3 comments about Fodor's Costa Rica 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. Great book for prepping a trip to Costa Rica, and great to have along for a first timer! I took one from our library for our first trip to CR, and it was invaluable....will be going back, and have our own to take along now



2. I always make a point of getting the latest Fodor's Guide when traveling.
   This one did NOT disappoint.
   I would recommend this as well as other guides published by Fodor's.



3. This is not a bad book, but I was not overly impressed with it. I may be spoiled by always buying a "Rick Steve's" book, because they are easy to follow and MUCH more in depth. This one had only brief descriptions of everything in it, and I found the organization of the book left much to be desired. I think next time I will try a Frommer's book if a Rick Steve's volume is not available.

5 comments about Costa Rica (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. This Eyewitness Guide is devoted to Costa Rica and is a pretty typical entry in the series. It opens with a discussion of the history and culture of the country as well as an overview of some of its more prominent characteristics such as beaches, weather, and wildlife. Next, there are a number of sections detailing geographic regions such as San Jose, Central Highlands, Central Pacific, Guanacaste & Northern Nicoya, the Northern Zone, the Caribbean, and the Southern Zone. Each area gets 13 pages or so of descriptions and photographs. Listings for hotels, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and outdoor activities are presented in the back of the book rather than with the geographic region they pertain to. Finally, there is a section discussing practical information of various kinds for travelers.
   
   The great thing about this Eyewitness Guide to Costa Rica is that it offers over 650 photographs to help bring a gorgeous country to life. Rather than picking which places you most want to visit based on imagining them from descriptions, you can see them for yourself here. The problem with this guide is that its 288 pages are dominated by those photographs rather than detailed descriptions of hotels, restaurants, activities, etc. It simply isn't possible to put comprehensive detail into a few hundred pages when you already have more than 2 photos on average for each and every page.
   
   I would recommend buying this guide, but I would also recommend purchasing the Frommer's Costa Rica 2008 (Frommer's Complete) to help plan the details of your trip. This is a great starting point, but you'll definitely want a resource with more information before you're done.



2. I used this guide in conjunction with the Lonely Planet guide. The Eyewitness Guide shows the reader a great deal more. While Lonely Planet provides a lot more detail, but this one doesn't leave it to your imagination since they have lots and lots of pictures. Also, this one is smaller and easier to carry.



3. Purchased several different guides & found this one to be more complete. Many visuals as well as coverage of most all areas of the country.



4. I am a college student studying abroad in Costa Rica for the semester. So far, I've been pretty disappointed with the Eyewitness travel guide. Other students and I travel to different parts of CR about every other weekend, but this guide is painfully lacking in writing on the logistics of traveling. (I.e. bus services to use, hostel recommendations, hostel contact information, etc.) The small traveler's needs section that is present is very general and the few hotels that are offered are geared toward a traveler with money to spare. I also found that, despite having many beautiful pictures, there aren't many details about places of interest or special events in CR.
   
   If you're a college student, or a traveler on a budget who needs information about places to stay, I would go for Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide to Costa Rica (A few of my friends here have lonely planet and that's the guidebook we use most to plan our trips; I rented the Rough guide from the library before my trip and thought it was pretty helpful.)



5. This was a good guide book to have on our recent trip to Costa Rica. We were part of an organized tour group so we didn't need a book to tell us where were the best places to go, although this book accurately provides you with that you. It isn't the best guide to tell you exactly where to eat or stay, so you might want to purchase another guide for those details. They do provide a section on restaurants and hotels but it is not as comprehensive as other guides I considered.
   We used it to gain further information about the areas we were visiting. The pictures are beautiful. The information is useful, accurate, nicely arranged and easy to navigate. It not only guides you through the different regions of this beautiful country, but it gives you some history, cultural information, and practical information about visiting the country.
   We were very glad to have it with us.

5 comments about Moon Living Abroad in Costa Rica (Living Abroad).

1. Bring the whole family
   
   Some people dream of escaping to a tropical paradise, leaving everything--including their family--behind. My dream is different. I want to bring everyone in my extended clan, including school-age kids, in-laws and parents. Well not all of them, perhaps. But when I read about life in Costa Rica, I want to know how it will be for ALL of us.
   
   This book met and then exceeded my expectations. There is up-to-date and detailed information about the Costa Rican school system--and how it compares to the U.S. and European systems. There are detailed descriptions of dozens of schools in the country, and even an insiders' take on which are the top institutions.
   
