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. [...]

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.

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.

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!

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.