Tag Archives: Travel Tips

5 Tips for Booking Tours in Costa Rica

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Over the past week or so Shaun and I have been travelling in La Fortuna, and Monteverde, some of the busiest tourist towns in all of Costa Rica.

These areas have lots of sights to see, but all of the attractions are pretty spread out. When you add up transportation costs, park entrance fees, and guides, the cheapest way to see everything you want to see is by booking a tour.

We put on our tourist hats and dove into the world of tours, and tour companies. Throughout our week we went on some amazing tours, and went on some real stinkers.

Here are a couple tips we’ve picked up along the way to help make your tour experiences a level 10.

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5 Tips for Booking Tours in Costa Rica.

1- Shop Around: The amount of tour companies in tourist towns such as Monteverde, and La Fortuna can be very overwhelming. There are people calling out to you on every street corner trying to sell you a tour. Your own hotel will likely be trying to do the same thing.

In some towns we visit, we find that everyone offers the same tours, at the same prices, yet here in La Fortuna, we noticed big differences in many of the tours costs.  So before you commit, just take a look around. If you are on a budget, shop around to the various tour company’s, talk to them, and don’t be afraid to barter. Some companies are jacking up their prices, hoping that tourists will just commit without doing their research.

2-Don’t Sacrifice Safety For Price: Although finding a good deal is important, safety should always come first. It may be tempting to save some money by booking the cheap white-water rafting tour with the guy on the side of the road whose “buddy” has a boat, but don’t sacrifice your safety for a bargain. Adventures are called adventures for a reason, they often involve some risk. Make sure that your guides have the proper training, and insurance to keep you safe, and protected.

3-Do Your Homework: As much as we’d like to do all the tours, the costs can really add up. So, take the time to figure out what your priorities are. Read the guidebooks, check Trip Advisor, and ask around to find out what things you really want to see, and what you can pass on. I recently graciously passed on the opportunity to take a tour to some snake and bat exhibits. Such a sacrifice I know.

4-Make Sure The Tour is Right For You: Have you had both knees replaced? An intense four hour hike might not be for you. Have a crippling fear of water? White-water rafting might not be your bag. We all have limitations, and as much as we want to experience everything, sometimes we can’t. A reputable tour company will be honest about what a tour entails, and it is in your best interest to listen. I’m speaking from experience on this one, I recently took La Fortuna’s second most difficult hike with a four year old in the group. *sigh*

5- Invest in a Quality Experience: Imagine waiting your entire life to tour the Arenal Volcano, just to have your guide pick you up in an old dented van, and have him only speak a couple words of English. Or finally getting to see the Cloud Forst of Monteverde, only to have your guide read from a guidebook the whole time.

The best tours we’ve had have been from reputable, long tenured companies. You may not get the screaming deal you’ll find from the guy on the side of the road, but you are going to end up with a higher degree of safety, and quality and ultimately end up with a more memorable experience.

So there you have it, a couple tips on booking tours while in Costa Rica. I have so many great recaps coming your way about all the adventures we’ve had over the last week or so. Stay Tuned!

Do you have any tips for booking tours?

Pura Vida!

Kate

6 Tips to Survive a Travel Illness

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Well, I guess you aren’t really a traveller until you can write a post like this from experience. Unlike Shaun, who has faced travel illness before (including once on this trip already), I was a virgin. It doesn’t help matters, that I am an uber wimp when it comes to being sick.

After Mal Pais, we came back to Montezuma for one day. We had planned a 12km hike in the morning to see a waterfall, and then had our sights set on the national park in the afternoon. It was going to be a full day, but I was pumped, and ready. So, you can imagine my dismay when I woke up in the middle of the night with all sorts of things wrong with my body.

The morale of the story is Shaun spent one very boring day in Montezuma, while I spent a very dismal day in a darkened hostel room with a leak in the ceiling. Low point Kate, low point.

Now that that moment in time is a distant memory, I feel I can give everyone a few tips that helped me survive my bought of illness.

Taken the morning after my 24 hours in bed. My expression pretty much sums up my thoughts on this travel day.

Taken the morning after my 24 hours in bed. My expression pretty much sums up my thoughts on this travel day.

