Costa Rica Itinerary Help
Dec 3rd, 2005, 03:25 PM
#1
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Costa Rica Itinerary Help
I am thinking of arranging a very last minute Xmas vacation to Costa Rica with my husband and 2 sons (16 and 19). Is it an impossibility at this late date? We've never been there and know very little about the different areas. Any suggestions in terms of hotels/locations. We would love to experience as much as possible without feeling too rushed. If possible, we'd like to spend 6-8 nights.
Dec 3rd, 2005, 04:52 PM
#2
Well you have three weeks time.
It depends where you are flying from also.
I tried to get away to Costa Rica for a quick 7-8 day trip before Christmas and all flights are booked .
Not that they were all booked to go to Costa Rica ,but rather my flight to a connection to Costa Rica was all booked.
So that if getting a flight is no problem...I do not think all the hotels are booked for over Christmas.
You might be better off to stay in one places near San Jose or Alajuela (near the airport ) and do day trips....
as opposed to driving from place to place because then you would have to have some reservations made ahead of time.
You can cover a lot of ground in the Central Valley by doing day trips with a private guide.
Since you said that you "know very little about the different areas" ..you should get a private tour guide/driver, this way you will see more for the short duration that you have.
Some nice places to stay are:
1. Orquideas Inn (phone(506) 433-9346
(www.orquideasinn.com)
2.Xandari ( phone ( 506) 442 4847
(www.xandari.com)
3.Hotel Bourgainvillea
phone (506)244 1414
(www.bourgainvillea.co.cr)
4. Vista del Valle
phone (506) 450-0800
www.vistadelvalle.com
Anyway , try these for a start.
There is no area code in Costa Rica..the (506)is the Costa Rica country code.
So if you are calling from the USA, then your Country Code is 1.
Therefore
You would dial like this:
011 your Country Code
506 the Costa Rica country code
then
the Costa Rica number.
Hopefully someone else has better suggestions
Good Luck
Keep us posted.
Percy
It depends where you are flying from also.
I tried to get away to Costa Rica for a quick 7-8 day trip before Christmas and all flights are booked .
Not that they were all booked to go to Costa Rica ,but rather my flight to a connection to Costa Rica was all booked.
So that if getting a flight is no problem...I do not think all the hotels are booked for over Christmas.
You might be better off to stay in one places near San Jose or Alajuela (near the airport ) and do day trips....
as opposed to driving from place to place because then you would have to have some reservations made ahead of time.
You can cover a lot of ground in the Central Valley by doing day trips with a private guide.
Since you said that you "know very little about the different areas" ..you should get a private tour guide/driver, this way you will see more for the short duration that you have.
Some nice places to stay are:
1. Orquideas Inn (phone(506) 433-9346
(www.orquideasinn.com)
2.Xandari ( phone ( 506) 442 4847
(www.xandari.com)
3.Hotel Bourgainvillea
phone (506)244 1414
(www.bourgainvillea.co.cr)
4. Vista del Valle
phone (506) 450-0800
www.vistadelvalle.com
Anyway , try these for a start.
There is no area code in Costa Rica..the (506)is the Costa Rica country code.
So if you are calling from the USA, then your Country Code is 1.
Therefore
You would dial like this:
011 your Country Code
506 the Costa Rica country code
then
the Costa Rica number.
Hopefully someone else has better suggestions
Good Luck
Keep us posted.
Percy
Dec 4th, 2005, 07:44 PM
#3
Come on you Costa Rica Experts ..help this lady out.
I do not want my comments to be the only ones she has toadhere to !!
Thanks
Percy
I do not want my comments to be the only ones she has toadhere to !!
Thanks
Percy
Dec 4th, 2005, 07:53 PM
#4
ttt
Dec 5th, 2005, 04:56 AM
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Well Percy looks like everyone was caught up with the holidays this week!!!
Not that I am an expert!
But hits - this is a time that I would probably look at packages - Due to the short time you have to plan and the fact that this is the busiest travel season. Also, I would suggest that you accept the fact that most top hotels will be full, therefore not being too picky about lodging.
Here are a few that have prearranged packages and have been mentioned here with posiitve results:
www.gaialinktours.com
www.costaricaexpeditions.com
www.centralamerica.com
www.costaricapackage.com
www.bestofcostarica.com
Not that I am an expert!
But hits - this is a time that I would probably look at packages - Due to the short time you have to plan and the fact that this is the busiest travel season. Also, I would suggest that you accept the fact that most top hotels will be full, therefore not being too picky about lodging.
Here are a few that have prearranged packages and have been mentioned here with posiitve results:
www.gaialinktours.com
www.costaricaexpeditions.com
www.centralamerica.com
www.costaricapackage.com
www.bestofcostarica.com
Dec 5th, 2005, 05:40 AM
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Another thought -
Look at VacationExpress.com
If you can fly out of any of there departure citites - then look at the hot deals and see if any are for CR.
These are typically one week vacations that are all inclusive and would be in a beach area in the Northwest Pacific region of CR.
Our first trip to CR was thru VE, the deal was just to hard to refuse! It was truly a spur of the moment decision.
Look at VacationExpress.com
If you can fly out of any of there departure citites - then look at the hot deals and see if any are for CR.
These are typically one week vacations that are all inclusive and would be in a beach area in the Northwest Pacific region of CR.
Our first trip to CR was thru VE, the deal was just to hard to refuse! It was truly a spur of the moment decision.
Dec 5th, 2005, 08:09 AM
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I have a WONDERFUL driver that can tour you around!! It's the ONLY way to see CR - ESPECIALLY if the driver wants to enjoy themselves & relax!!!
