Things Travelers Need to Know About Costa Rica

Costa Rica is an absolutely tremendous travel destination for travelers to Central America. If you are going, there are some basic things you need to know about the country.

Costa Rica is one of the better off countries in Central America from an economic point of view. Earnings are about double of the countries around it. As a result, the people are friendly and issues such as crime are no more significant than in most people. Costa Rica is also unique in that it has no standing military force.

Costa Rica is a predominantly Roman Catholic country, a trend you find through most of Central America. The country also invests heavily in education with literacy rates in the high 90s. The country is a democracy with elections being held every four years. Spanish is the dominant language, but English, Italian and German are spoken, particularly in tourist areas.

For population purposes, Costa Rica is somewhat of a hidden country. The vast majority of people live in the internal area of the country around the largest city of San Jose. These people tend to be “hidden” from travelers because most of them head to the coasts to enjoy the beaches and beautiful weather.

Costa Rica is a diverse country when it comes to geography. The south is immersed in deep rain forests while the far north tends to be more arid. The Midwestern part of the country is very mountainous with stunning views, particularly as you head towards the coast line. A line of volcanoes run north to south more or less through the center of the country.

From a client standpoint, the country is complex. The wet season on the Pacific coast tends to run from May to November. In October, it pretty much pours each and every day. On the east coast, however, the wettest months tend to run from November through January. The rest of the country has similar variations. If you are going to travel to Costa Rica, it is important that you find out what the weather will be like in the particular areas you want to visit.

All and all, Costa Rica should be at the top of your list of places to visit. It is a beautiful country with very friendly people.

Family Vacation Fun-A Walt Disney World Dream Come True Family Outing

We work hard to be able to support ourselves and/or loved ones. We want to have or provide a living environment that is comfortable and attractive. We need to have a means of transporting ourselves from A to B. And we must make certain our bodies are fueled with proper nutrition.

AND we also work hard so that we can have………………..FUN!!!!!! What types of considerations should come into play when deciding how to plan a vacation as a family?

• Should the focus be on fun activities for the kids or the adults or both?
• What should vacation center itself around: fun, education/learning, both?
• Will the weather and time of year for travel make the experience a more positive one?

Being a frequent traveler to Walk Disney World myself, I can tell you that you can satisfy ALL of the above at one resort complex: Walt Disney World!! A trip to Orlando will make everyone’s vacation a “Dream Come True”!

Walt Disney World provides activities for adults and children alike. From the Magic Kingdom to MGM Studios, to Epcot, to the Animal Kingdom, the rides and attractions are fun for all ages! Consider making the trip a multi-generational vacation by including grandparents!

WDW Resorts have many amenities to enjoy right at your motel, including swimming pools, game centers, restaurants, shopping, and more!

Fun educational/learning opportunities are readily available as you explore various countries at the World Showcase in Epcot. All Parks provide educational attractions “disguised” as fun!!!

Once you are in Orlando, the fun doesn’t have to be confined to WDW as there are nearby beaches, golf courses, Universal Studios, and Cape Canaveral to name a few!

When We Crash-Do My Clothes Fall Off

This newsletter I thought we might look at some of the questions our fear of flying customers ask. Also, we would like to demonstrate how skilled our customers are at imagining disaster!

As always, none of our newsletters are poking fun at you. One of the founders of this programme used to have a fear of flying so we know what we are talking about…

One particular skill we have noticed that people with a fear of flying are able to do is to imagine their death in intricate detail.

People on our fear of flying courses ask us things like the following:

When we crash, how quickly do we die?

Or

When we crash, do our clothes come off?

I am not poking fun at people with fear of flying phobias.

It might be worth examining these questions just for one moment. One of the key statements we tend to emphasize is that, you get more of what you pay attention to.

First of all, the question starts ‘WHEN we crash…’

Using this language is like telling your brain it is a forgone conclusion. Changing it to IF is slightly hearlthier albeit it is still very very unlikely.

Then, ‘How QUICKLY do we DIE?’

This is now telling our brain that not only do we die but it may not be quick – it could be slow.

The answer to this predicament is nothing to do with the answer. It is to do with the question.

I am not picking fault with you good people.

We are training our brains to become very good at visualising death. People without a fear of flying would never allow themselves the luxury of even asking that question. Why would you?

If it is okay to ask that sort of question of ourselves and to tie ourselves up in knots, then we must bring it into other parts of our lives.

For instance. How quickly will I die when I am hit by a bus on the way to work?

How quickly will I die when I crash driving my car today?

Most people don’t ask these questions and as you read this you may be saying, ‘Of course we don’t – that is ridiculous.’

So why does flying get such special attention. The worst thing that happens to people who fly a lot is boredom.

I believe that flying gets a bad rap because it is new. As our Captains say on our courses, humans have only been flying for about 40 years really. Humans are not really designed for flying like birds are. It feels uncomfortable to us as we are not used to weird 3D movement. Our stomachs can lurch. Our ears can feel all blocked up.

