Customer Reviews

Fodor's Costa Rica 2009 (Travel Guide)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

" . . . let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens." -- Genesis 1:20

For years our children, friends, neighbors, students, and acquaintances have extolled the many virtues of traveling to Costa Rica. There was only one problem: Each one described the country so differently that it was hard to imagine that they were describing the same place. Surfing around on the Internet didn't help: The sites seemed to assume that I already knew what I was looking for.

In the past, Fodor's various guides have proven to be invaluable for assessing the best ways to organize trips to places I know well. I often found better ways to travel, more interesting places to stay, new things to do, and great meals at prices I could afford. But I had never thought of Fodor's guides as a resource for a place I didn't know much about.

With that in mind, I picked up Fodor's Costa Rica 2009 to see what I could learn. Wow! Was I glad that I did!!

Although Costa Rica isn't a very big place, getting around can be time-consuming and difficult. Many nature-oriented activities such as bird and turtle watching are better at some times and places than at others. Also, there's a lot off rain in the rain forest. Arrive during the dry season and your visit can be a lot more pleasant.

Beginning with the index to learn about what I wanted to see, I quickly picked up the basic facts. With those helpful bits of information, I was able to go back to the Internet to check out the more interesting alternatives and find the lowest cost ways to explore them. From that research, I became convinced that my original idea of going in November wasn't such a good idea.

Without Fodor's I would have planned the wrong trip at the wrong time of the year. I don't know if I'll ever get to Costa Rica, but if I do it'll be a great trip thanks to this valuable guide.

This was so helpful in preparing me for my trip, gave great tips on food, entertainment, what not to waste your time on, etc. Even came with a map, that came in handy more than once.

This is a very useful book for those trying to get a grasp of traveling in Costa Rica.
Concise, ease to read and follow, and gives many useful tips on negotiating the country.
An excellent book!
Most of the information and recommendations are right on.

Saved a boatload by buying the 2009 version. Went in late 2010, and the book was spot on all its recommendations and reviews. The only outdated info is in regards to certain roads being closed due to an earthquake in January 2010. Other than that, great book. Save yourself some money, and spend it on ceviche in CR!

We bought this book six months prior to our first trip to Costa Rica. This gave us time to read through it, and look up the destinations we would be going to. It gives you a good idea of what to expect when you get there, and places you may want to visit. No book can tell you everything about every situation, but still we found this book to be helpful even while we were in Costa Rica to make plans visiting places other than where our "Base Camp" was in Samara (which has the most beautiful Beaches and Sunsets you could ever dream of!) If you plan on going to Costa Rica, and you have never been before, this book is a good idea to pick up and keep with you. It has a large fold out map in the back, which allong with a GPS (I recomend renting one AFTER you get there), will let you go about anywhere you want to go.

This is the fourth Fodor's guide we've bought to plan a trip. Excellent information, up-to-date as can be for a publication of this type. Comprehensive and also fun to read.