Travel Tips to Costa Rica

As soon as I read that I was a winner of the Wyndham Women Local Nation travel writing contest, I began planning. Typically planning a vacation means AAA road maps, exploring campgrounds online, and taking an inventory of my gear. Just knowing that my head would be resting on a comfy clean pillow, and not on a leaky air mattress, got me excited to plan my travels!

I searched through Wyndham's extensive list of resorts and hotels and dreamed of luxurious vacations in exotic places. I decided to tone things down with the rising cost of airfare and chose an exotic place with a reasonable airfare budget. I chose the Ramada Herradura in San Jose, Costa Rica due to the great online reviews, their eco-tourism and anti sex-trafficking policies and the reasonable airfare price from D.C.

After 2 hours in a car, and about 6 hours of flying and a layover, we arrived to a sunny Costa Rican day, despite it being the start of their rainy season. We exchanged our money at the airport, and then I hit the duty free shop for some wine to enjoy in our room. As we made our way outside the airport, several "helpful" men tried to get us to take their taxis, but we had pre-arranged the hotel to pick us up in the free shuttle!

Tip #1: Do not exchange your money at the airport - go to one of the reputable national banks, withdraw from an ATM or exchange at the hotel for a much better rate.
Tip #2: Purchasing alcohol outside of the hotel is a great way to save on money!
Tip #3: Pre-Arrange airport pickup from your hotel - Ramada Herradura offers a free airport shuttle - If you have not done this and need to take a taxi, ONLY get in an orange or red taxi with the yellow triangle; they are the certified government taxis of Costa Rica.
Tip #4: Call your cell phone carrier before leaving the country to check out of country call rates and international cell phone coverage.

On the drive to the hotel, I was surprised by the population of the area, and the variety of housing: everything from two story homes to metal shacks. We arrived at the hotel (which was under construction during my visit) and were graciously greeted by the staff who checked us in promptly and took our luggage to our room. The room was decorated with warm yellows and deep colored wood. The linens were plush, and the bathroom was nearly â..." the size of the room! Our window looked out upon the highway, but the sound of traffic, with the windows closed, was minimal.

Tip #5: When reserving your room, ask for a room facing the pool, not the highway.

We enjoyed exploring the hotel, including their lush gardens which featured an Orchid greenhouse before venturing across the pedestrian walkway to a mall where we feasted on some excellent cuisine. The steak restaurant in the cafeteria serves a mean sausage grilled on open charcoal flames-delicious!

The next day we started off our morning with the free breakfast buffet at the Tropicala restaurant, one of three restaurants at the hotel. There are plenty of options from rice and beans, eggs, breads, cooked-to-order omelets, belgian waffles and all the local fresh fruit you could desire. Afterwards, the hotel called us a cab that took us into Downtown Jose. Once there we explored the city where our path took us to the Central Park and Metropolitan Cathedral, which seems to the center hub of the city. The cathedral was exquisite and had a beautiful pipe organ that I wish I could have heard being played. From there we went to the National Theater which has a lovely lobby open to the public, or you can choose to pay for a tour of the building when it's not in use for an event. You can also find some local music to purchase at the Theater, which was a great find for my boyfriend. Just a short walk away from the National Theater is the Gran Hotel de Costa Rica where we enjoyed some smooth Costa Rican espresso in their open air cafe.

Tip #6: Eat your breakfast mid-morning so that you eat out less and save some dough. Get it, dough?
Tip #7: Keep your passport on your person instead of in a purse - I clipped mine to my pants. Crime is higher in Costa Rica, so be safe and use your noggin.
Tip #8: Bring an umbrella.

The downtown area has a Central Avenue that is lined with tons of shops and eateries, with no automobile traffic in certain sections. We walked the avenue and eventually made our way to the Central Market, which is one of the most popular areas in San Jose. It is full of open air meat markets, "sodas" (quick eateries with local cuisine), and lots of places to buy locally made souvenirs. We enjoyed a lunch at one of the Sodas after having picked up a few trinkets to take home and then grabbed a cab (only the red ones!) to head back to the hotel where we enjoyed some Costa Rican Imperial beer before bed.

Tip #9: You can bargain! Offer a lump sum when purchasing multiple items.
Tip #10: Most vendors and cabs in San Jose will take American dollars or Colones.

Our third day in San Jose we dedicated to relaxation in the hotel. It was the first sunny day we had experienced, so I was anxious to put on my swimsuit and head to the pool. Due to the rain, and start of the rainy season, the water was cool, so I spent most of my time soaking up the sun and reading some books. The poolside service is excellent, and drinks and towels are available. In the evening we enjoyed playing a few rounds of poker at the casino, which also features a jazz bar on the weekends.

Tip #11: The sun is quite powerful in Costa Rica - put on plenty of sunscreen, even when you do not expect to get burnt.
Tip #12: Due to the ecological sustainability practices, the hot tubs are not kept at high temperatures, so prepare for cool waters.

The next day we went on a Rainforest Aerial Tour with Gray Line Tours , a package I had arranged prior to our arrival in Costa Rica. Gray Line has an office in the hotel, so you can arrange tours when you arrive as well. The tour included a 1.5 hour tram ride where the guide explained to us the many plants and species that live in this private rainforest, located just adjacent one of the National Parks. The guide was quite knowledgeable. A delicious lunch was included back at the tram stop, and then we took a walking tour of the rainforest. We arrived back at the hotel about 8 hours after we left.

Tip #12: If you book ahead, use your AAA card for a discount with Gray Line Tours!

That evening we dressed up for a formal dinner at the Tirrenia retaurant within the hotel, which features Mediterranean cuisine. The appetizers were delightful, and I highly recommend any fish or seafood dish, due to the availability of such fresh cuisine.

Our last day in Costa Rica we decided to tour Cafe Britt, home of one of the coffee plantations in Costa Rica. The grounds of the plantation are lovely, but the tour is the best part. We found it both humorous and informative. Our tour guides gave both Spanish and English versions of the tour, which at times was more like a play than coffee plantation tour! Afterwards we were able to sample all of their coffees and purchased some which they sent home directly to us, much easier than packing it in our luggage.

On the way home, we asked our cab driver to take us to a local place for lunch, and he did not disappoint. We ended up a local road side restaurant and ate an incredible plate of local meats, with rice and plantains. It was delicious.

Tip #13: You can hire a cab driver for a day! Ask your cab driver if they're willing to take you to and from locations throughout the area for one lump fee.

The next morning was our time to leave Costa Rica, so we arranged to take the free shuttle to the airport from our hotel. The airport is about 25 minutes away, so allow time for your travels as well as check in. There is a $26 (U.S. Dollars) exit tax that you must pay before checking into your return flight home.

Costa Rica offered a bit of the exotic, amazing food, and friendly people. Staying at the Ramada Herradura was a great way to feel comfortable and safe while exploring a new city. The staff was welcoming and helpful. The location between the airport, city, and nature was the perfect spot to experience a little bit of all of the best parts of Costa Rica. For longer stays in Costa Rica, I would recommend spending a few days at the Herradura, then travelling by bus to another location in Costa Rica to experience more of the amazing scenery.