We get a great many requests to arrange tours and activities from people who have already booked a week at the beach. Responding to these has been a challenge because the amount of work involved to learn enough about the guests to give them personalized advice is more than we can charge them for if all [...]

Those of you who have been following Patty Chang Anker’s account of  the  Trip of a Life Time will be familiar with professional wildlife photographer Max Waugh. Pictured here on the beach at Tortuguero getting down to work, Max has now posted his photos and videos. Photo Patty Chang Anker I’ve posted a  photo and links to the [...]

The best time to travel to Egypt and Tunisia is when most people think they are dangerous countries, but they are actually safe. I do not know when that will be in Egypt.  But I know the best time to visit Tunisia.  It started about three weeks ago, a few days after the revolution ended. There is [...]

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This post was published on May 6 in a slightly different form in the Huffington Post. The Atlantic Green Sea Turtles have just started to nest on the beach in Tortuguero. To start only a few turtles nest each night.  In July and August, at the peak of the season, on a good night as many [...]

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.

I got an "out of office" from the Fitzgeralds. They are in the bush and off line until after the first of the year. I am writing my other good African friends, Andres Botha and Jennifer Patterson from TransAfrica Safaris.

Hi, I think it is a great idea and am happy to share my own travel insights. I also own a bed an breakfast in Seward Alaska and am a wildlife biologist here so am happy to share information about wildlife viewing and travel in this part of Alaska to those who are interested.

Hi Michael, Would love to help anyway I can. I have traveled quite a bit since visiting CR in 2002. I have traveled across the USA (both coasts) as well as international travel to Canada, Southern Africa (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe), Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Australia, Greece, Spain and soon to China. Some trips were with an organized tour company and others were just on our own (which we researched heavily using the internet). Currently planning trips to Vietnam/Cambodia and East Africa. I would welcome any info this blog can provide as well as assist any traveler with information I learned from my travels.

Brian, we also loved whitewater rafting down the Pacaure and staying at the Lodge. If you love hiking, you must go on the hiking/rafting trip down the Grand Canyon (used Arizona Rafting) and the Lodge Trek (Salkantay trail) to Machu Picchu (used REI Adventures).

Happy to help. Most of my travel is for business, but that takes me to some pretty interesting places (Papua New Guinea, Australia, China, Malaysia, North Sulawesi ...) and I usually take advantage of some down time to get a flavor of the culture. You may be delighted to learn that despite exposure to some of these exotic places, we have returned to Costa Rica for our family spring breaks for the last nine years. We still find new things to learn and do during every CR visit. Happy trails.

Michael, the blog is a great idea. I often find blogs useful in google searches for information on my travel destinations. I hope I can be of help, especially on information regarding Panama, a friend Tican neighboar.

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 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.

Three generations of our family have enjoyed Costa Rica under your guidance and thank you for it. We have traveled to almost every part of the world and our major advice is to try to fit in with local customs and strengths--if all you're looking for is creature comfort, stay home.

I think it's very valuable to have a forum to connect with fellow travelers. I think the key is to make sure it's organized for easy navigating by geography. I'd be willing to post my experiences from various places around the world and would also see the advice of others for my new adventures. This year we are headed back to Costa Rica and plan to rent a villa somewhere south of Dominical. We are still hunting for just the right place This will be our 5th time to Costa Rica (in 6 years). Last year we went to St Barths. It is a nice place - but the weather was iffy and not so warm in March.

Michael Excellent idea! My husband and I are travelers. We have traveled through Europe, America, Africa and Asia. It will be great to hear other peoples experiences before going to a trip. I also think I can provide informations for others and will help sharing my experiences. Thanks for the invitation. Marta Madrid, Spain

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, Thanks for the email. I think your travel blog is a good idea but it reminds me of a similar process that is done through Lonely Planet. However, you will have your own audience from people that you have been in contact with from Costa Rica. I notice some questions about East Africa and I have been there twice in the past couple of years and am going again in February and possibly in September. I am a professional photographer and have started taking groups to Rwanda to see the mountain gorillas. But I can also offer some helpful suggestions about Kenya and Tanzania. Please let me know if I help in any way.

