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Verdant Values: Lush & Green Costa Rica Costs Less Through Winter

October 5, 2004 -- Warm up this fall and winter in tropical Costa Rica. Surf, sunbathe, swim in waterfalls, raft, go game fishing, explore volcanoes, climb jungle canopies or do nothing at all - the choice is yours.

TACA (800/400-8222; www.taca.com), Central America's regional airline, has some great online-only prices for routes servicing the US west and east coasts. Its current specials include Miami to San Jose start at $198 for a roundtrip fare and $357 from Los Angeles. Seven-day advance purchase is required with a Sunday minimum stay. Fares do not include local and airport taxes or a $20 security fee.

If you are really quick and can complete your booking by October 8, 2004, American Airlines (www.aa.com) has Net SAAver fares to San Jose. Fares are valid for travel through November 30, 2004 with a three-day minimum stay required, and a 30-day maximum stay. Taxes of approximately $125 are additional. Samples of roundtrip economy airfares include:

  • Miami $178
  • Boston $248
  • Denver $268
  • San Francisco $278
  • Washington, D.C. $326
  • New York $359

Each airline has an individual policy regarding large luggage items such as surfboards or golf clubs, so check with your airline for any additional costs.

Capricorn Leisure (800/426-6544; www.capricorn.net) has just reduced its American Airlines vacation packages to Costa Rica by up to $200 per person if you book by October 15, 2004. This deal is valid for travel between now and December 9, 2004.

Their eight-day/seven-night Tamarindo Vista Villas package includes roundtrip airfare on American Airlines to San Jose, seven-day manual economy car rental and seven-nights in a mountain-view room with continental breakfast daily (upgrades to an ocean-view room are available for $80 per person). The property is located directly across from the famous Tamarindo surf beach, and the hotel offers many additional activities including horseback riding, scuba diving, sea kayaking, and golf.

Departure cities include:

  • Chicago $594 (a savings of $160)
  • Atlanta $598 (a savings of $140)
  • Miami $591 (a savings of $70)
  • Hartford $612 (a savings of $200)
  • New York $613 (a savings of $110)
  • Los Angeles/San Francisco $684 (a savings of $100)

The seven-day/six-night package at the beachfront Jaco Beach Best Western includes roundtrip airfare on American Airlines to San Jose, six-day manual car rental and six-nights accommodations with continental breakfast daily (upgrades to the all-inclusive plan are available for $110 per person).

  • Miami $546 (a savings of $70)
  • Atlanta $548 (a savings of $140)
  • Hartford $562 (a savings of $200)
  • New York $568 (a savings of $110)
  • Los Angeles/San Francisco $639 (a savings of $100)
  • Chicago $649 (a savings of $60)

These package prices are per person based on double occupancy and mid week departure (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only). Add $25 for travel on other days. Additional nights are available at Tamarindo or Jaco for $42 per person. Taxes, service charges and car insurance are additional.

Tico Travel (800/493-8426; www.ticotravel.net), the Costa Rican travel specialists, has a selection of discount airfares, weekend getaways and tours available. From Miami, they have Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday departures to San Jose for $222 roundtrip, or Monday, Friday and Saturday departures from Orlando for $248. Departures from Los Angeles start at $451 and from San Francisco, $499. Taxes of $69 are additional.

Tico's six-night "Casa Corcovado Ultimate Jungle Safari" starts at $1145 per person. It includes roundtrip transportation from San Jose to Casa Corcovado, six-nights lodging in a deluxe bungalow, tour of Corcovado National Park, tour of Ca?o Island, bird watching tour, hiking adventures, kayak tour, full-day horseback-riding, beach excursions, all meals, park fees and taxes.

Traveland (800/321-6336; www.traveland.com) has a hot "Explore Costa Rica on Your Own" package -- perfect for people who don't want a fixed itinerary and want to come and go as they please. It includes roundtrip airfare from Miami, arrival transfer to your hotel, one night at the Don Fadrique in San Jose, hotel vouchers for six additional nights in any of the 43 listed hotels, daily breakfast, seven-days unlimited mileage 4X4 jeep rental, road maps, CDW-insurance and taxes included.

This package starts at $599 per person for seven nights, ten nights for $899 or 14 nights for $1,099. Add $100 per person for a larger selection of over 100 hotels. Taxes of $170 are additional. Add $100 for departures from New York, Washington, Dallas, Orlando, Boston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Denver, San Diego, Las Vegas or Seattle. Add $200 from San Francisco, Chicago or Detroit. Other departure cities are available. Fixed regular departure dates are from October 2004 to April 2005, including December and January. Weekend surcharges and blackout dates may apply.

For further information about travel to Costa Rica visit www.frommers.com/destinations/costarica or www.visitcostarica.com.

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