Synopses & Reviews
Spend less, see more. This is the philosophy behind Pauline Frommer’s guides. Written by travel expert Pauline Frommer (who is also the daughter of Arthur Frommer), and her team of hand-picked writers, these guides show how to truly experience a culture, meet locals, and save money along the way.
• Industry secrets on how to find the best hotel rooms
• Details on alternative accommodations, great neighborhood restaurants, and cool, offbeat finds
• Packed with personality and opinions
"Full of good tips and suggestions."
—Chicago Tribune
"Packed with information on how to eat and sleep without depleting your bank account"
—Louisville Courier
Are You Ready to Travel Smart?
If you'd like to get the most out of your dollar and your trip, this is the guide for you. I put a fresh spin on budget travel, showing you how to see the best for less and how to see it in a more authentic way-the way the locals do.
The guide promises travelers a first-class trip on a third-class budget, with experiences that bring travelers closer to Costa Rican culture—language and cooking classes, volunteering to protect sea turtles during nesting season, and more.
Destinations will include the Monteverde Cloud Forest, the Guanacaste beaches, Tortuguero, Manuel Antonio National Park, and the thriving capital city of San José.
An illustrated guide to Costa Rica’s wildlife as well as coverage of the country’s history, culture, food, and drink.
Happy Travels,
Synopsis
Spend less, see more. This is the philosophy behind Pauline Frommer’s guides. Written by travel expert Pauline Frommer (who is also the daughter of Arthur Frommer), and her team of hand-picked writers, these guides show how to truly experience a culture, meet locals, and save money along the way.
• Industry secrets on how to find the best hotel rooms
• Details on alternative accommodations, great neighborhood restaurants, and cool, offbeat finds
• Packed with personality and opinions
"Full of good tips and suggestions."
—Chicago Tribune
"Packed with information on how to eat and sleep without depleting your bank account"
—Louisville Courier
Are You Ready to Travel Smart?
If you'd like to get the most out of your dollar and your trip, this is the guide for you. I put a fresh spin on budget travel, showing you how to see the best for less and how to see it in a more authentic way-the way the locals do.
The guide promises travelers a first-class trip on a third-class budget, with experiences that bring travelers closer to Costa Rican culture—language and cooking classes, volunteering to protect sea turtles during nesting season, and more.
Destinations will include the Monteverde Cloud Forest, the Guanacaste beaches, Tortuguero, Manuel Antonio National Park, and the thriving capital city of San José.
An illustrated guide to Costa Rica’s wildlife as well as coverage of the country’s history, culture, food, and drink.
Happy Travels,
Synopsis
"Full of good tips andsuggestions."
—Chicago Tribune
"Packed with information onhow to eat and sleep withoutdepleting your bank account."
—Louisville Courier
Spend Less and See More in Costa Rica
Are you ready to travel smart?
If you'd like to get the most out of your dollar and your trip, this is the guide for you. I put a fresh spin on budget travel, showing you how to see the best for less and how to see it in a more authentic way—the way locals do.
Instead of spending $300 a night for a chain hotel, why not rent a brand-new, three-bedroom house near the beach in Jaco for just $130 a night, or bed down in a rustic but cozy B&B in Tortuguero for just $30 a night?
I'll take you on self-guided treks up dormant volcanoes and through rain forests so that you can save enough to splurge on the best ziplines in Costa Rica (we rate 'em all), conquer the rapids on a whitewater rafting tour, or learn how to surf from a master.
Let me show you the "other" Costa Rica—the one only insiders know about. Tour a local artist's studio in San Jose or volunteer with the ANAI in Puerto Viejo to monitor the hatching process of sea turtles. These are only a few of the great ways to get closer to the culture of Costa Rica. Read on for more!
Happy Travels,
Pauline Frommer
Winner of Best Guidebook, North American Travel Journalists Association
About the Author
Currently based in Miami, “Latino by adoption”
David Appell is the former editor of
Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel and
Caribbean Travel & Life; co-author of
Access Gay USA; and has written for lots of other publications including
National Geographic Traveler, Travel+Leisure, The International Herald Tribune, Spain’s
El País, GQ, Men’s Fitness, and
Out. Dave’s an alum of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and apart from Spanish, gets by in a half-dozen other foreign languages. In fact, these days he’s also the publisher and author of the internationally successful
Hot!Spanish and related series of foreign-language phrasebooks devoted to love, dating, and the sundry naughtiness likely to ensue there from (www.HotBabel.com).
