Fishing Frenzy

There are many people who go online looking at all the different travel websites in search of finding the best value for a Costa Rica vacation. Many others start out by going to their local travel agency or contacting their favorite airline to find out about package deals. There is nothing wrong with taking this kind of approach. However, travel agents and airline packages may not always have the best bang for your buck.

When it comes to vacationing its important to remember the old saying "you get what you pay for." Going the incredibly cheap route often means compromising in other areas such as comfort, perhaps even basic amenities. When you spend your hard earned money on a vacation, your first priorities should be atmosphere, comfort, relaxation, fun, and convenience.

So with this in mind, here are the top three recommended steps to adhere to so that you assure success in planning your Costa Rica vacation.

To begin with, you should seriously consider your options when it comes to accommodations. You can stay at a hotel or rent a private owned home or condo. One of the biggest reasons people decide to rent a private residence is because you get the home away from home experience. How? Well all the amenities you have at home, you can expect in a rented vacation residence. You will want to cautiously weigh the pros and cons because doing so helps in avoiding making a huge mistake.

A luxury hotel may not be the best scenario for a family vacation. If its you and your mate you can most likely catch a break on a single hotel room. If its you, your spouse and the kids you will no doubt need a lot more space to really be comfortable.

Neglecting to be honest with yourself about how much space you actually need to be comfortable could wreck your trip. Please avoid the error of ignoring or slighting this critical factor!

Secondly, you must take into consideration the type of atmosphere that will best suit your specific needs. This is essential because if you want quiet, exotic, and romantic... then you don't want to be surrounded by drunken co-eds partying like rock stars. If you're taking the whole family, you almost certainly don't want to stay near the topless bathing suit optional beach.

Nearly as vital as seriously considering your alternatives when it comes to accommodations and choosing the right atmosphere, is finding out about nearby activities and shopping accessibility.

Costa Rica is culturally rich and has much to offer. There is truly something for everyone. You can easily find a place that offers or is adjacent to different activities such as sailing, golfing, or ATV riding.

I am here to inform you, you don't want to overlook this. It's very helpful to think about everything you want to do or might want to do, which can be something you can't do at home...like flying through the gorgeous tropical rain forest on a zip line canopy tour.

Picture that...

Ask if the place you're staying offers transportation to and from the airport. Many of the private residence rentals are actually in gated resort communities that have concierge and transportation services.

And finally, when you're planning your Costa Rica vacation, just be sure to acquaint yourself with the local culture and cuisine. This will likely help with ordering meals from restaurants, that's an important part of your trip. Neglecting to do this could mean that you may not know what you are eating (Laugh Out Loud) -- and we can probably agree that this will probably be a bad thing!

As I mentioned in the beginning, when it comes to Costa Rica vacations, you really want to make sure you don't make any serious mistakes that can ruin your trip.

When it comes to any type of vacation planning its imperative that you remember the old saying "you get what you pay for." going the incredibly cheap route often means compromising in other areas such as comfort, or maybe even basic amenities. when you spend your hard earned money on a vacation your first priorities should be atmosphere, comfort, relaxation, fun, and convenience.