Sell me on Costa Rica (when I really want to go to Istanbul...)
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
Well, actually I really want to go to Italy, but...
My parents may be taking my kids somewhere for about a week in November, so Dh and I have a chance to go on a short trip. Cost is an issue, I'd like to spend under $4000 total (including airfare, hotel, food, any fees required for admission to museums, etc.) I started researching trips to Italy (mostly looking up flight/hotel packages through Travelocity). They were too expensive, but I noticed the lowest price on flights was via Turkish airlines with a plane change in Istanbul...So I looked up going to Portugal--same thing with the cheapest flight connecting in Istlanbul....Cheapest flight to Athens, connected in Istlanbul...so I thought, what if we just went to Istanbul? So I started researching what there is to do in Turkey---OMG! Turkey looks amazing!!! And it's not all that expensive either, I think our budget would be fine! Dh balked at the idea of going to Turkey, he wants to go to Costa Rica. Costa Rica is also less expensive, but for some reason I'm having a hard time "figuring out" an itinerary, where would be the easiest place to stay (or would we have to change hotels for different areas?). Dh mainly wants to Scuba dive...I started mentioning the Cloud Forest and the Volcano, and he didn't even know those existed in Costa Rica. The only thing on his mind was Scuba (and I don't Scuba). I'm also finding a lot of the flights to Costa Rica are less than ideal...the IAD to Istanbul was direct flight...but most of the flights to Costa Rica involve a change of planes in Panama City---with like 20 hours layover! I found a couple that would connect in Miami or Charlotte, NC--but for the way back it was all connecting in Panama City or Mexico city. If you've connected in Panama, how did it go? If you've been to Costa Rica and did some Scuba, but also the Cloud Forest, Volcano, etc, how did you organize your itinerary, did you end up traveling and staying in multiple hotels? Thanks for any insight! 
|
Anonymous
|
Sorry can't help you -- I'd go to Istanbul (again) too! Turkey is such an amazing place. But if it makes you feel better, you'd wish you had a LOT longer to explore it.
Costa Rica seems like a doable short trip. I've never been, but have friends who have a house there. They always connect in the US -- usually through Miami. Seems like a smallish place, too -- maybe you could do day trips to the various sites while DH explores the reefs. (Ick -- Scuba creeps me out!) |
Anonymous
|
Thanks...
Yeah, I would LOVE to go to Istanbul...and take a day or two to go to Cappadocia... I even just looked up Scuba diving in Turkey and found some nice looking companies down near Kas and Kalkan...my husband is being difficult "oh, boat diving? I don't want to boat dive, I want to shore dive..." 
I'm beginning to think separate vacations are in order... |
Anonymous
|
I'd skip the volcano on CR. you can do the pacific coast or the carribean coast. Both are nice. We did the pacific coast which was really nice. Lots to do there other than scuba. We went riding, zip lining, hiking , swimming of course, boat cruise through the rain forest, etc.
We didn't have any trouble connecting, I think through Dallas. We left in the morning and were in CR in the early afternoon with the time change. |
Anonymous
| Convince your DH to go to Istanbul. It is unforgettable. Also safe (for a large city), beautiful, fascinating, and the food is great. |
Anonymous
|
I've not been to Istanbul but i agree with you! I've been to costa rica twice. Its a beautiful country however i wouldn't think of it as a great couples trip. Great to go with the family. Its difficult to travel around the country - at least when i last went.
How about Greece? The islands are amazing. Not sure about diving. Honduras? Bay islands and a trip to antigua guatemala / tikal. I know its out there for most! |
Anonymous
|
It depends - do you want a city/cultural experience? Then Istanbul. Do you want a jungle/beach experience? Then Costa Rica.
We connected in Atlanta to go to Costa Rica (Delta) - left early morning and were there by noon. Very easy. As PP said, you can do Carribean or Pacific coast. Not sure Scuba is the best there - probably better in Belize or off Carribean coast of Mexico. But Rain Forest hikes, zip-lining, beach are all great in CR. If you want to totallly get away and chill, Osa Peninsula is fabulous. We stayed in a house on the beach at the edge of the rain forest and it was great. Monkeys swinging outside our portch every morning. Long hikes, swims in ocean etc. Nothing much to do but chill. Good luck and enjoy!! |
Anonymous
| I have been to Costa Rica. Went to Mt Arenal and also the cloud forest (Monteverde), Tortugero as well as a number of other places. I spent a total of three weeks there. It was nice and I enjoyed it...but if I had the option of Turkey instead I would definitely go to Turkey. Like I said, I liked CR but it was definitely not the most exciting place to me. |
Anonymous
Me too! Went to Turkey (and a couple other countries) on our honeymoon, and were blown away by the country. We were there for two weeks and could have easily spent more time there. Would be an AMAZING couples trip, but you could also keep it on the list of family destinations, as one of the things that struck us on our trip was how warm and welcoming Turkey was to children. |
Anonymous
|
Turkey is amazing! Spent 3 weeks there with Dh a few years ago. On the recommendation of a friend, we stayed here in Istanbul http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293974-d295492-Reviews-Kybele_Hotel-Istanbul.html Charming, excellent service, centrally located and reasonably priced. While in Istanbul, we each had beautiful leather jackets custom made for about $100 each. 8 years later they still look great!
We also spent a few days in Cappodocia, as well as time along the coast. The history and uniqueness of Cappodicia alone is worth the trip to Turkey. While I haven't been to Costa Rica yet, it seems to me that there are other countries that offer more or less the same things, if not better (like diving). This is not true of Turkey. |
Anonymous
|
We did CR with 3 days pacific coast and scuba, then cloud forest, volcano, and southern national park.
As far as scuba- it was very cold - we went in march. It appeared even the fish were cold - they were all hanging in a 'warm' water 'bubble' - before we found that, on the second dive, we saw no fish! It was also pretty choppy, and on one dive several of the divers stayed on board the dive boat, concerned with difficulty getting back onto the boat. There are some islands famous for divers west of CR, but I think those are multiday trips. All in all, I have been diving in many different locations and continents, and CR is not a place I would be thrilled to dive again (if I was into multiday dive-only trips, or a dry suit diver I might feel differently). CR has a lot to offer, but I think there are better choices for a diver/nondiver couple by far. Belize comes to mind. Turks and Caicos. |
Anonymous
|
PP here. It was cocos island, 300 miles west of CR.
Really not for a diver/nondiver couple... What is your husband looking for when he wants to scuba, and what level of difficulty? The dive sites in the pacific are more rocky pinnacles than colorful reefs. |
Anonymous
|
Turkey!!! It's an amazing country.
Here's a pic I took in Cappadocia: 
|
Anonymous
| Sorry, OP, I LOVE Turkey!! I haven't been in over 10 years and can't wait to go back. Look of pictures of Parmukkale, you will be blown away!! |
Anonymous
| ^^ Pamukkale, not Parmukkale... |