   At the other end of the spectrum I learn about how to get your social security payments in Costa Rica, what state nursing homes are like, and that in-home care by licensed professionals will run me a fraction of what it would in the U.S.
   
   And for myself, I learn about health care, job possibilities, starting a business, and buying real estate. Not to mention the fascinating case studies of people like (or unlike) me who've made the move. These insights into the lives of others who have made the move is perhaps one of the book's strongest points.
   
   This is a detailed, well-written, and supremely useful book if you are seriously considering moving to Costa Rica. Best of all, the author tells you both the high and the low points of life in a beautiful country that has made many of the right choices but is still struggling with how to handle recent changes, like the influx of foreigners and the rise in crime. By the way, from what I can glean from a variety of web sites and books, crime in Costa Rica, although on the rise, is still negligible if you compare it to crime rates in most U.S. cities.
   
   Makes me want to start packing up my stuff. Highly recommended.



2. Great current book. Thoughtful information about all your needs when you live in Costa Rica and how to leave the USA



3. The author has done a nice job on this book. It is well very well written and seemingly well-researched. The only thing that bothers me is that the author does NOT live in Costa Rica and ONLY comes here to update her guide. I wonder how much she really knows about the country because she spends so little time here.



4. This wonderful, practical and well written book helped me move to Costa Rica several years ago. It covered just about everything I needed to know to make a successful transition to a new culture and society, and all the details that go with it.
   
   It is well organized and has many useful tips, examples, and lists of contacts. It is realistic and down to earth.
   
   I heartily recommend this book for anyone thinking of moving to Costa Rica.
   
   I love Costa Rica, but know that it isn't for everyone. It is a very different culture, with it's own unique way of doing things. Be sure to rent a place and live in the country for at least a year before you buy.
   
   Learning Spanish is vital. Contrary to common myth, most Costa Ricans don't speak English, and learning Spanish is not only good manners for a resident, it is also the key that will unlock the beauty and joy of the culture.
   
   Pura Vida!



5. Over the past two decades, growing numbers of Americans have migrated to Costa Rica and made homes and lives for themselves that are comfortable, adventurous, memorable, and eminently satisfying. Erin Van Rheenen was one of those who left her life in the United States behind and settled in Costa Rica. She draws upon her own experience and expertise to author this newly updated and expanded second edition of "Living Abroad In Costa Rica", a travel guide and instructional manual for American's considering moving to this Caribbean nation. Included in this thoroughly 'user friendly' manual is a wealth of practical information on setting up your daily life including the issues of visas, finances, employment, education, and health care. Informed and informative, "Living Abroad In Costa Rica" also addresses how to rent or buy a home that fits diverse needs and a range of budgets, the best places to live, as well as learning the language and understanding the culture. "Living Abroad In Costa Rica" is an essential and enthusiastically recommended instructional guide for anyone considering establishing themselves in Costa Rica whether in the form of a vacation home or a permanent residence.

5 comments about Costa Rican Wildlife: An Introduction to Familiar Species (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press).

1. I'm back from Costa Rica and I can say this booklet is a good resumé of what you can see in that wonderful country. On 152 differents species shown on the booklet we saw 16 of them. I will bring it with me on my next trip in hope to see more.



2. My girls used this guide constantly on our trip to Costa Rica. Every time we saw a new animal, they had to check it off on their guide. The guide was particularly useful when visiting Cano Negro in the North and Manuel Antonio park in the South. I even saw some of the guides in Manuel Antonio using this same booklet. It is a small fold out made of indestructible plastic. We ended up seeing most of the animals shown.



3. This fold-out pamphlet offers tiny pictures, scant details and more birds than anything else. It also emphasizes what tourists want to see (including very rare species) at the expense of what they are likely to see, so calling it a guide to "familiar species" is rather optimistic. This publication is not really very useful. Better to have separate guides: one for birds (there's one available in this same series, but I'd recommend a proper field guide to Costa Rica's 900+ species of birds) and one or more higher-quality, expanded guides covering other wildlife (mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects).



4. As a biologist I found this pamphlet good but very basic and limited.
   
   I would recommend it for children as it is durable, easily handled and does cover some of the more common species in Costa Rica.
   
   If you really want to identify more species in Costa Rica than I suggest that you try another source.



5. The guide is intended to be a quick reference guide to some of the more common and most interesting creatures of Costa Rica, as indicated on the back summary above the UPC symbol. This waterproof pamplet accomplishes this goal just fine. Pamphlet is VERY sturdy (no worries in ALL weather) and pictures 1 inch square. Captions list Latin name, size in inches and centimeters and, for some, a short phrase describing an interesting feature. Opens to be 8 1/4 inches by 24 inches, double-sided.
   
