In travel, as in life, tolerance for things going wrong or tolerance for worrying about things going wrong are closely connected with your goals. If things going wrong or things you are worrying about going wrong will sabotage you from achieving your high priority goals you are much more likely to let [...]

I have been thinking a lot about this trip, but beyond a reminder in my calendar to select the participants in June, I have been coming up with more questions than answers. For a start thanks and kudos to Jennifer Fletcher for coming up with a great name. Time of Your Life. On the other [...]

This is a continuation of the February 1 post. By the time the soaked clothes in our suitcases had been sent to the laundry to be dried, I was already thinking if I had handled the situation more cleverly my luggage would have been safely stored on the train in someplace other than my shower. [...]

Except for seeing family and friends one of the things I like most about visiting New York City is the biking.  I might be the only person who feels this way, but for me NYC is one of the world’s best bicycling destinations.One of the main reasons I feel this way is the Five Borough [...]

In last weeks post I said that the 5 Borough Bike Club is one of the main reasons that I think that New York City is one of the world’s best bicycling destinations. My Plan for this weeks post was to talk about the other things that I really enjoy about biking in New York, like [...]

Meena emailed me the account below of her trip to Galapagos and gave me permission to share it with you. Dear Michael, Thought I would share my  wonderful vacation  experience of my recent  Galapagos trip ., especially in the thread of the travel agent  going the extra mile .  We chose KleinTours , and it  turned out to [...]

I interrupt Patty’s account of her trip the Costa Rica to tell you about a minor epiphany I had yesterday morning while flying from Tortuguero to San Jose. I spend so much time flying in small planes that I have become blasé about an experience that most people find exceptional, not to say exciting or even [...]

Since the early 70’s I have been going to Las Vegas on an average of at least once a year.  And in all those years I have never once gone to Las Vegas to go to Las Vegas. In the early years I went to Las Vegas to go to the Grand Canyon.  Later on  I [...]

When we finish a trip of a lifetime to a country that we have never visited before, we are often sure we will return.  Most of the time we don’t. The reason for this is understandable.  No matter how much we loved our past trips the lure of the new and the unknown is usually irresistible.  [...]

The first stop on our first trip to Cuba was Prince Edward Island, or, as the native’s invariable call it, PEI.  If you noticed that we were traveling in the wrong direction, you’re right.  The reason for this is that we did not know at the time that we were on our way to Cuba. When [...]

In last weeks post I promised to tell you how an ex downhill racer from Canada ended up marrying an ex international road bike racer from Cuba and how I got from talking to Mirley Macqueen and her mother in the Bike Shop parking lot in PEI to lying in a barber chair with a [...]

The Hotel Casa Granda is located on the main square in Santiago de Cuba. Photo:  cubareserva.com As we approached the hotel after a day of biking, Danny explained that the street is so narrow our bus would be blocking traffic while the luggage was unloaded.  He asked us all to help unloading the luggage so we would [...]

Post April 5 Kristen on Hotels. Since it’s Cuba, I’ll use a baseball analogy to describe how working with the state hotels here is for travel agents. The hotels are the pitchers. We are the batters.  The state owned ground handler through which we have to make the reservations is the umpire.  The pitcher and the umpire [...]

Now that barbershops in Cuba with 3 or fewer seats have been privatized, I am anxious to see what if anything has changed,. So on our first full day in Cuba (Saturday, March 19, 2011) we headed for the Plaza de Armas to find the two-chair barbershop where I had gotten a shave two years. In [...]

A slightly different version of this post was published in the April 20 Huffington Post. When Yolanda and I decided to return to Cuba we had no idea at the time that Cuba would be in the news much more than usual lately. Especially in the Spanish speaking media Jimmy Carter’s peacemaking visit, the first party congress [...]

What did the Cuban barber tell me he used for practice? The barber told me that he practiced on himself.  Chris Parrot, seen below in his blazing red lycra and matching water bottle cycling on Prince Edward Island during that fateful trip in September 2007, got the right answer; but according to the Contest Rules he [...]

I don't usually cry at the end of a vacation, but when it came time to say goodbye to Kenya Mendez, our guide in Corcovado, I did. She not only showed us the wonders of the birds and plants of the rain forest, but she treated the four members of our family as friends and went out of her way to fix whatever problems or issues that came up. I hope all is well with her and that our paths will cross again.

I think this is a great forward thinking idea to share yours and others traveling experiences. One of me best trips ever was to Costa Rica and have recommended it to many people. One of my most fond memories is the white water rafting on the Pacure River and the 2 nights at the Pacure Lodge. I am an avid armchair traveler and all the time wanna be real time traveler. I recently completed the Tour Du Mont Blanc, a 105 mile hut to hut hike around Mont Blanc through France, Italy and Switzerland. This was a trip of a life time and another one I would highly recommend to folks that love hiking and something different in spectacular surrounds. Again kudos on this new venture. I hope to learn more from this blog in the near furure.

We struggle to find quality active vacations similar to the one we took in Costa Rica yet we are always looking for similar experiences in mew countries. This summer we went to Turkey and worked with a local travel agent to create an active, customized itinerary which worked out very well but it would be great to have a source of ideas and this blog concept could be a good start.

Michael, I think this is a great idea. I have never been to much of a blogger but love to travel and enjoy sharing my travel experiences with others. We took our first trip as a family to Costa Rica in 2004. We used Costa Rica expeditions to arrange the trip. They made the whole experience from start to finish easy. When we arrived in San Jose there was someone from Costa Rica expeditions there to met us and take us to our hotel. Everytime we moved to a new location we were met my a rep to help us. Our first night we spend at Xandari Resort a coffee plantation. From there we went to Bosque Del Cabo for a few days. That was an amazing resort full of wild life. We really felt the full range of being in the rainforest on one of our first hikes when we heard a puma cry. It stopped us dead in our tracks. It was a surreal moment realizing we were in a place like no other. Than there was mornings, waking to the sounds of the howler monkeys, going for coffee and watching the forest wake up. We saw so many different animals. We kayak at sunset in the Guelfo Dulce. We surfed at Pan Dulce. Than from there we went to Corcovado Logde Tent Camp. When the car dropped us off at the end of the road we had a 2 mile walk to camp. My kids thought we were entering some kind of reality show like survier. Tent camp was an amazing. We ended our trip in Tamarindo. Since this trip we have been back twice more and look forward to going again. There is so much to tell about each of the places we went to and we love to share more. I will be happy to participate in this blog.

Thanks for your portrait of Bill Mackenzie, whose life and work inspires me and I'm sure other almost-retirees to start thinking more about what's really important in life. You mentioned favorite guests: I want to single out a favorite CRE travel planner! Priscilla Jimenez helped plan the first trip I took to Costa Rica several years ago and not only organized an unforgettable trip for me and my daughter and answered all my many questions patiently and promptly, but also treated us like friends: we were staying in CRE's tent camp in Corcovado and one day at dinner someone arrived with a platter of tamales, sent to me from San Jose by Priscilla, just because I had mentioned to her that I loved tamales but had never tried the Costa Rica kind. My daughter and I shared this delicious treat with others at the table and we all toasted Priscilla for giving us yet another reason to love Costa Rica! I'll never forget her warmth, friendliness and professionalism.

We were very enamored with Costa Rica on our first two trips; the people, the natural resources, the whole experience. On that second trip we were introduced to the excellence of CRE. This led to three more trips with CRE and guide Jonathan Sequiera. We connected with him --he is now a good friend. Twice we were accompanied by 10 or so fellow natural resource professionals from NH. We wanted to share what we were learning/seeing with them. We still hear "Trip of a lifetime" from some of them. Many of them want to return. We will return. On each visit, all of the people of CRE were excellent representatives of the company, and of their country. But perhaps most importantly, they were good, solid people. We enjoyed getting to know them. They and the company never missed a beat and never let us down. A trip to Costa Rica helps put life in the US in perspective. The pace of life, the priorities and values. Refreshing. The country is special in many ways, and CRE makes sure that you see it as such.

