5 comments about Lonely Planet Costa Rica.

1. My friend said he has loaned this book to six people, all of whom have returned from Costa Rica, ecstatic and safe. This book is good luck... I said write to the author to tell him, and he said, "No, this is a really popular book, he gets hundreds of emails every week." I thought I'd try anyway.



2. Once again, Lonely Planet delivers a thorough guide for travellers heading into an unknown destination. The book covers popular destinations as well as providing the history of the country and highlighting wildlife that is unique to the region. The book is broken up by region so it is easy to reference as you travel throughout the country. The restaurant guide is so thorough it included a bakery that we saw at a remote village in the jungle only accessible by boat. And the review was right on! I will definitely keep this for my next trip and look to Lonely Planet when venturing somewhere new.



3. Although the overall impression of the book is positive (so the 3 stars...) I could not find ANY hotel still close to the price range listed for them, not to say that some of them are now defunct (restaurants included). But what I found worse were the low-planning content of the proposed routes (I eventually started one of them and had to remodel it on-the-fly for the loss of time it would cause me) and the misguided information on some attractions (take Las Baulas National Park for example: it has NO touristic structure besides the beach itself, being mostly a scientific facility for the preservation of turtles, but is currently being sold - in a unethical way, with thousand of unfulfilled promises - by local guides who in fact make you pay USD28 for just a night on the beach. The books says something about dozens of turtles coming EVERY NIGHT to the beach, which is totally false if not impossible, providing free-but-wrong advertising for those unethical guides and not helping at all the buyer of the book).



4. This is a great book and highly useful if you are travelling throughout Costa Rica. Much of the information is highly accurate and the guides for day trips, etc are practical.



5. I found Paige Penland's version of Lonely Planet's Costa Rica Guide to be better than the more recent version. Her writing is always such a good read - she's the Queen of Travel Writing!

No comments about Spanish All Talk Basic Language Course (4 Hour/4 Cds): Learn to Understand and Speak Spanish with Linguaphone Language Programs (All Talk) (All Talk).

5 comments about Sleeping with the Toucans: 100 Great Places to Stay in Costa Rica.

1. Read this wonderful book before you visit Costa Rica; more importantly, carry it while you're in country. Costa Rica residents and world travelers, Chris and Alison bring a unique and entertaining perspective to the art of getting off the "Hilton circuit" and onto the trail of the "real" Costa Rica. Sleeping with the Toucans offers a trove of crisply written, beautifully photographed options for comfortable accommodations, tasty dining and more. Whether you're seeking a massage, world class birding, boating or beachcombing or butterfly watching, or simply a good night's rest - Sleeping with the Toucans has it all. And if you can't visit Costa Rica, read this book; it's the next best thing to being there!



2. We have traveled to Costa Rica many times since 1993. A guide book like 'Sleeping with the Toucans' is the 'missing link' we could have used while planning our trips. The places in this book are exactly the kinds of places we searched for during our many vacations in Costa Rica. With each visit our love of the people, the land and the culture grew. In 2006 we left our life in the USA, packed our bags and opened Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat. We are featured in this wonderfully descriptive, well researched and up to date guidebook. Chris and Alison have compiled a list of small hotels and inns that anyone traveling to Costa Rica will find invaluable. This book thrown in your back pack as a companion to a guidebook with - what to do- and - where to hike- will assure a memorable and authentic trip to Costa Rica.



3. Its nice to read a guide book by people who have actually been there and write it as they see it - nice comfortable writing about where and what - and a big help in finding the places you want to stay in



4. This is a fabulous book that explores the tiny, eclectic, out of the way lodgings that aren't included in other guide books. The authors provide a snapshot of each place with a substantial description to give you a good idea of what kind of atmosphere each one evokes. Definately a good choice if you're planning that trip to Costa Rica!



5. Sleeping with the Toucans proved to be the perfect companion for our 1 month trip to Costa Rica in February. Travelling with two 6 year old children can be a bit of a challenge - but this book took the guessing out of what to see and where to stay for our family. This is not just a book filled with lodging ideas - as each section begins with very detailed information about the area, towns and sights. I love the descriptions of all the geographical areas and made several changes in our route based on reading such clear and personal descriptions. The lodging sections have great places to stay on any budget - and calls attention to different lodging categories and amentities - honeymoon, get away, kid friendly, wildlife viewing etc... I am so pleased to find this book and hope that travelers following the authors suggestions are as excited as we are to visit beautiful Costa Rica.