6 Ways to Survive a Travel Illness

  1.  Get Comfortable: You’re likely going to be getting up close and personal with your bed for an extended period of time, so try and get as comfortable as possible. If this means requesting extra pillows or blankets then do it. This also might mean changing beds entirely, and getting a different room. If there was ever a time to spring for something a little out of your price range, this is it. There is no sense in both your body, and your bed being uncomfortable, you might as well fix the one you have control over.
  2. Temperature Control: I don’t know what I would have done without a/c during my illness, and it was just a fluke that we had it that day. If you are in the tropics, it makes a huge difference, as you can crank it during your hot spells, and turn it down during your cold spells. That being said, sometimes you are stuck with no other option. In that case, a big bowl of ice in front of your fan can help keep it cool. and never forget about the cold washcloth on the forehead trick. Makes you feel just like Mom is there.
  3. Hydrate: SO important. Water, Gatorade, Broth, Watermelon. Whatever kind of clear liquids you can get in you is a good thing. I used a clear water bottle so I could keep track of how much I was drinking.
  4. Find Entertainment: In a perfect world, you are in a hostel or hotel with WiFi in your room, and you have an endless supply of Netflix to keep the time that you are conscious occupied. We all know that the majority of the time, that is just not a reality. Reading is one option, but I found I didn’t want the lights on, and I found it hard to concentrate. My entertainment was podcasts. I have an endless array of comedy, storytelling, and interview related podcasts on my iPhone. I think I had them playing for 10 hours straight that day. My faves? Smodcast, This American Life, Nerdist, WTF, You Made it Weird, Stuff Mom Never Told You…just to name a few.
  5. Buddy System: If you are travelling with a partner, make sure they check in on you, and grab you supplies as needed. Travelling on your own? Don’t suffer in silence. If there is one thing I’ve learned, hostels are amazing places, and there is always someone who is will help. Avid travellers have all been there, so ask for help if you need it.
  6. Seek Medical Assistance: You can catch some funky ass things in tropical countries, none of which you want to take home with you. If you’ve caught something that feels out of your league or you’ve been sick for a while, go to Doctor. Chances are they are going to have a way easier time figuring out what’s wrong with you then if you take you tropical illness back home with you. That’s why you got your travel medical insurance right…right???

So there you have it. I’m happy to be writing this post from the other end of the tunnel, and hope I don’t have to take my advice again on this trip.

I certainly hope you are reading this post solely out of enjoyment of my blog, and not because you Googled “how to survive a travel illness”. If you did, poor button, you’ll make it! Tweet me, I’ll give you a virtual hug!

Any tips you want to share? What was your worst travel illness experience?

Pura Vida!

Kate

Follow me on Twitter: @caketress

Easy Vacation Hair Styles

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With a name like Hostels and Hot Rollers, you can imagine I know a thing or two about hair.

If I’m given the opportunity to get glam I’m going with big hair, like June Carter Cash. When I’m at home, hair spray, blow dryers, and curlers are my friends.

Here… Things are a little different.

A big day for hair is day I manage to wash my hair. A glam day is a day I wash it with hot water!

Luckily braids work best when your hair is dirty. It’s like all the dirt, and sweat makes a natural gel (ew?). I thought I would share a couple of my go to looks that I’ve been rocking during our time here.

You don’t have to be on vacation to try these ladies, I wear these low maintenance looks back home as well!

The side twist

The side twist

The side twist: I have bangs. Bangs that have seen the light of day four times in the nearly seven weeks we’ve been here. Sweat, lack of hair dryer, and my intense cowlick mean most days I twist my bangs to the side, and pin them with two bobby pins. Here is how I do it

1- Separate the entire section you want to twist and brush the rest or your hair back.

Twisty strands over each other

Twisty strands over each other

2- Decide where you want your twist to start, and separate the hair in that area into two pieces. I usually start mine two inches above my ear.

3-Twist the strands across each other once, then gather some more hair into the front of your hair, and twist again.

bobby pin time

bobby pin time

4-Repeat the process until you’ve reached the other end of your head, and secure it with two criss-crossing bobby pins.

Once you’ve practiced this a couple times, you can do this in your sleep. It is my go-to hair style for both home, and travel.

Highlights always look better in a french braid

Highlights always look better in a french braid

French Braid: A surfer girl classic. This is a great way to keep your hair out of your face. It also creates a cushion of hair on your head for when your surfboard bonks you in the noggin (speaking from experience!) I love this look because you don’t have any parts showing. It’s the perfect way to avoid the dreaded hair part burn. Check out this tutorial for instructions!

Date Night look!

Date Night look!

The Side Braid: Date Night! On the odd occasion I wear my hair down, and want to do something a little fancier then the side twist, this is my go to. Essentially you are creating a side twist but instead of pinning the hair to the side of your head, pull the hair away from your head, split it into three sections, and braid the strands down to the end.

French braid to the side

French braid to the side

Once you’ve mastered these two techniques, the world is your oyster. Play around with different angles of braiding, braiding all the way to the bottom of your hair, or just doing the top, and pulling the rest into a bun.

And remember ladies, worst comes to worst…hats are your friend!

What other travel style/beauty tutorials do you want me to write about?

Pura Vida!

Kate

Follow me on Twitter: @caketress