www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hey, wish I'd found this site a little earlier. I feel like I'm cramming for finals, but the newbie threads have been very informative. Background on me: 33m traveling alone from Aug 26, returning Sep 1. My only other monger-type trip was to Amsterdam back in 2002. My spanish is nearly non existent (2 yrs high-school, no regular practice). My plan is to sample as much as possible. Based on what I've read here and after talking to some surfer buddies who go once a year, I put together the following:

Thur Aug 26
Arrive Juan Santamaria International Airport around 2:30 local time
Check into Hotel, Sportsmans Lodge (based on reccomdations from board)
Plan for rafting day trip tomorrow (Rio Pacuare via Exploredores)
Check check out Del Ray Casino, Blue Marlin, maybe drag something back to SL.

Fri Aug 27
White water rafting day trip (assuming they're open)
Plan for trip to Jaco tomorrow (Interbus)
Visit one of the strip clubs recommended in the Costa Rica for Dummies thread (1. Le Grillon, 2. Pantera Rosa (PR), 3. D’Pelufo’s, or 4. Nightclub Monaco).

Sat Aug 28
Catch bus to Jaco
Find hotel
Check out town
Visit Playa Hermosa - Friends told me I should at least take a look a the break there
Plan for trip to Quepos tomorrow
Visit Beetle Bar

Sun Aug 29
Catch afternoon bus to Quepos
Find hotel
Plan for tour of Manuel Antonio tomorrow
???

Mon Aug 30
Take early tour of Manuel Antonio
Zip line tour (assume there is one in the park?)
Plan for return trip to San Jose (today or tomorrow?)
???

Tue Aug 31
Catch bus to San Jose
Find hotel (SL again, maybe?)
Check out MP (HLH maybe?)

Wed Sep 01
Fly out 2:05pm local

Do-able, right? Anything you think I'm missing?

Oh, one question I hadn't quite seen addressed yet. I know the currency conversion is roughly $500 colones to $1 USD. However, my knowledge of spanish numbers is basically 1 - 10. Do I need to learn how to say, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, etc in espanol in order to get prices from people, or do they have their own short hand or slang for various notes?

Thanks

Sounds like you are trying to pack a lot into a short period of time. To me it looks like a lot of time spent traveling. All of these things sound fun. If you are in it for the outdoor adventures, this is the way to go. If you want to spend more time with the girls, spend more time in San Jose.

I'll give you the same advice I was given on the way down for my first trip. Don't overplan. Relax and let things come to you. You'll see some hotties at SL before you even head to HDR.
I made most of my side trips with other CRT members I met at the SL. Fishing, snorkling,zipline, etc. Have a great time. I'm sure this will be the first of many trips.

Pretty aggressive travel schedule. It is your vacation, but it seems like a lot of windshield time to me, or in your case bus window time. I will be interested to know if you keep that schedule after hitting the HDR for the first time

Have a great time whatever you do.

_________________
In honor of Jimmy V week, "Don't give up, don't ever give up!"

Sounds like a lot of work for a vacation. Do you plan on getting laid or just coming for the scenery?

Travelmutt,
It sounds like you don't have reservations @ the SL yet, if you don't you better get on the phone ASAP, I seriously doubt they will have any rooms left. Call the Dunn Inn and La Amistad and get a room if possible.
Regards, 911 Driver

_________________
The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

I'd add the Hotel Castillo to Brother 911 Driver's 2 hotel mentions in SJO. Also agree with the comments about a lot of time traveling, especially during the rainy season. However we are not here to discourage, so if there's a bit of plan failure, just smile your way onto the next adventure. At your age what doesn't get done one trip can be done on a future trip, cuz doubtless you'll be back. Remember spontaneity is your friend and frustration is your mortal enemy, especially in CR. Enjoy!