As others have pointed out, I agree that the relationship between a tour agent or guide and the guest can be mutually enriching for both when the two parties bond, or at least have a friendly relationship. When my family took our trip with CRE, we loved all of our guides. I remember one particular gentleman who was in charge of the horses during our stay on the Osa Peninsula. My husband is originally from Mexico and the two of them chatted in Spanish throughout the trail ride that all of us took together. That evening, after learning from my husband that I had been having trouble sleeping at night, he brought a special pot of herbal tea to help me sleep. I will always remember that thoughtful gesture. Another time, while on safari in Tanzania, our guide talked often of his wife and small daughter. He had a number of photos of them, but no album in which to keep the photos. He said the albums are very hard to find in Tanzania. When I returned home, I sent him an album and included a photo of all of us with him that had been taken on the safari. I got a lovely thank you note from him and felt that we had made a friend. When you think about it, isn't every experience more enjoyable when you reach out to others and feel them reaching out to you? When this effort transcends language and cultural barriers, it becomes all the more rewarding.

So wonderful to see video of Priscilla! We were not used to using travel planners, but because of the language barrier and my concerns about traveling with our 5 year old who has special needs, we decided to find an established service. Not that it was easy for me to stop worrying! But Priscilla handled all of my concerns beautifully, before and during the trip, and upon our return we exchanged pictures of our kids. I'm pretty sure I invited her to visit us if she ever came our way - that's how much of a host I felt she was in her home country to us.

What great ideas from everyone about traveling with children! My daughter, Natalie, is now grown, but her travel experiences with us as a child have shaped her view of the world. Travel is now a passion with her, as it with me. I agree with the comments of others regarding the benefits; her experiences made her more flexible, open-minded and compassionate in general. One more idea to add to the growing list: When Natalie was little, I always looked for opportunities to duplicate customs of local families in the country we were visiting. For example, in France we attended an evening concert followed by a post-concert supper in a local bistro. The waiters loved the fact that an American family, dressed in something other than jeans, was making an effort to fit in. They plied Natalie with so much free cake I thought she'd explode! While the shift to late-night meals so popular in parts of Europe can put kids off their normal routine, I think it's well worth it; however, we always scheduled nap or rest time during the afternoon to avoid crankiness later on.

Agree with Alice...my "kids" are teens now and are fabulous travelers because they have been doing it for years! (and by travel, I mean experience the place as is, not eat pasta and play game boy by a pool) It has made them better people- more respectful of other cultures, and socioeconomic circumstances, more appreciative of nature and the environment, more independent learners and able to entertain themselves in almost any situation. You will not be sorry, Alice! That said, they still have their cranky moments and meltdowns like the rest of us;-) Some things that worked for our family: Food: We set a policy for the kids to try new things but without judgment from us, just matter of factly try it- if they don't like it, go to the old standbys. My kids still shock everyone by ordering ceviche when we find it on a menu because they loved it in CR when they tried it! Entertainment: I agree with Michael, everyone likes something to do on a 10-16 hour flight, but put down the electronics and definitely put away the phone (you too, mom and dad!) both to enjoy the destination and each other! An entertainment surprise box worked wonders when they were little (books, snacks, little toys and markers) As of 8-10 they pack their own bags and I might buy a few new books or games "just for the trip." Guiding: I agree with Michael, that a good guide can make all the difference. On one of Michael’s trips, the guide was helping us spot a well camouflaged animal, and I was getting fed up with trying to help my 10 y o spot it but the guide was the picture of patience...working with her calmly till she spotted it with her binoculars, and she was so happy, both to see it and to be important enough for someone to take the time with her. One word of caution on guiding for kids- we have been on trips where the guides or children’s counselors spend more time babysitting and setting up "homelike" distractions (i.e. games, TV??!!!) that the kids don't get to enjoy the destination. I would ask this question of your tour operator and seek answers from other travelers on various message boards too. We took our girls on a cruise in Alaska and the program was advertised as a National Park Ranger led program to earn the Jr Ranger badge and see glaciers calve in Glacier Bay. After I picked up (my very disappointed) girls they told me the ranger never came, the other kids got bored “waiting” for the glacier to calve and the whole group was herded into an interior room to play Nintendo (this was pre cell phone- so they couldn't call us to save them) My girls missed the calving glaciers and now I am very fussy about doing any "family" trips with out asking very pointed questions about the itinerary. School: So many people debate this, but I traveled as a kid with my family, occasionally missing school. I remember every trip, but not much of what I learned in school! I don't believe schools are bad; just that what we have to teach our children on the road will stay with them far longer!! Happy Travels!

In my experience, international travel has always brought out the very best in my kids. Sure, at home I have days where I can't imagine even taking them around the corner to the local park, but put them in another country and watch them rise to the occasion. Since we have traveled to some pretty far-flung destinations with our three children, starting as early as two years old, I wanted to add a few thoughts: 1) If you can, involve the kids in pre-trip planning. Get them to help you look through websites, picture books, and field guides to learn what you are about to see. Check out fiction books from the library that deal with your destination-- whether it be Anne Of Green Gables and Prince Edward Island, or a picture book about the Okavango Delta like Honey, Honey, Lion!, books can set the scene for what you are about to see. In the non-fiction shelves of the Children's section of your local library, there will be a state-by-state, country-by-country set of books about destinations. See if you can get them to put in opinions about what they want to see. Sometimes they have strong negative feelings, too-- my 8 year old staunchly refused to go anywhere near a volcano on our trip with Costa Rica Expeditions. We're saving that for our next visit. 2) Never underestimate the value of postcards and local guides. Upon arrival in the airport, while you are waiting for bags, one parent can pop into a newsstand and buy a few postcards of places you are likely to see. You can use these as a sort of treasure hunt when motivation seems to drag along. In Costa Rica, you can buy wonderful waterproof field guides for the rainforest in the airport, and the kids can use them all over the country. This also works at the entrance to a museum-- stop by the gift store and buy postcards of things within, and then embark on a treasure hunt to find everything. 3) Have them record the experience however they can. Everyone should have a journal. Travel art kits can be wonderful for long bus rides-- think watercolor pencils and a brush with a water-fillable base to draw that scarlet macaw or statue. Bring along a small scrapbook and a glue stick and tiny pair of blunt scissors and let them glue brochures and maps right into their journals. Encourage some time each day for reflection, drawing, and writing about what you saw and what made you laugh. 4) I have a bag of tricks... actually a set of opaque drawstring bags, each with its own trick-- a card game, some dice for yahtzee, new crayons, finger puppets, the above mentioned art supplies, a favorite snack. I keep these hidden in my day pack. I try to label these with some incomprehensible code so the kids don't know what's in them. At low points or that excruciating 15 minutes after you order in a restaurant before you are served, grab a bag and voila! a new activity that they didn't know was there. 5) Technology: I agree with Michael that unplugging is good once you get to your destination, with one possible exception. Audiobooks and quiet music on an ipod can buy a kid some space from an irritating sibling in a hotel room or bus ride. Mine have to ask to plug in to their headphones, but sometimes if gives them a little regrouping time and reduces pre-dinner whining. 6) Language: every child should know "Hello", "Thank You", and "Please" in the language of your host country. It is amazing what doors those words can open. Encourage your kids to ask questions on buses and subways, in gardens and on tours. If you are lucky enough to have a wonderful guide like CRE provides, get your kids to come up with three questions for the next day. Four years later, my three can all give you the names of the tour guides who introduced them to the magic of the rainforest. 7) Money: For some reason, our kids lose teeth in every country we visit. It's great fun to have the tooth fairy bring new coins. Older children should try to manage currency and purchasing in the host country as well-- from making change to calculating tips, they can learn a lot from being involved. Our 11 year old learned the art of barter in Zimbabwe and has never been the same. 8) Play. This is important for everyone in our family. We need to remember to schedule some time to just play. My kids have made friends in playgrounds all over the world with kids who don't speak a word of their language, and had a great time. Our trip to London (when our oldest was four) involved a visit to two playgrounds a day, often with a picnic. A swim in the pool can accomplish the same thing. Again, four years after a great guided trip with Costa Rica Expeditions, my kids are torn between wanting to return to places they have been, and wanting to explore new territory. We can't wait to return!

