My Journey Through Costa Rica - Getting There was Half the Battle

I’m back now from an incredible trip in Costa Rica…Well, actually, I’ve been back from the trip for a while but I was unable to blog about this travel until recently. 

So, to start...where is Costa Rica?  Costa Rica is in Central America between the countries of Nicaragua and Panama.  When researching Costa Rica travel, the pictures and descriptions of wild beaches and rainforests intriqued me enough to look into it some more.

Being the savvy trip planner that I am, I learned as much as I could about the country and the more I read and the more I learned, I realized that Costa Rica must be a very special place because I couldn't find any bad Trip advisor reviews or any bad press.  Now having been to Costa Rica, I realize that those reviews were inaccurate....my journey through this beautiful country was more than I could ever have expected.....and yes I mean that in a very, very good way!

First of all, I need to say that there were hardly any hitches and hardly anything went wrong during this trip. I have to brag about that so all the people who thought I was putting myself in danger for traveling alone can see that I've returned from my trip in one piece.  I was sunburned, bruised (from surfing) and covered in bug bites but otherwise fine. 

The only negative experiences I had during this trip were getting to Costa Rica and getting back home but that is to be expected when dealing with airports and flights. I arrived in Halifax via the one shittle service that could get me to Halifax in time to catch my flight without having to sleep in the airport overnight. 

My issues began in Halifax and continued onward through Toronto, Houston and onto San Jose. Things got off to a bad start during check-in in Halifax when I had the unfortunate experience of dealing with a very rude ticket agent. Of course, my tongue acted quicker than my brain and well, lets just say I was convinced my luggage would end up in China instead of its intended destination. Toronto Pearson International or Hell as I like to call it was my next stop. I’ve never had a good experience at this airport and this time was no exception. 

As usual, Pearson International failed to live up to the standards one would expect from such a large, international airport and again made me feel a little embarrassed to be from Canada knowing that most people traveling from other countries to Canada have to go through that disgrace of an airport. Let’s see, where do I begin? I needed help finding my connecting flight and, as anyone who has been through this airport knows, signage is very poor to non-existent. Almost everyone I tried to get directions from couldn’t speak English and the few people who could either had no idea where to send me or sent me in the wrong direction. 

 I finally made it to my gate after running through two terminals only to discover that my gate had been changed and I was sent running again and just made it in time for boarding. Now onto George Bush Intercontinental in Houston and a long 11-hour layover in an airport almost as bad as Pearson. 

When I first booked my flight, I thought “hey, I’ve never been to Houston, TX before so maybe I can hire a taxi driver to give me the grand tour while I wait for the next leg of my journey”. This was not to be. In the past, I was able to get tours of various cities by taxi but none were willing to do so in Houston, which meant one long, boring night of people-watching and counting ceiling tiles. I couldn’t even grab a Starbucks latte because everything was closed by the time I went through immigration and baggage claim, which was around 9pm. I was hoping to at least have something to eat when I arrived but everything was closed so early which meant my long, boring night was also marred by hunger and thirst. 

On the plus side, my luggage made it that far and was not “accidentally” put on a plane to China. I’d like to say I was able to sleep during my 11 hours in Houston Airport but all I did was wander around aimlessly looking for a comfortable place to rest, which was not to be found. The most comfortable place to sleep in the whole airport was the couch behind Starbucks in Terminal A and every time someone got up from that couch, someone was right there to take their place. I didn’t have the energy to even try to be one of those lucky people who had comfortable-looking naps on that couch before catching their next flight.

I was in no mood to deal with any delays or airport mishaps the next morning when it was time to find and board my plane. But, of course, air travel would not be true air travel if it didn’t come with its issues. Once again, I found myself in a state of confusion. I was told by an airport employee that my next flight would be departing terminal A so that is where I remained for most of the night. 

When it came close to check-in time, I looked at the screens to see if my flight was on time and couldn’t find it and, of course, panicked. After asking several dozen airport employees why my flight was not listed, one finally gave me the answer “ma’am, I think you are supposed to be in terminal D and you need to take the train to get there”. With time running out to clear security and get to my gate, “I think” had to suffice. And off I went, running again to catch a train and a flight. 

