These are great tips. I just discovered your channel this week, so I’m binge watching leading up to a trip to Panama on Saturday. Thank you for sharing these.
La Shonda Richardson, vacationing in CR is beautiful, I would recommend the flamingo area, beaches, white and black or brown sandy beaches, sunsets are amazing. Food is yummy. From Flamingo you can get to most area by driving or tours. Waterfalls, Volcano's. Rafting, horse back riding. Night life, enjoy
Well, there are some really pretty areas so make sure you research the prettier areas that I did not know about. But we thoroughly enjoyed it because I did not have to lift a finger and was warm! Thanks for watching!
We were there in the Spring and no mosquito. We had more of a problem with scorpions. it must be cold there for you coming from Houston. I've been to Houston many times and man its hot there :)
Hi ! I'm looking forward to visit Costa Rica. I'm planning on going to the grocerie store and cook most of my food. Could you tell me what I should expect compared with food markets in the usa? Thanks.
I've been to Costa Rica 4 times. I married a beautiful Costa Rican lady and have stayed locally. Best times I've had. Beautiful country with lots to see. The beaches are lovely. I have stayed in bed and breakfast, air bnb , a hotel and a resort. Everything was really good. I love the country the people and the the culture. Can't wait to get back.
This recommendations may apply to Guanacaste but not necessarily to the rest of the country. Costa Rica is a very diverse country, where there are many microclimates from hot to cold, all in a few hours of travel. There are also white and even pink sand beaches, it is a matter of consulting well before traveling.
Thanks for visiting our tiny and beautiful country Laurie, please visit other destination in Costa Rica next time so you can get a better idea what else is here for you, blessings
Hey I’m from Costa Rica and there’s a couple facts that are kind of wrong for example the bathroom fact it’s true but most of the tourists go to the principal airport in the capital of the country and that airport is bigger so there’s more stalls. And the beaches on the pacific of the country they are not necessarily black/ brownish sand and dark water, if you search well you’ll find white sand and light blue beaches. It’s also worth it visit other parts of the country like the mountains, the Caribbean or the city
yes, she was saying that at the Liberia airport specifically, there's only one stall near baggage claim and IF you have a long drive to the coast it might prove beneficial to use the plane's restroom
Hello Julianse99 i would love to know more about Guanacaste all inclusive resorts that has white sand beach in it do you have any recommendations? Thank you.
I hope they helped. There are so many helpful hints depending on what specific area you're going to out there in the UA-cam land so do your research. Thank you!
Thank you for all the tips (especially the bathroom tip in the airport)! It really helped us prepare for the journey! Cannot wait to head to Costa Rica!
Watching this four years late but that’s okay! Leaving in a few weeks for this resort. We didn’t realize at first that it was on the Pacific Ocean and hubby had already gone ahead and booked it. At first I was disappointed but I quickly changed gears and am now calling it our jungle adventure. Looking forward to new experiences!
Hi I like the video Laurie, but consider going to the Caribbean of Costa Rica too, you will find the type of white sand cristal clear beach you maybe looking for at the South Caribean beaches I recommend you Manzarillo and Cocles, but its a different tye of tourism is a calm and quiet place no big resorts but small cozy hotels
Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed beautiful Costa Rica! Just one thing is that what you said about all the beaches having dark sand is untrue. We have a condo in beautiful Reserva Conchal on the Guanacaste coast and it is white sand with shells at one end. The beach is about 1 mile & 1/2 long and the water is crystal blue. Maybe you can travel there next time! It is extraordinary!
Laurie watching a little late. Great review, thanks. My only disappointment was learning that the water was not blue and the sand was not white. It’s still a beautiful place and I am planning a trip soon.
Laurie, if you had visit Conchal beach in Brasilito, where the sand is white and waters very clear you would have had much more to talk about. There are clear and white sand beaches
Your tips were great! Thank you. Also spf of 15 does nothing to your skin. SPF of 36 is your minimum. Your main focus should be UVA/UVB protection. But 15 is better than nothing. Great product if it was higher spf. Also flying into San Jose is much more recommend. The Caribbean side is also very pretty.
My parents are both Costa Rican! My maternal grandparents and relatives are from San José, and my aunt/cousins are from San Isidro! My favorite place to go is Playa Jaco (Jaco Beach). Costa Rica is absolutely a beautiful lush country! I also write Costa Rican children's literature as well ! ¡Pura Vida! 🏖⛱ 🌴 🇨🇷 🦜
God it’s annoying when someone goes on a 2 week trip and makes generalizations about the whole country when you’ve only seen a small, small part of it!! The beaches aren’t all black, it’s not as hot in other parts, it’s not dry everywhere and rainy season varies from one area to another. Tipping is generally only done in the Americanized resorts and not a Costa Rican custom. If you are thinking of travelling there, please don’t judge it by this video!
