My Travel Optimizer

Jet Blue will start service from Orlando to Costa Rica on March 26th!

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There’s a new pill out to help combat jet lag. The article is here. I’m hoping it works. I’ve tried some of those pills they sell at the pharmacy but I didn’t find them to be of any real use. The best things for fighiting jet lag, I’ve found, are drinking lots of water and waiting till night time to sleep. Its tempting to take a nap when you first get to the hotel but I advise you try to stay awake till the sun goes down. When I was a little kid I could shake jet lag off like it was nothing. I now find that a transatlantic trip requires over a week for me to really start adjusting to local time. Fortunately Costa Rica is close enough to Florida that jet lag is not an issue.

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Satellite phones are still way too expensive for the average consumer. I just learned about a new device that offers, to me, the most important benefits of a satellite phone. The Spot is a GPS satellite messenger. It doesn’t allow conversation but you can send an SOS/distress signal or an “I’m OK” message. The Spot’s website is here.

The Spot is a little over $100 dollars but they have a $50 rebate coupon if you buy before the end of the year. You can find a review of the Spot at the Gear Junkie Blog.

According to the homepage and review the device is functional in the Americas, Europe and a lot of Asia. Coverage seems to be lacking in Africa and near the Poles.

There is a subscription fee to use the device. $100 gets you the basic service which allows you to call for help via the satellite network. An extra $50 lets people back home look at your tracks on Google Maps. Not essential but pretty cool. Another $8 dollar charge pretty much adds up to insurance to help defray rescue costs.

You cannot use this device to speak. Its not a phone. It can transmit a 911/SOS signal and tell rescuers where you are. An upgrade on the service allows people to track your movements via Google Maps.

This is an amazing bit of technology and it is going to save a lot of lives.

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People often ask which coast has the best beaches. There are lovely beaches on both but I find the Pacific side more scenic. My favorite beach area is the southern Pacific zone. This is Manuel Antonio and all point south. The biodiversity is greater on this side so there are more plants and animals to look at. If you are lucky you’ll be able to see whales at Playa Ballena.

Places like Puerto Viejo on the Atlantic side are very party oriented. Lots of nightlife, booze and drugs. There are some seedy spots on the Pacific side as well but overall its more “eco” than “spring break.” Areas that have a lot of nightlife and drugs tend to attract shady characters. It pays to be on your guard. The rules are the same as in North America: watch your drink, don’t go off with strangers, protect your valuables, etc.

I recommend Pacific side beaches for the first time Costa Rica visitor unless you’re a surfer or backpacker looking for a party. There are beautiful beaches on the Atlantic side but IMHO they’re not as striking as the Pacific side. If you’re looking to be away from noise and crowds I also recommend the southern Pacific zone.

Unless partying is a specific goal I think you’re better off leaving the Caribbean beaches for a second visit.

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I was looking online to see what airfare prices were like. I was not able to find anything better than the deal we jumped on October. Spirit went down a little but they are still $400 more than the fare we paid. US Airways, who we went with, is now booked for those dates. My advice to anyone looking for cheap airfare is to check ticket prices on a regular basis. You’ll get a feel for when a bargain is being offered. We bought our tickets a couple of months in advance and got a great deal. We’re traveling to Costa Rica on Dec 22nd and returning Jan 4th. We paid $958 total. I can’t find anything close to that online right now. I’ll be checking up till the day we leave. Even if something great is offered the day before we leave its still too chancy, IMHO, to wait to purchase your tickets the week you leave. However if you’re the spontaneous type and have a week off with no real plan this might work for you. I’ll post ticket prices the day before we leave.

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