1 comments about Culture Shock! Costa Rica: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Guides).

1. great book! easy to read and definitely prepared me to study abroad in costa rica. When there, i felt like i was better prepared for the situations that came up because i'd learned about them from this book. Such as, carry your own toilet paper and how to work the showers! it was great knowing so much about the culture before i lived there!

5 comments about Monkeys Are Made Of Chocolate: Exotic And Unseen Costa Rica.

1. This book is a series of easy-to-digest short stories and essays by a good storyteller. Some are lightweight and merely entertaining, some are likely to change your life. Over 30 years the author, who was born and raised on the midwest plains, gradually turned a typical Central America cattle ranch into a premier eco-resort. By simply being open to what the land and environment were trying to do, some amazing and highly encouraging lessons are taught. The environmental future shown here is lush, varied, and hopeful. This is a bright ray in a field that tends too much toward doom and gloom.



2. All I can say is: read it, you'll love it! (as well as learn more than you probably learn in a year of science class, change the way you think about the world, have a better understanding of what nature really is, be highly entertained, want to gather everyone you know and read them entire chapters [or the whole book!] be recomending this book like crazy...you get the idea)



3. This book gives an excellent overall review of the Pacific rainforest and it's inhabitants in Pacific Costa Rica while encouraging the reader to contemplate preservation of the fragile ecosystems. Very readable. I recommend it to interested travellers to the region.



4. Most books on Costa Rica focus on travel tips, but MONKEYS ARE MADE OF CHOCOLATE: EXOTIC AND UNSEEN COSTA RICA takes a different turn, examine how animals, plants and people interact in that country and providing over thirty essays which come from a conversion of a cattle ranch into a popular eco-tourism destination. Stories and essays provide literally decades of observation of the Costa Rican natural environment and its management. A 'must' for any who plan on seeing the country and who want to know more of its wildlife and habitats.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



5. I have to tell you that this was one of the very best nature books I have read in a long time. It has great stories, it is super-engaging, and it has a wonderful yet not overpowering environmental message.

3 comments about National Geographic Traveler: Costa Rica, 2d Ed. (National Geographic Traveler).

1. I read this book cover to cover before my first trip to Costa Rica and had highlighted a number of places I intended to visit. This book was EXTREMELY helpful in giving an accurate description of geographic regions, landmarks, customs, and general travel information. It made my trip much easier knowing what to expect. In addition, after returning, it was fun to compare the photos in the book to the ones I had taken. The beautiful photos in the book were not just "travel" photos to entice you to visit, but accurate photos of how beautiful and incredible Costa Rica is!



2. This book is very beautiful, the pictures are all in color and amazing. But, if you want to truly use this book as a travel reference while on the road you're going to have a hard time. There is no index in this book...I just can't understand why. I was so frustrated when trying to find information that I bought a far superior Frommer's and I no longer reference the N.G. book. But again, the pictures sure are pretty.



3. I'm traveling to Costa Rica and I'm interested in well-rounded traveling advice; this book had some pretty pictures but fell short of the necessities for planning a trip. It explored cultural, political and economical conditions of Costa Rica but didn't provide the details pertaining to areas of interest, hotels, restaurants or local perspectives - all things I find valuable before and while traveling. For instance, I'm flying into Liberia and need to book a hotel. Chris' book had less than 2 pages ( factual revealing, but not practical) on the city, didn't provide maps, hotel reviews or relevant information for getting down and dirty or just around town. Sorry for the slam brother - stick to the shutter.

5 comments about Christopher Howard's Living & Investing in the New Nicaragua.

1. First off, this is not a guidebook with information about hotels or restaurants, BUT it is a helpful guide for people thinking about living/investing in Nicaragua and who want to learn what to expect as an expat.
   
   Good insider info from Mr. Rogers, who is an American journalist living in Nicaragua writing for an English-language newspaper and the Miami Herald.
   
