Costa Rica: Costa Rica Coast to Coast Meets Thread

[tracyz]

If you're interested in adding a day at El Mangroove, I suggest looking into booking with them directly. We got our extra night for just under $300. Not booking through ABD means we'll have to get ourselves to the airport, but I'm pretty sure that's not going to cost us $500...
Booking yourself might make an extra night possible!

 

[AZlady]

I put down my deposit today...eek.....it still refundable at this point.....

 

[Ron Nelson]

just got back from Costa Rica ABD last week, absolutely amazing and worth every penny

 

[EDH Family]

My son (age 17) and I are booked on the 7/19-7/25. Really looking forward to it! We have never been to Costa Rica and this will be our first ABD.

 

[sayhello]

My son (age 17) and I are booked on the 7/19-7/25. Really looking forward to it! We have never been to Costa Rica and this will be our first ABD.

Congrats on booking your first ABD! I've added you to the Roll Call on the first post of this Thread. It looks like you'll be on the same departure as DISer AZlady!

Sayhello

 

[tufbuf]

just got back from Costa Rica ABD last week, absolutely amazing and worth every penny

Did you have Fico as one of your guides?

 

[alagille]

Hi, considering ABD vs Tauck culturious Feb 15 trip. The deal breaker is the weight limit. No significant one with tauck (within reason) but ABD has a weight limit of 220 for ziplining and 230 for white water. I looked at many tour companies down there to privately book and no limit. Anyone know why or if they are strict? Hubby is a big guy, 6'5" and 250. Liked ABD but the whole point is to both enjoy it.

 

[sayhello]

Hi, considering ABD vs Tauck culturious Feb 15 trip. The deal breaker is the weight limit. No significant one with tauck (within reason) but ABD has a weight limit of 220 for ziplining and 230 for white water. I looked at many tour companies down there to privately book and no limit. Anyone know why or if they are strict? Hubby is a big guy, 6'5" and 250. Liked ABD but the whole point is to both enjoy it.

I know ABD is really strict about age restrictions, my guess is they'll be really strict about the weight limit, too. But that's really just a guess. I'd suggest calling ABD. I know the one time I went ziplining, the company themselves weighed us.

Sayhello

 

[tufbuf]

Hi, considering ABD vs Tauck culturious Feb 15 trip. The deal breaker is the weight limit. No significant one with tauck (within reason) but ABD has a weight limit of 220 for ziplining and 230 for white water. I looked at many tour companies down there to privately book and no limit. Anyone know why or if they are strict? Hubby is a big guy, 6'5" and 250. Liked ABD but the whole point is to both enjoy it.

We had big boys and men in our group, actually from one family and I am quite sure they are over 250 lbs. the dad is probably the same size as your DH. They all zip lined without any issues.

 

[Bobo912]

Hi, considering ABD vs Tauck culturious Feb 15 trip. The deal breaker is the weight limit. No significant one with tauck (within reason) but ABD has a weight limit of 220 for ziplining and 230 for white water. I looked at many tour companies down there to privately book and no limit. Anyone know why or if they are strict? Hubby is a big guy, 6'5" and 250. Liked ABD but the whole point is to both enjoy it.

When I took this trip several years ago, ABD used this company:

http://www.skyadventures.travel/Arenal_En/Sky_Trek.html

Not sure if that is still their vendor. At that time ABD had the 220 lbs weight restriction listed on their website. I checked Sky Trek's website and there is not mention of a weight limit. The only limit I saw was a minimum height for children.

 

[moscow]

I am trying to decide between Tauck Bridges and ABD for a trip next summer (2015) to CR. I am looking forward to some updated trip reports to help me decide. I have been faithfully reading all the threads on CR and the threads comparing Tauck and ABD but am still up in the air over which company to book with.

We are completely new to the whole escorted tour scenario. We have travelled extensively but usually with my husband and usually independently (not with any tour groups). My husband won't be on this trip though so he like the idea of an escorted tour for his girls. (DD will be 12 on the trip.)

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions between the 2 companies and their respective CR tours, I would certainly welcome them!

 

[Bobo912]

I am trying to decide between Tauck Bridges and ABD for a trip next summer (2015) to CR. I am looking forward to some updated trip reports to help me decide. I have been faithfully reading all the threads on CR and the threads comparing Tauck and ABD but am still up in the air over which company to book with.

We are completely new to the whole escorted tour scenario. We have travelled extensively but usually with my husband and usually independently (not with any tour groups). My husband won't be on this trip though so he like the idea of an escorted tour for his girls. (DD will be 12 on the trip.)

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions between the 2 companies and their respective CR tours, I would certainly welcome them!

