Today: A travel guide to Costa Rica

My travel blog features a section that comprises a selection of destination & travel guides. You can find these travel guides under ‘destinations‘ in the blog’s header menu (indicated by the blue arrow in the screenshot below).

I hope these online travel guides – based on my own travel experiences – may help you to get the most out of your (luxury) trips. So far, I have published travel guides on the following destinations:

• Australia
• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• Greece
• Hawaii
• Indonesia
• India
• Italy
• Japan
• Maldives
• Namibia
• Oman
• Rwanda
• Seychelles
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Switzerland
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Vietnam
• West Canada & Rockies
• Zambia

Today, I am adding a new travel guide to my blog about Costa Rica.

Get the most out of your (luxury) trip to Costa Rica with my travel guide. Find out more about:

• Best time to visit
• How to get there
• Travel requirements
• Getting around
• Inspiration, highlights, & travel tips
• Suggested itineraries
• Recommended hotels (+ reviews)

TRAVEL GUIDE TO COSTA RICA: BEST TIME TO VISIT

Costa Rica is a tropical country, so you should be prepared for rain at any time of year. And that’s not a bad thing since it’s this rainfall that makes Costa Rica so lush and also a heaven for wildlife. The country’s climate is defined by two primary seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The dry season (or high season) is from December to April and it is considered the best time to visit as there’s a smaller chance of being drenched in the rain. The rainy season (or “green” season) is generally from May to November: it may rain for several days in a row and torrential rains are frequent, but on a positive note, hotel rates and tour prices are significantly lower and the country turns a wonderful deep green with waterfalls gushing.

The best time to visit Costa Rica depends on where you want to go as the country’s climate and seasons vary by region:

• The Osa Peninsula – home to the world-famous Corcovado National Park – is the most southern zone of Costa Rica and also the wettest area of the country. The dry season on the Osa Peninsula is relatively short and runs from January to March. Also, the dry season here is not dry at all as the area’s humidity is extremely high, usually resulting in an afternoon shower or thunderstorm.
• Guanacaste on the Northwest Pacific Coast experiences much less rain than the rest of Costa Rica. Even during the rainy season, it can be sunny here for several days in a row.
• Contrary to the rest of Costa Rica, the Caribbean Coast has its own climate. This area experiences the best weather from April to September, with often sunny skies and calm blue waters while the rest of Costa Rica is drenched in rain.
• During the summer months of July and August, the rainy season is in full swing in most of the country (except for the Caribbean Coast). Wildlife enthusiasts might prefer this time for a visit though since summer is the best time to observe green sea turtles on the coastline of the Tortuguero National Park and the whales in the Pacific Ocean around the town of Dominical.
• The months of September and October are the height of Costa Rica’s wet season. Travel during these months is not recommended as torrential heavy rainfall makes wildlife spotting difficult and roads may become impassable due to higher river crossings or landslides.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO COSTA RICA: HOW TO GET THERE

Most travelers arrive in Costa Rica via one of the country’s two major airports:

• Juan Santamaría International Airport is Costa Rica’s primary airport, serving it capital San José. The airport is named after Costa Rica’s national hero, Juan Santamaría, a drummer boy who died in 1856 defending his country against forces led by American filibuster William Walker. Click here for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to San Jose.
• Guanacaste Airport, known before as Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport is located close to the city of Liberia in the Guanacaste Province, and it serves as a tourism hub for those who visit the Pacific coast and western Costa Rica. Click here for a list of airlines that offer direct flight to Liberia.

If you are touring the entire country, I suggest you fly in via Juan Santamaria Airport and – after ending your holiday on the beach in northwestern Costa Rica – depart via Liberia.

Before you buy a plane ticket, consider reading my tips & tricks for buying the cheapest plane ticket. 

