Michael, I think it is a good idea. You look at some of the other blog spots that have taken off in regards to various parts of travel and there is a place for it. I also think setting up alliances with other similar firms is a good source of cross referrals. Since our trip with you, we have mentioned on several occasions that we wish you did the same thing in Africa or could recommend a firm that cares as much about the overall experience. If you build it, they will come.

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 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.

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.

Michael, I am pleased to participate. I have long believed that the Internet is the best way to share travel information--anytime, anywhere around the world. I also believe that travelers' most valuable information comes from frank, inside assessments from travelers just like themselves. I loved the trip we did with CRE last March. I have high standards, and, like most travelers, high expectations. I was delighted with the service we received through CRE. I will be planning expeditions in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia over the next few years for my family and would appreciate the "inside knowledge" this group can provide. In particular, I am looking for the travel expert on the ground in the countries that I will be visiting. Again, most of us can find the international travel brands; it is the local company, like yours, that can often provide the authentic experience at the reasonable price. Good luck. I look forward to participating in this venture.

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 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 ! 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.

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.

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.

Six months ago recommending a company in Africa would have been easy, &Beyond. (Used to be called CCAfrica). Now my good friends, Steve and Nicky Fitzgerald have left the company, so I am not so sure. I'll write them see what they say and get back to you.

I use Trip Advisor in conjunction with several other sources - Frommer, Fodor, Lonely Planet, Orbitz, etc. I try to find consistent recommendations , so I'm not relying on one potentially skewed source. My hope for this blog is that it will be an exchange of ideas as much as specific restaurant and hotel recommendations. I usually have to travel within pretty tight time and budget constraints ( I work in the non-profit theater industry - enough said). So, for example, if I'm looking at a destination, I like to know if there is a time of year when rates are lower. Or, when I was researching Kruger National Park in South Africa ( haven't gotten there yet), a friend told me that during national school holidays the park is packed with South African families. That's not necessarily a pro or con, but it is good to know! I also have a particular travel planning issue: I don't drive. So anywhere I go either has to be accessible via public transport or I need to make arrangements with someone like CRE (of course, driving wouldn't have helped in visiting Tortuguero - and I'm not a pilot or a river boat operator either). My tendency is to make my own general arrangements and supplement with local tour companies. I'm a big believer in exploring on foot, but sometimes it's not entirely possible to do it without a little expert help, or it's enhanced by an acclimating guided tour.

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