I think the idea has potential, though it will be interesting to see what can make it unique compared to other interactive travel resources such as Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forum or Trip Advisor. Obviously based on the amount of feedback here already, there seems to be a nice starting base of participants. Since we're posting our "résumés" here ;), I'll go ahead and mention my own experiences and places I'm happy to provide information about. My photography has been a good excuse to travel internationally, and it's what led me to Costa Rica in the first place. I'll be returning to Costa Rica with CRE's help for the third time this February, heading back to Corcovado again (one of my favorite places on earth). I'll finally be trying something "new" as well by stopping at La Selva, but the big park keeps drawing me back. If I'm lucky, I'm hoping to meet up with some of the folks I befriended at Sirena last year. :) Other places I've visited and can provide insights on include Yellowstone National Park in the US, Canada's Great Bear Rainforest, New Zealand's South Island (been twice and was married there this past March), Tanzania, Rwanda, Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands, as well as several spots in Europe (Greece, the UK, Spain, Russia, Belgium, Holland, Sweden... and some decade-old memories of France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy). I also spent a week or so in China, but any advice I could dole out there would be limited. My next journey is a photo trip to Patagonia starting next week, so that's a new location to add soon. Anyway, I actively participate and enjoy providing feedback and advice in other travel-related forums, so I'd be happy to participate here if needed!

What a lovely story, Michael! I wish I'd had the chance to meet Bill. As I have said to you before, Costa Rica puts a spell on certain people. It certainly did that to Jim and me. We return in 2011 for our 4th birding trip with the outstanding and amazing Charlie Gomez! Last time we were there was for his 50th birthday party at your place. That was an evening which will never be forgotten! All the Best to you and Yolanda, Ruth Marie Lyons

Yes Michael, My husband and I were traveling in New Zealand in 2008, North Island. We stayed at a lovely B&B called the Beachside, located in a coastal town by the name of Mt Maunganui. Jim and Lorranine were our wonderful hosts. Boy can they cook up a delicious breakfast. On our way out of town they recommended that in route to our next destination which was Gisborne that we stop at the Morere Hot Springs. What a treat. The Maori hosts gave us a towel and pointed to a trail that was a 10 minute bush walk to these beautiful natural hotspring pools. The hot springs pools are located in a dense rain forest, surrounded with native jungle trees and plantings. We were the only ones at the small natural pools that sunny morning. The green of the bush was so tropical, the hot springs were glorious and the sun was making a spiritual moment for us. What a treasure. Very minimal cost for such a life long memory.

I would reccomend that if you liek to go white water rafting, which I have done with friends and family at least 5 times with CR expeditions to go on an overnight trip. We went last year with Natu as our guide and the trip was amazing. It always amazes me that the rafting team can put togehter such a wonderful lunch out of a couple barrels, but their ability to put together a wonderful dinner in truly mystifying. The trip is much more relaxing and you will sleep like a baby along the edge of the river listening to the rush of the water and no bugs at all during the nights sleep. You wake to a wonderful breakfast and then back on the river for another fun filled day. We were joined by 4 elderly ladies from Italy and they were wonderful and did the hiking to the waterfalls and swiming and whatever came up. The trip is for all ages, except maybe the little ones, the white water is not for small ones. The guides are always friendly and very knowledgable. I have been on the river with Natu many times and never disappointed. Thanks to the CR Expedition team for the memories.

I remember many years ago being told by someone at Las Tortugas (Luis Wilson's hotel) that a fun thing to do very early in the morning (just after sunrise) is to go out and find a turtle nest that already has hatched out at Playa Grande. You dig out the baby turtles that didn't make it to the surface. They are going to die from dehydration if you don't dig them out, so you aren't harming anything. You can find the nest from all the mini tractor tracks from the bably turtles that made it. Then you set the baby turtles in the ocean and hopefully a few more make it than otherwise. We called it turtle rescue squad a few years later when we came back with our young children. Unfortunately sometimes the frigate birds swoop down and get a few of your rescue but that teaches another lesson that it is a dog eat dog world out there in the natural world. That was a cool tip. Las Tortugas is my favourite hotel by the way. The food is good, the vibe is relaxed there is so much to do on Playa Grande. Also it is staffed by alot of local people.

Hi Michael, First off, I am very impressed that you took the time to write such a comprehensive list of suggestions to someone who didn't even book his trip with you! Very kind of you. However, to address your discussion point for this week: I have always found it helpful to do the following before leaving on a trip: 1. Communicate my interests clearly with the tour operator. Unless it is a group tour with no customization possible, they will usually tweak the itinerary to focus on my specific interests. 2. Read as much as possible before the trip- factual information, history, and even fiction that might bring the destination alive in my imagination. 3. Research special events or, as is often the case with eco-adventure travel, check to see if there are special sanctuaries or research facilities in the area that can be visited. Now that we all have the internet, it's fairly easy to do that. 4. Take advantage of the knowledge of friends or acquaintances that have a connection with the destination (Like "Jim" did with you!). There's no better way to get off the beaten path than hooking up with a local. Once I'm on the trip, I continue to look for opportunities to enhance my experience by: 1. Attempting to establish a friendly relationship with local guides, hotel staff and locals that I encounter. A couple I met in Milan led me to a memorable musical concert in a small church that I would never have discovered otherwise. While horseback riding in the Galapagos, I became friendly with our guide who invited me and my travel companion to his home for tea. 2. If I'm traveling with a group, I always try to find time to separate myself from the herd at some point and explore on my own. This often provides opportunities for interaction and a greater understanding of the destination. 3. I always keep a journal. This forces me to put into words exactly what it is I am seeing, feeling and doing each day. Not only does this increase my appreciation (or disappointment) of what I am experiencing during the trip but I have found it to be helpful once I return home. I have written both complaint letters and "orchid" letters of praise upon my return and my journal has enabled me to remember the details. For example, upon my return from a Costa Rica Expeditions trip I was able to commend the staff member who had driven a great distance to retrieve the binoculars I carelessly left behind after our whitewater rafting day. He raced to the airport and handed them to my husband just minutes before we had to go through security and board our flight. Thanks to my journal I had his name and the dates handy.

I love the questions Annie Ellicott raises - perhaps because most of the "traveling" I do now is what I imagine or what I remember from past trips. Reflecting on what "quality time" means or our "wildest dreams" may be as interesting, if not more, than nuts and bolts travel advice for those who have been grounded for a while. I would love to discuss how traveling brings out hidden, or new dimensions in people. When I went to China with my mother and got to see her in her home country and native language for the first time, it was like seeing her pop out in 3-D. Here she was, a funny, confident woman - not the shy immigrant I grew up with. For her, it was like everything she had read in history books - the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, becoming real under her feet. How do vacations liberate people? In what ways are we willing to try new things, take risks, when we are out of our element? This is of particular interest to me because my own blog is about how with my special needs kids I expect them to go out of their comfort zone all the time and yet as an adult I let myself chicken out of things with excuses "not enough time/money/childcare." My commitment this year is to learn the things I expect my kids to learn - diving, biking, boogie boarding, ice skating, handstands, etc. no matter how nervous or afraid of embarrassment I might feel. What is it about vacations that makes it so much easier to try sports/activities/food/customs that you ordinarily might shy away from? On the question of bringing spouses, I think any permutation could be valuable. My husband and I have traveled together since we were teenagers. We are an interracial marriage - Asian/German/Estonian/American between us - and have always viewed cross-cultural understanding as the great hope for world peace (what a huge statement! but true). We brought our daughter to Costa Rica with CRE when she was 6 years old - it was an unforgettable journey for all of us. Since then we have adopted a second daughter from China, and I am at home with them full time (while teaching yoga to children with special needs and doing some public relations consulting as well). Because of how intense it is at home, I think the idea of a solo trip as a way to rediscover the person inside the wife and mother could be the trip of a lifetime. Also, for those with children, it may be easier for one spouse to stay at home. But any opportunity to travel with this group would be "the time of our life"!