TRAVEL GUIDE TO COSTA RICA: ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for entry in Costa Rica differ from country to country, and are subject to change. Prior to departure, always check with your government and your nearest Costa Rican embassy or consulate what documents you need for travel to Costa Rica. Some important points:

• Visitors to Costa Rica must have a valid passport as well as proof of their intent to exit the country before their visa or entry stamp expires, usually within 90 days.
• All non-resident travelers must possess a return ticket or a ticket as proof of when they intend to exit the country, commonly referred to as an outbound exit or onward ticket.
• Travelers coming from the following countries must possess a yellow fever vaccination certificate before entry into Costa Rica will be allowed: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and the Republic of Guyana.

Make sure you read my 10 tips to plan a worry-free trip.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO COSTA RICA: GETTING AROUND

Getting around Costa Rica is comfortable but it can be time-consuming (roads in the mountains are narrow and winding, and there’s a lot of traffic). Significant improvements to the national highway network in the past few years have made traveling around the country much easier than it once was, and a new multi-lane highway is currently being built between San José and Liberia.

• If you’re short on time, the best way to travel within Costa Rica is by plane. The national carrier Sansa offers turbo-prop flights between the capital San José and the country’s many beach destinations and provincial towns. These flights can be particularly handy for traveling to the more remote corners of the country. For example, the flight from San José to Puerto Jiménez (the main town on the Osa Peninsula) takes just 50 minutes compared to six hours by car.
• Renting a car is the easiest and often cheapest way of getting around the country. The conditions of the roads in Costa Rica are quite good, plus with your own vehicle you can see the country at your own pace without having to adhere to plane or public transfer schedules. The majority of the car-rental companies are located nearby the international airports of San José and Liberia. Buying basic insurance is mandatory.
• If you are on a budget, you may consider public transport. Privately run buses and vans by Interbus are well maintained and tickets can be booked online on the official website.
• If a bus or plane sounds too public for you or you don’t find a time schedule that fits your itinerary, it also possible to book private transfers with a chauffeur-driven car via most hotels at often reasonable prices.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO NAMIBIA: INSPIRATION, HIGHLIGHTS & TRAVEL TIPS

There are many reasons why Costa Rica should be on your bucket list:

• Multi-day trekking in the rainforest of Corcovado National Park
• Adventure tours in the area around the Arenal Volcano (white water rafting, ziplining, canyoning)
• Relaxing on the beaches of the Guanacaste Province
• Staying at a luxury hotel or rainforest lodge
• Observing tropical wildlife in Manuel Antonio National Park (e.g. sloths, pumas, monkeys, etc …)
• Get a bird’s-eye view of the forest from a suspended bridge at Monteverde cloud forest
• Witness turtle hatching on the beaches of Tortuguero National Park

The following, comprehensive articles may also inspire you and help you plan your holiday to Costa Rica:

• Top 10 best luxury hotels & lodges in Costa Rica
• Tips & tricks for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel
• Tips & tricks for buying the cheapest plane ticket

TRAVEL GUIDE TO COSTA RICA: SUGGESTED ITINERARIES 

It’s impossible to suggest one itinerary for Costa Rica in this travel guide, but I hereby share with you a schedule based on my own holidays in Costa Rica, which is great if you want to see the country in a time frame of two weeks:

• Day 1, 2, 3 & 4: arrive in San Jose, transfer to La Fortuna and explore the Arenal area
  • Recommended hotel: Nayara Tented Camp
• Day 5 & 6: transfer to Manual Antonio & tour of Manual Antonio National Park
  •  Recommended hotel: Los Altos Resort
• Day 7, 8, 9 & 10: transfer to the Osa Peninsula & tour of Corcovado National Park
  •  Recommended hotel: Lapa Rios
• Day 11, 12, 13 & 14: flight to Guanacaste & relaxation on the Peninsula Papagayo
  • Recommended hotel: Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo or Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
• Day 15: flight back home (with departure from Guanacaste Airport)

If you have more time, I suggest to add the Caribbean Coast and Tortuguero National Park to your itinerary (at the start of your trip).

For more ideas, I suggest to have a look at the excellent Costa Rica itineraries as proposed by The Rough Guides and Frommers.