Laurie - When you talk about the weather down here you said in general "the weather in Costa Rica is hot etc.... " but you were on an specific location "Liberia" and it has a completely different weather than the Caribbean Coast, middle of the country, the capital San Jose etc, etc.... it's like saying the weather in USA referencing only an specific location such as NY or FL. I remember once I talked to a group of US tourist in Cartago area that were freezing because they were not prepared for that tour, wearing short pants, T-shirts, sandals and complaining nobody told them about the temperature there ....
Puerto Viejo is also full of thieves and narcos. Be careful if you go over there and do not stay out late. Most Costa Ricans do not go there if they do not live there, it is that dangerous.
I dont know when you go there, but now it´s safer than the past, sometimes robberies occur, but most are by carelessness of people. The community has been organized to improve security, I've been there many times and I've been out late and I have not had any problems.
Greg...i was seeing the comments and i came across yours...and i needed to correct your statement. ...all over in any country you'll find narcos, even in alajuela ...and regarding the Caribbean side of CR is not dangerous as you are saying actually is more natural and preserved than the Pacific but you wil find mosquitoes there for sure
Laurie- we’re heading to RIU Guanacaste next month. I cannot find the sunscreen/repellent on Amazon!! Can you list the brand/product information here please??
Nice video, my husband just brought up exploring the idea of traveling there. He found out Americans are retiring there...I’m cracked up 😂 I’ve watched so many videos, and tv shows discussing ex-pats lol. Best of luck with your channel, you should get in touch with Don Terris at Don’s Family Vacations. He primarily focuses on cruising, but he’s open to creating collaboration videos, he helped another YT channel add a nice bump in subscribers.
We are going there soon. 2 questions, please. 1. How much English can I expect? 2. Are there people out on the beach hustling and hassling you the way they do in the Caribbean ?
Not a lot of information from this nice lady. First, there are two international airports (Liberia and San Jose) so it depends on where you are headed as to your arrival location. If you are going only to Guanacaste/Arenal areas then you would fly to Liberia. Most other locations, fly into San Jose. Currency is Colones and most places should only take them and not dollars. For the Pacific beaches, keep in mind the surf is bad at many places and swimming can be very dangerous. Know your limitations and never go far out past your waist. There are few lifeguards in CR and they are not like LA County lifeguards, and if you need medical attention, hospitals can be a long way from where you are near the beach. By far the best hospital in CR is CIMA hospital in San Jose (really Escazu), where they take TriCare cards from vets and have a great facility. Fruit there is great as is the coffee, but the CR fare is generally bland and focused on Gallo Pinto and chicken. The best food in CR can be found in Limon, as the Jamaican influence is heavy and you will find lots of Jamaicans living there. The roads are the worst in Central America so keep that in mind when driving and there are few guardrails to keep you on the road. There are lots of places to go there, like Arenal, seeing the turtles on the Caribbean side in a place called Tortuguero National Park, Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park to name a few. If you want white sand beaches go to Quepos/Manuel Antonio, which is about 7 hours drive from Liberia. Keep in mind prostitution is legal in Costa Rica so certain places (downtown San Jose and Jaco Beach) are havens for tourists looking to score with Colombian or Dominican girls. Jaco is not a family friendly beach so you must go south to get away from the hustle of selling dope or girls. Playa Hermosa is a big surfing beach if you are into surfing and being in the south of CR. Up North there is more surfing and tons of surfers. As for dry and wet seasons that is true, but you should always be prepared for rain and some cooler climates in CR, especially at higher elevations in the country. FYI I have lived in CR for three years and also lived in El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize and Jamaica.
Kevin, great knowledge to know before deciding where to go. Yes, we chose Liberia because the drive to our beach resort was much shorter than if we had landed in San Jose. Thank you for watching!
Kevin, since you live in CR I was wondering if you have any info you'd like to share regarding Tamarindo. We are staying about a 15-20 walk SW of the town itself. Planning on taking a day tour to Rincón de la Vieja area with either Goolonukos Tours or Xplore Costa Rica. Any thoughts?
@@seanbradley5614 Not a big fan of Tamarindo or Jaco to be honest with you. What do you want to do? Many folks who go to Tamarindo are younger and some are surfers so if many are surfing and drinking. No problem with partying if that is what you want to do there. Maybe Las Baulas park if you want to try to see turtles, depending on the season.
I just think you should travel the entire country first before making such general statements about a country you’ve only seen a very small part of. People see this and will make uninformed decisions.
Very informative. We do not read Spanish, is it ok for us to rent a vehicle and drive? Looking forward to visiting there after this mess is over and we can travel again.
US dollars - some tours only accept US cash. But you will know that on their websites. At our ATM at our RIU resort, we could choose US or Costa Rican money. So we got both throughout the week. Dollar bills are great for paying the taxi driver to and from your hotel too. Thank you for watching! Beautiful country!
Use ATM's to get Costa Rican Colones. If you want to exchange dollars at a bank you will need your passport and lots of time. They literally write down every serial number of every bill. Yes you pay a fee to use the ATM but for me saving an hour + waiting to exchange money is much better. Also the 1st and 15th are paydays and the ATM's will run out of money or they will restrict you on how much you can withdraw if they are getting low on funds. Do not use BCR unless you need less than 200.00 as they will only let you withdraw 200.00 at a time resulting in more bank fees.
