My Travel Optimizer

Despite the bad news in the media this country is not experiencing the hard times of the Great Depression (30% unemployment) or the suffering of poor countries in Africa or South America. Things aren’t great but they aren’t that bad either. I’m not trivializing the suffering of others but I am trying to maintain perspective.  Traveling to poor countries allows you to realize how, even in bad times, the United States is still one of the best places to live in the world. Despite the economic downturn the United States is still one of the most prosperous nations in the world.

I realize a lot of people may be thinking this is not the best time for a trip. I’d like to suggest an alternative point of view.

Oil prices are down so now is a good time to shop for bargains in airfare. My wife and I found tickets from Florida to Costa Rica for 479 each.  The travel dates are from Dec 22nd to Jan 4th. Usually these tickets would be close to a grand a piece.

Hotels are not as full.  Aside from it being easier to find a room you can also find better rates. Don’t be afraid to negotiate.

The dollar is strong right now. We went to Europe in July of 2008. The Euro was at $1.58. Now its $1.28.  Kinda sucks but it was the only time we both could go and we still saved a bunch of cash by camping and buying food in grocery stores.

Since tourism is down the companies and countries that thrive on it are going to be extra welcoming. You can expect lower prices and better service across the board.

Personally I think the media thrives on feeding people fear and worry. I refuse to have my enthusiasm for living and traveling be taken away by the television or other news sources. Life only happens once. You have to take advantage of the time you have because you’ll never get it back.

What better way to clear this negativity and stress from your mind than to trek through a rain forest or soak up rays on a secluded tropical beach. After these past few months I know I need some time away.

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Here are some of the ways that I save money on food when I am in Costa Rica. The first thing I do is avoid all North American franchise restaurants. They are very expensive. They cost even more than their North American counterparts. On a personal note I would not travel all that way just to eat at a Denny’s.

Many grocery stores in CR have a cafeteria inside. You can find great meals at low prices. Food is cheap in Costa Rica unless you are eating at the places that cater to gringos, Europeans or the Costa Rican upper class. While you are in the grocery stores you can check out some other good eats. Costa Ricans love tuna and they sell it in varieties that we do not have here. Their canned tuna can include vegetables and sauces to add flavor. Many cans have the lids that do not require a can opener. Its all super safe to eat by the way. You can also try out the black refried beans. You can buy them in squeeze packets with added sauces like Lizano(the bomb!).  Costa Rican food is not very spicy so you do not have to worry about burning your mouth.

Tortillas are everywhere and they are cheap. They are filling and a convenient way to eat your tuna or beans. Heart of Palm has started to catch on here in the States and if you like it you’ll be in heaven in Costa Rica because its cheap and delicious. There are also plantain chips and many excellent hot sauces and condiments. If you favor the exotic try the Pejiballe. It’s a fruit of the palm tree. Spread a little mayonnaise on them and you are good to go. I can’t get enough of them but its probably an acquired taste.

Costa Rica has great bakeries. There is a huge selection of breads, cakes and all sorts of other goodies. Ditto for the candy selection. It’s all very affordable, especially once you are out of a tourist area. Its one of the reasons I recommend renting a car. Load up on bread and pastries for a quick and easy breakfast.

You can find cheap eateries at bus stops and in city centers. Pipasa is a fried chicken stand and it’s very good. You will save a lot of money on food if you go to the small places that the locals frequent. Don’t be intimidated. Costa Ricans are good people and most will be amused to see a gringo or other foreigner in their establishment.

Another advantage of driving a car is being able to stop at the roadside fruit and vegetable stands. This is one of your best food deals. First off, Costa Rican produce is EXCELLENT. The rich volcanic soil is extremely fertile and yields great tasting fruits and vegetables. It’s the reason Costa Rican coffee is so good. You can load up on papayas, watermelons, cantaloupes, mangoes and other fruits for prices that are a complete steal compared to North American grocery stores.

A lot of restaurants in CR are pretty reasonably priced. We’ve had a fresh Snapper (caught that day) meal for two people for $20. That included the drinks (fruit shakes) and a table on a beach with a view of the setting sun. Look for the small eateries in the markets that you’ll find in city centers. Pull up a chair to the counter and order a meal for $3 or $4. You can ask for the casado (kha-sah-doe) which is a generic dish made of rice, beans, some type of meat and salad or vegetable.

While some hotels may have a cheap restaurant nearby I find the restaurants in the hotels to be pretty pricey.  They’re okay for a coffee but not a meal.