Both companies are very similar and both are very good. You can't go wrong with either one. I've already been to Costa Rica (with ABD), so I haven't looked at the 2015 itinearies, but they probably have a lot in common. I would just compare the day to day activities and pick the one that you and you family like the best. I can't comment on the Costa Rica trip specifically, but overall I've found the Tauck hotels to be slightly better, even though their trips are usually a bit less expensive. And with ABD you are tipping two guides, but with TB the tour director's gratuity is included. Personally, I think ABD is getting out of hand with their pricing because they know there are people who will pay for the Disney name. But Tauck has been in business for 90 years and they know what they are doing and provide excellent service.

 

[carpenta]

Both companies are very similar and both are very good. You can't go wrong with either one. I've already been to Costa Rica (with ABD), so I haven't looked at the 2015 itinearies, but they probably have a lot in common. I would just compare the day to day activities and pick the one that you and you family like the best. I can't comment on the Costa Rica trip specifically, but overall I've found the Tauck hotels to be slightly better, even though their trips are usually a bit less expensive. And with ABD you are tipping two guides, but with TB the tour director's gratuity is included. Personally, I think ABD is getting out of hand with their pricing because they know there are people who will pay for the Disney name. But Tauck has been in business for 90 years and they know what they are doing and provide excellent service.

I have to agree with Bobo. We travel with both companies where the Tauck Bridges is similar to ABD. We just returned from Italy with Tauck and it was first rate. For the money you get more with Tauck where they are truly "all inclusive". No extra tips for the guide. On our trip we had a guide that traveled with us as a group and in each city we picked up local guides at the venues we visited. Our daughter (13 yrs. old) liked both groups equally.

 

[Ron Nelson]

Did you have Fico as one of your guides?

Yes we had Fico and Laura as guided, just awesome Fico was great with the kids and Laura was very knowledgable as well

 

[RemembertheMagic98]

Just booked the adult only trip January 31st 2015! Still holding off the airfare for a bit. Anyone have suggestions about footwear? Should I look for water hiking shoes?

 

[sayhello]

Just booked the adult only trip January 31st 2015! Still holding off the airfare for a bit. Anyone have suggestions about footwear? Should I look for water hiking shoes?

Congrats RemembertheMagic98! I've added you to the Roll Call on the first post of this thread. Are you traveling solo?

Sayhello

 

[RemembertheMagic98]

Congrats RemembertheMagic98! I've added you to the Roll Call on the first post of this thread. Are you traveling solo?

Sayhello

Thanks! I'm traveling with my best friend/travel buddy. She moved from NJ to Colorado last year so we are now making a point of planning a vacation together to catch up and have fun! We are already planning a 2017 trip down under

 

[tufbuf]

Just booked the adult only trip January 31st 2015! Still holding off the airfare for a bit. Anyone have suggestions about footwear? Should I look for water hiking shoes?

Yes you need good water shoes for the rafting part of the trip. You would be getting off and on the raft walking on rocky terrain. Ask if you need tennis shoes for walking. We went last August during turtle nesting season and walked about a mile from Laguna Lodge to the beach where the turtles were nesting and needed closed shoes because of the leaf cutter ants. I don't think January is nesting season but find out where you would be stargazing. If you are into photography, it is a great place to take a photo of the Milky Way. We were not allowed cameras to the nesting area but that would have been a perfect spot.

 

[tchrrx]

Yes you need good water shoes for the rafting part of the trip. You would be getting off and on the raft walking on rocky terrain. Ask if you need tennis shoes for walking. We went last August during turtle nesting season and walked about a mile from Laguna Lodge to the beach where the turtles were nesting and needed closed shoes because of the leaf cutter ants. I don't think January is nesting season but find out where you would be stargazing. If you are into photography, it is a great place to take a photo of the Milky Way. We were not allowed cameras to the nesting area but that would have been a perfect spot.

I planned on taking flip flops for enbach, heavy hiking/water resistant tennis shoes for most days, and regular water shoes for the raft. What shoes did you wear for most of the activities? I need to go shopping soon so that we can break them in. Thanks!

 

[tufbuf]

I planned on taking flip flops for enbach, heavy hiking/water resistant tennis shoes for most days, and regular water shoes for the raft. What shoes did you wear for most of the activities? I need to go shopping soon so that we can break them in. Thanks!

We all wore Keen shoes, similar to the Newport style. You might want to get one which fully encloses your feet to avoid getting dirt in it when walking on dry land. Plus one which is secured on your feet and not come off and float away. We only wore those since we did not know about the closed shoes for the long hike to the beach at night. DH got bit, DD wore socks and we all jumped over the leaf cutter ant line when we saw them.