Hi Michael I think this blog its a wonderfull idea. I live in México City and I would like to share my travel experiencies in this blog. One of the best travel experiences my husband and I ever have, was riding the Way of St James by bike.From Roncesvalles, in the spanish foothils of the Pyrenees through Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. Also I would like to get some advice about traveling southeast France next spring. Thank you My husband and I did the james is an experience that we hardly recomend. I also would like some advice about vsisting south east France in spring.

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 .

Michael Excellent idea! My wife and I are travelers. I would be valuable to hear other peoples experiences BEFORE we go... gives us a heads up... we also feel we can provide hints and tips for others... Thanks for the invitation.

Hi Michael, Yes, this is a great idea, as long as you keep it small, personalized and focused. Otherwise you run the risk of becoming too much like all the other web-based travel site forums.... overwhelmingly large, no consensus, and tainted by marketing and sales pitches. I plan an adventure trip every summer for my family: so far we've been to Hawaii, Costa Rica, the Canadian Rockies, Vancouver Island, the Swiss Alps, and Tanzania. We want to have these experiences as a family before my kids, now teenagers, leave home. This summer, I'm looking at the Galapagos Islands or Australia, or possibly Vietnam. People are always interested that I'm able to research and plan these trips online, and often say that they couldn't figure out how to do that. It's difficult to find good information on the web, and even harder to find trustworthy opinions. Something like this blog would be a valuable resource. I'd like to participate, both to share my knowledge, and to benefit from other people's experiences.

Michael, Great idea! I love to travel, but since I have small children now and less money to spend on travel, I haven't had the chance to take a great trip in a long time! I've been to a lot of great places (Europe, Morocco, Israel, Jordan, Indonesia, The Philippines, and my favorite, Costa Rica). With each new adventure, I keep wanting to try new places, yet the one and only place I've felt the need to return to is Costa Rica. I've been there four times, although I haven't been since 2002:( I'm probably biased about Costa Rica since I lived there for a few months in 1992 and still have some friends I keep in touch with. I used your agency to go to Tortuguero in 2002. It was a great experience and I would highly recommend CRE to others. I don't usually travel with a tour company but I was very pleased with my experience with CRE. I don't know what else I might contribute to the blog since I haven't done much traveling since 2003. I'm new to blogging as well, but it should be a great new learning experience. If nothing else I'll be dripping with envy while reading everyone else's more recent travel experiences. Good luck with your blog!

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.

I like the idea and am happy to contribute. My wife and I have been married for over 21 years and we typically take 1-3 adventure trips a year, so we can share insights on a lot of places- we even hit our seventh continent last year (although like us, some of the information may be a little old, depending on the local). My only suggestion is that you divide this blog in some way so that it doesn't become overwhelming. I am already a little intimidated by the number of posts in just a day or two and I fear it will become so large that people will start to tune out. Maybe we should each be assigned to groups based on regions we would like to comment on or the types of travel we like to do.

This is a wonderful idea which can benefit travelers of all styles. I'm in a constant state of exploration and am happy to share my insights as well as tap into the contributions of others in hopes of discovering new adventures. Count me in!

PS Debbie. I have Vietnam and Cambodia contacts as well. I'll also start looking for the right person to talk to.

Debbie, If you go through the comments below you will already see that there are 2 people interested in advice on Africa. I am trying to contact friend in the business in Africa and they are all on vacation---or as they say it "on holiday." As soon as I they get back I'll put you in touch with the best person for arranging trips and advice on East Africa. It would be wonderful if you could send what ever contacts, tips and advice you can on Southern Africa. As soon as possible I want to set up a way for bloggers to have accounts so that they can post new topics. In the meantime, please email what ever you have to me at mskaye@expeditions.co.cr. Make the subject. Vacation Time is Precious/Africa so I can spot it easily. I am also looking into ways to be able to record posts for those who are more comfortable talking than writing.

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!

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.

This email was great. I have been to most of the places described and the detail was spot on and you can tell it is first hand and not just a sales pitch. I have been going to Costa Rica for 27 years and will provide my experiences as soon as I can.

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.

