| There are many online companies that offer | | | | says 5,000 colones, just drop the 3 zeros and |
| romantic honeymoon getaways on both the | | | | multiply the other number by 2. In other words, |
| Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Costa Rica. Having | | | | 5,000 colones is equal to 10 American dollars. If |
| just returned from Costa Rica myself, I would like | | | | you need to convert other currency into colones, |
| to offer some suggestions that you probably will | | | | you can do that online at (Universal Currency |
| not find online or in a guidebook. | | | | Converter). |
| When we planned our trip, we assumed that | | | | The rainy season in Costa Rica runs from May |
| most people in Costa Rica would understand | | | | through December. Hotels are cheaper and there |
| English fairly well. At several hotels, the front desk | | | | are fewer people on the roads and in the |
| clerks spoke practically no English. The same goes | | | | restaurants. My husband and I traveled in |
| for bus drivers. The staff at the car rental | | | | September, and experienced rain on only a few |
| agency spoke the best English. They were able to | | | | days of our trip. It would rain heavily for about |
| give us needed recommendation for food and site | | | | one hour and then stop completely. We would |
| seeing. I highly recommend translating some key | | | | spend the time indoors having a lovely Costa |
| Spanish phrases before your trip, such as | | | | Rican lunch, and by the time we finished the rain |
| Where is the bank, bathroom, hotel? | | | | was gone. |
| The Pan American Highway runs through Costa | | | | Bring a good camera and lots of film. Because of |
| Rica and is a reliable, well-paved road. However, | | | | the rain, you will see some of the most beautiful |
| many side roads in Costa Rica are very bad and | | | | exotic plants and flowers. The volcanoes are |
| full of deep potholes. I recommend that when you | | | | breathtaking and you can even hear the rumbling. |
| rent a car, take out the full coverage (usually an | | | | The waterfalls are located off of the side roads, |
| additional $20 per day on top of the regular fee). | | | | so drive slowly and allow more time. Even in the |
| When you take the side roads, you need to allow | | | | cities, you will want to photograph the ornate |
| more time to reach your destination. In some | | | | wrought iron that covers all the windows and |
| cases you may be only going 25 miles per hour. | | | | patios in Costa Rica. After your honeymoon, you |
| Colones are the national currency and are very | | | | will want to have some of these amazing pictures |
| easy to translate into American dollars. If an item | | | | enlarged to put in your new home. |