Helpful video. Can you advise if I should just take US $ or colonnades for local transaction? Since you mentioned tipping in US$, would it be acceptable to tip in colonnades too?
Oh, I just didn't want you to mistakenly get the 4 ounce if it was going to go in your carryon liquids bag. Only 3.4 ounce containers are allowed in your carryon liquids bag. Thank you for watching!
My husband and are going in January we hope to take at least one day trip? Most likely to the arenol. We live in Canada should we book before we go if so which your company do you recommend? The ones I have looked at are really pricey. The thank you
Sandy, it's going to be wonderful. We like booking things beforehand so we can go ahead and pay ahead of time. I don't want to skimp on a tour either. I know they can be expensive, but you want a good tour. Maybe you could read reviews about that tour group. Everyone we used is in the description box below my other Costa Rica video - Review of the RIU Guanacaste. Hope that helps.
We always used a van; we didn't need to shop on that vacation. I wish I was more help. Tourism is their number one income so I'm sure it will be great. Thanks for watching!
I corrected it in the description box: amzn.to/373i5Ex and it's called Sunsect. Looks like they also have foil packets, but that might be alot to bring. Thanks for watching and have a great time!
As a Costa Rican I appreciate the video. It is lovely. I do defend the tipping thing. People who live of tourist service had it rough during the pandemic. We as Costa Ricans in general do not get paid well, so if service is good why not tip? This is the reason why Costa Ricas get poor service at hotels and Americans get better treatment. Duh! I tip a dollar or two to my fellow Costa Ricans and they treat me like a Queen. I also try to stay humble and not stuck up. I always tip after eating at a restaurant even if service is included because the servers never get that money. Tipping a few dollars won't make you poor, it will make somebody's day and get you better service.
@@TravelTipsbyLaurie I was responding to the other comments, many from Costa Ricans themselves who recommend no tipping and said you tipped too much. I was actually defending your points and love tourists like you who are generous and understand we live with way lower incomes. Keep the videos coming and come back to Costa Rica. You'll enjoy the beaches in the South Pacific.
You can easily walk back to the start because there is a path, but I think it would hold up your group or you would miss a line. But they have them where you check in. Thanks for watching!
Depending of the area to visit, we have microclimates, if its in Guanacaste (tropical dry forest) where this hotel is located, it will be a bit hot and get a bit of rain probably, if in other areas maybe more rain and if visiting central Valley, the temperature will not be hot, in average 18°C-23°C
Great tips, I really enjoy all your videos, Were staying at the Riu Guanacaste, is it accurate that they don't have coffee makers in the rooms? We really early morning coffee on our balcony when we travel so if that;s true I will need to take our travel coffee maker. Also were going there in February any tips you can give as we are only doing 2 day trips and the rest of the time staying and enjoying the resort, can you enjoy it with that much heat...lol? One more question...my husband is a smoker , yes I know I hate it too any advise I will pass on to him about the rules.
It is going to be beautiful this time of year! I'm so excited for y'all! I think there was a coffee machine right under the liquor. You could email the RIU. We emailed them I believe. Thank you for watching!
the biggest mistake you all made was staying at a resort and in the northern pacific if you would have gone to the southern pacific area it would have been less touristy and way cheaper my wife and i have been going to Costa Rica for 20 years and have found out the southern pacific is one of the best places to visit
Sam we go to the southern pacific area google Dominical and Uvita if you rent a car be sure and get a 4x4 you will need it here is my email if you want more info jablackwell68@hotmail.com
This might be a stupid question but did you use American money or did you convert it? Or did you mainly use card? First time traveling outside the country!! Thanks
We used American money for tips as well as for excursions. Some we paid for online, but some we had to pay cash in person when we did the excursion. Thanks!
Nice tips but I'm from Costa Rica and you are wrong about the color of the sand, there are many beaches, some of them have dark sand as you said but others have white sand even gold sand and clear water, blue or turquoise, I recommend a web page (goplaya.cr) where you can see what to expect in many beaches of Costa Rica.
You are NOT in top of the Ecuator. Ecuator is on top of the Ecuator, Costa Rica is NOT. The sand is NOT dark all over, mainly in the Guanacaste area, from Punta arenas down the sand is white. The Caribbean beaches are way better than the Pacific beaches. However generally speaking is a matter of taste.
I would purchase travel insurance if you are going on a cruise next year. If it cancels or if you get COVID you can cancel last minute. I always have medical insurance, but I do not know the prices.
@@TravelTipsbyLaurie thanks a lot for your response! But I am unpleasantly suprised that you said “the next year”! Do you mean that I can not visit the country this month 😱😱😱
@@carlosvaltarena1765 Sorry for the misunderstanding. I mean travelers insurance if you go on a cruise trip sometime next year. So sorry! Have a wonderful time if you go and enjoy the beautiful weather!