I think part of the issue may be the strange and fuzzy line between an interactive chat format and a blog that readers might comment on but is not by nature interactive. I've been reading consistently, both posts and comments, but haven't found the more recent posts compelled me to comment. Which is ok - I think part of the interesting dynamic going on here is the evolution of the site and the people contributing to that evolution. So keep it up, Michael, I think it's going great. Topics: I like the topics that pose thoughtful questions about how and why we travel, also topics sharing specific travel experiences that might give someone something new to try, or somewhere new to go. Like Rattviksdansen, a folklore festival in Rattvik, Sweden. Which is awesome.

Michael, What a wonderful opportunity for fellow travelers to share recommendations and warnings about travel destinations! Since the focus is not on Costa Rica, I think everyone will feel free to be candid without any concern about stepping on toes. As a frequent traveler I am always in search of the off-the-beaten-path experience. I have a feeling that fellow bloggers share that desire and I look forward to enthusiastic and spirited exchanges!

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.

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.

Michael, this is fabulous. I am a frequent solo traveler, and knowledgeable advice and tips is a traveler's best friend. I love sharing my experiences with others, and I count on information I receive in return. This is a great opportunity for that exchange. Thanks!

Hi Michael, I would love to join in this conversation! Almost as good as traveling itself is dreaming about it, planning for it, reminiscing about it afterward, with people who have a similar yearning to learn about the world. I traveled more before having children (counting the days til my youngest is old enough to go to Costa Rica!). Would be happy to share experiences from China, England, South Africa, Canada, Caribbean. What makes this forum different from other online "post your review" sites is the interest from all these participants in exchanging ideas, impressions, experiences. And as one who has had the benefit of your direct advice to inquiries, it would be great for more and more people to share that as well! I started my own blog this year, about trying things I never got around to trying as a kid, now that I'm hurtling into middle age. The response has been great - readers have found support from each other in their own endeavors, and for people who love to travel, such connections are really using the internet for its best purpose - to bring us together. Many thanks, Michael, for opening up this new adventure!

Hi Tina, I am Chief Marketing & Guest Satisfaction Officer here at CRE and I've been helping Michael with his new blog. I've worked for the company for 23 years. You family trips every summer sound wonderful. I can certainly appreciate why you want to get as much as you can in before your teenagers leave home. I am figuring that I will get one maybe two more vacations with my two teenagers before they are off doing their own thing. :( You mentioned that you are considering Australia, Galapagos and Vietnam for next summer. For Galapagos we have some wonderful friends that I haven't communicated with in awhile that have an outstanding operation. I will email them today and get you a name and email for a contact person. For Australia I'll have to do some research, but we have some ideas and will be back to you shortly. For Southeast Asia we highly recommend Trails of Indochina, I've pasted in the contact information for Vinh Lam, your contact there. TRAILS OF INDOCHINA Limited Contact: Mr. Vinh Lam (US Representative) Email: vinh@trailsofindochina.com Website: www.trailsofindochina.com 9092 McBride River Ave Fountain Valley, CA 92708-6464 Tel:1- 800 835 1376 (West Coast) Fax:1- 714 908 1844 I'll be in touch as soon as I have a contact for Australia and Galapagos. In the meantime, as we say here in Costa Rica, Felices Fiestas!

Hi Maricela, I am Chief Marketing & Guest Satisfaction Officer here at CRE, I have worked for Michael for 23 years and I am helping him with his blog. I am writing to let you know that I am working on finding you a contact for southeast France next spring. I want to be sure to give you a specific name and email address and given the holidays and the time difference, it's been slow. I will be back in touch soon with more specific information! In the meantime, Felices Fiestas!

Hi Debbie, I am Chief Marketing & Guest Satisfaction Officer here at Costa Rica Expeditions. I have been helping Michael with his new blog. You asked about travel to Vietnam and Cambodia so I have been in contact with a fellow tour operator for those countries. The name of the company is Trails of Indochina. I spoke with Vinh in thier offices in California yesterday and they would be delighted to help you with the planning of your trip. The person that you should contact is Vinh Lam, his email address is: vinh@trailsofindochina.com their website is: www.trailsofindochina.com. phone: 1-800-835-1376 They plan and operate trips in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. Happy Travels!