TRAVEL GUIDE TO COSTA RICA: RECOMMENDED HOTELS (+ REVIEWS)

I recommend to read my top 10 list of the most fabulous hotels in Costa Rica if you are eager to know how I rank Costa Rica’s top hotels, based my own experience.

Below, you find my detailed reviews of the best hotels and lodges in Costa Rica (with pros, cons, & tips to save money per hotel).

• Review: Los Altos Resort (Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica)
• Review: Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
• Review: Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
• Review: Lapa Rios Lodge (Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica)
• Review: Nayara Gardens & Nayara Springs Resorts (Arenal, Costa Rica)
• Review: Nayara Tented Camp (Costa Rica)

*** Follow me on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook for a daily moment of travel inspiration ***

The post Travel guide to Costa Rica appeared first on the Luxury Travel Expert.

Today (January 12, 2018): Travel series: a travel guide to Hawaii.

As some of you may have noticed, I have added a new section to my travel blog over the past few months, with a focus on destination & travel guides. You can find my travel guides in a menu under my blog’s header menu (indicated by the arrow in the screenshot below).

I hope these online travel guides – based on my own travel experiences – may help you to get the most out of your (luxury) trips. So far, I have published travel guides on the following countries:

• Maldives
• Seychelles
• Japan
• Vietnam
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Oman
• Australia
• South Africa
• West Canada & Rockies

Today, to end my series of trip reports about Hawaii, I am adding a new travel guide to my blog about this stunning archipelago. Home to some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, the only royal palace in the U.S. and the welcoming aloha spirit, Hawaii is like no place on earth. The glimmering ocean, lava-spewing volcanoes, emerald valleys, towering coastal cliffs, sandy beaches, and 5-star luxury hotels & resorts lure thousands of tourists each year, who get lost in the spiritual beauty of the hula and find out how the warmth of Hawaii’s people wonderfully complement the islands’ perfect temperatures. Although Hawaii is comprised of a chain of 132 islands, we usually refer to only a few islands when we think of Hawaii: Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai and the Island of Hawaii (more commonly known as the Big Island).

In this Hawaii travel guide:

• Best time to visit
• How to get there
• Travel requirements
• Getting around
• Inspiration, highlights & travel tips
• Suggested itineraries
• Recommended luxury hotels (+ reviews)

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Hawaii’s off-season – when the best rates are available and the islands are less crowded – is spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) – a paradox because these are the best seasons to be in Hawaii in terms of reliably great weather. Winter (December to March) can be a surprisingly cloudy and wet affair in the archipelago.

• Spring (April to June) coincides with the end of the high season and the start of the dry season. This is a good period to travel to Hawaii, as the weather is great, sunny and dry, and airfare and lodging prices drop compared to the busy winter months.
• Summer (July and August) offers the hottest weather on the islands, although it never gets too hot because the trade winds cause a constant cooling breeze. It’s also very busy season in Hawaii because of the school holidays, which means more expensive flights and hotel rates. While an extremely rare event, the summer is also the start of the hurricane season in Hawaii, which runs from July through December. Such was the case when category 3 hurricane Iniki came ashore on Kauai in September 1992, the most powerful hurricane to strike Hawaii in recorded history.
• Autumn (September to November) is similar to spring and offers mostly sunny and dry days. The summer tourists have left and the winter tourists still have to arrive, so this is also the cheapest period to travel to and around the islands. On a side note, autumn is not only hurrican season (cf above) but also the time when the trade winds change direction, bringing sometimes stormy, hot, sticky weather onshore. Islanders call this kona weather, because kona means leeward or south, and this points to the direction from which these weather systems arrive.
• Winter (December to March) brings the rains and clouds but the spurts of rain are mostly short-lived and falling overnight. It would be unusual to experience several days of solid rain, although it has happened. This is also Hawaii’s high season, thus, on average, the prices are higher and occupancy rates are higher.