![8 Reasons Why Americans LEAVE Costa Rica [Why I Left]](/img/n.gif)
I really love your detailed travel tips. You give very good hints. Especially with places you been.
Thank you for your point of view about my country. I'm glad you guys had a really good time here! Thank you again!
It was beautiful; we hope to visit when it is not as hot. Which month do you recommend?
Thank you so much for this! Im traveling to Costa Rica with my sister who is a United FA and this was SO helpful and I am so excited! 🤗
Oh, wow! Y'all will have a blast!
Great information. Thank you, Laurie!
Thanks for the tips I love just hearing about my new trip- Maya
Woohoo! Thank you for watching!
I just love you Laurie! Thank you again
These are great tips. I just discovered your channel this week, so I’m binge watching leading up to a trip to Panama on Saturday. Thank you for sharing these.
Oh how beautiful of an area. Thank you for watching!
Thanks for the information! We are looking forward to our trip soon!
So glad! Hope it's wonderful!
La Shonda Richardson, vacationing in CR is beautiful, I would recommend the flamingo area, beaches, white and black or brown sandy beaches, sunsets are amazing. Food is yummy. From Flamingo you can get to most area by driving or tours. Waterfalls, Volcano's. Rafting, horse back riding. Night life, enjoy
Omg Thankyou so much for these amazing tips .. I am from New York and I plan on going in the dry season ..
Well, there are some really pretty areas so make sure you research the prettier areas that I did not know about. But we thoroughly enjoyed it because I did not have to lift a finger and was warm! Thanks for watching!
Very informative!!! My first time to Costa Rica end of November. Very excited 😎
So excited! You will be glad you are going at that time of year. Thanks for watching!
Thank you. This is very helpful.
Thank you for watching!
I appreciate your ideas and tips. We are going to the same resort next Friday for our honeymoon and your tips make me feel more confident 😁💗
Ooh, how amazing! Yay! It's beautiful and clean, and you'll be married! Thank you for watching.
Thanks for the helpful tips. Can't wait, I'll be there in 2 weeks! We are planning to rent a car and explore this beautiful country😄
LOVED this country. You are going at a great weather time. Thank you for watching.
Thank you for the tips! Just purchased our sunsect!
Hopefully, you won't need it at all, Jess. It's going to be beautiful! Thanks again!
Nice tips! We just go back from Costa Rica. What a great place.
Aaah, fun and beautiful! Thanks for watching. Any mosquitos in the summer?
We were there in the Spring and no mosquito. We had more of a problem with scorpions. it must be cold there for you coming from Houston. I've been to Houston many times and man its hot there :)
Love this!
Yay! Hope they help, Alex. I forgot to say that nothing can be in your pockets when you walk through the metal detector. Thank you for watching!
Thanks for tips!
We are going in March!
Oh yay! It will be beautiful and you will be on vacay!
Very good advice! I’m glad you liked it here :)
We have so much more to see! Thanks for watching!
Thank you this video is very helpful :-)
Thank you for watching!
Clear and passionate. Excellent .
Thank you so much 😀 for watching this old video.
Thanks for the tip...
awesome, thanks
Why am I looking at this? I live in Costa Rica!
Anyway good video, you are more than welcome to visit our country again :)
Thank you for looking.
Hi ! I'm looking forward to visit Costa Rica. I'm planning on going to the grocerie store and cook most of my food. Could you tell me what I should expect compared with food markets in the usa? Thanks.
Wonderful video thank you
Thanks for watching!
I've been to Costa Rica 4 times. I married a beautiful Costa Rican lady and have stayed locally. Best times I've had. Beautiful country with lots to see. The beaches are lovely. I have stayed in bed and breakfast, air bnb , a hotel and a resort. Everything was really good. I love the country the people and the the culture. Can't wait to get back.
I will ask you many questions when we return. Thank you for being so nice.
Yes, I would like to visit Costa Rica. Looks gorgeous.
I've heard there are much prettier areas too.
Great video, thanks. Did you get any shots beforehand?
This recommendations may apply to Guanacaste but not necessarily to the rest of the country.
Costa Rica is a very diverse country, where there are many microclimates from hot to cold, all in a few hours of travel.
There are also white and even pink sand beaches, it is a matter of consulting well before traveling.
Yes, I cannot WAIT to visit the rest.
Thanks for visiting our tiny and beautiful country Laurie, please visit other destination in Costa Rica next time so you can get a better idea what else is here for you, blessings
Next time! I need to go back for sure! Thanks for your recommendations.
Awesome!! Traveling to Costa Rica for Thanksgiving- 2021. From Dallas FortWorth,Texas ♥️
EEEEK It should be beautiful!