Hi Michael, Cool idea. Sometimes we all need a carrot to really inspire initial participation. I'm an actual customer by the way. Although I usually plan my own trips as an ecotourism buff and TIES member, I must say that your team took the hurt out of doing all the legwork to book my 3 days in Corcovado. I just got back home to Tahoe from a monster roadtrip that took me to the Responsible Tourism conference in Belize and as far as Nicaragua. I had hoped to reach Panama and visit CR again but just got warn out...and ran out of Pesos, Dollars, Cordoba, Quetzales, etc. I love to share my experiences and would be happy to chime in if my expertise is requested. For instance...what's the best place to take a nap or do some yoga at Tikal, Guatemala? (on top of the Castillo overlooking the Main Acropolis of course!)...or how do you climb a coconut tree and open up your prize? (you can email me for a link to a sweet video of the "Coconut Man" in Placencia, Belize for that one :) As a marketing consultant attempting to work full time in Ecotourism, my specialty is North and Central America. My suggestion may be a selfish one, but what about focusing on Latin America...or Central America. Of course, most of us active travelers are happy to hear the occasional off-topic fun stuff...like where to take a cooking class in Spain...but it seems like your customers and many contacts might find it more useful if there is a tighter focus. Aloha, Pete South Lake Tahoe, California, USA

Hi Kathy, Happy New Year! I am Chief Marketing Officer here at Costa Rica Expeditions. I have worked for Michael for 23 years and I've been helping him with the blog. You mentioned interest in travel to Alaska in 2010 and we wanted to give you the contact information for a fantastic company in Alaska. The company is Entree Destinations and your contact is Gwen Horchover, a Senior Alaska consultant. Her email is gwen@entreedestinations.com. I have been in contact with Gwen today and she knows that you may be contacting her. Enjoy! Natalie

Max, Great comment. I'll probably use it as a point of departure for my post next week. There is a large company called Akorn that provides very good services in many countries all over the world, that has a division in Argentina. Mark Wheeler, the managing director for South America is good friend. If you'd like I can ask him who you should contact in Argentina. Just let me know

Hi Terri, I am Chief Marketing & Guest Satisfaction Officer here at Costa Rica Expeditions. I’ve worked with Michael for 23 years and I’m currently helping him with the blog. I’m thrilled that we made the grade for your teenage boys, I have teenagers too, a girl and a boy and I know how hard they can be to please! You said that you need advice for travel to Africa, Peru, Scandinavia, China and Vietnam. I’ve been doing some investigating and while I don’t have all of the contacts for you yet, I have a good start. For Scandinavia Delta of Scandinavia A/S Contact: Mads Tange Email: mads@delta-scandinavia.com Web: http://www.delta-scandinavia.com/ Vesterbrogade 35 DK-1620 Copenhagen V. D E N M A R K Tel: (+45) 33 31 12 01 Fax: (+45) 33 25 16 37 For China Eastern Journeys – Travels through China Contact: David Allardice, CEO & Owner E-mail: david@easternjourneys.com Web: http://www.easternjourneys.com Tel: + 852-2544-5488 Fax: + 852-2544-5489 The 5th Floor, Anton Building, No. 1 Anton Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong SAR, China For Vietnam & Cambodia TRAILS OF INDOCHINA Limited Contact: Mr. Vinh Lam (US Representative) Email: vinh@trailsofindochina.com Website: http://www.trailsofindochina.com 9092 McBride River Ave Fountain Valley, CA 92708-6464 Tel:1- 800 835 1376 (West Coast) Fax:1- 714 908 1844 Cell:1- 714 933 5252 For Africa Trans Africa Safaris Contact: Michelle Meyer, Tours Manager Email: michell@transafricasafaris.com Web: http://www.transafricasafaris.com Phone: +27-21-713 2063. I am still working on getting you a specific contact person for another two companies in Africa and onefor Peru. For Africa, we have a relationship with Trans Africa Safaris, mentioned above, we have known them for years. We also have had contact with &Beyond. As Michael mentioned in one of his posts, &Beyond has changed management and we are in the process of figuring the right contact for you. I personally travelled with &Beyond in 2008 with the kids and it was fantastic! If you would like to hear more I would be happy to share. I also wrote The Africa Adventure Company, they were recommended by fellow bloggers Shannon and Mark. As soon as I hear from them, &Beyond and Peru I’ll be back in touch with specific names and contact information. In the meantime…as we say in Costa Rica, Felices Fiestas!