It is also important to keep in mind that there are several fluctuations in the weather pattern dependent on the area where you stay in Hawaii:

• Each island has a leeward side (the side sheltered from the wind) and a windward side (the side that gets the wind’s full force). The leeward sides (the west and south) are usually hot and dry, while the windward sides (east and north) are generally cooler and moist. For example, Hana is located on Maui’s windward side, and experiences an abundance of rain (even in the dry season), what makes the area so verdant; Wailea is located only a few hours away on Maui’s windward side and enjoys a mostly sunny weather even when its raining cats and dogs in Hana. Other rainy windward spots in the Hawaiian islands are Kauai’s famous North Shore and the area around Hilo on the Big Island.
• Many visitors are drawn to Hawaii’s spectacular scenery found in higher elevations such as Kokee on Kauai, Haleakala on Maui or Kilauea on the Big Island. Temperatures in these higher locations drop 3.5° F (2 degrees celsius) for every 1000 feet (300 m) above sea level that you climb, so dress appropriately with pants and several layers of clothing. At an elevation of 10,023 feet (3055 m), the summit of Haleakala can be as much as 30° F (20° C) cooler than resort areas on the coast.
• Many people are drawn to Hawaii because of the dramatic wave action, although this varies dramatically between island coasts and seasons. Summer waters are typically gentle on all beaches. During the winter on many north shore beaches, Pacific storms drive ocean swells towards the islands, creating the Hawaiian Islands’ legendary big waves.

HOW TO GET THERE

Hawaii receives numerous international and domestic daily flights via its five main airports:

• Honolulu International Airport (HNL), also known as Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, is the principal aviation gateway of Hawaii, and is located near the state capital of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. It’s the only airport in Hawaii to handle flights to/from other destinations than the USA mainland and Canada. Click here for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Honolulu.
• Kahului Airport (OGG) is Hawaii’s second busiest airport and the main getaway the island of Maui. Click here for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Maui.
• Lihue Airport (LIH) is located on the southeast coast of the island of Kauai. Click here for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Kauai.
• Kona International Airport (KOA) is the main airport of Hawaii’s Big Island, located on the west coast near the resort areas of North Kona and South Kohala. Click here for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Kona.
• Hilo International Airport (ITO) is the secondary airport of Hawaii’s Big Island, located on the island’s east coast. Click here for a list of airlines that offer direct flights to Hilo.

Before you buy a plane ticket, consider reading my tips & tricks for buying the cheapest plane ticket.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Hawaii belongs to the USA. Requirements for entry into the USA differ from country to country, and are subject to change. Prior to departure, always check with your government and your nearest USA embassy or consulate what documents you need for travel to Hawaii.

• You need a machine-readable passport (MRP) with at least six months validity to enter the USA. If your passport was issued/renewed after October 26, 2006, you need an ‘e-passport’ with a digital photo and an integrated chip containing biometric data.
• Under the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), visas are not required for citizens of 38 countries for stays up to 90 days (no extensions) on condition that they have a return ticket (or onward ticket to any foreign destination) that’s nonrefundable in the USA.
• All VWP travelers must register online at least 72 hours before arrival with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, which currently costs $14 USD. Once approved, registration is valid for two years (or until your passport expires, whichever comes first).

Make sure you read my 10 tips to plan a worry-free trip.

GETTING AROUND

It’s quite easy to get around in Hawaii, and several modes of transportation are available:

• Domestic flights with Hawaiian Airlines are the only way to move around if you want to do some island hopping. Hawaii’s flagcarrier connects the islands daily via multiple flights and the cost of a domestic ticket is often quite cheap if booked in advance. Tickets can be booked online on the website.
• The only islands connected via regular boat service are Maui and Lanai: from the historic Lahaina Harbor in West Maui, you can hop on a ferry for a day trip to the neighbor island of Lanai.
• To really experience Hawaii, you need to rent a car in advance from one of the airports.
• For most islands you can also get around by shuttle, taxi, ride-sharing app such as Uber or Lyft, or public transportation, although that won’t get you close to Hawaii’s famous natural attractions.
• There are plenty of tour operators that offer guided bus tours to conveniently explore the islands.

