| Does being short on the green stuff mean your | | | | save even more money, but you’ll bring enough |
| Costa Rica vacation has to be short on fun? Not if | | | | money for tips. |
| you can arrange to spend what green you have | | | | |
| during Costa Rica’s Green Season. It would be | | | | If you’d prefer lodgings in Costa Rica’s |
| more accurate, but not nearly as attractive from | | | | major cities, your best way to save money is to |
| tourism standpoint, to call them the dry and rainy | | | | book with Bed and Breakfasts. In Monteverde, for |
| season, because that’s what they are. If, | | | | example, you can stay at the La Colina mountain |
| however, you don’t mind risking a daily | | | | lodge surrounded not only by brilliantly colored tropical |
| downpour during your Costa Rican vacation, heading | | | | birds of the Clod Forest, but by an authentic Quaker |
| there between May and the end of November, | | | | community. While your breakfast is included in the |
| during the "green" season, you can enjoy all of Costa | | | | cost of your roam, La Colina also has an on-site |
| Rica’s attractions at considerable savings, while | | | | restaurant where you can enjoy delicious lunches and |
| expecting at least five hours of sunshine a day. | | | | dinners. |
| | | | | |
| Your willingness to brave a daily rainstorm will have | | | | Rooms with private baths are a very reasonable $38 |
| more than mere financial rewards. The green | | | | per night for singles and $30 per double occupancy |
| season is when even the brownest and most barren | | | | during the green season, not including Costa |
| of Costa Rica’s provinces become abundantly | | | | Rica’s 16% hotel tax. The staff at La Colina will |
| lush, and the crowds which swarm to its warmth and | | | | be happy to arrange excursions including horseback |
| sunshine to escape harsh Northern winters have long | | | | riding and jungle canopy tours for you. |
| since departed. If you’re lucky, the rain in your | | | | |
| Costa Rica vacations spot will limit itself to predictable | | | | An even less expensive B&B for your budget |
| afternoon downpours and you can schedule your | | | | Costa Rican vacation is the Kalexma B&B in the |
| (greatly discounted) outings accordingly. | | | | La Uruca section of San Jose. What it lacks in style |
| | | | | it more than makes up for in affordability, with a |
| The first savings you’ll experience by choosing | | | | single room and shared bath going for $15.00 per |
| to travel to Costa Rica in the green season will be in | | | | night during the green season. A private bath and |
| the cost of your airline tickets. You can expect to | | | | warm water shower will cost $3 more. |
| save as much as $150 on your round-trip airfare, and | | | | |
| if you’re traveling from the US, you can book | | | | While you lodgings in Costa Rica may include |
| flight on a number of airlines including Continental, | | | | breakfast, you’ll still need to eat at least one |
| Delta, US Airways, and Spirit Air. Mexicana Airlines | | | | more meal during the day. The cheapest way to do |
| also offers service to Costa Rica from many major | | | | that is to patronize the Cost Rican supermarkets, |
| US cities, with connecting flights in Mexico City. | | | | where you can not only find the meal fixings if your |
| | | | | lodgings come with kitchen privileges, but |
| One of the best ways to save money on your | | | | ready-to-eat meals as well. You’ll find the small |
| accommodations while in Costa Rica is to book an | | | | family-run restaurants are also much more affordable |
| ecotourism vacation. You’ll find yourself lodged | | | | than the large hotel dining establishments. |
| among some of the most spectacular mountain or | | | | |
| jungle surroundings in all of Central America, at prices | | | | Finally, if your schedule doesn’t allow you to hunt |
| which can be as low as $30 per night for a double | | | | down the most budget friendly Costa Rica vacation |
| occupancy room or bungalow. | | | | options on your own, use the Internet to track down |
| | | | | a budget Costa Rica travel broker who has |
| If you book an ecotour through Global Exchange, | | | | connections to the resorts in the area of the country |
| your cost will include not only accommodations for | | | | you’d like to visit. Many of these brokers work |
| your entire stay, but breakfast and dinner each per | | | | with resorts who which would other wise have |
| day, all transportation within Costa Rica ( and this can | | | | blocks of empty rooms during the green season and |
| be a blessing during the rainy season) excursion fees, | | | | will offer them at significant discounts through the |
| and a bilingual guide (another blessing if your Spanish | | | | brokers, who collect commissions on the deals. |
| skills aren’t the best). | | | | |
| | | | | Most of these deals are all-inclusive, meaning |
| Global Exchange’s 10-day Costa Rican tour | | | | you’ll book your airfare at the same time that |
| covers three national parks, visits to Indian villages | | | | you book your resort. Your smartest tactic will be |
| both a banana plantation and a banana growing | | | | to get a quote from one broker before booking it, |
| co-operative, plenty of beach time and lodgings in the | | | | spend a few minutes seeing what price you can get |
| jungle, all for $1575 plus air fare per person double | | | | for the same trip if you book your own airfare and |
| occupancy. You can skip lunch if you want to | | | | hotel accommodations. |