   I can only think of a couple minor things it doesn't list but should:
   1. Region where animal is found
   2. Indicator to mark rare species (so you won't expect to see them)

5 comments about The Hedonist: World Travel Guide.

1. 
   I searched Amazon forever for a singles vacation guide and finally found this little nugget.
   
   The only Bachelor's travel guide you'll need. Take Conde Naste, Lonely Planet, and add women, sports, and testosterone and you've got the Hedonist. These are all party cities, mostly tropic locations, with great fishing and golf at each. Complete travel advice on each city; customs, visas, sports companies to use, taxis, hotels, and the underground clubs to visit. For daytime activity, you'll find all the tourist stuff as well. Short, sweet and to the point. I've taken two trips and the advice was spot on, plus this book is witty and interesting; a hoot to read. All original, there's nothing copied here. This is the only book of it's kind. Highly recommended.



2. I bought this on referral, and would recommend it to anyone. My friends and I were trying to decide between Costa Rica and Cabo, and the book was spot on accurate for both locations. (we couldn't decide, so we went to both!) If you have the money, Cabo is pricey, but the golf and fishing are fantastic. They have a million dollar marlin tournament in October, and the book even recommends the best boats to charter if you want to enter.
   
   For a vacation, The Hedonist is very accurate, funny, and gets right to the point for what guys want; helps you find and choose the fishing, golf courses, nightclubs, girly clubs, hotels, local touristy stuff, you name it. Prices and locations for each.
   
   You'll get a big kick reading about the wild, fascinating stuff that goes on in some of the lesser know cities. We haven't decided on the next spot, but it sounds like they are all worth visiting some day. Great book.



3. This book was referred to me by a frequent overseas travel buddy of mine. What can I say, it's been a life changer. I now take vacations every 6 weeks out of the country. This is a point and click travel guide for sports, fun in the sun, and women by the dozens...it gives perfect advice for any bachelor looking to kick start his life on some spectacular vacations in paradises around the globe. Living in Miami, I can pop out Friday at noon and return on red-eye Sunday night flights and live an alternative life that no one knows anything about. I've had so much fun, and so many life-changing experiences with beautiful, fun loving women overseas, I've ceased dating in the US. American women used to offend me. Now they're comic relief. I suppose it's just the nature of the beast. For some men, after a couple dozen beers, a pig can be mildly appealing when the light hits their snout just right. They're just not for me.
   
   This book really opened my eyes to a better life, better sports activities, beautiful scenery, and vivacious, sexy women without an entitlement complex and attitude problems. I could go on, and on, but if you're not happy with your sex life, and tired of being treated like a third class citizen by bitter, beefy women, pick up the Hedonist and you will never look back.



4. I saved plenty of money using this guide, and after two vacations can say it's quite accurate, and helps you find the best party spots without jacking around. If you're single, this book is what you want. It's a first hand insider's scoop that you won't find the inside scoop in any other book; what to do, places to avoid, etc.
   
   I checked Lonely Planet and Fodor's at the bookstore and it was very generic and geared towards families. The Hedonist is great for sports nut like me, and obviously great for meeting local women. Definitely saved me tons of time so I could cut to chase as soon as landing. It's big fun reading about all the other cities; some places I'd never heard of but sound like they need further research. Highly recommended.



5. I was soo surprised on how accurate this book really was, It was almost like Brett had just left Rio the week before I got there. I just returned from Carnaval 2008 and I had the time of my life! This city is a true male twenty-somethings bachelor's paradise. One of my male friends that travels the world put me on to this book while I was there, and it officially became a checklist. Truly unbelieveable how accurate and precise this book is, and is highly recommended to anyone who wants to be in this "secret society". Just follow the rules to this book, or add them to your current agenda, and you too could have the time of your life in one of these many great cities, just like I did in Rio. I'm buying the book for future destinations, and I've also purchased his other book "The Professional Bachelor", which are now known to me as the The "Red" book, and the "Black" book. Both are must haves and I hope Brett keeps all these goodies coming in the future!

5 comments about Waterproof Travel Map of Costa Rica.

1. map is very good, has all of the roads necessary, unfortunately none of the roads are named but it really doesn't matter because when you get to country, there are no signs!