I've used him for 3 10-14 day trips so far (all last year - before moving here) plus LOTS of day trips (a GREAT way to see CR is to get a place in the Central Valley & then do day trips).
He speaks GOOD English (& is happy to help you learn/improve your Spanish), has 3 cars/LEGAL Tourism vans/taxi's to work with (depending on the size of the group & budget & trips), has been a taxi SJ taxi driver for about 18 years hence KNOWS the area, doesn't drink or do drugs (yet is still LOTS of FUN!!), has LOTS of other goodies he provides &/or has available (including a digital camera & video camera if you want to use them) & he's SOOOOO SERVICE oriented/helpful (I couldn't have done 98% of my move here with the ease I did if it wasn't for him!!) - he's FABULOUS & that's the opinion on EVERYONE I've talked to that have used him!!!
Like with most hotels for this busiest time of the year (the holidays) - I think he has a 7 night minimum.
His name is Frank Chicas & he can be reached at [email protected] & 011-506-391-2030
(tell him Vallarta Vicki referred ya [I have NO financial gain with him - just sharin' info on something I think is GREAT!!!])
I've used him for 3 10-14 day trips so far (all last year - before moving here) plus LOTS of day trips (a GREAT way to see CR is to get a place in the Central Valley & then do day trips).
He speaks GOOD English (& is happy to help you learn/improve your Spanish), has 3 cars/LEGAL Tourism vans/taxi's to work with (depending on the size of the group & budget & trips), has been a taxi SJ taxi driver for about 18 years hence KNOWS the area, doesn't drink or do drugs (yet is still LOTS of FUN!!), has LOTS of other goodies he provides &/or has available (including a digital camera & video camera if you want to use them) & he's SOOOOO SERVICE oriented/helpful (I couldn't have done 98% of my move here with the ease I did if it wasn't for him!!) - he's FABULOUS & that's the opinion on EVERYONE I've talked to that have used him!!!
Like with most hotels for this busiest time of the year (the holidays) - I think he has a 7 night minimum.
His name is Frank Chicas & he can be reached at [email protected] & 011-506-391-2030
(tell him Vallarta Vicki referred ya [I have NO financial gain with him - just sharin' info on something I think is GREAT!!!])
Dec 5th, 2005, 11:48 AM
#8
Ahh Thanks dfarmer and Vallarta Vicki.
I knew you people were just hiding !!!
Good advice dfarmer about the package deals at this time of the year.
I never thought of that !
and VallartaVicky, the tour guide suggestion is also good when you are pressed for time and wants to see a lot without driving.
Now all "hits" has to do is post a Trip Report when she gets back.
Take Care
Percy
I knew you people were just hiding !!!
Good advice dfarmer about the package deals at this time of the year.
I never thought of that !
and VallartaVicky, the tour guide suggestion is also good when you are pressed for time and wants to see a lot without driving.
Now all "hits" has to do is post a Trip Report when she gets back.
Take Care
Percy
Dec 5th, 2005, 02:40 PM
#9
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I've been spending the last two days searching for lodging in MA and have come up with a villa (Casa Terraza) available through Vacation Villas (http://www.vacationvillas.co.cr). Has anyone heard of this company? Are they reputable? Is 7 nights at MA overdoing it?
Dec 6th, 2005, 05:25 AM
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Hi hits,
I've been there many times including during Christmas week.
Hotels for Christmas and Easter Week are booked months and even a year in advance. CR families like to get together in resort destinations and party.
Those times are the peak weeks for the country. The beaches, restaurants etc. will be most crowded and loud music, dancing, shouting into the night.
This may be something you might enjoy. It doesn't bother me but it will give you a different view of the country than you might see during an off-peak time.
If you can find a hotel you'll be lucky to do so. I think the better places may be booked already.
Manuel Antonio will be swamped with people I think. Rooms are also limited in Monteverde and Arenal.
Driving in CR is tricky because the signage is so poor and the drivers outrageous but it is doable. If you can find rooms I'd do a self-tour.
The tour group route tends to take you to obvious places.
I've been there many times including during Christmas week.
Hotels for Christmas and Easter Week are booked months and even a year in advance. CR families like to get together in resort destinations and party.
Those times are the peak weeks for the country. The beaches, restaurants etc. will be most crowded and loud music, dancing, shouting into the night.
This may be something you might enjoy. It doesn't bother me but it will give you a different view of the country than you might see during an off-peak time.
If you can find a hotel you'll be lucky to do so. I think the better places may be booked already.
Manuel Antonio will be swamped with people I think. Rooms are also limited in Monteverde and Arenal.
Driving in CR is tricky because the signage is so poor and the drivers outrageous but it is doable. If you can find rooms I'd do a self-tour.
The tour group route tends to take you to obvious places.
Dec 6th, 2005, 01:59 PM
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Dear hits,
We had the same idea beginning of November when we booked a cheapie airfare to Liberia. Hotels were very hard to get so we had to compromise a lot on location and hotels.You will need to be very flexible.
We had the same idea beginning of November when we booked a cheapie airfare to Liberia. Hotels were very hard to get so we had to compromise a lot on location and hotels.You will need to be very flexible.
Dec 6th, 2005, 05:26 PM
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Hits - the type of packages that I have suggested are not all tour packages with loads of people - such as Caravan or OAT Group Travel Packages.
People with little time to plan have had a few miracles pulled by a few of these companies. Hopefully something will work for you too.
People with little time to plan have had a few miracles pulled by a few of these companies. Hopefully something will work for you too.
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