Humans feel odd in aircraft. There you go I have said it. It is probably not natural to us with our old fashioned balance organs in our ears. Just because it is uncomfortable it does not mean it is dangerous. Far from it.

Commercial Airlines are so regulated and safe it is staggering.

Everyone that travels in an aircraft, including the pilots, feels the weird sensations of flight.

The difference between the fearful and the fearless is the interpretation we make of the weird feelings.

The fearful and phobic feel every move of the aircraft and accentuate them. The fearless feel every move of the aircraft and ignore them.

It all comes back to the saying, ‘You get what you pay attention to.’

If we dare to allow ourselves imagine dying and our clothes flying off, we can scare the life out of ourselves. If we practice really hard, we could get really good at it.

It does take practice but if you persevere, you can get yourself to a level of fear whereby just mentioning Aircraft can make us come out in a cold sweat. Quite a gift really. Well it would be if we used this particular talent like athletes do.

Picture the scene. 10 atheletes line up ready to run the 100 metres. As they look at each other before the event, they visualise the other guy winning. They look at how big his muscles are realise that they probably aren’t going to do it today. Today is not THEIR day.

They would never entertain such thoughts. They are no different to us. They know that this sophisticated piece of equipment called the brain is so sensitive to every passing thought that they control it.

They might say STOP to themselves if they think of anything negative. They then replace it with images of winning of getting there first safely.

If you don’t believe me, practice the following guaranteed technique when you are going for your next interview.

Before you go in, say out loud or even just in your head the following mantras:

I don’t deserve this job. The other person is much better suited to it than me. I look really tired and worn out today. It probably won’t go right today.

Well I think you get the point.

We, at the flying without fear course, are not in the happy clappy skip off into the sunset positive thinking school of thought. We are much more pragmatic than that. You really cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought because you just get more of what you pay attention to.

Hope that none of this has offended and only helped as that is always our intention. We know that the people that come on our courses are intelligent normal human beings that are just not able to live their lives fully due to this fear.

Cabo Roig – Gem of the Orihuela Costa

Located on the Southern Costa Blanca coastline is the popular and delightful seaside resort of Cabo Roig. Well loved for its superb sandy “blue flag” beaches, its stunning views of the sparkling blue Mediterranean sea, its picturesque cliff walks and its busy nightlife, Cabo Roig has plenty to offer the discerning holidaymaker. Generally quiet during the winter months, Cabo Roig comes to life around May time and is often busy right through to November. Cabo Roig attracts holidaymakers from all over the world but primarily English, Irish and Spanish (particularly those from the city of Murcia who love this stretch of the coast). The busiest months are July and August, the quietest January and February.

Cabo Roig is well known for its amazing detached villas. On the beach-side of the busy N332 coastal road there are a large number of detached villas with beautifully landscaped gardens, many with their own private swimming pools. Some of the finest villas are those along the spectacular cliff walk to La Zenia, they all have fabulous views across to the resort of La Manga. Whilst enjoying this walk, you will really have the feel for “how the other half live” and it is fun to dream about perhaps one day owning one of these “millionaires” villas, but for most it remains just that – a dream. The prominent 16th century watchtower around which Cabo Roig grew is now incorporated in the famous restaurant which overlooks the fine marina.

One of the main attractions of Cabo Roig is its wonderful sandy beaches. Most of the beaches along this stretch of the Costa Blanca coastline are very clean and most have “blue flag” status, Cabo Roig is no exception and its 2 main beaches (Cala Capitan and Cala Caleta) are clean and safe for children. Also within easy walking distance are the beaches at La Zenia, Playa Flamenca and Campoamor.

One of the most popular things to do whilst in Cabo Roig is to take a stroll along the picturesque cliff walk to La Zenia. This walk provides some wonderful views of the Mediterranean and the surrounding coastline, with the exclusive resort of La Manga laying invitingly in the distance. Construction work is currently being done on some stretches of the coastal path, currently at La Zenia and Playa Flamenca and the planned promenade and coastal path should eventually run from Torrevieja all the way to Campoamor, it will then surely be one of the best walks along the Costa Blanca coastline.

Cabo Roig has a wonderful climate and the sun shines on over three hundred days per year, the mean temperature being about 20 degrees C. You can usually expect to see little rainfall between May and October and the days are generally long and sunny. When rain does fall it is usually during the winter months, November and February being the most common months for rain. December and January are usually sunny and pleasant but with cold nights.

Cabo Roig has a fine variety of shops, restaurants and bars, mostly centred around the well known Cabo Roig “strip” where there is plenty of choice for all ages and tastes. There are some fine restaurants for the discerning eater and also plenty of pub grub, fast food and takeaway establishments.

For those who get bored with just sitting in the sun there are lots of other activities to enjoy in and around Cabo Roig. The Saturday market at Playa Flamenca is always popular with the ladies and if they can’t find any bargains here then a trip to the massive Friday market in Torrevieja may be just what is needed. Torrevieja has lots of other attractions including the Aqua Splash park (Aquopolis), the wonderful promenade with its huge array of restaurants and ice-cream parlours, the craft market (held every day), the fun fair (great for the kids) and the new Habaneras shopping centre.