   The book is funny, too. A recommended read for people who are seriously interested in Nicaragua, and for people who already live there.



2. Having spent a fair amount of time in Nicaragua, and considered living there, I would say that this book contains accurate information and probably helpful perspectives on many things. If you are thinking about living and/or investing in Nicaragua, I would say this would be a must-have. Even one little piece of information or advice could make a big difference. Its a valuable resource.
   
   That said, this is the worst-written book I can remember reading. Ever. It was badly in need of an editor, although the writer, Tim Rogers, claims to be an editor himself. Incorrect spelling and poor word choices and sentence structure abound. If there were any similar books on this topic, I would not recommend this title.
   
   Also, the book is pretty heavily padded with filler. For instance, the verb conjugations used with 'vos' are useful to have. (I've never actually seen the rules written down anywhere before, as most Spanish textbooks don't discuss 'vos', but it is used all the time in Nicaragua.) But do we really need a list of elementary Spanish vocabulary, which anybody who has even a prayer of actually having a conversation in Nicaragua would already know? It could have been left out. And the metric conversion chart? That is basic reference material, hardly necessary in a specialty book like this. Similar examples could be multiplied. The ultimate example of padding is the fact that entire paragraphs are simply duplicated, appearing in two different places in the book.
   
   In spite of its deficiencies, though, this book seems to be accurate and useful for English-speaking/reading people considering moving to or investing in Nicaragua. I didn't come across anything that I knew to be incorrect. It matches up with my experience in the country. I recommend this book for the time being, but somebody could easily write a better book on the subject. And they oughta.



3. You have to love true adventure if you are to come to Nicaragua.
   You will feel alive and connected to "life" so pack the essentials and come!



4. This book contains a lot of good information. The biggest downside is that it reads like little snippets cut and pasted together without the benefit of proof-reading.



5. Howard is nothing more than a vampire, a parasite, feeding off the misery of the second-poorest people in the Western Hemisphere. Reading his commentary of the Nicaraguan people shows his contempt for them. While warning the reader that most Nicaraguans are trying to screw him/her, he encourages the same person to exploit and abuse those very same people. Howard represents much of what is wrong in Nicaragua today.
   
   I have traveled extensively throughout Nicaragua (over 30 times during the past 23 years), spending 1-2 months at a time. I have many, many friends there. I've sadly witnessed the economic and cultural devastation people like Howard have wrought on the suffering citizens of the country I call my second home. ("No need to learn the language or customs of those people, or hang out with them-- you're the rich gringo boss; just use them. There are others just like you; hang out with them instead and make Nicaragua your own 'gringolandia' paradise. ")
   
   The most egregious examples, of course, are Granada and San Juan del Sur--places that have been ripped off by his beloved "ex-pats" looking for the quick buck. The native people have often been reduced to servants. This is what Reagan's decade-long terrorist war and 16 years of forcibly imposed, savage neoliberalism has done to Nicaragüita.
   
   None of this seems to matter to Mr. Howard. Everything is just rosy--as long as he's bringing in the dough. The people who suffer simply don't count.
   
   Imagine how you would feel if your home town, your country, was invaded by get-rich-quick speculators who didn't know--and didn't care at all--about you or your heritage, who came to take over and turn you into their servants.
   
   If you're thinking of moving to another country, do it with respect. Do your cultural homework: learn the language, the history, learn why the Nicaraguan people are really so special. This is something Mr. Howard obviously never cared to do.

No comments about Costa Rica Birds: An Introduction to Familiar Species (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press).

5 comments about Frommer's Costa Rica 2007 (Frommer's Complete).

1. While I liked the general structure of the book, starting of with detailed best-of lists, and then giving more detail of Costa Rica's regions, I didn't feel I was included in the book's target group. Most hotels discussed start at $30, there isn't much information on local buses or camping - all those things that make backpacking cheap. The descriptions of hiking and tour options are also far less detailed than in the latest Lonely Planet.
   The book also caters to people that book whole Costa Rica itineraries, and some are suggested. However, this is not the book for the independent traveler with a limited budget.
   However, the wildlife section at the end of the book is really good, and such a section is definitely a good thing in a Costa Rica guide, as many travelers go there for seeing tropical animals and ecosystems.
   
