| Does being short on the green stuff mean your | | | | to save even more money, but you'll bring |
| Costa Rica vacation has to be short on fun? Not | | | | enough money for tips. |
| if you can arrange to spend what green you have | | | | If you'd prefer lodgings in Costa Rica's major |
| during Costa Rica's Green Season. It would be | | | | cities, your best way to save money is to book |
| more accurate, but not nearly as attractive from | | | | with Bed and Breakfasts. In Monteverde, for |
| tourism standpoint, to call them the dry and rainy | | | | example, you can stay at the La Colina mountain |
| season, because that's what they are. If, | | | | lodge surrounded not only by brilliantly colored |
| however, you don't mind risking a daily downpour | | | | tropical birds of the Clod Forest, but by an |
| during your Costa Rican vacation, heading there | | | | authentic Quaker community. While your |
| between May and the end of November, during | | | | breakfast is included in the cost of your roam, La |
| the "green" season, you can enjoy all of Costa | | | | Colina also has an on-site restaurant where you |
| Rica's attractions at considerable savings, while | | | | can enjoy delicious lunches and dinners. |
| expecting at least five hours of sunshine a day. | | | | Rooms with private baths are a very reasonable |
| Your willingness to brave a daily rainstorm will | | | | $38 per night for singles and $30 per double |
| have more than mere financial rewards. The | | | | occupancy during the green season, not including |
| green season is when even the brownest and | | | | Costa Rica's 16% hotel tax. The staff at La Colina |
| most barren of Costa Rica's provinces become | | | | will be happy to arrange excursions including |
| abundantly lush, and the crowds which swarm to | | | | horseback riding and jungle canopy tours for you. |
| its warmth and sunshine to escape harsh | | | | An even less expensive B&B for your |
| Northern winters have long since departed. If | | | | budget Costa Rican vacation is the Kalexma |
| you're lucky, the rain in your Costa Rica vacations | | | | B&B in the La Uruca section of San Jose. |
| spot will limit itself to predictable afternoon | | | | What it lacks in style it more than makes up for |
| downpours and you can schedule your (greatly | | | | in affordability, with a single room and shared bath |
| discounted) outings accordingly. | | | | going for $15.00 per night during the green season. |
| The first savings you'll experience by choosing to | | | | A private bath and warm water shower will cost |
| travel to Costa Rica in the green season will be in | | | | $3 more. |
| the cost of your airline tickets. You can expect to | | | | While you lodgings in Costa Rica may include |
| save as much as $150 on your round-trip airfare, | | | | breakfast, you'll still need to eat at least one more |
| and if you're traveling from the US, you can book | | | | meal during the day. The cheapest way to do |
| flight on a number of airlines including Continental, | | | | that is to patronize the Cost Rican supermarkets, |
| Delta, US Airways, and Spirit Air. Mexicana Airlines | | | | where you can not only find the meal fixings if |
| also offers service to Costa Rica from many | | | | your lodgings come with kitchen privileges, but |
| major US cities, with connecting flights in Mexico | | | | ready-to-eat meals as well. You'll find the small |
| City. | | | | family-run restaurants are also much more |
| One of the best ways to save money on your | | | | affordable than the large hotel dining |
| accommodations while in Costa Rica is to book an | | | | establishments. |
| ecotourism vacation. You'll find yourself lodged | | | | Finally, if your schedule doesn't allow you to hunt |
| among some of the most spectacular mountain | | | | down the most budget friendly Costa Rica |
| or jungle surroundings in all of Central America, at | | | | vacation options on your own, use the Internet to |
| prices which can be as low as $30 per night for a | | | | track down a budget Costa Rica travel broker |
| double occupancy room or bungalow. | | | | who has connections to the resorts in the area of |
| If you book an ecotour through Global Exchange, | | | | the country you'd like to visit. Many of these |
| your cost will include not only accommodations for | | | | brokers work with resorts who which would |
| your entire stay, but breakfast and dinner each | | | | other wise have blocks of empty rooms during |
| per day, all transportation within Costa Rica ( and | | | | the green season and will offer them at significant |
| this can be a blessing during the rainy season) | | | | discounts through the brokers, who collect |
| excursion fees, and a bilingual guide (another | | | | commissions on the deals. |
| blessing if your Spanish skills aren't the best). | | | | Most of these deals are all-inclusive, meaning you'll |
| Global Exchange's 10-day Costa Rican tour covers | | | | book your airfare at the same time that you |
| three national parks, visits to Indian villages both a | | | | book your resort. Your smartest tactic will be to |
| banana plantation and a banana growing | | | | get a quote from one broker before booking it, |
| co-operative, plenty of beach time and lodgings in | | | | spend a few minutes seeing what price you can |
| the jungle, all for $1575 plus air fare per person | | | | get for the same trip if you book your own |
| double occupancy. You can skip lunch if you want | | | | airfare and hotel accommodations. |