2. This map was great for our trip to Costa Rica. We rented a car and drove from San Jose to Monteverde. Once in Monteverde, it was very useful because it showed every possible landmark (hotels, restaurants, etc.), which is useful because it was not obvious how to find for example the Santa Elena Rainforest without this map.



3. This map was an excellent resource to us as we traveled around Costa Rica. Even the curves in the road are near perfect. Very useful.



4. It's hard to say how good the map is until I actually go to Costa Rica. It looks very detailed and the waterproof material is really nice. I had expected it to be thicker and harder to fold. Overall it looks like it's going to be a good one.



5. Very nice and user-friendly map of Costa Rica. Complete data on cities and villages of the country, and detailed scheme of the bigger cities on the back.

5 comments about Guide to Costa Rican Spanish.

1. I was fluent in Spanish before moving to Costa Rica, but without constant conversations with ticos, it was impossible to become fluent in Costa Rican slang & phrases. So I bought the Guide to Costa Rican Spanish and in my excitement, studied the entire book and internalized as many phrases as I could. When I arrived, I was surprised at how many CR-only phrases I actually understood! Who knew that "a chile" is the same as "en serio" or that "brete" is as commonly used as "trabajo"?? I did, thanks to this great phrase book.
   
   Looking through the local stores, there are several books that claim to be Costa Rican Spanish guides. They're not. They are quick reviews & reminders of Central American/South American (instead of Spanish from Spain) dialects and will help you no more than the average guidebook. This phrase book is different.
   
   A caveat: some of the phrases are outdated an no longer used (according to my friends), so I would recommend this more as a passive language learning tool -- wait until you hear one of these phrases instead of using them first. I got quite a few laughs when I used certain of these words, and while it was all in good fun, it can be a little embarrassing!



2. Easy to use and usefully organized. Words and phrases you would really use in travel and in every day living. Loads of interesting Spanish that you will only find in Costa Rica. The book's size and sturdiness is also convenient for carrying around.



3. When I came to Costa Rica I quickly discovered the vast majority of Costa Ricans DIDN'T speak English. Since I only had a limited Spanish vocabulary, I had a lot of problems in daily situations. Then I bought this handy little book and it virtually helped me survive the first couple of years. I still refer to it now and then for important phrases.



4. I spoke Spanish before coming to Costa Rica, but found the people in San Jose spoke with more slang and pachuco. Chris Howard's book helped me to communicate better and with more credibility. When I moved to the coast, the dialect was even more different. People considered me snobby when I spoke like I did originally. His information was even applicable in the countryside. I give this book as a gift to new clients and friends visiting Costa Rica.



5. I bought this for a couple I was tutoring (Spanish lessons) because they are moving to CR. I found it helpful and even though I already speak Spanish, I had no idea how differently the Ticos do it!

5 comments about Moon Costa Rica (Moon Handbooks).

1. I usually purchase Lonely Planet guides, but the LP Costa Rica was too old. Moon was more recently published and I'm very glad that I was able to try out a different series. I was very impressed with Moon Costa Rica and the Moon series will definitely be one that I check first when looking for a guidebook in the future.
   
   The book has a similar tone to LP as it is written by a Brit, but one with a tremendous amount of knowledge of Costa Rica as well as Latin America. The layout was logical and easy to navigate.
   
   Of all the Costa Rica guidebooks on the shelf this one had the most, and most detailed maps. In small towns where there are no road signs and "intestinal" roads that make getting turned around and confused very easy these detailed and zoomed-in maps came in very, very handy.
   
   Of all the guidebooks it also devoted the most amount of pages to the areas where we were visiting (the Pacific beaches/Nicoya peninsula and the Arenal volcano area).
   
   I liked this guidebook especially because it gave me the feeling that nothing was left out. For instance, while driving by the tiniest town I noticed that it would be mentioned in the guidebook even if very little was written about it.



2. Although originally from the US, I've lived in Costa Rica for many years. This is the guidebook I use personally and the one I recommend to friends. Not only is it very complete and up to date, but it's also well-written and enjoyable to read.



3. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, as I photographed the cover art. Having lived in Costa Rica and traveled there many times, I was interested in the content and immediately set about looking through the book. I found many of my favorite hotels described exactly as they are, in such glowing detail that I find myself wanting to go back. The writing is engaging and it's clear the author knows the country inside and out, often inserting blurbs on future projects where relevant. It's also well illustrated with b&w photos throughout. This is THE guidebook on Costa Rica!
   