Hey I’m from Costa Rica and there’s a couple facts that are kind of wrong for example the bathroom fact it’s true but most of the tourists go to the principal airport in the capital of the country and that airport is bigger so there’s more stalls. And the beaches on the pacific of the country they are not necessarily black/ brownish sand and dark water, if you search well you’ll find white sand and light blue beaches. It’s also worth it visit other parts of the country like the mountains, the Caribbean or the city
yes, she was saying that at the Liberia airport specifically, there's only one stall near baggage claim and IF you have a long drive to the coast it might prove beneficial to use the plane's restroom
Hello Julianse99 i would love to know more about Guanacaste all inclusive resorts that has white sand beach in it do you have any recommendations? Thank you.
CG!! Yay for bold!
Pura vida!! Me gusta que le gusta mi país 🥰. Yo he vivido en EU por 50+ años.
Very nice video...thank you. The equator runs well south of Costa Rica. It runs through Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil.
So far away but still can be so hot. Thanks for watching!
Thank you great tips! I'm traveling there in February for my birthday
I hope they helped. There are so many helpful hints depending on what specific area you're going to out there in the UA-cam land so do your research. Thank you!
Marie Pierre...I'm going early March
Might run into you!:)
Thank you for all the tips (especially the bathroom tip in the airport)! It really helped us prepare for the journey! Cannot wait to head to Costa Rica!
Thanks for watching!
Are you still waiting 😂?
@@carlosvaltarena1765 Haha no we were able to go aha 😂
Thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you for watching!
Watching this four years late but that’s okay! Leaving in a few weeks for this resort. We didn’t realize at first that it was on the Pacific Ocean and hubby had already gone ahead and booked it. At first I was disappointed but I quickly changed gears and am now calling it our jungle adventure. Looking forward to new experiences!
It will be a wonderful vacation!
Hi I like the video Laurie, but consider going to the Caribbean of Costa Rica too, you will find the type of white sand cristal clear beach you maybe looking for at the South Caribean beaches I recommend you Manzarillo and Cocles, but its a different tye of tourism is a calm and quiet place no big resorts but small cozy hotels
Thank you. Going in July a little nervous.
Oh it’ll be great!
Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed beautiful Costa Rica! Just one thing is that what you said about all the beaches having dark sand is untrue.
We have a condo in beautiful Reserva Conchal on the Guanacaste coast and it is white sand with shells at one end. The beach is about 1 mile & 1/2 long and the water is crystal blue. Maybe you can travel there next time! It is extraordinary!
I want to go there next time and in February! Thank you for watching!
Conchal is fantastic maybe the best white sand in the country congrats
Love your accent!!!! "If you're visiting Costa Rica for the first TAM"
:) Thanks for watching!
Laurie watching a little late. Great review, thanks. My only disappointment was learning that the water was not blue and the sand was not white. It’s still a beautiful place and I am planning a trip soon.
Laurie, if you had visit Conchal beach in Brasilito, where the sand is white and waters very clear you would have had much more to talk about. There are clear and white sand beaches
For white sand try Manuel Antonio , Conchal & others , we have both
thanks for the bathroom tip
I have to know about bathroom situations! :) Thank you for watching!
Your tips were great! Thank you. Also spf of 15 does nothing to your skin. SPF of 36 is your minimum. Your main focus should be UVA/UVB protection. But 15 is better than nothing. Great product if it was higher spf. Also flying into San Jose is much more recommend. The Caribbean side is also very pretty.
I agree; cannot wait to go to San Jose. Thanks for watching!
Good!
My parents are both Costa Rican! My maternal grandparents and relatives are from San José, and my aunt/cousins are from San Isidro! My favorite place to go is Playa Jaco (Jaco Beach). Costa Rica is absolutely a beautiful lush country! I also write Costa Rican children's literature as well ! ¡Pura Vida! 🏖⛱ 🌴 🇨🇷 🦜
Aah, I really need to visit other areas. Enjoy your country!!
@@TravelTipsbyLaurie Thank you! :)
thx pop
Thanks for watching!
I will never do it, but it was fun hearing about your trip.
God it’s annoying when someone goes on a 2 week trip and makes generalizations about the whole country when you’ve only seen a small, small part of it!! The beaches aren’t all black, it’s not as hot in other parts, it’s not dry everywhere and rainy season varies from one area to another. Tipping is generally only done in the Americanized resorts and not a Costa Rican custom. If you are thinking of travelling there, please don’t judge it by this video!
Laurie - When you talk about the weather down here you said in general "the weather in Costa Rica is hot etc.... " but you were on an specific location "Liberia" and it has a completely different weather than the Caribbean Coast, middle of the country, the capital San Jose etc, etc.... it's like saying the weather in USA referencing only an specific location such as NY or FL. I remember once I talked to a group of US tourist in Cartago area that were freezing because they were not prepared for that tour, wearing short pants, T-shirts, sandals and complaining nobody told them about the temperature there ....
I cannot wait to see the other parts of this country. Sorry if this was confusing. Thank you for the clarification.
Gracias, bienvenida
There are some beautiful beaches with golden sand and clear water in South Caribean Coast, near Puerto Viejo.
I can't wait to go back. Thanks for watching!
