Monday, November 14, 2011

How We Chose Our Excellent Trip Package

Barbara: As there was a lot of news to share about our upcoming trip to Costa Rica (thanks to the Costa Rica Tourism Board!!), we decided to tell the story in two parts.

In our original post two Fridays ago, you read about our shock and awe (and wonder and gratitude) at receiving this gift. Well, in this post, we’re going to tell you how we chose between the five different packages on offer.

Each package includes four tours, three different areas and hotels, and three different landscapes in the paradise that is Costa Rica. It was a hard, hard, HARD choice!!

Costa Rica is distinct in that it has so many different eco-systems in one small country: rainforests, cloud forests, dry forests, high lands, low lands, wetlands, beaches, Caribbean coast, Pacific coast, coral reefs, etc, etc. It also has the great distinction of trying to build its future on the firm and beautiful foundation of ecologically sound practices and a staunch commitment to the betterment of its people. To the latter point, over 95 % of Costa Ricans are literate. This speaks volumes about a place, doesn’t it? As for environmental sustainability: according to the Environmental Performance Index, they are ranked third in the WORLD, first in the Americas! These two points alone endear me to this amazing country.

So, as Deb described in our last post, we hemmed and hawed over which package to choose. And if you’re curious, you can go to the Costa Rica Facebook page and peruse the various packages (click on Terms and Conditions and a pdf file comes up that also outlines each trip)… This is also where you can enter to win a trip like ours.

How to narrow down the marvelous choices??? Okay, so don’t laugh: first we eliminated any terrifying ones. Okay, so laugh if you must. But neither Deb nor I could consider the white water rafting package in Adrenaline Happiness. The guys, if you’ll recall, had little say and basically sat back and watched our confabulations, bemused smirks on their faces.

So Deb and I narrowed it down to the experiences we really wanted to have: meet the locals, check; tour nature and see wildlife with a knowledgeable guide, check; see the volcano, check; go to the beach, check; eat well, check; have options of more tours, check; horseback riding, oh my gosh check.

Several packages suited all these criteria. So finally we googled the hotels and the scales were finally tipped by the tranquil, romantic settings found in the … Romantic Happiness package! Doesn’t sound as exciting maybe as Adrenaline Happiness or Adventure Happiness, but to us it sounds like perfection.

We’ll spend two nights at El Silencio Spa and Resort in a tropical cloud forest.
Two nights at Arenal Springs Resort and Spa at the base of the Arenal Volcano.
And three nights at the Harmony Hotel on the beaches of Guanacaste.

We will meet the Maleku Tribe and they will perform a ceremony called “God-Nature-Man” in native costume and language, and then teach us how they do their handicrafts (sooo excited for this).
Hike through the cloud forest led by a Naturalist guide.
Go horseback riding in the wilds around the volcano.
Take a sustainability tour at the Harmony Hotel.
And have the additional option to surf, yoga, zip-line, aerial tram, etc etc (see how yoga is sandwiched between the other more adventurous stuff?!)

So there you have it. A package to end all packages. Every hotel seems to have wi-fi so it’ll be easy for us to keep you posted every day on what we’re up to. I can’t wait to share this experience with you guys!

Deb: ARE YOU KIDDING ME???????????????

Okay, I’m fine now. I just had to express my glee!
We are going to have such fun and we are going to love sharing with you.

Just wanted to add an extra FUN video bonus here.
This video of a future bride and groom went viral. Then, during an interview on the Anderson Cooper show just last week, they also received a wonderful Gift of Happiness to celebrate the start of their marriage. 

28 comments:

  1. Wow!! Barb, your trip sounds fantastic!!! What a great mix of adventure, beauty, relaxation and fun! When do you all go? I can't wait to hear about and see your photos. We can all love vicariously through the four of you. Happy Holidays!!!

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  2. opps I meant to say "live" not love. I have to learn to read these things before I press send.

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  3. Ok so my first comment disappeared weird . Anyways hope you all have an Amazing time on your trip I am sure it will be a blast. Make sure to take lot of pictures.z

    I just came back from the beach yeasterday and it was so cold. I went with my church group. We got to spen 3 days in the beach in 3 large beach houses ocean front. Which wa amazing. We had so many adventures there but the one that I liked the most was that I got to swim . I know it's November and the water is freezing but it was still and blast . Except now I have cold from playing In the water all day., even know it was so cold I would not have changed a thing. It was just perfect.

    I hope you all have as much fun on your adventure as I did mying and so much more.

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  4. Mary-Jo, that might just be the best typo I've ever read! It can be taken so many ways :). But I do love the idea that you can all love Costa Rica vicariously through us!

    Lyndsie, thrilled for your beautiful seaside respite there. I love the ocean. Don't know if I would swim in it in November, though, although I deeply admire anyone who will. Good on you! Now get rid of that cold!

    Barbara

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  5. AAAH that looks so gorgeous!!!!!!!! Beaches are a must (I haven't been to the beach in 2 years). :(

    I hope you lovely ladies have a splendid, relaxing, and exciting Costa Rican adventure!!!!! :D

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  6. Saw the couple and video on Anderson Cooper's show. So funny and great for them. I love combining Spa and Resort with any vacation. Sounds wonderful and already they are getting their monies worth by choosing you two.