   Also recommended: Moon Guatemala (Moon Handbooks)



4. Extremely happy with this guide book. It is very well organized and seems complete. The authors will tell you their favorite places as well as ones to avoid. Has phone numbers and websites (if available) for most of the hotels. Quite a few pictures included. Totally worth the money.



5. As a loyal Lonely Planet reader, I thought Moon would be as good or better, considering the reviews for the two. This book is written for the author's ideals only - anyone who is really into sportfishing and seeing exclusively expats while traveling. It does a poor job of listing the more budget-minded lodging and restaurants, and has little to no mention of info that would suit someone with cultural interest. All restaurants and lodging are "to avoid the Ticos, book here" or "try expat Chuck and Susan's pace, here". It would help someone book an entire trip to see other travelers traveling, and to go fishing. Disappointed, I went to the bookstore and paged through LP's older, more concise guide book, and was thrilled to see better descriptions, more color pictures, and more cultural insight. Moon's book also packs an extra 100 pages of Costa Rican history - something that is nice, but not necessary to take with me in a backpack trekking around the country.
   Lastly, the author has an absurd overuse with superlatives! "This beach is the best in the country" and "the wildlife in this park is unmatched" - these are good descriptions, but when applied to every park and every beach, given that there are dozens, it makes it difficult for the traveler to make an informed decision to organize their best trip to Costa Rica.
   Overall I was disappointed and will be buying a different guide book to take with me.

5 comments about Frommer's Costa Rica 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. Frommer's is generally known for producing guides that are up-to-date and reasonably comprehensive. For the most part, this one is no exception to that trend. The book follows their standard format for Frommer's with "Best of" lists detailing some of the top attractions followed by general information and suggested itineraries. After that, we get into more detail for each region of the country beginning with San Jose and working through each area of the country in turn.
   
   I was primarily interested in information regarding the natural attractions that Costa Rica has to offer and I found exactly what I was looking for. There are numerous descriptions of the beaches, rain forests, volcanoes, and hiking opportunities. The hotels listed tend to lean toward the more expensive options but that may be due partly to the cheaper ones not meeting the minimum acceptable standards that Frommer's sets. It's also fairly obvious that a guide for even a small country like Costa Rica can't possibly cover every single hotel and restaurant.
   
   Overall, the book is helpful for trip planning and I would recommend it to anyone interested in a visit to Costa Rica.



2. I went to the bookstore and looked at Fodor's, Lonely Planet, etc and ended up buying this one. This is the most recent up to date version, but not as detailed or as well written as the LP version. Better than Fodors in my opinion. I used Fodors on my last trip to CR. Will use Frommer's this time.
   When travelling, I'd rather have up-to-date more so than better details.... but if you've got money, always buy two guides. The best trips come from a collaboration of opinions and perspectives.



3. I went to Costa Rica in 2001 for five weeks and took an older version of this guide (that was co-written by the same author as the current one). I found this invaluable and constantly referenced it for both daytime activities and accommodations. It is very well-written for the active traveler and I highly recommend it.
   
   I did not give it 5 stars as there were a few omissions that I was surprised to find. For example, the vans that tourists can take between the main tourist cities that are a LOT more convenient and safer than the buses.



4. Although the information in this book is accurate, I ended up replacing this book with Lonely Planet's Costa Rica book. I do not recommend Frommer's book for backpackers who are trying to paying under $40 per night for lodging, who rely on maps for walking from a bus station to their lodging. This Frommer's book lacked a map for La Fortuna and non-touristy towns. It had very little information on inexpensive hostels. Also, unbelievably, there was no information on border crossings to Panama or Nicaragua; if this information was in the book (and I doubt that it was), it was difficult to find from the index.



5. We brought two guides with us to Costa Rica -- this one and Explore Costa Rica (Fifth Edition) by Harry S. Pariser. We found this to be a useful guide. It had plenty of information on basics. However, it lacked the detail found in Explore Costa Rica which has many places and much information not found in other guidebooks we looked at. We really enjoyed the author's sense of humor, as well as the extensive background information provided. For example, we learned a great deal about the rainforest and other ecosystems, history, culture, and economy. We also were able to find some great local restaurants as well as several ecolodges that we did not find elsewhere. The book contains thousands of website URLs and e-mails and this was a tremendous help in planning our trip, as was the additional tips and online update found on the publisher's website. The color photos are great also! If you are interested in getting off of the tourist track, then Explore Costa Rica is a better guide to bring along.Explore Costa Rica, 5th Edition (Explore Costa Rica)

5 comments about Costa Rica (Country Guide).

