In the post that follows I am asking for feedback. Here’s some background: Over the years many of our past guests have written me asking for advice about travel in general or travel to places other than Costa Rica. I have found it very satisfying to help with advice on anything from, “where should I go for [...]

In my invitation to this blog I teased you with a promise to “chose 6 of the participants to come to Costa Rica as my guests,” and provide more details. I also covered myself with the proviso, ”assuming enough people get involved to make it (the blog) worth continuing.” [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Hi Michael, This is a great idea, I rarely make a significant purchase without looking at customer reviews on line, the insight gained by reading about the experiences of others is extremely valuable in my decision making process. Our Costa Rica vacation was the most relaxing vacation my family of four has ever experienced. Costa Rica Expeditions took the stress we took the vacation. If you made a recommendation I would trust it with out a doubt. I look forward to reading the wealth of knowledge to come from your blog and will gladly spread the word to my friends.

Hello Michael: I suspect that this will prove very resourceful. I am already looking for more information on Africa. Of course, I am always thinking of Central America and the riches of its biodiversity. I have used your resources as a part of every trip (3x) in my stitched together trips to CR. To Lynne above, fortunately, my Son embarrassed me to come to China while he was there several years ago! One of the most important aspects was havinng a native Chinese friend travel with us. The kids were the travel guides and I guess, I was the banker. Michael, one suggestionns (that may be in the threads above) is some way to providing a subject/topic/keyword identifier as your blog grows. Thank you for the opportunity.

Great idea, I'm willing to help. Like many others on here I had a great experience with CRE a couple of years ago. I've travelled abroad a couple of times since and I'm always looking for information from people who really know the area. I always look for much more than what I can get from a guidebook and I've always found people who have gone through the experience already are usually the true experts.

Please count me in! Our family still remembers our trip with Costa Rica Expeditions (and Kenya Mendez as our guide) as one of our absolute favorite trips (and my sons were teenagers at the time, so the bar was set high!). Being able to replicate that type of experience in other parts of the world, through the advice of those who have been there already, would/will be wonderful. So I need advice on Africa, Peru, Scandinavia, China, Viet Nam...!

Michael I think a blog is a great idea. I usually do extensive research before I travel and find that people who have been there have pearls of wisdom and insider knowledge that can't be found on websites or in travel guides. Reiterating what others have said, my experience with Costa Rica Expeditions was unsurpassed and I would be very grateful to find other organizations with a similar philosophy and equally high standards. Thanks!

AFRICA--Wow, I can see we are going to need to break down into smaller groups in order to stay on top of this! I like the idea of keywords identifying various areas of travel. I was thrilled to see that John mentioned Mark Nolting and The Africa Adventure Company. I have been to Africa 4 times and my most recent trip was with this company. I will use them for all future trips to "The Dark Continent". And, I definitely plan to return. The company lists suggested itineraries, but they will also customize a trip around the interests of the client. I started with one of their basic itineraries and tweaked it. This is similar to the philosophy of Costa Rica Expeditions and I think it's the perfect format. There is a basic structure in place to give you guidelines, but you are able to expand according to your special interests. I know one woman who traveled with them and spent a great deal of time studying native grasses as a medium for her artwork. She returned to the U.S. and had "canvases" made incorporating these grasses and as well as elephant dung (dried, of course) upon which she painted scenes of Africa. Another friend took a group of several couples and they reserved each of the bush camps for their private use. My trip was to S. Africa, Vic. Falls and Chobe in Botswana. We combined private tours (the wine country and a cheetah sanctuary) with group activities, such as sharing a jeep for game drives into the bush. One last note about Africa--if you are an "armchair" traveler, you might enjoy the book, "Tales of the African Frontier", by J.A. Hunter and Daniel P. Mannix. This is a collection of essays written by and about Africa's earliest explorers. It describes an Africa which is long gone, but makes for fascinating reading.

Hi Michael ! We took a family trip to S africa in 2005 and booked our travel thru United travel group . Janet , the travel agent was very helpfful and helped us to plan the itinerary very well . Since we did nt have more time , we could only spend 12 days or so , and covered Cape town, Zambia and johannesburg . Cape town , of course was lovely , with its Table mountain and gardens , but we also saw the special museum , showing artifacts from Black history .. a very moving experience . We had a side tour to District 11 , where the blacks were moved to . The guide was very proud of teh new small aprtments and housing they are building to help teh blacks . Johannesburg was even more interesting , in a diffferent way . We visited R island and saw Mandela'a prison cell as well as Soweto and Mandela square .A guide from the hotel near Mandela square took us for this tour . One could see how proud the S Africans are of their freedom struggle . The guide was apologetic about the run down streets and buildings , but told us to return , in 5 yrs and find a new Johannesburg . We spent a few days at MANDIKWE LODGE , about 4 hours drive from Johannesburg ,a non malarial lodge and went on safaris ,both in the morning and evening with Colin, our knowledgeable warden , giving us a very fascinating tour as we saw lions and other animals in the wild . The staff was very courteous and considerate . They brought us hot water botttles to warm our feet at night , since the cabins could get cold sometimes ! Kenya is supposed to have a larger area for safaris , but we did not have the time . We also had a scary experience of lions scratching our cabin door at night ! Then we flew to Livingstone , to see the victoria falls . We were welcomed by African dancers in costume , singing and drumming , avery colorful sight . The food was fabulous and they took us to a fantastic african show , with authentic performances by dancers over a campfire . It was a sight .....when we saw a monkey come to one of the tables and collect all the sugar packets and leap away . One could be eating breakfast , while watching Zebras prancing away in the distance . We took a Zambesi sunset cruise , a very relaxing evening , watching teh glorious s unset over teh river , while Hippos raised their heads in the water below . The falls , of course are inccredibly lovely , with a rainbow stretched across , most of the time and it was hard to leave . From there we could see the bridge to Zimbabwe . Near they falls they have many stalls selling african handicrafts and one could spend hours shopping . It is interesting to note how carefully they use any paper , since it is so scarce . The tour was very well arranged and we had no problems getting our transport and transfers at different points .

