travel tips for costa rica

view of arenal volcano in la fortuna from our resort

a few months ago i enjoyed a week of relaxation and adventure with one of my closest girlfriends in la fortuna and san jose, costa rica. it was my first big trip outside of asia, and i had the BEST TIME! costa rica is an absolutely beautiful country, with lush, green natural beauty; warm, welcoming people; vibrant culture; comforting food; and so many options for fun and relaxation. the tourism industry is well-established and competitive, and you can therefore plan a very budget-friendly trip.

my trip expenses included:
-roundtrip airfare thru spirit airlines
-roundtrip shuttle service from san jose to la fortuna (~3-4 hours each way) thru the costa rica shuttle bus
-5 nights at a resort, the volcano lodge & springs
-1 night at in&basic hostel lounge
-several adventure tours: ziplining, horseback riding, white water rafting, arenal volcano hike, nature safari boat tour, and hot springs with desafio and wave expeditions
-taxis, meals, tips, souvenirs
-items bought specifically for my trip (which included insect repellant, sunscreen, chaco sports sandals, poncho, snacks, etc.)

...all for just under $1,500 USD. pretty awesome if you ask me!

i thought i would share some random tips about traveling in costa rica that i found to be particularly helpful. this is by no means a guide to trip planning, as there are already so many informative websites just a google search away. please also keep in mind the specifics of my trip, which might make some of my suggestions inapplicable to you:

-6 nights/7 days during the last week of august
-rainy season
-travel limited to la fortuna and san jose

gallo pinto, a typical tico plate

lush green on our resort

spotting wildlife on our nature safari boat tour

tips and tricks
- as a general rule of thumb, if you're in a store and notice that prices are shown only in dollars (without a colones equivalent) or not marked at all, be wary. these places are usually targeting tourists and therefore overpriced, or the employee will make a price up on the spot.

- if you are looking to stock up on coffee and chocolate as gifts, check out supermarkets or convenience stores. i found the prices there to be cheaper than purchasing at gift/souvenir shops, and the brands/packaging were almost always the same.

- there is a $29 exit tax that must be paid if you depart costa rica via airport. i would suggest paying by cash, as if you pay by credit card it is often charged as a cash advance, which can result in a fee of around $10. plan ahead by bringing and setting aside $29 worth of clean, unmarked bills to use at the end of your trip.

- in addition to the often-used discount travel websites, check groupon getaways and livingsocial escapes for deals on places to stay and tours. that is how my friend and i found our resort, which was really nice- and we saved 59%! make sure to read the fine print as well as the cancellation policy.

- exchange a minimal amount of dollars into colones. i exchanged about $30 for a 6 night, 7 day trip and was scrambling to spend it all by the end, especially because you will almost always receive change back in colones, even when you purchase with dollars. i was able to use dollars to pay for everything, including taxis, food at sodas, tip, souvenirs, EVERYTHING- in both la fortuna and san jose.

- cargo pants are great for adventure tours. they are lightweight, dry quickly, have zippered pockets to store small items (camera, room keys, cash) plus drawstrings at the ankles (helpful in preventing easy access for mosquitoes). you should look for a few pairs that tick off all these boxes. i found them to be a much better alternative to jeans, which are basically the opposite- heavy, hot, impossible to get completely air dry in the damp costa rican weather, and no zippers.

a big bag of rambutan bought for $1-2 at a roadside
fruitstand. they never taste this sweet in chicago!

- eat fruit! the year-round tropical climate results in a nutrient-rich soil that grows juicy, deliciously sweet fruit, including pineapple, guava, watermelon, papaya, mango and more!

- helpful odds and ends to pack: wristwatch with alarm, small umbrella, waterproof camera case, plastic grocery bags, ziploc bags, extra sheets and camp towel if you plan on staying at a hostel.

- tipping is up to you. it is not part of tico culture to tip, but most individuals employed by the tourism industry are familiar with tipping and of course appreciate it.

•  you generally do not have to tip for taxi rides
•  many restaurants will already include a 10% "service fee," which is actually a tip
• a $1-2 tip/day for housekeeping is standard
• a $1-2 tip/bag for bellboys is standard
• for the tours we went on, i noticed that none of the europeans tipped, while all tourists from the unites states did. my friend and i tipped our tour guides btwn $5-10 based on the nature of the work they did on the tour (i.e. our whitewater rafting guide really got down and dirty, so i tipped him a little more). the same applied to the driver- if he helped out in some way in addition to driving i tipped more (i.e. for our nature safari boat tour, the driver helped set up all of our equipment in the pouring rain).

although my time in costa rica was brief i fell in love hard, and quickly. i hope to return to visit another region in the future. pura vida!
** coming soon: a review of my experience with spirit airlines

happy monday

on my train ride into work every morning i have a little prayer time/quiet reflection for the day ahead. part of that prayer never really changes:

- help me do my work well, to honor the commitment i have made in choosing this job.