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  7. I just viewed the hotels and without viewing the other choices this looks like something I would have picked. Be sure to do a zipline wherever you can. They are amazingly fun.

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  8. Okay... you two need to get OVER that whitewater fear. I've been a river rat my whole life and it's FUN! (I can set you up with my uncle in Idaho--a seriously high class, fun trip... yes adrenaline, but safe, too)

    But that aside, I think the trip you picked looks FABULOUS! I am so excited for both of you!!!

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  9. Looks like a lot of fun particularly being able to go together. Sometimes for me sharing the experience is almost as much fun as the experience itself.

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  10. Holly, as much as I'm excited for cloud forest adventure, I also can't wait for that therapeutic sea experience. Madge, I've zip lined before (the one time I was in Costa Rica!) and -- despite my absolute fear of heights -- I LOVED it. In fact, I can easily imagine myself zip lining, but not so much with the hanging bridges. Weird, huh? Hart, um, eeeeeeek. We'll see (she says half-heartedly). And Erin, I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the shared experience of it. I anticipate belly-aching laughter (I now, you're shocked ;) )

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  11. Oops, again still using our combined profile until I finish my other work. That's me (points upward) -- Barbara xo

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  12. I'm so happy that you are able to go on this grand adventure. I hope you're not always on some sort of guided tour. Take some time away from the resort, and explore a bit on your own.

    And, I'm looking forward to reading about your adventures (complete with pictures). A quasi-holiday for me just reading about it...

    And here's a little something for the Colin Mochrie fans ....

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  13. Oh my gosh, that picture KILLED me!!! Hey ladies, take me with you? lol

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  14. Jo, that's definitely the plan. And the pre-planned itinerary is very sweet in that regard, with lots of time to rest, relax and/or explore other things (PS most of the planned tours are actually off the resorts). And thanks for the pic link! Toooo funny.

    Kelly, I know, huh? Wish we could!! (and enter the contest -- you never know!)
    B

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  15. Well,I think right now, I need to live vicariously through you all. I'm right now have assumed the crash position and living from moment to moment for the next few weeks (the never-ending story of a boy who wishes he could rid himself of his autism and anxiety, but keep his intellect...)

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  16. Jo, argh. No words. But lots of heart going out to you. Autism and anxiety must be a crushing combo. love love love

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  17. You guys will have such a wonderful time. It looks just beautiful there. I'm very excited for you to go and have fun and then share some of it with us.

    Last week you spoke of miracles and I had a little one of my own over the weekend. I found my London pictures after they have been missing for six years. See my blog, it has me, 7 months pregnant, standing next to the Peter Pan statue. :)

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  18. Yes, Molly, such a beautiful miracle! And, Deb (and others), I kept forgetting to mention that Molly has the same pic of herself with the Peter Pan statue (over at Random Thoughts). She thought she'd lost if, but lo, it showed up!
    B

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  19. *crinkles forehead* I guess since y'all've got snuggly hubbies to bring along, the romance package is a nice thing. But, I'd've totally gone with the white water rafting.

    Maybe your tour package will actually get Deb into the ocean! :D

    Jo- My heart totally goes out to you. I have one of those little boys. It. Is. Hard. *hugs*

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  20. Thanks everyone for sharing our excitment!!! And Hart....NO!!! :-)

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  21. You MUST do the zip-line! Be daring at least once on the trip. :) (notice how easily I suggest this option knowing that I don't have to zip-line with you?) Do have a blast, you guys deserve it!
    hugs
    Karen

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  22. Oh believe me Karen we will do Zip-line. Barb and Phil have already done it! But we will not do the rafting!

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  23. I'm happy you're getting such a wonderful trip. This gift you two received gets better every time I read about it. I'm starting to run out of eye teeth I'd give to enjoy all the traveling experiences you've both had! This one sounds gorgeous and certainly something I wouldn't turn down if offered to me. (I entered the contest and chose the Wildlife Happiness tour.) I hope the men are amenable to your choices/plans, though they almost have to be, don't they? :) Enjoy!

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  24. I'd love to enter the contest, but I don't know when I'd go. Giggle.

    However, FRIDAY IS ALMOST HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *spazzing with excitement*

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  25. Dawn I love "I'm starting to run out of eye teeth" I am soooooooo glad you entered the contest. All you guys should!!!! Kelly I am sure you would find time if you won. You would MAKE time! Go for it!

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  26. Jo I'm sorry for your struggles with your little boy. Sending you warm wishes and strength. Molly I went to your blog and saw the gorgeous picture! Love it!

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  27. You're going to have a blast! I'm a travel writer in Costa Rica -- that's how I managed to stumble my way onto your blog -- and have been to all those places. El Silencio is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Really, it deserves 6 stars. I can't wait to read your day-by-day impressions.

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  28. Erin! Welcome and so glad you found us!! We would love to read your own take on Costa Rica if you're at all interested in posting more comments to the daily diary.

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