When traveling it is essential to plan ahead, so when you arrive at your destination, you lessen the chances of being at a loss of what to do. Knowledge gained from other's travels can be invaluable, especially when planning to travel to somewhere you have never been before. The advice on this page is helpful to everyone planning a trip to Costa Rica.
The money used in Costa Rica is called colons. You can change dollars into colons at the airports in San Jose and local banks. The exchange rates can be from the low 200s to 400s colons for each US dollar. (Now everywhere in Costa Rica you can buy or pay in US dollars, but I think things are cheaper if you pay in colons.) Other ways you might get colons is if you pay for something in US dollars, you will receive change in colons. During my stay at Costa Rica, I once paid a cab driver in US money, and I received change in the local currency. You should also make sure your dollars are not torn. Local banks and businesses do not accept torn US dollars. I tried to exchange a torn $50 bill, and the bank would not accept it!
On my trip I brought my money half in dollars and the other half in American Express cheques. When a traveler cheque is used there will be a commission fee.
Costa Rica has two seasons – the dry season and the green season (or rainy season). The dry season is from December to March. The dry season is the busiest time in Costa Rica. Prices are much higher and it is harder to find a place to stay. Now in the green season you will find much cheaper prices. The green season is from April to November. During the rainy season it generally rains for a few hours and then clears up.
Bus – You can catch one to most parts of the country. There are a few places where the bus comes only once a day though…
Cab – There are red cabs throughout the country. If the cab driver tells you the meter is broker, just get out. First it is illegal for a cab driver to drive with a broken meter in Costa Rica; secondly he might just be trying to rip you off.
Renting a Car – You can rent a car, but to me personally I would find driving in Costa Rica difficult, since I'm not from the country and it seems there are a lack of street signs. Also the prices for a car rental can be pretty expensive.
Local airlines – You can catch local flights to places throughout Costa Rica. They are regularly scheduled and reasonably inexpensive.
Cities in Costa Rica are San jose (The Capital) Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Jaco, Liberia, Manuel Antonio, park, Pochote, Puerto Limon, Puntarenas, Parismina, and Tamarindo.
| ©2005 Terrell James. All rights reserved. |
California, the State. San Francisco, the city. Monterey, the town. John Steinbeck, the author. For this Steinbeck fan, San Francisco is quite close to heaven. From San Francisco it is an easy drive down the peninsula to Santa Cruz and into Steinbeck territory.
I fly into San Francisco airport late in the afternoon. The signs are
immediate America. 'No Ped Xing', 'Squeeze right', 'Occupation by more
than 132 persons unlawful'. From Rent-a-Wreck I collect a Chevrolet in
two tones -- cat-sick green and vile yellow. A veritable pimpmobile.
And was it not in a car like this I drove into San Francisco for the
1967 Summer of Love, to
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This article gives advice about places to visit, places to stay and places to eat in Scotland. Scotland is a superb country to visit and it is steeped in history. With famous cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland has plenty to offer for everyone.
Edinburgh Castle has been a focal point of the Edinburgh skyline for over eight hundred years.
It includes the Scottish National War Museum, which lists all of Scotland's war dead since 1914.
Adult admission to the castle is currently £8 and for children it is only £2.
Loch Ness and the Great Glen is a
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Walking takes me around the great cities of the world in style, and it saves me a lot of money as well. Consider London. There you can walk and be guided at the same time.
When I was young and ran a publishing company in London my offices were in Barnard's Inn. This is where Mr Pocket lived in 'Great Expectations'. Around the corner was a group of buildings which had survived the Great Fire of London.
I mention this not to boast, but to show that in London you cannot
avoid history as long as you walk. Almost anywhere you care to stand
you are near
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When people ask about the top sights to see in the south Florida
area including Fort Lauderdale and Miami, I always advise them to
try and make some time to go down to the Florida Keys. The
Florida Keys are the string of islands just south of the Florida
mainland and runs 120 miles from end to end. Fort Lauderdale and
Miami are fun but for a relaxing change of pace, the Florida Keys
is the place to be. For snorkellers and scuba divers going to
south Florida, I would consider Florida Keys a must. The waters
around Key Largo are a protected marine park with a very
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Perched atop the Sierra Nevada is the world's second largest alpine lake, Lake Tahoe.
Vacation rentals in Lake Tahoe are situated in the midst of all major attractions such as world-class ski resorts, magnificent golf courses and excellent casinos. Lake Tahoe vacation rentals offers you a wide range of vacation homes ranging from affordable vacation rental homes to luxurious condos in both the regions of North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe. Straddled by California and Nevada on each end, a vacation home in Lake Tahoe is the best way to enjoy a perfect vacation. Whether you are a water sport
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