www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Flying down in August and making our way to Jaco for four days. Wanted to know if it makes that big a difference to carry-on our luggage or just check it? Thanks

Well, the simple answer would be to just carry-on, as it's much easier (and usually cheaper) all around. Especially since you'll only be in town for 4 days. Plus, Jaco is hotter than hell, so you won't need anything except shorts and t-shirts, and maybe a couple pairs of pants and shirts for the evenings. It's totally up to you, but IMO - if you can do it, carry-on is the only way to go. If you're going to be in town for a week or more, or you want to bring back some liquor to the states, then you should opt for checking luggage. Other than that, keep it simple. YMMV.

MG

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

In my opinion any trip 5 days or under is a carry-on. MG is correct in that your needs for the trip described are minimal. A couple of clean T’s some fresh boxers and the rest you can find when your there (so to speak ).

True, you will have to tug that roller board thru the airport, maybe two if you have a connection. That can be a bit of a pain. But, I have never had my carry on bag get lost, or not make a connection, or have to be delivered to a hotel the next day. Imagine if you are there for only a few days and it takes two before your bag shows. What a hassle. And (although it has never happened to me) I wonder if they would even get your bag to Jaco or if you would some how have to get it from SJO??? Too much stress for me on a short trip. Has anyone had this happen? Do they deliver?

If your going for more then a week or have some other compelling reason that requires a check bag, so be it. But with each connection you double the chance of the bag ending up some where other then where you want it. This does not even take into account the added hassle and time of waiting for your bag to make it to the carrousel. That can make a big difference on the return if your connections are tight.

Having done both I can also make a the very vague statement that my bags entering the USA have been far less subject to added searches reentering when I only have a carry on then when having checked. Never once when I had a carry on, out of 50 trips and I would guess 1 in 10 with a checked bag. 2 in 20? Not very scientific and perhaps subject to debate, but that is only my experiences????.

If you want to get booze/liquid or a large amount of gifts back, you could always buy a cheap bag or duffle and pack the stuff up as tight as possible and hope for the best. Heck, that is all your doing with any checked bag.

In the end to me it is a BIG difference and as MG said “keep it simple”

take a carry on!

And either way have a great trip!

Check a bag
I can never fit all the panties, soap, playdough, coloring books, candles, dildos, and that side of beef in my carry on

Pack light and have fun

pack light do laundry

Having been a card carrying member of the IBRT- International Brotherhood of Road Trash, I've traveled all over the world with 1 roller bag and a backpack for weeks at a time... I hate to check bags as it's a hassle to wait for the airline to unload the plane and get the bags to the luggage carousel on arrival... If you have connecting flights, you may loose your bag due to tight connections... If traveling internationally, I've found that customs pays less attention to folks with just carry-ons and no checked baggage...

All you need for 5 days at the beach is a bathing suit & a pair of flip-flops...

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"Mongo only pawn in game of life"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3K6UmgJIOw

Both.

mh

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mh

EXACTLY !!!! check down, carry on home... PERFECT !!!!

I will buy a cheap suitcase and fill it with Chica presents and check it! give that suitcase to one of the chicas and carry on for the return trip! Sick minds think alike.

Peace, Love, and happiness for all,

Don Rico

more food for thought... from another fan of just carry-on :

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=31278&start=0

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Enzo

Now in High Definition!

Short trip is a carry on must! It isn't THAT uncommon for an airline to misplace a bag And there you are in Jaco wearing the same clothes for 2 days

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

Three or Four day trip and maybe I can get away with carry on only. Did it my first trip. Since then I've been doing 5-7 days so I check a bag or two. I have everything I need for the first two days in my carry-ons in case my checked bags go get misplaced. I have faith if they do, they will be found eventually and I will get them back.

Having said that, only had bags misplaced once, and lost bags once in 25 years of flying, and I travel a lot. Yes there are horror stories. I have had bags damaged a few times, but Continental does a really good job of not losing them.

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Man I'm living life like a great white shark swimming with minnows! It's all about panocha, great scotch, fine cigars, loud-ass rock music and speed, speed, speed - plus spending as much time as possible in paradise on earth, Costa Rica!

I would say carry on only, I took a huge bag and a back back( 11 days) but my next trip it will be just a big carry on. If your in San Jose you can roll over to Tranquilo back packers around AVE 9 and Calle 7 and get a pretty big bag a laundry done for 3000 colones. They looked at me weird when I told them I didn't stay there and just wanted to get my laundry done, but they did it. I tipped the senora who washed my close like 500c

Here's a quartet of Websites to help you pack light(er):
http://www.onebag.com
http://www.ehow.com/how_2142780_pack-li ... ravel.html
http://www.smartpacking.com
http://www.travelite.org

You'll need to check if you, as Brother Dapanz1 says, bring down "hooker presents". Or consider shipping them via Aerocasillas to your hotel http://www.aeropost.com/main.htm
For tips at the airport, look at the tutorial George Clooney gives his protege in Up in the Air--a great movie otherwise too.

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"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

If by chance they lose you checked bag(once), there is nothing that fits big guys on the beach. Jaco or Quepos