Travel Tips

Archive for travel tips

Feb

Weekly Travel Tip – Eat Safely When Traveling To Central America

Posted by: Marina K. Villatoro | Comments (0)

So you are traveling to Central America and concerned about what foods are safe to eat? Well this week’s tip is more of a suggestion on what is best to eat when you leave your country on vacation.

I’ll start by saying that any foods that have been boiled are generally safe, as well as fruits and vegetables that have to be peeled before eating. Avoid eating uncooked or undercooked meat or meat that is not cooked just prior to serving.

You should also stay away from foods that require a lot of handling before serving. This is because even if the food is good the hands of the people handling it may not be a 100% clean.

One of your favorite foods at home is on the safe list on the road. Pizza, because the dough, sauce, and cheese are foods that are less likely to spoil than others, and the high heat of a pizza oven tends to kill any harmful bacteria in the food.

You’ve probably heard that you shouldn’t drink the water in some countries overseas. This is why: Water supplies in developing countries are not treated in the same way as water supplies in developed countries. I would suggest you drink only bottled water when traveling. Even if you’re brushing your teeth, rinsing contact lenses, drinking a small glass of water to wash down pills, or adding ice to your drink.

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Oct

Weekly Travel Tips – Parking in Antigua Guatemala

Posted by: Marina K. Villatoro | Comments (1)

Driving in Antigua Guatemala is not a wise thing to do. It is a small place with lots of great hotels, restaurants and way too many cars, so take my advice and don’t. You can rent a bike, a scooter or even better walk since it’s a small city you can walk across it in 30 minutes.

But if you are driving in Antigua anyway, do not park on the red or white line of the street. The red line is on the edge of the sidewalk 10 feet away from each corner and in some streets, mainly the ones closer to the park, you will see white lines, they are for motorcycles ONLY! The reason? There are transit policemen on almost every corner and will give you a $25 fine if you do.

Also be aware because sometimes you will find little ads on the light poles announcing that you cannot park there. Usually it’s because a procession is going to pass through that street at any moment. If you do your car will be towed and the fine for that is $60 if you want your car back.

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Oct

Weekly Travel Tip – Kid Essential

Posted by: Marina K. Villatoro | Comments (0)

I’m a freak. I’ll admit it! Even knowing that Costa Rica is one of them most kid friendly countries in Central America I’m ridiculously paranoid my son is either going to get lost or kidnapped. Yes, I have serious issues to resolve, but that doesn’t stop me from being extra cautious.

My son is at the age where he can understand what to do if we are separated. Sometimes screaming: “MAMA, PAPA” in a crowded location doesn’t do the trick.

But a extra powerful whistle does!

I know, when you first buy it for them they will drive you batty by blowing it every five milliseconds. But trust me, the novelty does wear off and if explained properly they will understand the importance of this essential traveling accessory.

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Aug

Baby Boomers Traveling: Be Aware & Stay Safe

Posted by: Marina K. Villatoro | Comments (0)

First in a series of safety tips for traveling in Costa Rica by Doris Gallan.

Any world city has an element of crime and Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, is no exception. The difference for travelers here is that they are lulled by a sense of security and they shut down their internal alarms, often to terrible results.

The country has done an excellent job in marketing Costa Rica as a tourism destination. What you don’t hear or read about is the fact that the crime rate has been climbing steadily for many decades and that police resources to combat it have not matched this growth.

Baby Boomers traveling here should protect themselves in the same way that they would in any American city. Here are my top ten tips for anyone spending any time in Costa Rica – and not just in San Jose – as crime occurs wherever tourists congregate:

1. Avoid wearing jewelry, carrying an expensive camera or flashing your money around. Instead, keep your camera out of sight and be discreet when taking out your cash.

2. Don’t keep your wallet in your back pocket or lower side pockets on cargo pants/shorts nor wear a fanny pack or a daypack on your back. These are all easy pick pocketing targets.

3. Keep whatever you are carrying on your body – avoid setting down daypacks and, certainly, don’t turn your back on them.

4. Keep your valuables (extra cash, credit cards and passport) in the hotel/hostel safe if possible.

5. Always know where you are going by checking your maps before you set off. If you must look at your travel guide or map, step into a shop where you can do so inconspicuously.

6. Make sure your rental car comes with an alarm and a lockable trunk. Do not park on the street, even during the day time, but rather in secured lots.

7. If you are unsure about the security of using a credit card but don’t have any other option, keep an eye on the waiter processing your transaction so he can’t make a double charge.