Puerto Viejo is also full of thieves and narcos. Be careful if you go over there and do not stay out late. Most Costa Ricans do not go there if they do not live there, it is that dangerous.
I dont know when you go there, but now it´s safer than the past, sometimes robberies occur, but most are by carelessness of people. The community has been organized to improve security, I've been there many times and I've been out late and I have not had any problems.
I have a home above Alajuela and am there about 5 months out of the year.
Greg...i was seeing the comments and i came across yours...and i needed to correct your statement. ...all over in any country you'll find narcos, even in alajuela ...and regarding the Caribbean side of CR is not dangerous as you are saying actually is more natural and preserved than the Pacific but you wil find mosquitoes there for sure
Laurie- we’re heading to RIU Guanacaste next month. I cannot find the sunscreen/repellent on Amazon!! Can you list the brand/product information here please??
What is the name of the mosquito repellent lotion and where can I get it?
I love 💘 coffee
Nice you like my coutry , thanks , pura vida
Pura vida to you! Thank you for watching.
Nice video, my husband just brought up exploring the idea of traveling there. He found out Americans are retiring there...I’m cracked up 😂 I’ve watched so many videos, and tv shows discussing ex-pats lol. Best of luck with your channel, you should get in touch with Don Terris at Don’s Family Vacations. He primarily focuses on cruising, but he’s open to creating collaboration videos, he helped another YT channel add a nice bump in subscribers.
I totally searched expat sites to know what to look for when we were there, Valerie. So many expats! Thanks for the tip and thank you for watching.
We are going there soon. 2 questions, please.
1. How much English can I expect?
2. Are there people out on the beach hustling and hassling you the way they do in the Caribbean ?
¡Hola! ¿Cómo estas?
Soy Carlos Quesnelle. Me gusta Costa Rica y cúltura de Tico.
Not a lot of information from this nice lady. First, there are two international airports (Liberia and San Jose) so it depends on where you are headed as to your arrival location. If you are going only to Guanacaste/Arenal areas then you would fly to Liberia. Most other locations, fly into San Jose. Currency is Colones and most places should only take them and not dollars. For the Pacific beaches, keep in mind the surf is bad at many places and swimming can be very dangerous. Know your limitations and never go far out past your waist. There are few lifeguards in CR and they are not like LA County lifeguards, and if you need medical attention, hospitals can be a long way from where you are near the beach. By far the best hospital in CR is CIMA hospital in San Jose (really Escazu), where they take TriCare cards from vets and have a great facility. Fruit there is great as is the coffee, but the CR fare is generally bland and focused on Gallo Pinto and chicken. The best food in CR can be found in Limon, as the Jamaican influence is heavy and you will find lots of Jamaicans living there. The roads are the worst in Central America so keep that in mind when driving and there are few guardrails to keep you on the road. There are lots of places to go there, like Arenal, seeing the turtles on the Caribbean side in a place called Tortuguero National Park, Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park to name a few. If you want white sand beaches go to Quepos/Manuel Antonio, which is about 7 hours drive from Liberia. Keep in mind prostitution is legal in Costa Rica so certain places (downtown San Jose and Jaco Beach) are havens for tourists looking to score with Colombian or Dominican girls. Jaco is not a family friendly beach so you must go south to get away from the hustle of selling dope or girls. Playa Hermosa is a big surfing beach if you are into surfing and being in the south of CR. Up North there is more surfing and tons of surfers. As for dry and wet seasons that is true, but you should always be prepared for rain and some cooler climates in CR, especially at higher elevations in the country. FYI I have lived in CR for three years and also lived in El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize and Jamaica.
Kevin, great knowledge to know before deciding where to go. Yes, we chose Liberia because the drive to our beach resort was much shorter than if we had landed in San Jose. Thank you for watching!
Kevin, since you live in CR I was wondering if you have any info you'd like to share regarding Tamarindo. We are staying about a 15-20 walk SW of the town itself. Planning on taking a day tour to Rincón de la Vieja area with either Goolonukos Tours or Xplore Costa Rica. Any thoughts?
@@seanbradley5614 Not a big fan of Tamarindo or Jaco to be honest with you. What do you want to do? Many folks who go to Tamarindo are younger and some are surfers so if many are surfing and drinking. No problem with partying if that is what you want to do there. Maybe Las Baulas park if you want to try to see turtles, depending on the season.
Nice reply, much better than the actual video. Gracias
En realidad, el mejor hospital del país es el Hospital San Juan de Dios.
You obviously have not been to Playa Flamingo! The sand is white!!! Gorgeous!
I feel like I need to do a re-do.
I just think you should travel the entire country first before making such general statements about a country you’ve only seen a very small part of. People see this and will make uninformed decisions.
Very informative. We do not read Spanish, is it ok for us to rent a vehicle and drive? Looking forward to visiting there after this mess is over and we can travel again.
Hmmm I do not remember the signs; but it is not super trafficey so live adventurously! Thanks for watching.
There are evite sabe beaches in Guanacaste. Flamingo, Conchal and many other a.
