This forum is for non aviation related topics, political debate, random thoughts, and everything else that just doesn't seem to fit in the normal forums. ALL FORUM RULES STILL APPLY.
Well, my girl & I are finally going to take a long overdue vacation in Feb for a few weeks!! We were thinking Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, or Honduras.... She's currently heading to Cuba for a short stint first & leaving me here in the winter wonderland
Anybody have any advice, or experiences to share about any of these possible destinations??
Well, for starters, Vancouver Island is really nice this time of year...
But seriously, Mrs. Airtids, the Airtidslets and I were thinking about Bocas Del Toro off the coast of Panama, just south of Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica. You can get to San Jose pretty cheap and easy, bus to the southern Caribbean area, and then cross the border to Panama there. I've travelled that part of the world before, and it is FANTASTIC. The surf break on the Salsa Brava in Viejo is awesome. Watch out for falling coconuts. Sounds like maybe your girl speaks some Spanish, which will help, although is not essential.
Have fun!
---------- ADS -----------
Aviation- the hardest way possible to make an easy living!
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
Of those places you mentioned, I have only been to the Dominican Republic. I had an amazing time with the girl down there. We stayed in Puerto Plata at an all inclusive resort and had nothing but blue skies the ENTIRE week!
Nice beaches and lots of various and interesting excursions to take part in.
Can't share any experiences with the other places you're considering, but if a nice relaxing week in the sun is what you're looking for you can keep DR in the maybe pile.
If you are considering Honduras, I recommend the out Islands. I stayed at Utila years ago, and absolutely loved it. There is a fabulous little beach at the end of the Island that also has great snorkelling right off of it. Food is good, hotels are (were, anyways) cheap, and the diving is probably the cheapest in the world. Roatan is also supposed to be very nice, but much more developed and touristy.
That being said, I would avoid places like La Ceiba or Pedro San Sula (sp!) for extended periods of time. Not a whole lot to see, and you need to get used to every other establishment, even the restaurants, having armed guards at the doors.
Belize is another option. Fabulous diving and snorkelling, and lots of jungle and Mayan ruins. The area of Antigua about an hour away from Guatemala city is also fabulous, great crafts and markets, all under the shadow of a volcano.
you pretty much can't go wrong with central america.
I've done every central american country except el salvador
The ones I enjoyed the most were Nicaragua and Costa Rica. As tids said, viejo is awesome!
The bay islands in Honduras are awesome. If you are planning on doing some diving, or starting your diving adventure honduras is the cheapest/best diving I have yet found, I got my open water in roatan for 200 bucks including equipment.. haven't been to thailand yet... soon though
If you're into the cultural thing (temples, ruins etc) guatemala and honduras are probably your best bet.
Central america is best experienced through adventure tourism. If you are looking for a sit on the beach and drink vacation you can do it but you will be missing the essence of the region.
It all depens what you are looking for. If you prefer to sit on the beach and sip cheap rum with inexpensive cigars, the DR is best. Cuba is second best. If you are in adventure/eco tourism, then central America is a much better choice. Go on-line and book yourself the cheapest holiday! I just got back from the DR. Next year, Viet Nam!
---------- ADS -----------
Success in life is when the cognac that you drink is older than the women you drink it with.
Snowgoose wrote:I agree, any place warm would be nice right now
Oops, dammit accidently bumped the quote button that time.
They should make that quote button smaller; it's like a coffee cup hangin' on a kitchen counter edge , bound to get accidentally bumped the way it is.
Hey look. There's a plastic sea monster of some kind in the background there.
Never noticed that. They should make those plastic sea monsters more colourful-kind of dangerous the way it just blends in unnoticed like that. Person could swim right into it get tangled up and drown
I wonder whose hand that is onna right of the picture. If we were in the FBI, we could probably measure the hand length, and extrapolate with a computer how tall he is....