Published October 30, 2005

This was our first trip together, and our first experience in Central America, so we made all the rookie mistakes.  They ended up costing us, but we learned what not to do. 

The first mistake was ever setting foot inside the travel agent located a few steps from the hotel.  Since our friend from Virginia spoke fluent Spanish, he talked with the agent who assured us he could make all the arrangements for a perfect vacation in his country.  First we needed to rent a car.  That part seemed simple enough, except that I gave the agent my debit card just to secure the car, and then we would pay the final cost with our credit card because our friends would be splitting the cost with us and we could settle up when we returned to San Jose. 

The agent made reservations for us at Arenal and at The Monteverde Cloud Forest.  He also talked us into signing up for a zip line adventure at Monteverde at a cost of $60 per person.  We would never do that now – sign up with an agent miles away from the actual event.  But after what seemed like hours and hours, we were finally done and ready to explore Costa Rica.  Then, suddenly, I was told that there would be a $1000 hold on our bank account until we returned the car.  That would mean we wouldn’t have access to most of the money we planned to use on the trip!  So, another half hour was spent crediting back the debit card and using a credit card for the security.  Too confusing! 

Driving through the countryside was a delight.  We stopped to feed coatamundi bananas by hand, took photos with coffee plantations in the background, gasped occasionally at the narrow, pot-holed roads, and stopped for lunch where “cow meat sandwich” was on the menu.  This “cow meat” sandwich, aka hamburger, was 800 colones, or $1.60.  French fries were 450 colones, or less than $1.00.  I found the best, most economical meal was the standard local fare, called “Tico” food; generally rice, beans, fruit, maybe a bit of chicken.  Always good, and always less than $3.00.

We arrived at our destination, Los Lagos, in La Fortuna.  We had comfortable cabins next to each other right at the foot of the volcano.  We were astonished at the size of the pool that was heated by the volcano.  Best pool I have ever been in.  We didn’t want to get out.  But food and drink were calling.  I was in my nightie, ready to fall asleep after the hot soak in the pool and all of a sudden we heard a boom!  Thunder?  Guns?  What?  Oh, for heavens sake, it was Arenal, the volcano, showing off for us.  I have to say, it was scary.  I don’t think I could get used to it.  But I was so tired, I fell asleep anyway.

What I learned: Don’t go to a travel agent in a country you don’t know.  If you have an agent at home that you have used and trust, then that’s fine, but don’t put yourself at the mercy of a fast-talking hustler.  Take one credit card that you don’t intend to use in case you have to give them a card to rent the car.  Now, after years of travel, we know that we can find great accommodations and negotiate a good price, often lower than a travel agent could get.