Six years ago when my Costa Rican students insisted their beautiful country was safe and friendly we found CRE online and booked. When we arrived early in the morning at the little airport and saw the 4 seat plane we just took pictures. OMG! The pilot and ground personnel were so friendly, I figured they were competent, tambien. The grass strip is a bit daunting from the air but so are the sad tracks of the turtles turned away from their egg laying journey. I think I viewed the boat with more suspicion. Then you are greeted with an incredible breakfast (gallo pinto, ummm) and the serenity of the Lodge. People who balk probably are not particularly well informed travelers. The second time we went to Tortuguero a larger plane seemed disappointing. But I did get to ride in the seat next to the pilot.

I certainly understand the reasons for your editing, but must say that I do not select trips based on the sales copy. I am used to the flowery descriptions, usually literal translations from Spanish, and take it all with a grain of salt. I have come face to face with all of Costa Rica's monkeys, and had a troop of squirrel monkeys traveling across my open air lodging at Tiskita Lodge every afternoon. I have had minimal success Arenal (lots of rumbling and steam, mainly) in spite of multiple trips there. Seeing natural phenomena is so much a matter of seasonal timing and good luck. Corcovado and Monteverde are magic places I will never tire of visiting.

No,Michael, you're not too picky at all : the first version immediately aroused my suspicions & gave off a distinct scent of insincerity. The language is florid & suspect, like those menus in certain restaurants that talk of dishes "succulently prepared just for you in an out-of-this-world sauce & nestling on a bed of perfectly steamed aromatic rice.....". Makes you want to run a mile ! Your version is in good taste .What you're offering doesn't need overstatement.Your company ,your lodges & Costa Rica stand on their own merit . By the way, we did come face to face with a white -faced monkey that was on the roof of the boat when we went on a tour of a mango swamp.He was not at all pleased when my husband tapped the roof from underneath .The monkey postured menacingly & glared at us murderously.It was impressive primate behaviour. We immediately backed down

My one and only trip to Costa Rica was a 50th birthday gift to myself. I designed the trip as a way of snubbing my nose at the aging process and planned a number of "scary" activities. In addition to planning to travel solo, staying in a tent camp far removed from civilization, being hoisted up to a platform in the canopy of the rainforest and zip lining, one of my biggest accomplishments was flying in one of these planes - not once but twice!!! I knew in advance how small they were. I knew in advance that they had propellers. I knew in advance that the "runway" at Corcovado was an unpaved strip next to the beach. I acknowledged in advance that I was scared to death to fly in small planes, especially in bad weather. So there I am in Tortuguero, taking the boat across to the "airport" in the rain (and fog, no less). I was quaking in my boots but determined to do it. With lots of deep breathing and conscious relaxation, we took off. Not 5 minutes out of Tortuguero, the rain vanished, the sun came out and the most beautiful rainbow appeared. I took the rainbow as a sign and immediately calmed right down. I actually enjoyed the rest of that flight. Changing planes in San Jose, I found myself looking forward to the adventure of flying to Corcovado and was rewarded with the most beautiful views of Costa Rica and its coastline that I could ever imagine. That flight was one of the highlights of my trip. ps thanks for the referrals to the San Juan Island. I've sent an email.

I'm not a blogger but this seems like a great idea--esp. for connecting travelers with similar tastes. My husband is Tico but, having grown up poor in San Jose, had never explored his own country so we've used your services for some adventures. We went to Turkey this past summer and had a wonderful trip--tho self-organized, largely.

What could I add to such an illustrious group? I have extensive experience birding with professional guides in Central and South America and one of my favorite trips was less formal, arranged through CRE with the Monteverde Lodge as my before and after stay. I was privileged to see some very rare birds that happen to frequent private land nearby during the breeding season. Last June I saw a jaguar on a limb, less than 20 yards away. I was with a group staying at a lodge in Brazil. Seeing a jaguar has been on my "bucket list" for many years and they are difficult to see in CR, except mounted on the wall of someone who is tired of losing livestock. I have a passion for seeing wildlife, talking to the guides in Spanish, and learning when I travel. Diane

Hi Michael, Well, you roped me in. I do not blog but this in itself will be a new journey. Why do I travel? My life is spent dealing with the internal-being a professional pianist, and teacher. hours upon hours are spent at the piano. With every trip I take with music, I have a "companion" set of experiences that add to my musical images. These come from my travels. Can you picture the view from Manuel de Falla's home, looking down on the vibrant city of Granada? Last summer I was in that very room, playing Falla's piano. Now when I play "Evening In Granada" by Debussy , I can bring my self right back, as well as bring Granada to the music. On the same trip, after blasting through Tangier, and boarding 2 trains to Fez, I found myself in yet another world. After returning home to Montana, my husband and I cooked a Morrocan dinner, complete with outdoor patios, jalabas, fragrant gardens, and brought our experiences to our friends. Travelling is an expansion of the senses,reality...the whole "sheBANG". 30 years ago, my sis spent a year in Costa Rica as an exchange student. After her slide presentation, my fire was lit. It took 25 years to get to Costa Rica, and less than a year to return. All I have to do is make a cuppa C.R. Joe, and I am ready to pack. You know how unique Costa Rica,it's people, culture, and natural beauty are. I can show you through my eyes,ears,tastebuds,responses, just how I experience Costa Rica and what I think many travellers going via Costa Rica Expeditions are looking for. Consider my name in the hat. Thanks. P.S. Living in Montana is a huge travel adventure... it is so big, I will never see it all, even though I am out many weekends a year. But it brings back so much to my daily life, which in turn I pass on to others.

Rob, If already have accounts of your travels, or get a chance to write them and would not mind sharing them with the rest of the group, Please send them on. No rush because I will not want to post them for a few weeks until we can get the navigation for the blog worked out, but I wanted to mention it before I forgot.

I have traveled with family, with friends, and solo. Without a doubt I connect with other travelers when traveling solo in a way I do not when with family or friends. Perhaps it's a different experience with a spouse or partner; it would be interesting to explore that. I don't think a mix of couples and solo travelers would be a bad thing, if everyone is open to the group and not self-isolating. For me, one of the goals when I travel is to meet and connect with interesting people, and by extension learn things I never otherwise would have had the opportunity to learn. All of the cultural contexts that contribute to who we are can also be limiting. I am on a constant quest to expose myself to new places and people to challenge and expand my view of the world. Inertia is a powerful force, and travel is its antithesis. My measure of a really successful trip is one that leaves me with a new way to think about things, not just pretty pictures. Or I should say in addition to pretty pictures, ‘cause who doesn’t love the pretty pictures?