Oh yeah, ask for coffee. A lot of it. Its great and ridiculously cheap.

To sum up, look for cheap food in

1. Cafeterias in grocery stores
2. downtown marketplaces(indoors many times)
3. road side fruit stands
4. bus stop eateries
5. small cafe’s and restaurants in non-touristy areas

Avoid

1. American franchises or American themed restaurants
2. Malls(they have them down there)
3. Hotels

Be wary in tourist areas. Some restaurants close to attractions or points of transport will really try to stick it to you.

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Tags: Food

I’m posting this article primarily for people who are looking for beaches to go swimming at, enjoy the scenery, sunbathe, etc. I’ll make a couple of suggestions for surfers at the end.

The best and prettiest beaches are on the Pacific side, hands down. The Pacific side also has much nicer weather. The Atlantic/Caribbean side is HOT. It is hot even at night. AC is a must unless you’re hardcore. The Pacific side cools down at night and you can sleep with a fan or a light beer buzz(the two together work pretty well). The Pacific side has more dramatic coasts. There are many interesting rock formations. They are similar to what you’ll see in California but with a rain forest and mountains.

You’ll find big resorts in the Northern Pacific area around places like Playa Flamingo. They are building more all the time. I like the Southern Pacific area because it is not as developed and full of the smaller jungle-outpost-type hotels I prefer. There are also some large hotels there offering a full range of amenities and pampering. Do not dismiss the smaller hotels. I stayed at Villas Gaia and had a great time. The cabins are in the rain forest and you can wake up to a group of Howler monkeys hanging out on the tree in front of your cabin. The food was great and the staff was very nice (most Costa Ricans are really nice, sweet people). I forget the name of the Hotel next door. It wasn’t as charming as Gaia but it was clean, safe and my room had a great Pacific breeze so I slept like a baby.

Surfers will find Puerto Viejo on the Atlantic side worth the trip and the heat. The Salsa Brava wave is well known and a major draw. You will find many cheap places to stay in that area. Reservations really aren’t necessary unless its Christmas or Easter. Dominical is located on the Pacific side and is a big surfer locale as well.

I usually don’t make reservations when I go to the beach. I stay in hotels or cabinas that are less than $100 a night. They have been clean, quiet and safe. I’ve stayed in a few pricier places as well. They’re not worth the money to me because all I do at a hotel is sleep during the night and shower. I’m up early and I’m out all day. If you like to lounge around the hotel pool or read books on the hotel balcony then a higher end resort may be the best choice for you. I prefer to be outdoors and exploring so my accommodation needs are pretty lean.

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Tags: Beaches

Just thought I’d give my two cents on the economy. I’m not an expert but its the experts that got us in this mess in the first place. I know some folks out there are hurting but overall we are okay. This is not a financial disaster on the scale of the Great Depression (30% unemployment).

I think that, in part, these are growing pains. We are transitioning from a 20th to a 21st century economy. I read that over a thousand people were recently laid off from Yahoo. This is a large talent pool that is now free to either start businesses or migrate to new enterprises. I work for a large corporation and I know that its easy to get comfortable. Maybe you’re not living up to your potential but you’ve got a cozy routine and the pay is decent so you stay where you are.

Getting laid off can be the impetus to start a new life and put energy into projects you never pursued because you felt it wasn’t worth the risk. I know more than one person who left a big company, did their own thing and became way more productive and successful than when they sitting in a cubicle.

There is a lot of talent and energy in this country. Once we reorganize and sort some things out I believe we will be back with a vengeance.

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I’d like to provide some more information on driving conditions in Costa Rica. It is not necessary to rent a 4 wheel drive to explore Costa Rica. You can drive on all the main roads just fine with a sedan or other small car. You can do quite a bit of exploring as well. Of course an SUV with 4 wheel drive will give you more access but unless you specifically plan to drive in very remote areas on rough roads, I would not bother.
4 Wheel drive becomes more handy during the rainy season (roughly our North American summer) since the dirt roads get muddy. That is something to take into consideration but even during the rainy season you won’t need 4 wheel drive to adequately explore Costa Rica. Again, if you plan on traveling in very remote areas then I do advise you rent a 4 wheel drive SUV type vehicle.

I’m renting a small SUV type vehicle on my next trip only because we are taking bicycles and I’d rather have them inside the vehicle. It saves me the trouble or buying or transporting a bike rack and its safer to keep them inside the vehicle.

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Tags: Driving in Costa Rica