1. The Lonely Planet Costa Rica has a lot of great information on visiting Costa Rica along with history of the country. The only problem with this book is that the print is so small that sometimes I have to get out a magnifying glass to read the print without straining my eyes. I do wear corrective lenses and normally I do not have any trouble reading the type in books. I wish they Lonely Planet books would increase the print size. I may not buy another one of their books based on the small print that are currently in the books.



2. I'm an LP loyalist for all my travels, but of all the countries I've visited before, this LP guide seems to have the least accurate information. I only traveled to a small section of CR, flying into Liberia and staying in Playa Grande. Even in that narrow scope, I found listed restaurants that no longer existed and hotel descriptions that were quite off the mark. For example, I chose Hotel El Punto in Liberia as a staging place before flying out on my final night based on this description:
   
   s/d/tr/q US$21/41/48/53 This converted elementary school is now one of the chicest hotels in Liberia, though it would definitely feel more at home in NYC than humble Guanacaste. Rooms here are ultramodern loft apartments with private showers, small kitchens, Japanese minimalist accents and plenty of MOMA worthy art. This spot is recommended as the rooms are severely underpriced.
   
   The decor is more IKEA than Japanese or MOMA, but the room is decent and one of the nicer places in town. It cost $90 per night for 2 people, however. In Liberia, that is far from "severely underpriced" and more than double what was noted in LP. The staff said that they have been trying to tell LP for a long time that the prices are incorrect, as it doesn't suit them to have travelers becoming immediately disappointed upon their arrival.
   
   LP was right in recommending Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande, however. The value for what you get is incredible - right on the beach, great food, great staff, great price.
   
   I did notice the negative tone that other reviewers mentioned, but being a person that typically wants to avoid tourist traps and exploitation of land or locals, it did not bother me that much.



3. If you want to enjoy traveling to Costa Rica I would recommend another book. If you want to spend your time lamenting about how Costa Rica has changed, how Americans are annoying, and be afraid to take your valuables out of your hotel safe than I recommend you check this book out. I would often read passages out loud to different people I was traveling with. You would think that Jaco is similar to Jersey but with more crack and lots of prostitutes from reading this book. In fact, when I went it was mostly families, a little sketch, but man get a grip. I read the chapter on San Jose and was to afraid to take my camera to the central market and downtown. What a regret! The people everywhere in Costa Rica were so nice. Downtown was crawling with tourists with their cameras and police. It wasn't even remotely sketchy. We could only get reservations in Tamarindo for Christmas day and I was terrified that it was going to be like Myrtle Beach on Spring Break. Yes there were lots of condos but it was still Costa Rica! Dirt Roads. you could walk from one end of town to the other in less then 10 minutes, everyone was nice, the beach was pretty. I just couldn't understand why the authors seemed to hate travel so much and be so hateful towards places where we were going.
   
   Also, the book didn't give a lot of key information about how to get around without a car. We wasted so much time in La Fortuna trying to figure out how to get to the different places we wanted to go. It turns out there isn't a bus, there are only guided tours. They are all expensive. We finally hitchhiked which worked out well but I never go to go on the hanging bridges. I loved Cahuita (it wasn't dangerous) and Dominical. I loved Costa Rica. I am ready to go back.
   
   I just wanted to warn people to stay away from this book. I love guidebooks. I am the kind of psycho that gets them from the library and reads through them even when I am not going anywhere. This one was the worst.



4. The detailed city maps are not very good, outdated with businesses that have gone away, etc. Moon guide books have way better maps than Lonely Planet. The hotel reviews I thought were way off base, and don't include some major hotels. All in all, let me just say this: Lonely Planet isn't the Bible. Check out other guide books and go with any of the major ones. If you buy Lonely Planet, also buy a map, because their city maps are wrong!



5. I generally find Lonely Planet Guides quite helpful. This volume, sadly, was written by a couple of Ugly American Backpackers.
   
   Their coverage of San Jose was positively absurd. The author's overstate crime dangers by a comical margin, and come off sounding like the snide "Ugly American" of bygone decades, looking down their noses at the sad, dirty third world. They also fail to comprehend the obvious: if you want to see what life is like for Costa Rica's citizens, you might want to spend some time in the city where most of them actually live.
   
   If nothing else, Lonely Planet would do well to hire a third author that isn't allergic to cities; especially third world cities.
   
   The editors might also simply practice the lost art of editing. Much good information is lost here, in a sea of snide.