Traveling Abroad

[Mysteefied]

Being that my 16 year old daughter is traveling to France and Spain in 2 days, I thought it would be nice to hear of others travels.

Right now I am particularly interested in hearing about your travels to Paris or Madrid. But I know everyone would love to hear of your experiences in other countries as well.

I have been to Jamaica, Haiti, Cozumel and Grand Caymen, I really liked the beauty of Haiti. I didn't care for Jamaica as much as I thought I would, I liked it, don't get me wrong, but mostly I shopped and at one point when my hubby and I get disconnected from the group, we ended up downtown where it was really dirty and there were armed guards on just about every corner....kinda scary.

[monkey]

Have you looked at Trip Advisor? I spend hours and hours on the site whenever I am traveling somewhere. Here is a link to the Paris Forum:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g187147-i14-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

[Patagoniamaniac]

Have you looked at Trip Advisor? I spend hours and hours on the site whenever I am traveling somewhere. Here is a link to the Paris Forum:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g187147-i14-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

Thats where I get ALL my info when we travel abroad. I base our trip on the reviews that are posted by travelers. It has Excellent information.

[Mysteefied]

Monkey, Thank you so much, I would have never known to look there. It has so much great information. I'm going to look over it with my daughter tonight.

Thanks again

[monkey]

Avec plaisir! (your welcome)

[monkey]

Hey Myst,
I was in Willow Bridge Books and looking at their 50% off rack and there was a travel book on Spain. It was Rick Steves, or Frommer's or someone like that.

[dancingqueen]

Your daughter must be so excited and I know you are excited for her. This may seam like a really silly idea but I read about it in a travel article recently when we were visiting Cape Cod. Instead of bringing your favorite underwear, pack the old stuff that you don't care anything about. Instead of packing dirty undies just throw them in the trash and you have more room in your luggage for gifts and treasures. They actually said that this worked so well on one of their trips to Europe that they now pack shirts and shorts or slacks that may have a small stain on them, something that you would probably put in "for yard work" section of your closet or drawer. They wear these on tours and then just throw them away and bring a couple of cute things for evenings out. I wonder what the maid thinks?

[Mysteefied]

Thanks Monkey, I'll check out the bookstore!

Hmmm..I don't know if I could get her to take her old undies, but it makes sense..LOL

That poor maid!

[monkey]

That poor maid!

Another reason to remember to tip the housekeeper! lol

[Kat]

We are going to Costa Rica in a few months. Anyone been there, heard anything good or bad, know of a "gotta go see it" place?

[ILuv2Preemies]

My family and I went there last year for 8 days.........We had a blast and really enjoyed it.

What area are you going too?

Lisa

[monkey]

I've been 4 times. Loved it every time. I have a Costa Rica travel book you can borrow. I think I've made notes in it also. Last time I went, I organized a tour for about 12 friends. I'd be happy to meet you sometime and tell you my hints and loan you my book.

[Kat]

Wow, thanks everyone! We are going to San Jose first. Spend a week there and then to Volcano Hot Springs and then to Jaco. That is as far as I've gotten. I would love to tour properties for sale. My son wants us to buy there. I have to admit, it is tempting.

[Lookout Lee]

2 of my daughters went to France & Spain, respectively when they were in their mid and late teens. I felt so sorry for the daughter who went to France: the teacher was h-bent on seeing a total of 31 castles! Within hours of arrival, a gypsy made off with the other student's purse. He was chased down and the purse recovered. When asked what foods new to her she especially liked, she answered: mussels.

The daughter visiting Spain and housed at the Univ. of Madrid, took classes each morning, toured every afternoon and evening. Her likes "posters": actually rolled upcanvas reproductions of famous master paintings. She brought several home. On a postcard to her grandmother, she ran her sentences all into one big paragraph to save space. After reporting that nudity was common at the univ. pool, she wrote "I'm beginning to like it here a lot". !!!

Costa Rica is a wonderful place and mostly safe. However, the wars and extreme poverty in bordering countries have brought many to CR who steal to survive. They may knock you down and take your purse or camera, but you won't be killed for 54 cents, as you might be here. Take the usual precautions you'd observe in any urban area, leave your jewelry at home, and don't festoon yourself with expensive camera equipment. On our last trip, our college group, traveling in a small private jitney, arrived at a restaurant. The instructor, on her 6th trip (should have known better), put her backpack on a table while she and others helped move tables together to accomodate the group. When she looked for her backpack, it was gone. I think that a few banditos were waiting for just such an opportunity. As they helped arrange the tables, and helped themselves to her pack, the restaurant staff probably thought that they were part of the group, and the group thought they worked for the restaurant. She lost a camera, binoculars, and 1K in USD. Keep your eyes on your things and your surroundings. Keep your money and passport on your person at all times. (in some hotels, we had to leave our passports at the desk - this may have changed.

I don't mean this to deter you from visiting CR - the Ticos are warm, wonderful people. By
all means visit both the Atlantic (Caribbean influence) and Pacific Coasts. Read a few guide books and pick what interests you. 20 years ago, probably in a safer time, I went with another woman. First stop was the tourist office in San Jose. We got the bus schedule and planned our trip from it. We enjoyed Monte Verde - staying in a Quaker-run place (we hired a young Quaker man as a bird guide), buying the cheeses and caramel produced there; missed the bus to Arenal - do go, and be sure to get the bus time right!; went on a white-water raft trip on the Rio Paquare, there is a more moderate trip on the Reventanon (spelling? on the Nicaraguan border); got together with other tourists and went in on a boat trip up the canal to Tortugero (be sure to establish the return fare before you set out!); took the train to Limon (I don't think it's running any longer); went to an orchid place; were wowed by the gold exhibit inside a bank building in San Jose. I would take the bus again, rather than rent a car. Driving and parking in SJ can be difficult. We went to a travel agent and booked a short flight to Manual Antonio National Park for about $8! (that was then) We enjoyed the tapas bars in early evening, many different kinds of hot cocoa and churros for breakfast, wonderful ice cream flavors, the liquados (milk shakes) and big bowls of 7 seas soup.

Look into staying a couple of nights at the new Ecolodge in San Luis, near to Monte Verde. It's run by the Univl of Georgia. We volunteered to work one morning at a coffee coop nearby, shoveling the "cherry" skins into a wheelbarrow to take to make compost, harvesting the worm compost and spreading it around seedlings of tropical trees and shrubs that would be used to shade the coffee.

The Insectarium and butterfly world near Monte Verde is very much worth visiting. Also, the walk on suspension bridges over the top of the rain forest canopy. You may want to opt for the Zip-line experience!

!Buen viaje!

We also enjoyed taking a bus with the locals to a volcano (Not Irazu, begins with a P, I think). There was a crowd - more than the bus could accomodate. Typical Tico solution: call for a second bus! (that would never happen here!) If you go, head right for the crater before it fogs over, and have a snack and visit the gift shop later.

[Lookout Lee]

I too, rescue the undies and socks with holes and stretched out elastic for travel to places where it isn't easy or possible to wash. A woman I know does the same. She returned to her hotel room in Mexico to find that the maid had rescued the undies from the trash, and had washed, pressed, neatly folded them, and laid them out on the bed!

[dancingqueen]

That is so funny. We are going to Italy for a month in March and I have all ready started an old undies, socks and P.J.'s drawer. I really do think it is a good idea, had never heard of doing something like that before reading about it in a travel article. I plan on bring back lovely things in their place.

[monkey]

Kat, here is a link for more info on Costa Rica:http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g291982-i813-Costa_Rica.html

[Kat]

You are the best!

[fluver]

i agree with 'monkey'check it out

Lisa

fluver.com