So this is Cabo Roig “the jewel of the Costa Blanca”, a perfect spot to re-locate, an ideal destination for a family holiday or just a nice place for a short visit.

Very handy for both Murcia (San Javier) and Alicante airports, Cabo Roig is situated on the N-332 coastal road between Pilar de la Horadada and Torrevieja. It can also be easily accessed from the AP-7 motorway, junction 763 (La Zenia) or junction 768 (Dehesa de Campoamor).

Victoria Falls – The Greatest Waterfall On Earth!

BASIC FACTS

The Victoria Falls are on the Zambezi River, at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa. They are one of the Great Natural Wonders Of The World.

A mile across and 400 ft high, they form the largest vertical sheet of water in the world.

They were “discovered” by David Livingstone in 1855 and named for Queen Victoria.

Before that, they were known locally by a more romantic name – Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “Smoke That Thunders”

The falls are part of two national parks, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia and Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe, and they are one of Southern Africa’s major tourist attractions.

They are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

GETTING HERE

Fly from Johannesburg Airport to Victoria Falls Airport (Zimbabwe) or to Livingstone Airport (Zambia).

Both flights take around an hour and a half. Both airports are around a 20 minute drive from Victoria Falls.

Most flights leave Johannesburg early in the morning, so you will need a hotel at Johannesburg Airport for the night before.

If you have the time, and the courage, you can travel overland on a “Safari” from Cape Town. This can be a fabulous way to see Africa, but the quality, safety and price of these trips varies enormously.

WHEN TO VISIT

Victoria Falls enjoys a mild, dry season from June to August. The temperature then rises steadily until the rains start in mid-November. It is then hot, wet and humid until the rainy season ends in late April. If you don’t like heat andhumidity – avoid the rainy season!

It is also extremely hot here just before the rains begin. Late October/early November is known as the “Suicide Season” with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees!

The Falls are at full power during the March and April floods but the immense amount of spray obscures the view and can make you very wet! For a mild, pleasant visit – come between June & September.

VISAS

Visa regulations change in BOTH Zimbabwe and Zambia on an almost daily basis.

Also, Victoria Falls is right on the border, and you will certainly want to see it from both sides. I would advise you to arrange multiple entry visas for both countries before you embark on your journey.

MONEY (ZIMBABWE)

The Zimbabwe dollar is unstable and exchange rates can vary alarmingly from moment to moment.

By far the best currency to use in Zimbabwe is the United States Dollar. Pounds Sterling and Euros can be used, but the exchange rate is poor. Travellers Cheques are a waste of time on the streets – but they can be used to pay for excursions.

Basically, you must have Us Dollars (cash) to change into Zimbabwe Dollars – preferably in smaller notes. South African Rand and Botswana Pula can be exchanged as they are regional hard currencies.

Warning! It is illegal to change money on the streets of Zimbabwe. If you are caught you will be arrested and prosecuted. If somebody on the street offers to exchange dollars with you – walk away! No matter how good their rate is!

At the time of writing this, the government has closed all bureaux de change – so the only place to legally change money is in a bank. The exchange rate in banks is only a fraction of the street (black market) rate, but at least it’s legal!

Ask your tour-guide or hotel manager for the best banks to change money. And don’t change too much at once – The Zimbabwe Dollar is totally worthless outside of Zimbabwe.

You will need cash US Dollars to make all major purchases – including entry to Victoria Falls National park.

Finally – Never use a credit card in Zimbabwe for anything! You will be charged a fortune for this privilege -and could end up paying several times the cash price!

MONEY (ZAMBIA)

Zambia’s unit of currency is the Zambian Kwacha, which is divided into 100 Ngwee. Notes are issued in denominations of K10,000; 5,000; 1,000; 500; 200; 100 and 50. There is no limit on how much currency you can bring into Zambia – but you must declare it when you enter the country.

Most visitors will find the exchange rate is in their favour. US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros attract good rates in banks and bureaux de change. Travellers cheques (US Dollars) are widely accepted.

Entrance to game reserves etc can only be paid in Kwacha.

Most hotels, restaurants, and large shops will take credit cards. Most of the bigger banks will advance local currency against a credit card. Standard Chartered and Barclays Banks have ATMs which accept Visa cards for cash.

Tipping is discouraged in Zambia.A service charge goes on your bill. Haggling over prices in local markets etc is perfectly acceptable.

HEALTH

Take a course of anti-malarial tablets before visiting the Victoria Falls area – just to be on the safe side.

CRIME

Most of the people you meet here will be wonderful. And they are keen to promote this area to tourists – so crime is generally very low. But please don’t tempt fate by flaunting your superior wealth. Leave your Rolex and your diamond-tiara at home – or at least stash them in your hotel. Remember – this is an area of extreme poverty.

You must, must, must visit Victoria Falls! It is an unforgettable experience!

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