My bride and I have been married for 36+ years, more than 30 of those years I was in the Army. I have traveled to enough exotic places without her, and would find traveling in a singles experience to be quite selfish and not nearly as enjoyable. In the years since I retired, we have traveled with several companies to great places and would be happy to share our comments with other like minded travelers. CRE was the first company we used and it set the standard for our expectations for what a company should provide and what experiences we should look for. Just coming out of 100% cloud cover in a small plane and looking down at the tire tracks that comprise Carate Airport was a great adventure! I'll be glad to add comments about our travel expeiences, but traveling without my wife? No, never again. jd

It has been approaching five (5) years when we traveled in Costa Rica with Costa Rica Expeditions. In those two weeks, with a guide and a driver, we saw more than anyone, traveling on their own, could have. The experience was one-of-a-kind and fantastic. We often talk of the trip and about returning to Costa Rica. (We did on a cruise that stopped for eight hours at Limon). But, we haven't really been back -- and we'd like to travel there, again.

Vacation as a liberating experience? What a great question! Perhaps it has to do with removing ourselves from the environments that define us and shape our ideas about ourselves. Outside of that sphere, we have the opportunity to play with our own expectations, because there are none but our own to consider. We can also challenge ourselves more confidently, because if we fail, we can leave it behind. I am afraid of heights, and yet on vacations I have zip-lined, rappelled, and flown on a trapeze. I am not athletic, but on vacation I hike, kayak, even rock-climb (well, sort of - really really easy rock climbing. Did I mention I am not athletic?). I wonder if it works the other way as well. Are there people who are supremely confident in their own setting who become insecure and uncertain when they travel?

Hi Renee, your response made me smile - we are similarly earth-bound at home but allow ourselves a chance to fly while on vacation - although I am really impressed that you have rapelled and trapezed - I haven't worked up the nerve yet! I recently faced my fear of heights, going upside down, and drowning, when I learned to dive into a swimming pool - I did not do this on vacation, but I did book lessons at swimming pools where I wouldn't know anyone. There is something liberating about not caring what other people think! http://upside-down-patty.blogspot.com/2009/08/diving-with-z-act-ii-board.html

hello just received your email, however seeing as it is just a day before the christmas holiday season I would be happy to engage more in the New Year. blogging is not new to me, yet i rarely find the time to engage perhaps the topics have not been that interesting to me. however traveling is something that is very high on my list of priorities and I would welcome the time to engage in such a discussion I have no marketing experience, and I dont work in the travel industry in fact I rarely stay in 'lodges' of anysort, unless I think that it will enhance my experience in the country that I am in I brought my 70 year old mother to your resort, a few years back and it was one of most memorable experiences in the 2 months that we spent in Costa Rica, prior to that we were circumnavigating the country by public bus and staying in rooms along the way. I flew her down to meet me in Costa Rica, a break from the 16 months that I had spent traveling from Mexico to Punta Arenas in Chile, solo and only by land and sea. It was overall a great experience, one that I had always wanted to do but did not get the chance till my mid 30's. Look forward to engaging more if you feel the input of someone who usually travels independently would enhance the debate. HAPPY HOLIDAYS for those who are celebrating at this time of year.

Finding the right balance between independent and "planned" or "guided" travel is always a struggle for me. I have a history of enjoying planning my own trips and winging it to an extent. However, the more trips I plan around my photography and the more remote my destinations get, the more I find myself relying on others (travel agents, companies and guides). This doesn´t always work well, but in many cases there is no other choice. My perspective has been skewed a bit by my background, which means that my travel goals are often centered on getting to remote areas to find wildlife, such as Corcovado´s Sirena Station. I have also learned the value over the years of hiring a good local guide to explore some of these areas. Not only is the knowledge and insight you get from these guides often unmatched by solo exploration or guided group tours, but there´s more freedom when you are able to work on your own with a guide. My first trip to Costa Rica was more on the independent side. We booked a stay at the Corcovado Tent Camp lodge with CRE´s help, but planned the rest of the trip on our own. When I decided to return to the Osa a few years later, I remembered the difficulty we had taking care of the park permits and Sirena booking on our own. That and the fact that I wanted to hire a guide for my stay led me to hand over all the planning to CRE. It was much easier getting the transport taken care of, the guide arranged and the Sirena stay booked. Overall, my interactions with CRE have been extremely positive, but I´ve found that this is not always the case when handing over planning and booking responsibilities to agents or other companies. My wife and I are already experiencing such issues during our current trip in Argentina. So what are the positives and negatives to using "professional help to plan and arrange vacations?" In my mind these are some of the things to consider: Positives: -Obviously it takes much less work for you to let someone else plan things ;) -They can arrange for guides or stays at locations that otherwise may not be accessible to you. -Hurdles that may be causes by language barriers, poor international communication, etc. are easier to hurdle with a local company´s help. Negatives: -By handing over planning responsibilities to someone else, you are ceding control of your trìp, which is often an uncomfortable prospect to independent travelers. You cannot be 100% sure of what´s going on beforehand, since you are not personally making arrangements. -Something may inevitably be lost in translation/communication. I don´t know how many times I was expecting an arranged tour to be one thing, and it turned out to be entirely different. -It´s often more expensive. Agents and travel companies have to make their money somehow, right? ;) I´m sure there are more... those are a few considerations off the top of my head. The choice between independent travel and enlisting help may ultimately come down to what you want to see and do, where in the world you´re going and your budget.

Michael, Vacation time is precious to me because it is an escape into another world from my working and family life. A vacation creates life long memories, learning experiences with different cultures, environments and wildlife. A vacation expands ones world and brings one home refreshed and energized. In a way its like reading a book but one is living the part. The lodges, the side adventure trips,your staff and customer service at CRE definitely added a lasting and colorful experience to our trip in Costa Rica.

Su Suits says (December 29, 2009 at 11:15 pm): This is gonna be fun. What makes CRE standout to me, is that it is an "I can do it all" co. It is not like the Lonely Planet approach of access to complete independence, nor is it the guided tour trip. the mix and match aspects are what I find appealing. CRE can get me to where I want to go( in real comfort, with personable drivers)....they can set me up for an educational tour through Monteverde.....I can be on a remote beach and eat like a king, without being in the resort sort of enviroment. CRE can be what you need it to be. As I read and write on this blog, I am looking for more info on companies like this. On my virgin blog, I wrote about a trip to Spain and Morroco this past summer. My husband happened to be my CRE, because he speaks Spanish,Arabic, and French. He was able to make our connections happen with a fair amount of ease and comfort. I like that CRE did that for us on our trip to C.R. We did not have to worry about getting here, yonder, and everywhere. We could focus on all the senses, and had alot more energy to enjoy Costa Rica. I returned on a second CRE trip with a girlfriend, because I had 100% confidence that CRE would be there when we needed them, and evaporate when we did not. Though my husband and I had a fantastic time in Morroco, it was truly because of his language skills that it was a success. (Also the warmth of the people). I could not have done that trip alone, and felt comfortable, and confident. CRE supplies the confidence. That is my brainstorming for now. Feliz Ano Nuevo to all. Gracias.

This story brought back wonderful memories as I am a VERY big chicken (just ask my kids!) and I actually loved the flight from Tortuga Lodge to Arenal that we took last March. With a husband and a son both over 6 feet (and the husband considerably heavier than the son!), our family of 4 literally squeezed into the plane (I should note that our safety was well established before we did so) for a very memorable flight. It was definitely a highlight of our trip and is at the top of my list as one of the things that I can't believe I actually did! My kids are still talking about it!

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who took a big GULP upon seeing the size of the plane that picked us up at Nosara! But this was an instance where traveling with our 5 year old meant we had to be brave - she clung to her stuffed howler monkey the entire flight while Daddy and Mommy made jokes about Daddy being the co-pilot: "Don't TOUCH ANYTHING DADDY!" and forced ourselves to look out the window and not act like wimps. It was an absolutely exhilarating experience, one I'm glad CRE opened the door to!