8. Learn the currency and understand the value as you are much less likely to be short-changed and you can question honest mistakes and get your change back.

9. If you go out at night, don’t stay so late that there’s no one on the street when you make your way home. Consider taking a taxi rather than a bus or walking.

10. Do not accept a taxi unless the car is the color red, has a taxi license, a taxi light and a taxi meter. Private drivers offer to take you for a set fee that is often a lot more than with a regular taxi meter. Also, kidnappings – where the driver takes you to an ATM to empty your account – occur in unmarked taxis.

Finally, be aware of your surroundings and don’t think that just because you are on vacation in Costa Rica that you are immune to crime.

BIO

Doris is a Baby Boomer living in Costa Rica. She and her husband traveled around the world for 26 months visiting 40 countries on six continents (including Antarctica). You can read more about their travels and get travel tips at www.dorisgallan.com. Follow Doris on twitter @dorisgallan.

Don’t miss all the other interesting articles about Traveling in Costa Rica here!

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Categories : Costa Rica, boomer travel, expat living abroad, travel, travel tips

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Aug

Boomer Traveler: Costa Rica Is an Easy Start for New Travelers

Posted by: Marina K. Villatoro | Comments (0)

Second of a series on what makes Costa Rica a great place to start traveling by Doris Gallan.

The best way to ensure a fun trip with the minimum amount of stress is in planning what you want to do, where you want to do it, and who can provide the services for you. With its well-developed tourism infrastructure, many well-written guide books, more travel blogs and web sites than you can count, and a large English-speaking ex-pat population it is easier to plan a trip to Costa Rica than anywhere else in Latin America.

You can get a general feel of what is going on in the country by reading the local media and in Costa Rica this is made easier by the English-language newspapers with an on-line presence (check: www.amcostarica.com and www.ticotimes.com).

Start by checking the web sites of travel services like Travel Experta, travel blogs and guide books. These will give you a good idea of where travelers generally go which will assure you of a good variety of hotels/hostels, restaurants and activities. These popular spots are also more likely to have public transportation to take you there as well as arranged tours and activities.

If you are interested in a particular location, start digging deeper by viewing web sites specific to the area (Google the name of the town and see what comes up). Travel blogs are a great resource as well as they often have the most up-to-date information on variables such as weather, wildlife sightings and crowds.

Baby Boomers considering Costa Rica as a retirement option should travel to the country first to ensure that their impressions are correct. No one should take all of the marketing information about the environment, economy, cheap real estate, good health care, etc. at face value. A few weeks in the country talking to other ex-pats can ensure a smooth move and transition here with realistic expectations.

Whether considering a move or coming for a short trip, the better informed you are as a traveler the more fun you’ll have and the less stress you will encounter.

BIO

Don’t miss all the other interesting articles about Traveling in Costa Rica here!

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Categories : Costa Rica, boomer travel, guest post, travel, travel tips

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Jun

Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo – Review

Posted by: Marina K. Villatoro | Comments (0)

Please sign up for my RSS feed and find me on twitter @marinavillatoro

Way before my days of being a mommy, I traveled on my own – a lot! I learned quite a few traveling do’s and don’ts for solo women travelers the hard way and wished that there was a guide to help me along the way.

Well, Beth Whitman from the fun traveling site Wanderlust and Lipstick, heard our calling and wrote a fun, easy to follow and even inspiring travel book for women traveling on their own.

Beth has traveled way-too-many miles to mention here over the past 20 years collecting enough data to prepare any woman to get her bags packed and out the door with confidence and a knowing-ness of what they need to have the best experience ever!

The book is filled with resources and tools that are up-to-date and helpful for planning where to go, how to get there, health and safety, overcoming cultural barriers, dealing visas and other obligatory hold-ups, and most importantly how to enjoy yourself no matter the city or country you are visiting.

Plus, you’ll get an inside glimpse of over 50 stories, tales and good advice sources from solo women who have been there, done that and are doing it again. But this time they are beckoning you to get out there and join them!

You’ll love this book. Once you take it on the road you’ll be reading and re-reading it constantly for new ideas, answers to your questions and just for inspirational stories by other fellow women travelers.

Beth Whitman is found on twitter: @wanderluster
So buy it now for just $10 and go traveling!

book review, women travelers

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Jan

Posted by: Marina K. Villatoro | Comments (0)

Please sign up for my RSS feed and find me on twitter @marinavillatoro

Traveling is the most fun you can ever have, as far as I’m concerned. Nevertheless, there are always precautions and certain things you can do to make it happy, extraordinary experience ever!

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