Travel&Vacation

Sixty percent of you voted for me to head to Costa Rica for my winter escape. And with this Carolina-sized country working its way up “top destination” lists, it’s no wonder. Even though the thought of lush green scenery, pristine beaches, and intense biodiversity will excite you, you’ll be more pleased to learn that doing this trip for under $500 was no challenge at all.

What’s the deal?

Staying under budget in the winter high season took little more than finding a reasonable airfare and pairing it with an affordable activity-pumped hotel. Luckily for me, there were many easy-to-find options to choose from. The best part is knowing that had I traveled in the low season, known as the “green season” (from May through November), I could have taken the same trip for under $400.

Getting there

Despite Costa Rica’s increasing popularity as a tourist destination, airfare still remains relatively low, even for high-season travel. For a February trip, prices from Boston (my hometown) to San Jose hovered between $300 and $400 when I researched fares about two months in advance. Not wanting to spend much more than $300, I jumped when I saw a fare on Expedia for $301.50. In the weeks after booking, fares dropped as low as $268 including taxes. (Drat, had I waited a little longer, I would have been able to get that massage…)

Indicative of recent trends, here are a few fares (including taxes) from other cities at the time I was booking:

• $214: Miami
• $299: Houston
• $302: New York
• $304: Chicago, Los Angeles
• $330: New Orleans
• $339: Denver

Airfare strategy for Costa Rica is quite simple: Because most major U.S carriers (and a few others like LACSA and TACA) fly into San Jose, prices remain competitive, making it easy to snag a good fare. The key is to set a benchmark and monitor fares until you see one that hits your number or falls below it. Don’t be afraid to wait a little; the low prices will come around.

When it comes to flying, note that the Costa Rican government imposes a departure tax ($26) that you must pay at the airport before you check in for your departing flight. You’d see the same thing with many Caribbean islands and other Latin American destinations. The cost isn’t intrinsically prohibitive, but it’s good to keep it in mind when setting a budget for your trip. Also, it’s best to set aside some cash, because the only other way to pay is by credit card via cash advance, which is ultimately costly.

Getting around

For many trips, I’ve come to regard airport transfers as a thorny nuisance. They always add a little stress and annoying logistical hiccups to what otherwise would be smooth planning. In the case of flying into San Jose, there are several air-hotel transfer options with varying degrees of cost. And once I sorted them out, they seemed pretty basic, and I even enjoyed the ride through the mountainous highlands.

The first, and my favorite, is the bus. A one-way ride to and from my resort cost only $2.33 (1,080 colones), keeping me well within my budget. The drivers were scrupulously on time. However, with no guaranteed seats or air conditioning, you’d certainly be roughing it. On the plus side, it’s a good way to get a glimpse of local color, as it’s generally the transportation of the Costa Ricans, or
Ticos
, rather than tourists. The bus driver might even stop by a local grocery store for a few minutes in case you get hungry or weary along the way. I highly recommend contacting your hotel about bus stops and schedules before you arrive. If you are like me and find bus systems convoluted and generally incomprehensible, you’ll appreciate this advice.

Cost Breakdown:

For 3 nights and 3 days, including all taxes and fees, based on two people traveling together

Airfare:
$301.50

Hotel:
$146.34

Bus transfer:
$4.66*

Snorkeling rental:
$5

Total cost:
$483.50

*Prices in Costa Rican colones were converted on February 14, 2005.

"Page 2"