Hi Kevin, I am Chief Marketing & Guest Satisfaction Officer here at CRE and I am helping Michael with his blog. It’s been a lot of fun reading all of these comments. You mentioned that you are interested in travel to Africa and I have some information for you. We have two companies that we know quite well. One is Trans Africa Safaris and the other is &Beyond. Unfortuantely our friends, Nicky and Steve Fitzgerald are no longer at &Beyond so I don’t have a specific name to give you today, but I hope to have a contact for you soon. I personally traveled with &Beyond in 2008 with my two teenagers. It was a fabulous experience and I would be happy to share information with you. We went to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Phinda Nature Reserve, Ngala Nature Reserve and Matetsi in Zimbabwe. We also spent a day at Victoria Falls. There is one other company that has been mentioned twice on the blog, this is The Africa Adventure Company. We don’t know them first hand, but they are highly recommended by two past travelers on this blog. In the meantime, I do have a contact for you at Trans Africa Safaris, they are a great company. Trans Africa Safaris Contact: Michelle Meyer, Tours Manager Email: michell@transafricasafaris.com Web: http://www.transafricasafaris.com Phone: +27-21-713 2063. As soon as I have more information from the other African companies I’ll let you know. You also mentioned thinking of Central America and it’s biodiversity, have you ever been to Nicaragua? If not and you would like some insight, I’d be happy to help. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or want additional information. Happy Travels!

Hi Janet, I am Chief Marketing & Guest Satisfaction Officer here at CRE. Michael has asked me to pitch in with the blog. I am delighted to hear that you had such a good time in Costa Rica last March. I see that you are interested in contacts for travel to Africa, India and Southeast Asia. I am working on getting contacts for each area, but I wanted to send you what I have so far. For Africa, we have three companies. Trans Africa Safaris we have known for years, they are an excellent company and Michael has been in contact with them about the blog and they know that they may be contacted by some of you. The contact information for them is: Trans Africa Safaris Contact: Michelle Meyer, Tours Manager Email: michell@transafricasafaris.com Web: http://www.transafricasafaris.com Phone: +27-21-713 2063. We have another two companies in Africa that you may want to consider. One is &Beyond, we have very close relationship with the former managing directors, Steve & Nicky Fitzgerald, but they are no longer with the company. I have made contact with &Beyond and am waiting for a contact to give you. I personally travelled with them, my two teenagers and I went to Cape Town, Joburg, Phinda Game Reserve, Ngala Game Reseverve, the Matetsi Game Reserve in Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls. If you would like any input from me, I would be happy to provide details. The other company that has come up on this blog for Africa is The Africa Adventure Company. I have also made contact with them and hope to speak to their US rep on the phone soon. As soon as I have a green light I’ll let you know. For Southeast Asia, I spoke yesterday with Vinh from Trails of Indochina. We’ve known them for years as we participate in some of the same industry events. If you are interested in speaking to him, his contact information is: TRAILS OF INDOCHINA Limited Contact: Mr. Vinh Lam (US Representative) Email: vinh@trailsofindochina.com Website: http://www.trailsofindochina.com 9092 McBride River Ave Fountain Valley, CA 92708-6464 Tel:1- 800 835 1376 (West Coast) Fax:1- 714 908 1844 You also asked about India. I’ve been on the phone and email with Amber Tours, but I still have not been able to have a full conversation. The time difference, distance and the holidays are making it a bit tricky. As soon as I have something more concrete I’ll let you know. In the meantime, as we say here in Costa Rica… Felices Fiestas

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.