Pauline Frommer started traveling before she could speak, seeing the world at a young age with her guidebook writing parents Arthur Frommer and Hope Arthur. She went into the “family biz” over a decade ago, serving first as the editor of Frommers.com and then the travel section of MSNBC.com. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications including Budget Travel, the Dallas Morning News, Marie Claire and the upcoming book The Experts Guide to Babies. In 2006, Pauline Frommer’s New York City won “Best Guidebook of the Year” from the North American Travel Journalism Association. In 1999, she was awarded a Lowell Thomas Medal from the Society of American Travel Writers for her magazine work. She currently appears every Wednesday night on CNN’s Headline News to discuss the latest travel trends. Pauline is married to physical therapist Mahlon Stewart and the mother of two very welltraveled daughters, Beatrix (age 4) and Veronica (age 8).
A former editor at Travel + Leisure, Nelson Mui has written on a variety of topics for publications such as the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal and San Francisco. A native of Hong Kong who’s lived in Europe and South America, Nelson inherited the travel gene from his mother, an overseas Chinese who grew up in colonial Hanoi, speaks four languages, and packs a bag at the slightest provocation. He finds comfort in the fact that virtually everywhere in the world he’s visited—including the remotest parts of Costa Rica—there’s a Chinese restaurant nearby where he can gather intelligence in his mother tongue.
Table of Contents
A Note from Pauline.1 The Best of Costa Rica.
A Quick Look at Costa Rica.
Best Natural Sights & Attractions.
Best Active Experiences.
Best People-Watching Beaches.
Best Beaches for that Castaway Feel.
Best Beaches for Kids & Families.
Best Museums & Historic Sites.
Best Cultural Eye-Openers.
Best Places to Eat.
Weeklong Itineraries.
2 San José & the Central Valley.
Don’t Leave San José & the Central Valley Without.
A Brief History.
San José.
The Central Valley.
3 Arenal & the Northern Zone.
A Brief History.
Lay of the Land.
Getting to & Around Arenal & La Fortuna.
Accommodations, Both Standard & Not.
Dining for All Tastes.
Why You’re Here: The Top Sights & Attractions.
Side Trips from Arenal & La Fortuna.
Attention, Shoppers!
Nightlife.
Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui.
The “Other” Northern Zone.
4 Up in the Clouds: Monteverde.
Don’t Leave Monteverde Without.
A Brief History.
Lay of the Land.
Getting to & Around Monteverde.
Accommodations, Both Standard & Not.
Dining for All Tastes.
Why You’re Here: The Top Sights & Attractions.
Attention, Shoppers!
Nightlife.
The “Other” Monteverde.
5 The Central Pacific Coast.
Don’t Leave the Central Pacific Coast Without.
Lay of the Land.
A Brief History.
Jaco.
Manuel Antonio.
Dominical & Punta Uvita.
6 The Osa Peninsula.
Don’t Leave the Osa Without.
A Brief History.
Lay of the Land.
Puerto Jimenez.
Corcovado National Park.
Drake Bay.
The “Other” Osa.
7 The Caribbean Coast.
Don’t Leave the Caribbean Coast Without.
A Brief History.
Lay of the Land.
Tortuguero.
Cahuita.
Puerto Viejo & Manzanillo.
8 Guanacaste & the Nicoya Peninsula.
Don’t Leave Guanacaste & Nicoya Without.
A Brief History.
Lay of the Land.
Playa Hermosa & Vicinity.
Tamarindo.
Nosara & Vicinity.
Playa Samara & Playa Carrillo.
Montezuma & Malpais.
9 The Essentials of Planning.
When to Visit.
Entry Requirements.
Customs.
Getting There.
Finding Cheap International Airfares to Costa Rica.
Flying Within Costa Rica.
Getting Around by Car.
Getting Around by Bus.
Packages & Tours vs. Independent Travel
Saving Money on Accommodations.
Travel Insurance—Do You Need It?
Packing.
Money Matters.
Health & Safety.
Specialized Travel Resources.
A Word on Ecotourism.
Recommended Reading.
10 Costa Rican Wildlife.
Fauna.
Flora.
11 Spanish Terms & Phrases.
Basic Words & Phrases.
Some Typical Tico Words & Phrases.
Menu Terms.
Index.
Accommodations.