I had to laugh at this post, because my husband and I took your little plane to Tortuga Lodge just a couple years ago. I don't remember being the least bit reluctant to get on the plane, so I went back and looked at my travelogue to see if I had expressed any doubts that I had conveniently forgotten. I found just a brief mention of taking a single-engine Cessna to Tortuga and I even shared a photo of the view of San Jose from the plane (http://kara-bay.com/travelogues/costa-rica-2006-day-two-tortuguero-national-park/. I am a big chicken, and I am not about to do anything I think is dangerous, so I was very amused to read that you had people who wouldn't get on the plane. I will happily exit my comfort zone if the reward is worth it, and in this case, it was more than worth it. Tortuga was beautiful and was also probably the most relaxing place I have ever been. I once hiked the Inca Trail with altitude sickness, and it was also more than worth it. Getting outside my comfort zone has almost always paid off, so I have no excuse not to do so. If a person refuses to do so, then there is never going to be a payoff. All you can do in that case is miss out on something that could be amazing.

Hi, Mike: First, I want to let you know how impressed I was with the level of service provided by Costa Rica Expeditions. In particular I was blown away by your company's quick response to a complaint that I expressed regarding service. The level of listening and immediacy with which the complaint was handled exemplified the caveats you and your company display. I've long since forgotten why I complained and but am left with the reminder of excellent service. My family and I feel in-love with Costa Rica and I look forward to the future when I can live there permanently. I've become the president of the Costa Rican fan club, constantly referring friends and strangers to your country. I'm intrigued by the idea you presented of using volunteers to teach English to Tortuguerans. The quick answer is of course there is a way to accomplish what you proposed and I'd love to help you accomplish your mission, not only in Tortuguera but throughout Costa Rica. During my career as a Speech Pathologist, I concentrated on not only improving language and speech in disordered individuals but teaching English skills to a variety of second language learners. In addition, I've created and implemented a systematic literacy approach which is multi-sensory and works. I've discovered/developed a needs analysis that quickly assesses skills (less than 5 minutes) to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness. Currently, I'm working in an urban education school system in a Chicago suburb, with 11-14 year olds, a most challenging age. Throughout my tenure in this district, I've worked with children, aged 3- 14, including many bilingual children. I've also worked intensively with adults, who wanted to learned English with amazing results, as indicated by their passing the TOEFL, following their work with me. Based on my experience, I've learned that an intense approach works well since it allows sufficient skill practice to integrate the skills into one's memory, quickly. Using a multi-sensory system, individualizes the experience, which allows maximum growth. With children, I engage them in lots of "hands-on" activities, such as soccer, running, songs.... English is used when we eat, play, swim, tell stories, camp-fires..... The adults who wish to "volunteer" could be trained in an hour to three hour orientation session. One of the key benefits of working in a school system is vacation-time- This summer I'm done with my professional obligations on 6/4. I'd love to work with you to make your vision a reality. My sons, who are 16 and 12 would also be available to work with the children of whom you spoke. In addition, I've many colleagues who might also be interested. Looking forward to further dialogue!

I love the breakdown of time, trust and tolerance when deciding on how best to plan a vacation! Because each adventure is different and the goals may be different, asking these 3 questions at the beginning of planning seems like an excellent way to go. May I also add that safety might be an issue depending on who is traveling and where. As a woman I find that I am treated very differently when I travel with my husband than when I travel with my girlfriend or another female. A woman alone may be perceived as "fair game" in certain situations. I will never forget the horror and embarrassment I experienced in Egypt once when an Egyptian man thought I was a prostitute at a touristy nightclub show (booked by our travel agent)because I was with my high school age daughter and we were not accompanied by a man. In retrospect, had we asked our guide to come with us, there would not have been a problem. The cultural conventions and mores, as well as the dangers of launching out on one's own should be taken into account when deciding whether to travel alone, plan on one's own, or travel with a guide.

I've definitely had a few unexpected turns for the worst. Sometimes, like your shower escapade, the experience turns into something you can laugh at years later. One of the more memorable moments for me occurred during my first "independent" trip as a college student, traveling to Europe for a few weeks. We were visiting many popular tourist destinations, including Italy's Cinque Terre. For whatever reason, we chose not to make reservations before the trip, which was a big mistake in August. When we arrived at the first of the five towns late one afternoon, we discovered that the entire town was booked (including any family floors we could potentially sleep on). So we hiked to the next town... which was also booked solid. As was the next. Ultimately we ended up sharing a picnic table on the cliffside trail halfway between towns, which was perched high above a very noisy nude beach. It certainly wasn't the most comfortable night, but thinking back on it always makes me chuckle. From my experience, letdowns due to unreasonably high expectations are a bit different from the random snafus and disappointments that can occur during travel. Failing to make a reservation in the Cinque Terre in high tourist season was a simple mistake we paid for. Traveling to a remote research station in the Amazon that biologists and wildlife experts had told me was "far better than Costa Rica for wildlife" and coming away crushed by a disappointing four days in which we saw a single lizard (and almost nothing else) is something different. My expectations for trips are usually derived from a combination of my own experiences and those of others. I go to Yellowstone every year, so it's easy to judge what makes for a good/fun/successful trip to the park nowadays, since I have a solid collection of past experiences to reference. But when I'm researching a new destination and read about the wonders one can possibly experience there, I naturally get excited. As I register more and more opinions telling me the same thing (e.g., "better than Costa Rica!"), my expectations are bolstered, leading to even greater potential for a letdown. So how do we manage expectations? Well, it's pretty hard to not want to research a place and learn about what's there. Without that research we wouldn't get excited enough about the place to even go there, right? So maybe it comes down in part to what your goals are and what's at stake. As a photographer, my travel fun is occasionally tempered by the fact that I have to come away from the experience with some tangible: photos, sometimes of certain subjects, and not just the memories we usually take away from a trip. But if you travel with less specific goals and a more open mind geared toward exploration and a bit of spontaneity, you're probably more likely to be able to "roll with the punches" and come away with some fun memories even from those occasional unplanned events.

Michael, "Accounts of trips" seems broad. If this is where participants post information to share I think it should be broken down into easily digestible bits. That is to say: "Must see" attractions, restaurants, recommended hotels, etc. As a food and restaurant lover, I am often searching for information about specific dining recommendations and would like a quick way to get to that.

Once again, you've touched on some points that related to my recent not-so-successful Argentina trip. We went with a smaller less-publicized outfit mainly for their supposed history working with a successful wildlife photographer, thinking that they could cater a trip to our needs that would run smoothly. Unfortunately, things were not smooth. Several times during the trip vendors, hotels and agencies did not have any record that we had already paid for everything. They were used to working with larger outfits that operated on the voucher system (much as CRE does), whereas our small trip planning agency did all their reservations via email. While seemingly more practical in the 21st century, the email method obviously failed on many levels. So would a larger company have been a bit more competent? It's hard to say, but I have a feeling things would have been a bit better organized and less-stressful to deal with. Nobody wants to performance "maintenance" on their trip arrangements during the actual trip! As it turned out, the successful wildlife photographer these people had worked with in the past was the brother of one of the company owners, and ultimately, they failed to suggest and arrange an optimal itinerary for us. Perhaps with a few more tries and after they have more experience under their belts, they'll be able to work out the kinks and achieve greater success with future clients. Max

Loved your response to Mr. Kristorf! Every country is complicated. My husband, our nephew, and I traveled around Costa Rica two years ago, most of our trip organized by Costa Rican Expeditions. We had a marvelous time, especially hiking in the rain forest at Corcovado with our incredibly well-informed guide, Fillo. Because my nephew is studying to be a nurse, Fillo made sure to tell us about which rain forest plants have traditional medicinal uses. We thought Costa Rican Expeditions did a great job for us! I'm happy to have the opportunity to thank you. In a few days my husband and I will return to Costa Rica to help build a house with Habitat for Humanity. We're looking forward to it.