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

IMO, it's a very aggressive schedule for a 1st visit. Get into town, check into hotel, then spend your 1st day / night taking in the "sights" at the SL, HDR & KL. After that, let's see if your original plans go to shit or not! And yes, you should learn more numbers in Spanish than just 1-10. Learn twenty, thirty, forty (etc), 100's, and 1000's in Spanish. It'll help to know these number as well.

Have a great trip, and be sure to write a trip report upon your return.

Buena Suerte,
MG

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

That is way too much to do in that short a time, you need to simplify it, unless you're not that interested in the girls. Since surfing seems to be your main non-sex interest, I'd suggest going to Jaco for a day or two (spend the night there) for that and maybe also going to Manuel Antonio . Spend the rest of the time before and after in San Jose, you might not want to even leave after checking out the girls. Rafting on the Pacauare river is a great trip to do while in San Jose, especially now in the rainy season, but be warned it is an all-day event, and you have to get up early for the bus, around 6:00-6:30 am., which could limit your nighttime action. You might rather spend all your time banging chicas instead.

I could be wrong, and I often am, but I would lay odds that once you hit SL and HDR the majority of your carefully laid plans will go to hell in a handbasket.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

It was once said...... those without a plan, plan to fail...... In your case you have one heck of a plan and unfortunately I think your plan will fail. Actually I hope it does. You can’t rush thru life my friend. But the cool part is you have obviously done a great deal of research which is awesome! For this reason alone I think your going to have the time of your life……..As long as you heed the words of the other that have spoken. Don’t get you undies in a knot when it all comes unraveled. That is what happens in CR and what having a great experience is all about. You are on the right road my friend, for one simple reason. If and when things aren’t exactly what you want you have a back up plan. Plan “B” has and will always be the best of options when sh@t hits the fan. Welcome to the fan. You will understand that the second day you are there. To many times there are guys that go on trips with out doing any research and when stuff doesn’t go the way the want they are lost. confused and angry. I trust this will not be you.

Tell us how it went after your back..

You should keep these plans in your planner! Great idea, just DON'T pay for them until your second day!!!!!!!

Go to the HDR, and you are not going on a fking raft

Only floaties you need are right there.

No offense bro, but the first time in SJO, you WILL NEVER want to leave the gulch! I'm not saying you shouldn't, just sayin you won't

Well, according to you lot it seems like I may not fully appreciate the scene I'm about to walk into. Fair enough, I'll keep an open mind.

Already had one set-back, just read that Manuel Antonio is closed on Mondays, which is the original date I'd planned to visit.

New plan is
Day 1 Thu - Arrive, stay in SJ, goto HDR
Day 2 Fri - Bus to Quepos/MA
Day 3 Sat - Visit MA (cross fingers for a little sun)
Day 4 Sun - Bus to Jaco, Beatle Bar, spend night
Day 5 Mon - Bus to SJ, HTL or HDR again
Day 6 Tue - WWR on Rio Pacuare, after that (assuming I can handle it) one of the aforementioned strip clubs.
Day 7 Wed - Fly home

I'm bringing a netbook w/ me and every place seems to have wifi, so I'll let u know if all this planning comes to naught and I just spend the whole trip mongering in SJ.

Unless u r into the surf/narcotic lifestyle, no need to go to jaco on your first trip.

Just land in SJO and live it up. Make no plans, you will be a K*D n a candy store.

Don't say "ya, I get it". No you don't, but you will!!!

He did imply that he was into surfing, as he mentioned surfer friends who told him to check out the break in Playa Hermosa. That is indeed one of the best places to surf in CR--not Jaco beach itself.

Travelmutt, you sound like you want to do a lot of regular tourist stuff in addition to having fun with chicas. I actually approve of that, but your planned schedule really requires at least 10 days to do properly and to allow plenty of chica time. As mentioned, after stepping foot into the HDR you might not to leave at all.

I would suggest reducing the non-San Jose part to a day trip to Playa Hermosa, maybe staying overnight in Jaco and returning to San Jose the next day. Skip MA and Quepos, maybe even the WWR trip too, save those for a later, longer trip.