I didn’t realize how big Houston airport was until I was forced to make the journey from Terminal A to Terminal D. Fortunately it was the right terminal and I boarded my plane with only a few minutes to spare. No need to go into detail about the next 3.5 hours of my life I will never get back, you know the drill; cramped seats, broken TV’s, screaming babies, ignorant seat-mates taking up both armrests, horrible food and inconsiderate passengers with oversized carry-ons resulting in my small carry-on being stowed 20 rows behind me. You would think that for the amount of money you pay for an airline ticket these days, you would be reimbursed for lack of service but instead they gouge flyers in every which way they can. I paid 900 dollars for my return flight but in order to even watch a movie or have a glass of juice, they wanted me to swipe my credit card and pay even more money!

I’d like to say I was relieved to finally land at my final destination but I had to endure more airport nuisances before I could finally get to my hotel and some much needed sleep. After a long line-up at immigration, requests to fill out customer satisfaction surveys (which I did because I’m a sucker for those things) and another long wait for my luggage, I finally made it outdoors into a large crowd of waiting taxi drivers yelling “taxi, lady”. I was still dressed in a sweater and jeans when the sweltering heat of tropical San Jose hit me and I had to move away from the aggressive crowd of taxi drivers vying for my business and take a seat somewhere to the side where I could try to remember which cabs I was told were the most reliable – the red ones or the orange ones? Or was it yellow? I couldn’t remember but the heat and lack of sleep was getting to me so I just jumped into the next cab that came along. Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at the Wyndham Herradura and, of course, my room was not ready and wouldn’t be ready for another two hours. When I was finally able to enter my room, I immediately went to bed in order to be rested up for the beginning of my Costa Rica adventure the next morning.

On all of my other international trips, my cell phone always, upon arrival, updated to the current local time. Before I went to sleep my first night in San Jose, Costa Rica, I set my alarm for 6am so I would have enough time to shower and grab some breakfast before hitting the road. I was awake, showered, fed and ready to catch my bus before I realized I had woken up an hour earlier than intended. My cell only registered a two hour time difference instead of the three hour time difference from home. A really small and insignificant thing considering the rest of my time in the country went without incident. Everything was perfect. The Weather Network was predicting rain for more than a week straight for the Nicoya Peninsula; The sun was splitting rocks the entire time I was there! The food, the people, the shopping, the accommodations, the scenery…everything was better than I imagined it would be. And so began my two week journey through Costa Rica and a journey I will not soon forget.

The Perils of Trip Planning ...continued...Some Tips on How to Reduce Some of Those Perils

As promised, here are some tips to make your travel planning easier. Of course, everyone has their own way of doing things and I’m sure I've only covered a very small portion of what needs to go into some trips. My list is comprised of things I learned along the way that have helped me make the process an easier one.

TRAVEL PLANNING TIPS – The beginning stages

We’ll assume by this point, you have already decided where to go so now you need to do some research on your destination. Even if you prefer not to plan ahead and wish to just jump into a country knowing very little beforehand, it is important to do some research. Research everything about the country. Research things like:
-crime statistics
-emergency numbers
-local customs and traditions
-the weather
-bus schedules
-how much things will cost
-what type of currency will you need
-accessibility to things you may require during your travels such as banks, hostels, embassies and bus stations.
-natural disasters that can occur in the area

Make sure to find out what is required of you to visit the country you are traveling to. Do you need proof of vaccination? Some countries have no vaccination requirements, some recommend you get certain vaccines and some require proof of certain ones. This needs to be done as early as possible because you will need to make an appointment with your doctor and have any needles administered at least 6 weeks before departure in order for them to take affect. Is there an exit fee at your destination? If so, you will need to have cash on hand to pay it before departing. Does the country you are visiting require you to have proof of an ongoing ticket in order to enter? If you need this and do not have it, you may be refused entry or you may be required to purchase an ongoing plane or bus ticket. Are visas required to enter the country you are traveling to? You can find out by visiting your federal government’s website. Do you plan on driving at your destination? An international driver’s license may be required.

There are many ways to learn more about your destination. You can:
-Ask friends and family members who have been there.
-Read other traveler’s experiences on their personal blogs.
-Read reviews on travel websites such as Trip Advisor.
-Watch videos about your destination or watch movies that are set there.
-Take part in travel forums. I needed to find out some information about my trip and found the use of forums, such as the ones on Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet, to be very useful.
-Read books about your destination

TRAVEL PLANNING TIPS – Midway

Once you have decided where you are going and have done some research (which should be ongoing right up to departure), you can now figure out the rest of your trip such as flights, accommodation, activities, etc.