I have a comical train story too Michael. I was traveling with my son and daughter-in-law on an overnight train from Stockholm to Copenhagen. We were not expecting six bunks in this tiny compartment to be shared with complete strangers. One of our fellow roommates was a fellow that had done some heavy drinking and smelled heavy of alcohol. The other fellow must of eaten an entire pot of chili for his dinner. You can imagine the toots and gases that emulated from his bunk. My daughter-in-law was crying softly and my son was trying to comfort her in this night of sorrow. We also had to share our small bunks with our giant size backpacks. We too learned that trains do not have a secured area for luggage.

I arrived in Frankfurt a few years back to find that the pilots of Lufthansa, operator of my onward flight, had gone on strike. Their management was telling people to queue for a voucher that they could then redeem with another airline for travel. Naturally, the queues to collect the vouchers stretched most of the way across the airport and was moving at a snail's pace because they had to create vouchers for each family/traveller, answer questions, check identification, etc., etc.. My moment of inspiration was to realise that Lufthansa would be so happy to have me out of their hair that they probably wouldn't object if I did things in the reverse order. So I skipped the line and got a confirmed reservation that would take me to my final destination when I could get the voucher. But, oh dear, my flight is leaving in 60 minutes, rather less time than it would take me to clear the queue! So the other airline sent an agent with me, we found an Lufthansa person doing nothing useful, explained the situation, and got sent straight to Lufthansa's airport 'back office'. So I had the voucher and ticket all sorted in less than 20 minutes. For all I know, people are *still* waiting for their vouchers. For me the moral was: calmly present the company/person causing the problem with a solution (especially when they are already dealing with other irate customers) and watch as they miraculously find a way to send you on your way.

You know Michael, I honestly don't remember whether the crew already knew about the little scene I had created in the lobby or whether I just blurted it out to give everyone a laugh. I love your idea of the alarm button--too bad I didn't think of it. Hey, I see you've mastered the smile icon!

Hilarious, Shannon. Your story inspires some questions and an idea. Questions: The next morning had the rest of the crew heard about it? If so, how did they let you know? If not, did you tell them? Idea: The next time that happens to you :-), try just going into the elevator and pushing the alarm button.

I’m sure that almost anyone who has traveled a bit over the years has a funny story to tell. I got quite a laugh out of yours, Michael. I’ve really been enjoying everyone’s input on this one! When I was young and the possibility of running out of money was an ongoing threat, I remember enduring horrific accommodations. There was the quaint pension in Italy where the shower was literally next to the bed; the stifling overnight train in Egypt where the cockroaches came out en masse every time the lights in our cabin were turned off; and the paper-thin walls at a hotel in Spain where rooms on both sides seemed to be occupied by exuberant honey-moon couples. But the story that stands out in my mind is one that occurred right here in the U.S. Back in the day, as they say, I was a flight attendant for the now-defunct TWA. As a “newbie” I often ended up with the least desirable flights which entailed long days with many flights. After one particularly exhausting day which had begun in the early morning hours, the crew finally landed in Miami and headed to our hotel around mid-afternoon. I was so tired that I decided to forego the usual crew get together for dinner. Instead I was looking forward to ordering room service, putting on my comfy threadbare nightgown and kicking back in front of the TV. All went according to plan until I decided to place my finished room service tray in the hall for pick-up. I’m still not exactly sure what happened; as I leaned out of my room to scoot the tray along the wall, my foot, which had been preventing the door from closing, slipped and the door shut behind me with a click. And there I stood at 5:00 p.m., no shoes, no robe, and a ratty (and rather transparent) nightgown. I racked my brain to remember the room numbers of other crew members but drew a blank. I stood forlornly in the deserted hall for awhile, hoping someone would happen along and allow me use the phone in their room to call downstairs; the hallway remained empty and silent. And, to top it off, I now suddenly had to go to the bathroom. With no alternatives coming to mind, I decided to take the elevator to the lobby, rush to the nearest employee and request another room key. With any luck, the lobby would be empty and only a few employees would witness the scene. As it turns out, luck was not with me that day. Upon arrival in the lobby it became immediately apparent that my hallway had been empty because everyone in the hotel seemed to be in the lobby! And, to make things worse, there was no way to reach an employee without crossing the entire room to the front desk. To this day I still blush as I remember the smirks of the amused hotel guests. It is very difficult to look dignified when you are barefoot and half-naked, but I did my best to keep my head up as I made the long journey to the front desk. At long last, key in hand, I escaped back to the elevator and beat a hasty retreat to my room—not to emerge until crew report the next morning.

Michael, I'm so glad you mentioned reciprocity as I agree that the exchange between the local student and guest teacher must be rewarding for both. As a tour operator trying to offer your guests a meaningful experience, one of the goals should be for the guest/volunteer to come away from the experience feeling enriched by the encounter. Judie's comment expresses how moving that exchange can be. One remembers those special moments much more clearly than the details of archeological ruins, museums, etc. In my own experience, my life was changed by the kindnesses expressed to me on a daily basis by a Mexican family with whom I lived for a semester while studying Spanish. I corresponded with the mother of the family for several years after returning to the States and then eventually married her son (who was away at veterinary school most of the time I was living with the family). The mutual respect and interest in one another's culture and beliefs opened the door to possibilities which would have seemed unthinkable before the experience. We have been happily married for 31 years.

ABOUT SHARED KINDNESS....I was fortunate to be in Costa Rica with Habitat for Humanity. We worked on a house and a school in Rosario de Naranjo and while I was painting the outside of the school a small child came up and stood beside me without saying a word. I tried to speak with him about his school and his family in spanish , but still he said not a word, though I knew he understood. He had something in his hand and it looked like a tiny deck of playing cards and I thought he wanted to play with me. All of a sudden he took the cards...ALL of them... and put them in my hand...and then he ran off.I looked down at the cards and then read them in spanish and realized they were valentines.This is what he had to share with me for helping his school and his kindness brought me to tears because he could have given me A CARD, but instead gave them ALL to me .I never could find him to thank him...and I'll never forget the fact they he gave me ALL he had.It made me realize that I had so much more than he had monetarily yet, if I were in his place I would probably have given him ONE not all . .I learned alot about myself and his culture from his act of shared kindess and i am so greatful for him.

So, Michael, is that Central Park in the fall? Your essay was very interesting as I'd never even consider riding a bike in NYC! So we learn something new every day! Hope all is well in CR! Can't wait to be there Jan. 2011! Pura vida, Ruth Marie

Catherine as you might have guessed is an old friend. We first met her some 20 years ago when we were clients of a "most expensive" tour company and she was the guide. At some point I'll probably write in this space how she deftly handled an unusually difficult group. We've been friends ever since, though I could not help but notice that she mentioned loving Yolanda and said nothing about me. It's OK; I'm used to it. Come to think of it, the last time we saw her was dinner in Paris the night before the fateful train to Madrid in this weeks post. About time she got herself to Costa Rica.

Daniele, That’s a very good question. Obviously Paris-Madrid via Switzerland makes no sense. Yet I not only have a vivid memory of the conductor saying specifically the Swiss border, I have much more recent memories of telling the story to people from among other places France and Switzerland, and you are the first person to mention it. I also have a clear memory of waking up when the train stopped at the border, seeing the police get on the train, and assuming it was the Swiss border. Off-hand I can think of 4 explanations: 1.The train was going the long way—very unlikely. 2.The conductor said border and I misheard and thought he said Swiss border. 3.The conductor said border and I misheard and thought he said Swiss border. 4.The conductor actually did say Swiss border figuring that anyone ignorant enough to assume that a passenger train had baggage cars would believe him. If I had to bet, I’d go for # 4. I’ll save some more thoughts about the conductor for a future post.