INSPIRATION, HIGHLIGHTS & TRAVEL TIPS

There are several good reasons why you should put Hawaii on your bucket list:

• Admiring some of the world’s most stunning natural scenery
• Seeing the world’s most active volcano
• Relaxing on gold, red and black beaches
• Hiking some of the USA’s greatest trails
• Whale watching (in winter time)
• Staying at one of the USA’s best beach resorts

It’s important to keep in mind that the Hawaiian archipelago consists of six major islands – Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and the island of Hawaii – each with its own distinct personality, adventures, activities and sights.

• Oahu is the “heart of Hawaii”, home to the capital city of Honolulu, and famous for legendary surf towns like Haleiwa.
• True to its island roots, Molokai is filled with rustic charm and epic beauty.
• From its famous beaches to the peak of Haleakala, Maui offers a wealth of unforgettable experiences.
• The Island of Hawaii is often dubbed the Big Island and offers lots to see and do, from active volcanoes to coffee farms and beautiful beaches to rich history.
• The oldest and northernmost island in the Hawaiian chain, Kauai is draped in emerald valleys, sharp mountain spires and jagged cliffs aged by time and the elements.
• Lanai is the smallest inhabited island in Hawaiian island and balances restful luxury with rugged terrain.

The following, in-depth articles may also inspire you and help you plan your holiday to Hawaii:

• Top 10 most fabulous luxury resorts in Hawaii
• Top 10 best things to see & do in Hawaii
• Top 10 best things to see & do on the island of Maui
• Tips & tricks for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel
• Tips & tricks for buying the cheapest plane ticket

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES 

It’s impossible to suggest one itinerary for Hawaii, but I hereby share with you a schedule based on my own holidays in Hawaii, which is great if you want to see archipelago in a time frame of three weeks, hereby making use of domestic flights.

• Day 1-3: Oahu: explore Honolulu and Oahu’s North Shore (recommended hotel: The Royal Hawaiian).
• Day 4-6: Lanai: fly to Lanai & stay in luxury while exploring the area (recommended hotel: Four Seasons Lanai).
• Day 7-8: Maui: take the ferry to Maui and rent a car to make the scenic drive to Hana (recommended hotel: Travaasa Hana).
• Day 9-11: Maui: enjoy some sunny relaxation in Wailea but don’t miss the sunrise/sunset from Haleakala (recommended hotel: Andaz Maui).
• Day 12-16: Big Island: fly to the Big Island and explore the island from your base on the west coast (recommended hotel: Four Seasons Hualalai).
• Day 17-21: Kauai: fly to Hawaii’s most spectacular island and explore the breathtaking scenery (recommended hotel: St Regis Princeville).

If you only have two weeks, I recommend to skip Oahu and Lanai, and focus on Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai. If you can only make it to two islands, I suggest to visit Maui and Kauai, which I consider to be the most scenic islands in the archipelago.

For the planning of your own travel itinerary in Hawaii, I highly recommend Hawaii’s official tourism website www.gohawaii.com, which boasts plenty of helpful information. In addition, for more ideas, I suggest the excellent Hawaii itineraries as provided by The Rough Guides and Frommers.

RECOMMENDED LUXURY HOTELS (+ REVIEWS)

Please visit my top 10 list of the best luxury hotels in Hawaii if you are eager to know how I rank the countries’ top properties, according to my own experience at each one of them.

Below, you find my reviews of luxury hotels in Hawaii (with pros, cons, and tips to save money per property).

• Review: St Regis Princeville Resort, Kauai Island (Hawaii)
• Review: Andaz Maui at Wailea (Hawaii, USA)
• Review: Travaasa Hana, Maui (Hawaii, USA)
• Review: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (Hawaii, USA)
• Review: Four Seasons Resort Lanai (Hawaii, USA)
• Review: The Royal Hawaiian Resort (Honolulu, Hawaii)

*** Follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for a daily moment of travel inspiration ***

The post A travel guide to Hawaii appeared first on the Luxury Travel Expert.