Flights
Getting a good deal on flights can be tricky. In fact, it’s a gamble to say the least. One day, your preferred flight route could be half the price that it is the next day. And vice versa. Here are some tips on getting the best price for your flight:
-Sign up for “deal alert” newsletters from a number of airfare suppliers including the airlines themselves and other sites such as Hotwire,Expedia, CheapOair and Orbitz. There are many such sites and a simple search in Google or other search engine will turn up many results. Hotwire, in particular, has a feature that allows you to type in your desired itinerary and other information to receive periodic alerts of when that route is on sale and when the price goes up.
-It is said that airfare is at its cheapest on Tuesdays at 3PM. Whether or not there is any truth to this or not, many travelers and industry professionals back up this claim so it can’t hurt to make this timeframe a priority when searching for airfare.
-Try not to book too early unless you do find a very good deal. Booking to early means you could miss out on last-minute deals later on and there are some very good deals to be had at the last minute if you can wait that long!
-If possible, book flights that fly in and out of smaller, lesser-known airports as this can also save you some money.
-Being flexible with dates can also get you a good deal and there is also the option of flying on stand-by if your schedule allows. If you are lucky, your plane may be overbooked and you can volunteer to get bumped by a day or two and in return be thanked with airfare vouchers to be used on future flights with the airline.
-Make sure to read the fine print before you book so you are aware of the airlines cancellation policy and extra fees.

Accommodation

While it is not necessary to book accommodation well in advance, one thing you should look into when doing your research is whether or not there will be any accommodation available or not. In other words, travelers should always check if there is a major event, holiday or religious celebration occurring during their visit because if there is, you may need to book far in advance or plan to be very creative with your sleeping arrangements. While researching for my trip to Costa Rica, I learned that Easter celebrations are a huge event in the country and, because I was traveling close to that time, I did some more research into the dates and discovered that I would be traveling the week after Easter. Had it been the opposite, I would have a very hard time finding accommodations in San Jose if I started looking now! Finding the right place to stay can be a bit of a trying experience as there is so much information out there and so many places to choose from so I came up with some tips to share with you that have helped me in the past:
-First, you need to determine your budget. If you are a luxury or mid-way traveler, you may prefer to stay in a 5-star resort or luxury chain hotel. Budget travelers save the most money by staying in hostels but Bed and Breakfasts and some smaller hotel chains often offer great deals too. Websites such as hostels.com and hotels.com have comprehensive lists of accommodation available in every country and Trip Advisor is a great place to read about other traveler’s experiences. More creative and adventurous travelers can try couchsurfing or house swapping. Both of these options have their pros and cons. You will be opening yourself up to complete strangers on one hand but on the other, you will meet new people and get to learn more about the culture of the country you are visiting.
-If you are traveling anywhere in North America or Europe, the hotel star system is pretty accurate but in other places, such as Central and South America, it gets tricky. For example: A 5-star resort in Cuba is what you might consider to be a 3-star back home. I stayed in a 4-star in Cuba and with puddles of water on the floor in the bathroom, very little hot water, a television that didn’t work, faulty power outlets, cockroaches scurrying around in every corner, a patio door that would not lock, leaky windows (that caused massive puddles in the rainy season monsoon I got caught in), very plain and dated décor and a shortage of virtually everything, it was more like a 2-star or lower. But that is Cuba and tourists are warned beforehand that Cuba is very, very different. Don’t get me wrong; I loved Cuba and would go back there in a heartbeat and probably stay in the same type of accommodations. I’m just telling you this so you know not to rely on the hotel star system.
-Again, sign up for travel newsletters that deal with hotels and other accommodation.

