Planning your trip to Central America

As with any travel plans, the basic plan itself is the most important part of an enjoyable trip.  Whether it is a family trip, a romantic get away, or an adventurous quest, primary planning is key to an enjoyable vacation.

I like to work backwards.  For those who know me well, that certainly isn't a surprise.  First I look at properties, availability, location and price, all based on the type of trip I am planning.  For travel to Central America, I might initially, in my mind, pick a couple countries, and either beach or mountain locations.  After exhaustive research (see early blog submission) I can usually narrow things down to two or three properties in each of two countries.

Now that I know I can stay comfortably in two countries at a price I am comfortable with, I need to get there.  I next search to find out what airlines fly into each international airport in my destination country.  It seems simple, but not all airlines fly into every Central American airport.  I also set mental priorities for my travel to and from my potential destination.  I want to land before two in the afternoon, and be able to leave on an afternoon flight back to the USA (for instance).  Now I do like a bargain, but reliability and schedule also enter into my choice of airlines.

Let me give you an example:  On our last trip to Costa Rica we booked reasonably priced round trip tickets.  We left STL at 6 A.M>, and were in a rental car headed for our final destination by early afternoon.  Beautiful... Strange roads which were not well marked, heading for a city I have never laid eyes on before.  It all worked.  the roads didn't get any clearer after a week than did my Spanish.  Our return flight was an early morning departure.  Deduct two hours "early at the airport" time and an hour drive (IF you don't make a wrong turn) and we would have had to leave in the wee hours of the morning, drive in the dark, and worry all the way.  Bad choice of return flight on my part.  We returned the rental car a day early and stayed in a hotel near the airport the night before our flight.  It didn't ruin our vacation, it was just a hiccup that we had not thought out completely ahead of time.

Now that you have found out all you need to know about flight schedules and airlines, you should probably have a more definitive handle on your destination.  This is the time to go back to your favorite hotels or rental homes to read every word about them, every review (which you will need to sort out why some might have been very good or very bad), every booking option for best price for the room, suite or home of interest.  When all is said and done your choice is a personal one, but you will be a long way from home and a lot of $$ invested if you make a poor choice.

Given time, I try to directly contact the home owner or hotel chain with a list of questions just to see the kind of replies I get.  I also usually am able to question several reviewers directly by email and see what extra feedback I can get.  Some people are freaked out if they find that they cannot put tissue down the toilet.  Others may have never seen a gecko, and go crazy when they are seen in the house or room.  Those who have done a bit of reading will realize, for instance, that these and other subtle nuances in a foreign country are nothing to be concerned about.  Those who become concerned might very well give a negative review of a beautiful accommodation.

Now you are ready to pull the trigger.  You know what it will cost you to stay in the country of your choice, and the availability of commercial flights to get there.  Remember;  He who hesitates is lost.  Bookings on aircraft as well as bookings for accommodations (especially the better ones and those that might cater to a specific clientele) can fill up fast.  Decide, and most of all, don't look back.  Other properties might look better later, but it is usually best to go with a well researched first choice.

Now that you have secured a room and a flight you can take your time reading about extras.  Read a lot.  You may not need a rental car, you might want to go zip lining and take a tour of a national reserve.  Generally there are more opportunities than you can take advantage of in the course of the normal vacation.  read, confer with fellow travelers, and be flexible when you get to your destination.

Good planning usually results in the best vacation experience possible.  Always remember, you are at the mercy of weather conditions and the wants or needs of those traveling with you.  Leave your Type-A personality at the office and enjoy being in Central America.