Thank you for sharing! When you mention bringing cash, are you saying Costa Rican money?
US dollars - some tours only accept US cash. But you will know that on their websites. At our ATM at our RIU resort, we could choose US or Costa Rican money. So we got both throughout the week. Dollar bills are great for paying the taxi driver to and from your hotel too. Thank you for watching! Beautiful country!
Use ATM's to get Costa Rican Colones. If you want to exchange dollars at a bank you will need your passport and lots of time. They literally write down every serial number of every bill. Yes you pay a fee to use the ATM but for me saving an hour + waiting to exchange money is much better. Also the 1st and 15th are paydays and the ATM's will run out of money or they will restrict you on how much you can withdraw if they are getting low on funds. Do not use BCR unless you need less than 200.00 as they will only let you withdraw 200.00 at a time resulting in more bank fees.
You can use whatever you want us dolar , colones ,credit card , debit , not a problem
Sunscreen/Bug Repellent what is the brand.?
Helpful video. Can you advise if I should just take US $ or colonnades for local transaction? Since you mentioned tipping in US$, would it be acceptable to tip in colonnades too?
Either is fine. It was easier for us to take alot of small bills. It's easy either denomination. Thank you for watching.
You meam colones
Generaly tipping is not the norm in restaurants.
What is the name of the Sunscreen/Bug Repellent
What was the name of the sunscreen bug repellant? The link isnt working.
Here ya go; I fixed it. Thank you for watching: amzn.to/2LC6eFK
Do you have a newer video on Costa Rica?
Hi I do not.
Why do we have to get the 2oz and not the 4oz? For the bug repellent
Oh, I just didn't want you to mistakenly get the 4 ounce if it was going to go in your carryon liquids bag. Only 3.4 ounce containers are allowed in your carryon liquids bag. Thank you for watching!
"Beautiful green fauna" hadn't heard that the animals turn green after the rain there before.
Laurie whst is the combo lotion and sunscreen?
Hi, it was Sunsect.
My husband and are going in January we hope to take at least one day trip? Most likely to the arenol. We live in Canada should we book before we go if so which your company do you recommend? The ones I have looked at are really pricey. The thank you
Sandy, it's going to be wonderful. We like booking things beforehand so we can go ahead and pay ahead of time. I don't want to skimp on a tour either. I know they can be expensive, but you want a good tour. Maybe you could read reviews about that tour group. Everyone we used is in the description box below my other Costa Rica video - Review of the RIU Guanacaste. Hope that helps.
TravelTipsbyLaurie which tour company did you use again?
What’s the best and cheapest way to get around tamarindo beach ?
Walk
Hello. Were you able to do some shopping into town? Was a taxi easy to get?
We always used a van; we didn't need to shop on that vacation. I wish I was more help. Tourism is their number one income so I'm sure it will be great. Thanks for watching!
You can get a taxi or a cab easily athe the front desk
I can’t find the sunscreen/mosquito repellent you referred to? Can you tell me what it’s called?
I corrected it in the description box: amzn.to/373i5Ex and it's called Sunsect. Looks like they also have foil packets, but that might be alot to bring. Thanks for watching and have a great time!
As a Costa Rican I appreciate the video. It is lovely. I do defend the tipping thing. People who live of tourist service had it rough during the pandemic. We as Costa Ricans in general do not get paid well, so if service is good why not tip? This is the reason why Costa Ricas get poor service at hotels and Americans get better treatment. Duh! I tip a dollar or two to my fellow Costa Ricans and they treat me like a Queen. I also try to stay humble and not stuck up. I always tip after eating at a restaurant even if service is included because the servers never get that money. Tipping a few dollars won't make you poor, it will make somebody's day and get you better service.
Hi, did I say anything about not tipping? I love to tip for service.
@@TravelTipsbyLaurie I was responding to the other comments, many from Costa Ricans themselves who recommend no tipping and said you tipped too much. I was actually defending your points and love tourists like you who are generous and understand we live with way lower incomes. Keep the videos coming and come back to Costa Rica. You'll enjoy the beaches in the South Pacific.
Oh, now I see. When I get notified of a reply, it does not show me that. Thanks for clarifying and for being so nice to them!
Well I am going to Costa Rica for the first time from Canada. And just found out that the Sunscreen Insect Repellent is illegal in Canada... Darn !
I'm sure you can find some there, or shade. It'll be beautiful.
The sunscreen link doesn’t work anymore, can you please either give me the name or update the link? Thanks!
Hi, it's Sunsect.
Sunsect is no longer available. Any recommendation on a different product? Thx
Hi! It does come in other containers, but I do not think there is one travel sized. Sorry!
@@TravelTipsbyLaurie I can’t find it anywhere. Google is not my friend 😆If it’s an 8oz bottle, I would dump it into a travel bottle. Thx
What is the name of the sunscreen?
It should be in the description box, JoAnn. Loved it! Thank you for watching!
While on a two hour zip line excursion, is there anywhere to use the bathroom, ?
