Monday, April 27, 2009

Before you go...

Some last-minute tips I thought of before you Costa Rica-bound students leave, plus some reminders:

 (less than 2 weeks now!)

1. Don't forget to pack a backpack to take your weekend stuff in for the beach trips. I forgot to take a separate little backpack, and you definitely won't be able to fit your suitcases on those weekend excursions!

2. Carry your umbrella with you ALL THE TIME. It will rain pretty much every day, no matter what the weather is like in the morning.

3. Make sure you plan on going to FOFO on Mondays for ladies' night.  We always had so much fun at FOFO every Monday night!

4. Be sure to go to the restaurant "Pan e Vino" in Heredia YUM!

5. If you can fit it in your suitcase, take a beach towel.  It comes in very handy on the weekend
 trips, plus, it can serve as extra padding on those long, sleepy bus rides.

6. Keep a photocopy of your passport with you at all times, just in case.  Keep your original passport in a very, very safe place.

7. If you take your laptop, skype is AWESOME for keeping in touch with friends and family at home.  I definitely recommend downloading it.  If you are not taking a laptop, I suggest investing in some phone cards.  Home-stay families will allow you to use their phone to call home with your phone card.  If you don't buy one ahead of time, you can buy phone cards in many places in Heredia.

8. BE CAREFUL crossing the street!  Drivers in Costa Rica will NOT yield to pedestrians.

9. Don't waste your money on the malaria pills unless you want to be really, really, really safe.   I think only a handful of people took them last year, and they made them sensitive to the sun.

10. Take some playing cards or small games to busy yourself during free time.


And, most of all, have fun in Costa Rica!

5 comments:

  1. Thank you for the suggestions; a good list indeed. With regard to communicating with friends and family in the USA while in Costa Rica, Skype is definitely a good, free way to go. I have heard stories regarding call quality, however, which can sometimes be an issue, especially where Internet connections in Cost Rica are not as reliable. Perhaps it might be a good idea to bring along a phone card anyway?

    I work for a phone card company called SpeedyPin.com and we offer a guarantee on all of our Costa Rica phone cards, which is a definite plus. I've included a link, but understand if that's not something you want in your comments. If true, one can simply search Google for "costa rica phone cards."

    Happy traveling to Costa Rica! (:

    NOTE: If you can arrange for your family or friends to call you (USA to Costa Rica), it is a lot cheaper.

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  2. A lot of people ask me how I like living in Costa Rica. My answer is, it was the best decision that I made in my life. I came to Costa Rica 7 years ago on a vacation and quickly I fell in love with the beauty of the country and the hospitality of the people here. I couldn't wait to come back. I started coming here about 4 times per year and always had a great time and i didn't want to leave. Two years ago, I decided to leave Arizona and come to live in Paradise. I cannot tell you how happy I am that I made that decision. Today, I wake up next to the ocean and run on the beach every morning. I eat the most delicious fruits, vegetables and fresh seafood. My stress levels are much lower than when I was living in the States and the potential here for investing, truly is unlimited. The best part of living here is showing our clients this country. I really don't feel like I have a job for the first time in my life. The joy I receive when I see the look on people's faces when they get into the warm water of the Pacific Ocean is truly priceless. For those of you that have come and discovered paradise, you know what I am talking about. For those of you that are on the way, I can't wait to get you here. And to those who are thinking about Costa Rica, please do yourself a favor and come down. You will have the time of your life.
    lots in costa rica

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  5. I am so excited for my Costa Rica Adventure. I leave in September and will be there for three months. I plan to spend my time doing research and back packing all over! This blog provides a ton of helpful hints for those who are Costa Rica bound like myself!

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