Ground Transportation – Know your options beforehand

-Some forms of ground transportation, such as cabs and local buses, cannot be booked in advance, but can certainly be researched. If you are traveling with a group or to an all-inclusive resort vacation, chances are, your ground transportation is already included in your itinerary. Make sure to double check this and get all the information you need in order to secure your safe passage to your destination. Ask for a phone number and the name of the person to reach if you are unable to locate your shuttle upon exiting your plane. Have clear instructions on where to go to meet your driver and get instructions on what to do in the event of a delayed flight or missed shuttle. I made sure I had all necessary information about my shuttle before I arrived in Cancun and this helped a lot! I was able to navigate through crowds of people who couldn’t speak English but were obviously trying to scam me into taking their cab or bus to another destination.
-If you are traveling independently, there are some options to get you where you need to go such as inter-city buses, coachline buses that travel between cities and countries, trains and short-haul flights. For my ground trip from San Jose, Costa Rica to Panama City, I have the option to book with TicaBus which offers routes between various countries and cities in Central America. Flights, in particular should be booked in advance but trains and buses usually accept last-minute passengers who can purchase a ticket at the station. It is important to do some research into these options before you leave to make sure you are able to secure a seat.
-If the train or bus company you are traveling with has an online bus schedule, print it off and take it with you. You should also take a picture of the bus schedule when you arrive at the terminal just so you have it with you in case it is needed again.
-In some countries, buses and trains are rarely on time, so incorporate this into your trip planning so you can arrive early at the terminal.

THE FINAL STAGES- The last minute details before departure

-Print a few copies of your passport, itinerary, identification and other important documents. Leave one set at home and keep at least one set with you in a separate pocket or bag from the originals.
-Put alerts on all your credit and debit cards so that your banks know that you are away in case any suspicious activity should show up on your account. Failing to do this can result in your bank blocking access to your account after they see that someone abroad has been using it. If you don’t tell them, they will not know that the person using it is you.
-Register with the federal government in your country so it is known that you are abroad in case of natural disaster or civil unrest in the area. I am from Canada and there is a website where I can do this and I am also provided with a phone number to contact in case of emergency, so I assume most other countries offer this service to travelers as well.
-write down all important phone numbers such as close family and friends, any hotels you will be staying at, bus stations, airlines, etc...any phone number you think you may need while on the road.
-Don’t wait until the last minute to pack – start at least a week before you leave. Be careful not to over-pack because you will end up paying extra fees and you are the one who will have to lug around that heavy, overstuffed suitcase or backpack. Besides the obvious, some other important items you should pack include an adapter if it is needed at your destination and a good pair of walking shoes. Things you do not need include cosmetics other than a few necessary items, jewelry and anything that you do not need or will not use.
-Determine what type of currency you should have on-hand at your destination and acquire some from your bank beforehand. You can watch the exchange rates online at various websites such as http://www.xe.com/ucc/.
-In the weeks and days leading up to your departure, be sure to check for any government issued travel advisories that may have been put out about your destination.


UPON ARRIVAL – Know what to expect and be prepared

You are about to get off a plane in a place you may never have laid eyes on where, perhaps, no one speaks the same language as you. Airports are always going to be crazy, hectic places but there are ways to make it easier for you to get through this initial stage and get on your way!
-Follow instructions given to you by flight attendants and ask them questions if needed because you may have trouble finding someone who speaks English in the airport.
- If your ground transportation is already included in your trip, Find your shuttle driver or tour operator and make sure you get on the right bus with the right people because there are many scams occurring in airports all over the world and ground transportation is one of them. For example, when I traveled to Mexico, I was warned about rogue shuttles that take tourists to their hotel but actually take them on a detour which ends with them trying to persuade you to buy a timeshare. While no danger is present in this type of circumstance, I would have been quite annoyed had I been lead away from my destination for a day. Fortunately, I knew who those people were right away and, without making eye contact, just passed by them and found who I was looking for.

Taxis
Taxis can be sketchy in some places but can also be the safest and cheapest method if you know what you are looking for. Always go with clearly marked taxis that are either metered or have drivers that are open to fair negotiation on how much it will cost to get to your destination. Do not share cabs with strangers. The only time doing so may be considered safe (because it can save you money) is sharing with someone you met on your flight who is going in the same direction with you. Sharing a cab with someone you just met at the airport or on the street can present some danger as there are professional criminals who do exactly this to prey on unsuspecting and trusting travelers.

And that, my fellow travelers, is how I do it and (almost) everything works out in the end for me every time. Hopefully these tips will help you to feel more at ease when planning your next trip.