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34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well written guide by an Expat living in Costa Rica, January 21, 2010
This review is from: Frommer's Costa Rica 2010 (Frommer's Color Complete) (Paperback)
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Costa Rica is one of my very favorite destinations and I likely own just about every flavor of review book on the area. While my husband has always been a big fan of the Frommers series I've always had others that I felt were more current and offered the information I value most when traveling. However I have been very impressed with the 2010 edition of the Frommers for Costa Rica and can honestly say that at present it is my favorite guide book for this area.
Typically I've been the type to gravitate more towards the Moon books which offers more of the "off the beaten path" type information on things to do, see, places to stay and where to eat. They tended to present a more local flavor and not focus so heavily on the more touristy spots. The one drawback to the Moon series is that it can occasionally get rambly and doesn't seem to update it's information as frequently as it should.
This latest edition of the frommers offers the same point of view that I've always sought in the Moon books, yet it is very current. I compared the commentary in the book with my own experiences when traveling in the area and found that I agreed with most everything the author wrote as far as destinations, great places to eat, nice places to stay, best places to visit, etc. Granted, I've never lived in Costa Rica and I've not been to every area of interest in the Country, but on the areas I know well the author is right on.
We are heading to Costa Rica again in a couple of weeks and are taking in a few new destinations and sights, so I will then see if my experiences and the commentary in the guide continue to align. (Update post-trip below...)
All-in-all, whether going to Costa Rica for the first time or on a return visit I feel this guide is a great resource. The information is current, seems very unbiased, and offers a great selection of places to stay and things to do if you're seeking ideas for your trip.
UPDATE: We returned from our trip a few days ago and I can say my initial impressions of this guide book were right on. This is indeed a great guide for both new and return visitors. The information provided was very accurate. Those activities, hotels and restaurants both recommended and not recommended were in-line with our own impressions, making the guide a great resource for both pretrip planning and in-country last minute plans as well. This is a great Costa Rica guide and I highly recommend it.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Varied perspectives makes this book fun, December 30, 2009
This review is from: Frommer's Costa Rica 2010 (Frommer's Color Complete) (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I opened the page to a sidebox: "No trip to Costa Rica would be complete without at least one monkey sighting." Then on the it describes the capuchin monkey, howler monkey, the elusive spider monkey, and the rare endangered squirrel monkey. Flipping to the beginning of the book, I land on "The best views" starting with The Summit of Irazu Volcano. In the same chapter you will find the best adventures and the best moderately priced hotels. The topic takes a serious feel in the section Common Ailments: Tropical Illnesses with discussion of dengue fever and dietary red flags. But the photo of the dolphin quickly takes the attention away toward the beautiful. The book is filled with useful tips that only the experienced traveler would know: "Because Drake Bay is so remote, I recommend that you have a room reservation and transportation arrangements before you arrive." It goes on to say that a flashlight and rain gear are absoultely essential in Drake Bay. While some other travel books are just compiled reference on touristy sights and lodging, this Frommers Guide frames this information around highly refined tips & tricks. Page 505 shows a little drawing of a Sally Lightfoot Crab. I have some of these in my marine reef aquarium. I look forward to seeing these critters in their natural habitat. This Frommers Guide is a must-have in your Costa Rica bound luggage. That is, if you can find your destination: "Although there are often street addresses and building numbers for locations in downtown San Jose, they are almost never used.."
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Informative - Loved It!, December 30, 2009
This review is from: Frommer's Costa Rica 2010 (Frommer's Color Complete) (Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
We are considering a vacation to Costa Rica sometime in 2010. Since it would be our first trip to this country, I thought this travel guide might be a perfect way to learn more about the country and its culture, it's history, the beaches, hotels etc.
The book is divided into sections:
* The Best of Costa Rica (beaches, hotels, ecolodges and wilderness resorts, B&Bs, best family resorts, places for adventure,nature, and more.
* Costa Rica in Depth: The history of the country past and present, culture, architecture and eating and drinking
* Trip Planning: when to go, calendar of events,getting there and around once you are there, wedding planning, health and safety accommodations , suggested itineraries etc.
* Separate sections about San Jose, Guanacaste (The Gold Coast), Puntarenas and the Nicoya Peninsula, The Northern Zone: Mountain Lakes, Cloud Forest and a volcano.
* Central Pacific Coast (Where the Mountain Meets the Sea, The Southern Zone The Caribbean Coast
* Fast facts guide; Spanish terms and phrases and Costa Rican wildlife info.
Also included is a foldout map plus detailed maps throughout the book, hundreds of color photos, reviews of hotels and restaurants, shopping and nightlife, as well as trip planning ideas for once you are there. The only thing that I was a bit disappointed in was not the book itself, but that many of the featured hotels only had one or two star ratings, even most of the very expensive resort hotels were only 3 stars, so we really need to do a bit more research and talk with people who have traveled here before. RECOMMENDED
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