A very funny story Michael, loved it! John and I were eating lunch at a little restaurant in Italy one trip, and they had a four-cheese pizza, but for some reason we thought four was over doing it and ordered a pizza with only two cheeses. Well that's what we thought until two four-cheese pizzas arrived! Ok, not quite as romantic as your train-baggage-shower trip.

Hi Michael, Enjoyed the story. But why would a train from Paris to Madrid go through the Swiss border?

Michael, first of all, the American River here in Placerville is flowing faster and higher than ever! Anyway, the manager of the lodge should have determined whether or not moving the guest to an adjacent room was appropriate considering water from a leaky roof can move horizontally. In this case it was not appropriate. Ceiling fans shorting and buzzing? Does maintenance not make a cursory periodic inspection? Had other guests complained about this? Many unanswered questions. It appears that the manager could have handled the situation more appropriately based on the information given. My solution? Give the guest one nights refund after a sincere apology, and one nights credit towards a future trip. It appears that the guest noticed that the lodge was having "catastrophic plumbing and electrical problems". Can it be determined why this has occured and take appropriate steps to prevent future occurances? I have only used CRE once, and had exemplary service and highly recommend you to anyone. Pat

I have to agree with the folks who have already indicated that the guests should have been offered a refund for at least one night and probably two. I think they have a very reasonable complaint. Having recently returned from a trip to Guatemala and Honduras for which I made all the arrangements myself I know how heavily I relied upon online rating services like Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree discussion boards to decide upon lodging and travel plans. While I often took some complaints with a grain of salt, other descriptions like the one from your unhappy guest might certainly sway me away from a hotel or lodge especially if it seemed the management was not especially concerned with the comfort and well-being of the guests. Fortunately for me, my two trips with CRE have been outstanding and our stay at Monteverde Lodge was excellent...but had I been an independent traveler with no guide to speak up for me in a situation like this I'd be plenty unhappy too.

Thanks for sharing your perspective on your adopted country. We of course, saw only the best side and eco-tourism and learning Spanish were are reasons for coming in he first place. Having lived in India and Indonesia and worked in 23 African countries, I KNOW every country has its issues regardless of how great it appears on the surface. We tasted only a bit of the downside because we asked and it was interesting to hear varying views on education and health care. Indeed, I had a "health incident" while I was there and was treated just amazingly. We hope we'll return one day to Costa Rica and, in the meantime, are glad to remain in touch with you;. Peter J. Purdy

Michael... Over the past ten or so years my wife and I, on occasion with other family members or friends we have invited to join us on a Costa Rica experience - have had the pleasure of staying at Tortuga Lodge (5 times) Monteverde Lodge (3 tikmes) Corcovado (what an enjoyable and scenic location) and have never given a thought to suffering from a food induced illness. True, Corcovado dining was a little less "exotic" than the other locations, but the joy of the location more than made up for a very minor disappointment. My guess is that the folks whose complaint you have patiently surfaced,are what some may call "ugly Americans who complain about everything - no matter hwat! they are certainly not seasoned travelers. I'm amazed that with their comfort demands and obvious lack of respect for local cultures, that they chose to tour Costa Rica. Unfortunately, on our many trips, including your "specials" we had hoped at some point to meet you, but it never happened. Let me say thank you anyway for guiding us through an amazing country and arranging our trip to your, as well as other facilities. We hope to visit again, perhaps some time this fall.

In your letter I would have restated that the aircraft supplied was safer than the King Air. It really isn't about the number of engines, it is about safety. The illness may have been caused by food, but not bad food. When we were there my wife had several issues with her stomach. We didn't chalk it up to bad food, just getting used to different food. It is a common problem in her family. In fact, her sister ended up in a hospital on one vacation and never felt the need to blame anyone for it. These things happen. Because you have not received a response it says something about them and how serious they are really taking these concerns. One last comment, and I may be out of place here. When corresponding with a dissatisfied client, it is a good idea to have someone read over your letter to make sure the grammar and wording is correct. In cases like this it is very important. I also want to state again that, like many many others, CRE provided Vivian and I with an absolutely perfect trip to Costa Rica. Your staff and facilities could not have been better! - Rich

Hey Mike ! When I traveled with CRE a few years ago I had no problems, except I slipped and fell and injured my right leg. That was not your fault , so tell the complainers to suck it up and move on. Ray Rusnak-----one happy camper.

We had an amazing experience in Costa Rica, all thanks to CRE. Specifically in regards to the questionnaires and our interactions with personal guides and drivers. After reading the complaint letters, it is my opinion that the complainant 1) did not communicate well in advance or during the trip their likes and dislikes, and 2) is the type of person who would never be satisfied under any circumstance. For those reasons, it is likely pointless to ask them to understand your position or thought process. Keep up the good work and we'll be going back soon!

I don't need the blog and don't care about the bad experience someone had with CRE. I will say I found the guides with CRE to be superlative when I went of a couple of tours in 2004. I had a bad experience with Intrepid in Spain a year ago in which the guide handled a situation between travelers on a tour badly (another guest swore at me and all the other travelers in this small group apologized to ME on how poorly the situation was handled.) Your responses are far more level headed than Intrepid's and the fact you, as the head of the company, took enough interest to respond to the client, makes points in my books. Intrepid did not do that much. dc

Hi Michael, I think that your explanation goes beyond what is necessary to show that you are deeply concerned about providing fair and honest service to your clients. My wife and I have traveled all around the world numerous times and we do so knowing that there are risks of getting sick, delayed, hurt or even killed. Accidents and acts of god do happen. My wife and I have gotten sick, hurt, delayed, have been through numerous hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. Most events go with the territory and we do not need to read a contract to know that you go at your own risk and traveler beware. An entire industry called " Insurance " is based around just such catastrophes. You can get sick at home or in your local restaurant. When you travel you risks are increased tremendously and if your not willing to accept that then Don't Travel. I myself have gotten as sick as a dog in Cancun, Mexico. The Doctor that treated me said that it could have been a very clean restaurant yet a fly landing on the food could have contaminated it. How can you expect anyone to prevent that. If anyone is at fault it probably was the fly. I think I am going to demand that the fly gives me my money back. As a savvy traveler you must have heard of Montezuma's Revenge and warnings not to drink the water. I am sick and tired of people who think that everyone should pay for the risks we take upon ourselves. I agree that someone should be held liable when someone is purposely careless or criminal. Knowing that you are in a business that requires satisfied customers it would be obvious that you would never put your clients in a situation that would not have their best interest in mind. My wife and I have rental property in one of the most beautiful resorts in the world. We also try to please our clients to no end. Yet, out of every 50 clients you will get one who wants a discount, free night, money back etc. because the weather wasn't sunny or they did not enjoy their meal at one of the local restaurants, or their child got sick eating a snail or a bicycle had a flat tire. Many of these mishaps are unpreventable and have not been done on purpose. However, many renters will work around them and a few will do nothing but complain and blame everyone. To those few I wish them luck and thank whomever that they may not want to come back. Some people expect you to be God. We do everything possible to give our renters the best vacation possible. Some you can never please and you have to write off. When traveling, especially in remote parts of the world you can not expect to have the airline schedules and health department inspections you have at home. Weather and Maintenance of equipment can change your plans instantly and has very little to do with someone being at fault. What is more important to me is, " Has the tour company or hosts done their best to make the uncomfortable situation as best as they can within their control"? I think you have and that you do not have to beg for forgiveness for something that is beyond that scope. You have been kind enough to offer an apology and compensation to try and be fare. I do not believe that any sane individual would fault you at your attempt. You offer a great travel service and I would never hesitate to use it again. Do not lose sleep over the occasional mishap that is beyond your control. Good Luck, Richard and Rose Walsh