August 3, 2004 -- You can lie on the beach soaking up rays and staying dry, or you can learn how to surf; during which you'll be in the water more than you'll be on it. Either way, the resorts on Costa Rica's Pacific coastline are marvelous places to while away your vacation.
There's a splendid "Exotic Costa Rica Package" at the Fiesta Resort on the Pacific coast's Gulf of Nicoya, just 90 minutes from the capital city of San Jose. On this black sand beach, your 240-room hotel is surrounded by lush tropical scenery, and its available water sports could keep you busy all day. The three-night package includes airfare, hotel, meals and activities, costing from just $459 per person. You fly from Miami to San Jose CR on Martin Air's 767 departing every Sunday from now through December 22, 2004. The three nights at the hotel includes their all-inclusive resort package, which includes all meals and drinks, snacks, domestic liquor, beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks; daily organized activities; nonmotorized water sports (fishing, kayaking, surfing and boogie boarding); day and night tennis and mini-golf; use of a kids' club (ages 4-12); outdoor swimming pools, lounges and towels; use of fitness room, and more.
Add-on flights from other gateways include New York from $49, Chicago from $79, Los Angeles from $69, and other cities. You can stay longer with extensions with a six-night package from only $209 per person, for seven nights $276. Contact the sponsors through eLeisure Link at www.eleisurelink.com or by phoning 888/801-8808.
Surfing Camp & More
Tico Travel, which specializes in travel to Costa Rica, has some summer and fall specials. The one I liked the sound of is the Witches Rock Surf Camp for beginners to advanced surfers. Created "by surfers for surfers," this camp is held in Tamarindo Guanacaste, costing from $895 per person, land-only, from now through December 15, 2004. That's the price per person in a double, but it's only $750 per person in a triple.
For variety, I also like their eight-day/seven-night package with a four-wheel drive vehicle for the week. It includes seven nights in a tropical suite at the Best Western Tamarindo Vista Villas. The cost is $696 per person in a double, only $464 in a triple, all prices land-only. The deal runs from August 16 through November 22, 2004.
Tico also has special packages involving volcanoes and the beach, bird watching, fishing or mountain biking. Contact them at www.ticotravel.com or phone 800/493-8426. The firm also owns www.centralamerica.com.
Note that none of the air-inclusive packages above include the costs of airport taxes and security fees.