You can easily walk back to the start because there is a path, but I think it would hold up your group or you would miss a line. But they have them where you check in. Thanks for watching!
If I’m going in June what kind of weather are we going to expect (the jungle)?
I am not sure; research all the sides of the country because we were on the dark sand side and not in the rainforest-y area. Thank you for watching!
Depending of the area to visit, we have microclimates, if its in Guanacaste (tropical dry forest) where this hotel is located, it will be a bit hot and get a bit of rain probably, if in other areas maybe more rain and if visiting central Valley, the temperature will not be hot, in average 18°C-23°C
The Amazon link for bug repellent sunscreen does not open on Amazon. What is the name of it so I can search by name. Thank you
Oh sorry!! It is Sunsect.
The link for the sunscreen bug repellent is no longer any good. Can you tell me the brand please
Oh sorry. It's Sunsect. Thank you for watching!
Helooooo whats the name of the mosquito lotion ? and what web site you can get it from ??? thanks !!!
Hi! It is called Sunsect; I think Amazon only sells it as a packet now. Thanks for watching.
@@TravelTipsbyLaurie graciassss
Great tips, I really enjoy all your videos, Were staying at the Riu Guanacaste, is it accurate that they don't have coffee makers in the rooms? We really early morning coffee on our balcony when we travel so if that;s true I will need to take our travel coffee maker. Also were going there in February any tips you can give as we are only doing 2 day trips and the rest of the time staying and enjoying the resort, can you enjoy it with that much heat...lol?
One more question...my husband is a smoker , yes I know I hate it too any advise I will pass on to him about the rules.
It is going to be beautiful this time of year! I'm so excited for y'all! I think there was a coffee machine right under the liquor. You could email the RIU. We emailed them I believe. Thank you for watching!
the biggest mistake you all made was staying at a resort and in the northern pacific if you would have gone to the southern pacific area it would have been less touristy and way cheaper my wife and i have been going to Costa Rica for 20 years and have found out the southern pacific is one of the best places to visit
Jody, thanks for watching! Our airline family benefits flew us there so we had to stay on that side.
Jody can u please give me your favorite town to research. This will be my first visit. I am a beach person. Thanks
Sam we go to the southern pacific area google Dominical and Uvita if you rent a car be sure and get a 4x4 you will need it here is my email if you want more info jablackwell68@hotmail.com
Jody Blackwell, I'm about to go and have no idea what I'm doing. Where to go, where to stay, any help would be AWESOME!
Fan52 email me please jablackwell68@hotmail.com i can forward you places to go see eat and stay that will not cost you a lot.
How can you expect Caribbean waters if you were in the Pacific coast?
You're so right; I really need to go back. It was still beautiful!
Dental work before a tour and finishing dental work after our tour.
What is the name of the sunscreen bug repellant?
Sunsect; I think it's not sold in 2 oz but foil packets now. Thank you for watching!
This might be a stupid question but did you use American money or did you convert it? Or did you mainly use card? First time traveling outside the country!! Thanks
We used American money for tips as well as for excursions. Some we paid for online, but some we had to pay cash in person when we did the excursion. Thanks!
What’s the name of the sunscreen it’s not working
It was Sunsect.
i am trying to find the sunscreen yoy reccommend but cant find it
Hi! It looks like it comes in pouches now: bit.ly/2LjFqZE
Hello, can you use your video for some marketing?
yes!
Nice tips but I'm from Costa Rica and you are wrong about the color of the sand, there are many beaches, some of them have dark sand as you said but others have white sand even gold sand and clear water, blue or turquoise, I recommend a web page (goplaya.cr) where you can see what to expect in many beaches of Costa Rica.
I need to try those beaches! Thank you for watching.
You are NOT in top of the Ecuator. Ecuator is on top of the Ecuator, Costa Rica is NOT. The sand is NOT dark all over, mainly in the Guanacaste area, from Punta arenas down the sand is white. The Caribbean beaches are way better than the Pacific beaches. However generally speaking is a matter of taste.
Thanks for the knowledge. Hope to go back!
Guess she meant to say: “north of the equator “........! My opinion...!!!
What is Keene’s
Keens are shoes that can get wet and have support: bit.ly/42HZtHR
Is it necessary to have medical insurances for travelers? Thanks
And are medical insurance expensive?
I would purchase travel insurance if you are going on a cruise next year. If it cancels or if you get COVID you can cancel last minute. I always have medical insurance, but I do not know the prices.
@@TravelTipsbyLaurie thanks a lot for your response! But I am unpleasantly suprised that you said “the next year”! Do you mean that I can not visit the country this month 😱😱😱
@@carlosvaltarena1765 Sorry for the misunderstanding. I mean travelers insurance if you go on a cruise trip sometime next year. So sorry! Have a wonderful time if you go and enjoy the beautiful weather!
What's a KEENS???
They're shoes like Teva or CROCS that can get wet and dry easily. Thank you for watching!
Can you remember if the ATM in the hotel was free??
I think it was not. Have fun! Could you call the desk?