East Africa is one of my favorite places and I am sure you will love it too. There are lots of groups that organize excellent tours (we worked with Mark Nolting, owner of the Africa Adventure Company, on a custom family tour and he did an amazing job). Lodging ranges from basic to over the top luxury depending on taste and budget. There are two things I would strongly recommend. First, if it is at all possible in your budget spend at least a couple of nights in a mobile tented camp. You get the feel of the classic British safari experience sharing a glass of wine around your own campfire (rustic luxury, with hot showers and all) and being out there on your own away from everyone else is amazing. Second, if you are in the region, I cannot recommend highly enough going to see the mountain gorillas- I rank it in the top 2 or 3 things I have ever done. It is expensive but worth every penny.

We had a marvelous trip to Kenya and Tanzania with A&K, knowledgeable professional guides, lovely accommodations and excellent arrangements throughout. Just like CRE.

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"!

Dear Michael, Instead of "SuperBlogger", how about "The Time of your Life"? This fits in with your idea of vacation-time being precious time when we all want to have what we call "the time of our life". Yet there's a more serious connotation : the awareness of Time passing.....What are you doing with your Life, which is Time ? As for travelling with a partner, I enjoy it. Didn't always! But life has a way of coming at you from all sides when you're young or even in your 40's & 50's .Struggles are many - work,desire for success,money,children,ups & downs......Sometimes it's tough.Yet now, more than 30 years later, a kind of contentment sets in,together with a interest in doing & seeing new things together - a wonderful reward for having stayed the course. So, yes, I'd prefer to share new experiences with my husband..... However, if only one of us was able to go,he's the one who has the most to offer in the way of environmental passion & knowledge.His enthusiasm is contagious! He was in heaven in Costa Rica,talking to all those like-minded people .I could never begrudge him that experience again,if there weren't room for spouses & partners this time.

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.

I love the name "The Time of Your Life", Jennifer. It is not only consistent with Michael's philosophy and the concept of time being precious but it also aptly describes the experience of a really amazing vacation. Kudos on the suggestion.

I have traveled with CRE bringing groups of 15 birders from my nature center, and I have traveled with CRE when I just wanted to get away with a few friends. Of course the most enjoyable was with life partner and shared experiences. Partners often have a different perspective from travel professionals. In terms of a name, "Time of Youe Life" works for me, but a catchy Spanish name might also have a nice ring to it.

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.

I've been following all the comments and replies. No one has articulated a description of what type of travelers we are. I think defining that is key to establishing a focus. So here goes on what kind of traveler I am. I avoid tourist traps and most of the places where everyone else goes. I like to delve into the hidden gems and off the beaten track places that usually reveal more of the real character of the place and its people. I like to eat, shop and stay local/native. I don't like chains, fast food, or Americanized places in other countries. My preference is for nature oriented and/or cultural experiences while on vacation. Crowds of tourists give me heebee geebees. I like to get the most out of wherever I am, not just skim the surface. I read and do a lot of research before traveling. I prefer rural to urban, god's creations to man's, active to sedentary and outdoors to indoors. I usually travel independently because I find that most tours try to do too much in too little time and meet the needs of the group rather than the individual. Invariably their itinerary includes places that I don't care about. Costa Rica Expeditions was actually my first experience with a tour operator and I think I'm spoiled for life! I loved that I could determine my own itinerary with guidance from people who really know the country to help me determine how long to stay in each place and what locations were unique in respect to one another. Once there, I could do what I wanted. Everything was of high quality and so hassle free. That is worth its weight in gold to me. Are the other companies in other countries that can match CRE? My travel experiences outside the US have been limited in the past 15 years because of family obligations - Israel, Canada, St John and Costa Rica - but I am looking forward to traveling more as my kids get older. I've traveled a lot in the US. What kind of travelers are the rest of you? Happy New Year. May it bring lots of travel adventures! Cheryl ps I have no problem traveling alone, especially when it means meeting people who I have an electronic relationship with!

Hi all, I've been following the comments regarding the pros and cons of including companions on the trip that Michael is planning for the special few selected for the freebie trip. My personal experience is that my husband enjoys travel but it is not the consuming passion with him that it is with me. It appears to me that many of our bloggers share that sense of passion and excitement. I imagine that Michael is looking for a group of like-minded travelers to create a travel experience which is bursting with ideas and enthusiasm. If there are couples in which both partners are participating in the blogging and they both feel that level of excitement regarding travel, then I think they both should be eligible to win the trip. However, to include a spouse or companion simply because the chosen participant loves to travel with that person would result in a less dynamic and idea-focused group in my opinion.

I vote for bringing Yolanda - she sounds great! :)

Hi Michael, I agree that your group should only be composed of those individuals that have taken part in your blog. The entire essence of your travel experiment would not be truly validated if partners were included. My husband and I take wonderful trips together and we also do independent travel from one another. I definitely am not interested in going on a fishing,surf or duck hunting trip with him. One is actually being selfish by not giving our spouses or partners the freedom to travel on their own when they have interests that you don't find enjoyable.

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.