   All in all, the latest Lonely Planet is more up-to-date, and definitely has more information on acommodations, eateries, getting around, camping and hiking. It also includes a lot more places, whereas Frommer's doesn't really leave the trodden paths.



2. It should be noted that the image used on the cover of this guide is of a private hot springs resort, not the natural environment that Costa Rica is noted for. I guess that's a popular trick though, as I bought a foldable laminated map that had a picture taken from the same resort.
   
   This book is a decent guide, but it will lead you only to the most touristy places on your travel. If that's what you're looking for, this is fine, but don't make the mistake of thinking it will help you find anything more obscure.
   
   Also, don't let the 2007 edition fool you: there is still much out of date information here including pricing and hours of operation. Nothing too glaring mind you, but not exactly up to the claim that they update the entire book each year. For instance, the resort where the cover picture was taken is open later but charges more than the book describes.
   
   It is also not a comprehensive guide, though that is forgivable. If you plan on spending any time on the Nicoya Peninsula, this book has exactly one paragraph for you. Other information and descriptions of major areas was accurate and detailed enough though.
   
   I'd by the Lonely Planet guide instead after reading this.



3. A very nice map, good detail, waterproof but so flimsy that it arrived TORN!



4. Frommer's Costa Rica 2007 (Frommer's Complete)
   Although I will not depart for Costa Rica until next month, I found this book to be very helpful & full of useful pre-trip info.



5. The Frommer's travel books are very comprehensive, full of information on hotels, resorts, restaurants, shopping, etc. for your travel destination. Also notes what to avoid. I have always found them very helpful.

5 comments about Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion.

1. This small compilation of short stories was a priceless companion on my trip to Costa Rica. The philosophy of the "Traveler's Literary Companion" series is terrific: one of the best ways to really understand a country and its culture is through that country's literature. I highly recommend this book for anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica, or just curious about this glorious and inviting place. ¡Pura Vida y Tuanis!



2. A fascinating variety of styles and topics. We especially enjoyed the way the stories are arranged, by region. Sleepy, pick a short story. If you wonder what it might be like to labor with a machete or to live in a small house in the jungle. If you want to know what it might be like to be the only white girl, or the only brown boy. Read this. This book will change the way you see the uniformed schoolchildren, the mysterious round rocks, the lizards... There is more to Costa Rica than identifying birds and eating mangoes.



3. BEFORE TRAVELLING overseas, I always try and read some literature from the places I'm visiting, so I certainly applaud the spirit of the "Traveler's Literary Companion" series. As there doesn't seem to be much in the way of Costa Rican literature available in translation, this anthology is invaluable. However, I'm afraid I didn't find it as illuminating as the reviewers below. While the idea of grouping the 26 short stories by geographical region sounds like a good idea, in practice, I didn't find regional differences embodied in the stories to be distinctive enough to warant such arrangement. Perhaps a better grouping would have been coastal, inland, mountainous, and urban, I'm not sure. Another possible reason I might not have found the selections very evocative is their length. There are 26 stories by 20 authors (six have two stories in the collection) over 220 pages, so one gets more a sense of vignettes with fleeting impressions than a solid sense of what the people or places are like. The one aspect that does appear in the many of the stories is the importance of nature in Costa Rica, both as a source of beauty and as something to struggle against.



4. The two most invaluable books I read prior to vactioning in Costa Rica were this one, and a social history with magnificent photos called, "Costa Rica: The Last Country the Gods Made."

   The funny thing is that they compliment each other almost exactly in their selection of the geographical areas in Costa Rica that they both chose to explore; so you can read the essay, "Travels from the Interior" in "Last Country" then read the corresponding short story set in the highlands of the central plateau in "Literary Companion"!

   I read both books alternating back and forth like that....talk about opening up the country before your eyes!




5. A good read when visiting the country. I enjoyed/understood the stories much more when I visited Costa Rica and therefore the context in which they were written albeit that many of the stories were written in the earier part of the 20th century. Short stories were a good idea when travelling around