on marketing, traveling and living…
Travel
Travel
Can You Afford A Trip To Panama?
Jul 11th
trip to panama
How much do you need to shell out to get you that trip to Panama? Not much, I can tell you that. The lowest budget I had when I came to Panama, I only had $150 in my pocket. But mind you, I was a guest and that I had been driven around the best places with my gracious host.
I asked him if it’s ok to mention his name here but he’s too chicken.Back to the topic at hand, Panama can be a haven for budget travelers. A penny-pincher can find a room for a rock bottom $5 to $10 a night. Forget ambience. Forget mini-bar. You’re just there to spend the night. And if you’re wise enough to eat where the locals eat, you can stuff your face with delicious food not less than $3 per meal.
But since I don’t expect you to eat below the poverty line (because why bother), you’d want to go to places a notch higher. Hotel rooms may not be as cheap here as you may expect in a Third World Country like Panama. The prices are usually for those with mid- to high- end wallets. Expect to pay $75 to $100/day for a decent double room.Amazingly enough, I have discovered that there are better accommodations in Panama City for couples for under $100/day.
And should you want to splurge, a $250/day hotel budget for a couple in Panama generally has more mileage than you can expect to afford in the US. Believe me, I looked it up!The nice thing here is even though things are not super cheap, prices don’t skyrocket. That’s the same story in the countryside. The good hotels usually charge more than $80 to $140/day per couple. This is partly due to the shortage of good accommodations. But that doesn’t mean that you can find a place with a great view and still pay cheaper than you’re used to.
You’ll surprise yourself how even the luxurious-looking spots doesn’t necessarily command a hefty price tag.When it comes to eating, dining in Panama City would set you off the same way you’d eat in the States. A meal allowance of $20/day/person would be enough. And you’re already eating like royalty. But when eating outside the city, I will be amazed if you pay more than $10 for a full dinner. And there are plenty more quite decent places that offer foor for less. Hell, I lived like a king going from Panama, Bocas, and to other places living on $80/day!
When it comes to reigning in your commute expenses, traveling within Panama is generally inexpensive. The more expensive round-trip airfare from Panama City to the distant regions usually $300. Another option would be to travel by air-conditioned bus. You can wander off anywhere from Panama City. I have to make special mention though that traveling to the Darien is not cheap.
Package deals including all meals and transportation to the most remote parts of the Darien sets you back $600 tomore than $1300 per person to your travel budget for a multi-day trip. But if you can possibly afford it, Darien would be the highlight of your itinerary.
As I will show you in the following days, Darien is another piece of tropical paradise.Advance purchase round-trip airfare between Miami, the most popular US gateway city, and Panama City is usually go around $350. See if you can bring down the price.
Orchid Treasures In Costa Rica
Jul 11th
Okay, okay. So, a lot of you are probably thinking of sandy beaches teeming with hot bodies at the mention of Costa Rica. But just so you know, Costa Rica offers more than that. It wouldn’t hurt you one bit to learn that this country has a variety of rare species that are worthy of your attention too. And why not? After all the sunbaths, drunken nights, and shop-till-you-drop
activities, you are probably stressed out of your senses. So, what better way is there to soothe yourself than feast your eyes on some curious specimens of Costa Rica!
Topping my list is the country’s national flower- the orchids. It could probably be argued that when a higher being decided to create orchids, Costa Rica was on the front line because it is currently home to more than a thousand identified species of orchids– the richest in Central America! If you are a fan of vibrant colors, you are sure to be swept off your feet by what these flowers have to offer. And while you have to wait for a certain season to see your favorite sports team battle it out to the field, expect a different treatment from orchids because they are ready to mesmerize you all year round! But if you really want to see them at their best bloom, the onset of both the dry and wet seasons are most favorable.
As if given a mind of their own, some orchids of Costa Rica have unique ways of propagating! A number of these rare species produce flowers that resemble the form of a female wasp so as to fool male wasps in pollinating them. And there are others that drug its visitors through its nectar. When the insects get drunk, they slip into a small bucket of liquid and the only escape involves wriggling beneath an overhanging rod, which will shower the flower’s back with pollens. Cool tricks, huh?
Travel Guide To Osa Peninsula
Jul 10th
After hearing so many fantastic things to see and experience in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, I’m sure a great number of you are itching to get your asses off to the next flight to this Central American destination. But hold your horses!
Like any smart traveler, you should keep yourself abreast of the do’s and dont’s whenever you set foot on Ticalandia! You don’t wanna spoil your vacation to Costa Rica’s classy peninsula just because you forgot a sunblock, right?
First things first. Make sure you have a passport. Trust me, you wouldn’t get past the airport if you are not armed with a valid passport. And speaking of airport, be ready to shell out around $26.00 (US Dollars) per person upon leaving Costa Rica as payment for a “Departure Tax”. (I will have a horror story about passports tomorrow.)
There are two ways to get to Osa Peninsula once you arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica from your native land. If you don’t want your time wasted and just enjoy the beauty of this prime spot right away, then taking direct flights to Puerto Jimenez that last for only 50 minutes is the best way to do it. Just be in the know that these flights have a carry on weight restriction of 25 lbs. Anything in excess will have you paying for a small fee.
If you’re the adventurous type, or simply frugal, driving by land is what’s suited for you. The Pan American Highway has been paved recently for easy driving but expect some rough cruising because the road can get steep and start winding. 9 hours is all it takes to get you to your destination.
Just make sure you don’t get too excited and start your own car race or you might end up getting pulled for speeding, which would require you to shell out a fair amount of cash. And oh, try not to travel at night if you are not familiar with the region. In summer though, you will be greeted by a daytime temp of as high as 90 degrees Farenheit! So, come prepared.
