wonderful the country is, perhaps he'll feel differently next time.

I've never done an escorted tour, if I was going to, I'd look for the smallest group possible. Also, with the least things included. That way, assuming you're somewhere with restaurant choices, you aren't forced to eat with the group.

qwovadis

http://www.tauck.com/tours/latin-ame...travel-co-2010

Upscale Tours with Tauck others are nice and you go with

a group stay in upscale hotels and get great value.


www.caravan.com cheaper good value but some complaints about

early AM bus calls shoddy food guides lodging...to be fair

good reports also.

Latly www.costaricaexpeditions.com custom tours between

their lodges with a group might be an option for you.

Happy hunting,

shillmac

You can easily book a hotel, be on your own for that part of the trip, and then book, through the hotel, nearby tours. So you would be doing the activities with a group (and the traveling), but be on your own part of the time as well. This is probably the most popular choice.

For example, reserve a hotel room in Arenal and Manuel Antonio. You can travel to each or between the two by shuttle or private driver. While at each location, the hotel can book whichever activities you are interested in--and you would do those with a small group and guide.

volcanogirl

I totally agree with shillmac; it's so easy to book everything yourself. I'd research hotels here and on tripadvisor, decide where you want to stay, and then just book it. Research the activities you want to do and either book them yourself or through your hotel. The activity tours usually come pick you up and drop you back off at your hotel. If you use a private driver or take Interbus, you can still do what you want without being out there on your own.

britomart

Can the hotels arrange transport to the airport? Or would I need to book that in advance?

tully

Yes your hotel can easily arrange transport between the airport and hotels, and also from one hotel to another. You can also easily arrange a driver yourself, there is a thread around here, pretty recent, that lists many drivers and their contact info.

Agree with all the others, CR is very easy to plan and book yourself. I would skip a tour and just arrange your own private tour.

shutterbug85

I was a little apprehensive about getting from place to place and doing everything ourselves, but it's so easy. And everyone there is very willing to help you figure out whatever you need/want.

Hotels can arrange or at least recommend transport to/from the airports.

Interbus is a great option to go between cities instead of flying. The price is great, and you're in a van with 4-6 other tourists. Very safe.

volcanogirl

I usually just ask the hotel to arrange transportation when I book it; some places like Xandari will even do one way free.

britomart

Well, thanks for all the tips, but now he says he won't go. Again. I am going to go on my own or possibly with a girlfriend!! I think JeanH had the right idea... Thanks again for all the advice. Hopefully I will have a trip report by the end of the year.

volcanogirl

I think he's going to be sorry when he hears what a great time you had and sees all your pictures. We've never felt anything but safe in all the spots we've visited. I hope you get to go!

britomart

I hope you're right, volcanogirl! But I knew it was doomed when I grabbed the guidebook that I'd just bought to prove to him that it was safe and read: Crimes against tourists are on the rise.

volcanogirl

The only thing I would worry about is car breakins - you never want to leave anything in your car. Maybe if you tell him you're going anyway, he'll want to go to protect you! Seriously though, we've never found people in CR to be anything but warm and wonderful. Just have to take the same precautions you would anywhere.

shillmac

Knowing that crimes against tourists is on the rise really keeps one safer in the sense that you tend to be more aware and alert. We try very hard not to make easy targets of ourselves, and that is key.

True, cars are the biggest problem, and you cannot be too cautious. My husband gets quite vexed at me when I insist on not parking and leaving anything in the car anywhere unless one of us stays in it. But you can bet your bottom dollar the minute we both walk away, that's asking for it big time. It just becomes a fact that you live with, work around, and go on about your business having a great time.

Your husband isn't alone in his fears, though. We have friends (more than one couple) who feel the same way. There is no convincing them. They have Costa Rica lumped right in there with problems in Columbia, Nicaragua (no matter how long ago), news of political disturbances in Honduras, Noriega's past in Panama, you name it. As far as some people are concerned, anything south of Texas is "all the same place", all the same people, all the same culture. That's okay. But gee, to miss out on so much that is truly amazing and wonderful. I can't imagine!

Go, if you can!

Trippie

Hi britomart,

I do hope you get to go!

I'm planning a trip to the Dominical area in May with my wife and some members of my ski club. Planning on taking about 16-18 people. We have 8 spaces left. Its a very reasonable price but we stay in a very nice place with great food and have lots of tours available. Right now ages are from 40ish to 65 or so.

Post back if your interested. We are in the DC area.

britomart

It's good for me to hear that others are afraid of the area too... I can understand his fears and it's probably for the best that we not go together if he's going to be so nervous all of the time. A friend that I was hoping to go with can't go for 2 weeks so I will probably go by myself on a tour sometime this fall.

cher4

If I were you I wouldn't go to Costa Rica with or without a tour group/guide. We rented a car and spent 3 weeks there a couple of years back. Not fun and not for the weak of heart. Driving is the worst I have ever seen as the roads are narrow, twisty and overcrowded not to mention the fumes you will have to endure as you sit in traffic for hours at a time. There are few if any road signs so you won't have a clue where you are and the locals don't speak much English so can't help you. Besides worrying about having your car broken into watch out for the police that target tourists. Also, there is a two-price system for locals vs tourists at the hotels. Aside from all the above I found CR a huge disappointment as there is very little old rain forest left and for a country that calls itself 'eco-friendly' what's with the piles of garbage and toxic fumes everywhere? To sum up my experience in Costa Rica: it charges 5 star prices for 2 star service. Go to Belize, Roatan or Mexico instead.

shillmac

cher4, so sorry yours was not a good experience. That type of report certainly seems to be the exception. I guess it is all a matter of perspective. We find the roads to be quite decent in most areas, have hiked through beautiful areas of primary forest throughout the entire country, and can't imagine anyone considering a place with such rich flora and fauna a disappointment! We have seen piles of garbage, but certainly not "everywhere". We don't mind paying more for the hotels and national parks than the locals. We seldom think we get less than what we've paid for. I could go on, I won't. We like Belize and Mexico also, but we've experienced some negative aspects during those trips. We just choose to focus on the parts we enjoy--and there is always way more of that!

Continental_Drifter

We spent two weeks in Costa Rica last spring. I'd do it again in an instant. We took our three kids, then ages 11, 13 and 15 and drove all over the Pacific coast from Arenal to Playa Caletas.

We only had one incident in which we saw some guys on an ATV check to see if the back door to our SUV was unlocked. It wasn't and they moved on.

Where we live here in the US, the county library is free to residents, but there's a fee if you are from another county. If you are a Florida resident, there are discounted prices for Walt Disney World and Sea World, etc. Why wouldn't they give locals a better price? We do!

Costa Rica is a beautiful place and is off the beaten path. I'd think your hubby would feel safer going with you than you going off with a girlfriend!

You only live once....

britomart

I'm also sorry that Cher4 had a bad experience... But I've read 100 positive trip reports compared to 1-2 negatives, so I'm still compelled to go. And I think tourists should pay more, we probably make a lot more than the locals do. I am really not looking forward to those horrible roads, hopefully I can find an affordable tour that flies between the long distances. Thanks for all the input.