- help me use words only to strengthen, encourage, and comfort clients

- help me be patient, kind, and engaged with both clients and co-workers

when i come to this part of my prayer i make sure to slow down a bit and focus on the words, so that they don't lose meaning as i repeat them every day. and i realized this morning how much of a difference this makes for me as i reflected on the crap work week i had last week. it was the kind of week where i was counting down the minutes until i could leave (starting at noon); getting annoyed when someone called and i had to actually help them (aka do my job- not the best social worker response, oops); spending more time than appropriate reading blogs/books/articles online while browsing for things i want to buy on cyber monday; etc. 

i realized this morning that all of last week i hadn't done my usual "pep prayer" on my ride in. instead i half-dozed as i was really tired from all that was going on, so that by the time i reached work i already didn't want to be there. that attitude trickled on through the hours and shaped my day. for me, it really makes a difference to have even just a few minutes of "this is how i want my day to be. this is how i will help make that happen" in the morning to guide the flow of my thoughts, actions, words, emotions. 

did it today, having a great day!

chicago insider: pt. 1

i have called chicago home for just over four years now and think it is one of the most amazing cities in the world (just my humble opinion). i continue to discover some pretty awesome things that make life here enjoyable, and thought i'd share some of the lesser known ones to add to popular favorites (which include free museum days, summer dance, movies in the park, and downtown sound). this list is compiled particularly with my several new-to-chicago friends in mind :)

the cultural center- international screenings program

the cultural center offers an incredible variety of special events and exhibits. the one that i want to highlight is my personal favorite- the international screenings program, which is free and open to the general public. for six months out of the year the cultural centers shows one international film two days/week. these films are from around the world and difficult to see otherwise, and often include a Q&A or discussion after. 

claudia cassidy theater
78 e. washington st

check out the films from 2013

the pedway

the pedway system is a fairly recent discovery of mine (recent relative to the time i've been in chicago). it's made up of underground walkways and overhead bridges that connect 50+ buildings and CTA stations downtown. because my work building is connected to the pedway, it's a great way for me to squeeze in a walking break, avoid bad weather, and explore the random shops that call the pedway their home.

pedway map

chicago pedway tours

chicago public library- money smart financial literacy classes

again, a wealth of programs and services, but i want to highlight its 'money smart' financial literacy classes, which are free and held at libraries across the city. topics of interest include home buying, retirement planning, and understanding credit. there is a special concentration of programs available during 'money smart week' every april. although helpful for anyone, i would particularly recommend these classes for my 20-something peers who may just be starting their personal finance journey, and need to start smart.

calendar of money smart events

money smart week website

chicago park district- fitness centers

now, this might not be for you if you are very much into working out and need loads of "how the heck do i use this?" equipment and such. i definitely do not fit in this category. in fact, when i was exploring fitness center options my priorities were: 

1. low cost

2. minimal commitment (in terms of contracts)

3. proximity to my home/work

that tells you how much i really care about working out. still, i think the park district's fitness centers are a fantastic option if you just need a few cardio machines or weights to do some basic training, and don't care about additional frills (i.e. fancy locker rooms, juice bars, etc). the one i joined on the northside was extremely clean and had very little traffic, so that i never had to wait for a machine or anything. true, the hours are a bit limited, but the benefits include:

1. option to buy a monthly, 3 month, or annual pass.

2. low fees, which are about $15 for a monthly pass; $45/3 month; and $150/annual (at a single site, not multiple fitness center locations- these passes are more expenseive).

3. FEE WAIVER PROGRAM with MD's prescription. THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS! if you meet the guidelines listed here, you will receive a free 3 month pass.

CPD fitness centers

water taxi

a great alternative to the architectural boat tours if you want to enjoy the river but are okay missing out on the commentary. the michigan ave to chinatown route takes about 20min, and costs $6 one way on a weekday or $8 round trip (which actually gets you an all day pass). the prices are bit more expensive on the weekend and on holidays. i was tickled to meet a passenger once for whom the water taxi was their mode of commute- an unlimited 31 day pass is just $60!

chicago water taxi website

fares

i actually really enjoyed compiling this list, it made me realize how many great, low-cost/free programs are available to chicago residents. please share any additional recommendations in the comments!

accountability

- i WILL wake up at 6:45a
as opposed to waking up somewhere btwn 7:10-7:15a and scrambling to make it out the door by 7:40a. this usually means doing half my makeup on the train, taking breakfast to go, and leaving my apartment in shambles. just a few extra minutes to gather myself and my thoughts at the start of the day.

- i WILL make better food choices

i am currently at the heaviest i have ever been and feel like crap. my specific goals are to consume less rice and tacos (sigh); consume more veggies and fruit; limit eating out; and not eat too late in the evening.

- i WILL explore who i am and how i am

i strongly believe in the importance of self exploration and reflection with the purpose of really figuring out who you are. for me this process is usually guided by a couple questions as i journal, or engage in conversations with close friends. guiding questions might include, for example, how did my family of origin impact my values? how i view money? how i am in relationships? i think these exercises in self recognition are fundamental to growing your best self...but it's something i struggle to do regularly.

that's it for now. will report back in a week!