Our Planning Process

Inspiration

• During 8 months of discussion, mostly centered on the idea of a beach vacation in St. Thomas (Cinnamon Bay Campground sounded nice), several other destinations were mentioned, including Norway, Spain, Mexico, and Portugal. Norway and Mexico (and Costa Rica) at least partly because I had lived there or had other family ties there; others because none of us had ever been.
      The focus swung around to Costa Rica as my desire for a particular kind of vacation sharpened. I had in mind an experience that would be engaging on multiple mental, educational, physical and entertainment levels, simultaneously and continuously. I couldn't see bringing all five of us for what might be the last whole-family trip (Alexis is 17) to merely lounge and sun - as appealing as that sounds to others of us :-).
      At this writing it remains to be seen whether we have bitten off more than we can chew, and whether we'll return exhausted, worn, and wretched. But after speaking with my mother's Costa Rican friend (living in Maryland), I am heartened. Christiana said, "You're going to have a wonderful time! You've picked a beautiful time to go, you'll have lovely weather, all the trees will be in blossom, the people are so friendly...."     Obviously, one can't have everything. Like any tour, this one evolved a focus of its own, and we will probably miss some cultural attractions, archaeological sites, etc. But the state of the world's forests, wildlife preserves, gene pool, natural resource planning and exploitation, are so critical, so interesting, so much in the news - this seems a pressing and important focus, and one that will put the children in good stead for thinking and acting on those issues in years to come.

Timing

Research

• I'm astonished at the utility of the Internet in planning this trip, especially the direct contact via email with proprietors of inns and other businesses. The real momentum started after Joy found Vacation Rentals by Owners and we contacted the Dolemans, owners of a macadamia finca in Guanacaste. Turns out they had just listed their property (the wife wanted to know how we got their number!) and John D. became our meticulous fount of knowledge, helping us scheme out the time both before and after the stay at their ranch.
  
• We browsed traditional tour books, and picked the brain of a close family friend, a native "Tican" - but the breadth and depth of the Internet provided a surprise new dimension: the chorus of voices of all those who have gone before (at least in the past 4-5 years) and put up Web sites (like this one). No one personal travel site can be authoritative, nor fully relevant, nor a perfect match for one's own taste - but the end sum is something more than the parts. We feel so much better prepared, for the highs and lows, for serendipity, for keeping our eyes and ears open, for survival, for adventure, and for learning. Here's a sampling:
  • Steve Cisler travels solo, light, and cheap in '93.
  • A US bird enthusiast does some touring.
  • Part of the Rara Avis Preserve site. Bird info and more.
  • One of a collection of family-oriented travel journals.
  • Arthur gives and engaging, informal one-page account
    

    "...Costa Rica, where if you can't play soccer and you can't dance you're no one, where the monkeys make sounds more befitting tyrannosaurus rexes, and many wonderous tropical fruits grow that you can make into equally wonderous drinks, and where people are friendly, they have abolished the army and come a respectable way towards the whole population respecting and desiring their national parks."

  • The Butterfly Farm (doesn't look like we'll get to visit, but it's near Alajuela)

Contacts

The Nitty-Gritty

• Tickets and Reservations
  Airfare through PriceLine. Interesting story. Saved only about $17.23 (less than 1%) over the best fare found through Expedia, Travelocity, or calling Delta direct. In addition had much less control over departure and return times (i.e., none). My best advice: calculate the taxes and airport fees carefully before making your bid (which does not include them).
      All other reservations directly or indirectly made or confirmed via the Web or email. In several cases followed up by phone, where I noticed how many expatriate Europeans operate in Central America. Didn't make much sense to inflict my rusty Spanish on a Swiss national who probably would have been as happy in French as in English.
• Documents
  All our existing passports were still valid - we had to get Emma her first - through a local Post Office! Very efficient.
• Lists
  I'll put our shopping and packing lists up later. For now, here's the theme list I created to guide everyone in their preparations.
• Spanish
  We have borrowed a massive language program on 10 CD's from the Brookline library... we are also assured that language in any case is not a difficult issue. But I am eager to see my admittedly less-than-intermediate Spanish unfold as it has always done when I am in a Spanish-speaking environment, and I'd like to jumpstart the process. Donde estan los escritorios de mis hermanas?
      We've also been told that the caretakers at Finca La Anita, Tino and Lygia, speak no English, although Lygia is trying to learn.
• Packing
• Lady
  Lady will be taken care of by Lance and Francis.
  Here are two pictures of Lady:
  [ Mugshot ] | [ Lap Dog ]
• Communications

Family Matters