Dear Maricela, Finally, here I am with recommended companies for the south of France! Lafayette Travel www.lafayette-travel.com Contact: Sandy Leleu Email: sandy.leleu@lafayette-travel.com Decouvertes SARL & Inc. www.decouvertes.fr Email: lydie@decouvertes.fr Let me know how it goes! Happy Travels, Natalie

Dear Tina, I still owed you a contact for travel to Australia. Finally here I am with a company, contact name and bio. Abercrombie & Kent Australia http://www.abercrombiekent.com.au/luxury-travel/oceania/index.cfm Contact: Ms Amanda Nickells anickells@abercrombiekent.com.au Amanda says “Every time I explore a new part of Australia the thing that always takes me by surprise is the emotion and sense of pride. I recall relaxing with a glass of sauvignon blanc at Vasse Felix winery in Margaret River gazing over stunning countryside; lazing in the grass with wallabies at dusk on Kangaroo Island and discovering ancient rock art in Arnhem Land. Each time the same question flickers through my mind … ‘What took me so long to get here?’ There is just so much adventure in Australia, and to me there is nothing more heady and romantic than adventure – particularly in your own backyard.” If you have the time, please let me know how it goes. Happy Travels! Natalie

Hi Maricela, As promised, I have a couple of contacts in France for you. The first is Lafayette Travel Contact Person: Sandy Leleu Email Address: sandy.leleu@lafayette-travel.com Web: www.lafayette-travel.com Also: Decouvertes SARL & Inc. Contact Person: Lydie Email Address: lydie@decouvertes.fr Web: www.decouvertes.fr Let me know if you need any additional information. Buen Viaje!

Hi Michael, One of my favorite columnists, Nicholas Kristoff, wrote a wonderful piece about Costa Rica in the New York Times today! I wanted to share the link for this group to see. I'm wondering if he traveled with CRE? I used to work with him at the Times and he's a tremendous writer with a heart of gold - has done so much to raise awareness of global issues. Check this out: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/opinion/07kristof.html?ref=opinion

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

LOL! Michael, I so appreciate your sharing that story - so stressful while living it, but funny in hindsight. The ability to see the ridiculousness of a situation is a great quality in a travel companion (and life partner). My husband and I planned for a hiking trip in Switzerland by buying thin raincoats with no rain pants, our New York logic being "It's August! We'll just be dayhiking! How bad can the weather get? And if it's raining, we just won't go hiking!" Of course, weather in the Alps is highly changeable, and we ended up hiking up a mountain in beautiful, clear skies, only to round a corner, and see something like smoke blowing over the ridge toward us. "What is that? Smoke?" No, clouds! And...HAIL. It was a bit nervewracking to be caught in a hailstorm, but when we got back down safe and sound and were eating fondue and drinking beers, we laughed with our friends at our naivete - now, "We just won't hike if it's raining!" is what we say to each other when we pack for trips (or at least, it's what I like to say as an excuse to cram everything I own into our luggage). :)

@Cheryl Shnider: Great Cheryl, Your request gave me an excuse to call some old friends. Bill and Colleen Wright are owners of San Juan Safaris, a wonderful whale watching operation on San Juan Island. They do not provide all the services you are asking about, but they are very knowledgeable about the area and nature tourism in general. They are also wonderful folks to know. They’d be happy to steer you in the right (no pun intended) direction. They leave for Hawaii for a couple of weeks on March 8, so contact them before or after. Email: fun@sanjuansafaris.com. Tel: 800-450-6858 Another good friend Marc Telio owner of Entrée Destinations, based in Vancouver BC specializes in Canada and Alaska, but may also be able to help. At the moment he is maxed out with the Winter Olympics. I’ll call him as soon as he has had a chance to recover.

Kathie, We only arrange and operate trips in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. We have good friends who we can recommend in Guatemala, Belize, Mexico and many other countries around the world. Before you begin to put in the work to plan an itinerary, you should decide on the destination. Please let me know if you would like me to help you do that.

Hi Tina, I was able to get in touch with our friend Eduardo and Dolores Diez, they are the owners of Quasar Nautica and offer services in Galapagos and mainland Ecuador. Not only do they have a fantastic operation, they are really neat people too. When you decide to start investigating Galapagos the contact information that we suggest for you is: Quasar Nautica Contact: Dolores Diez Email: ddiez@quasarex.com Web: http://www.galapagosexpeditions.com/ I still owe you a contact for Australia, as soon as I hear back from them I'll let you know. Feliz Viaje! Natalie