Trip Tips and What to Pack for Your
Costa Rica Singles Vacation 

Country Information

Costa Rica is located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama and is one of the most-visited international tourist destinations. The main reasons for this are the country’s tropical climate and geographical desirability, which ranges from green mountain rainforest's to gorgeous beaches on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. A democratic and peaceful country—Costa Rica has not had an army since the year 1949—its people are friendly and highly educated.

Although Costa Rica is a small country in terms of area, there is a lot going on here in terms of weather. Though generally classified as a tropical country because of its close proximity to the equator, Costa Rica has no real summer or winter, and the sun shines here throughout the year. With over 12 hours of sunshine a day, the sun rises at about 5 am and sets at about 6 pm consistently throughout the year.
In San José and most tourist towns, the tap water is safe to drink. However, if you go to remote areas, especially on the Atlantic coast, you should drink purified water only. Best Single Travel recommends drinking bottled water at all times.

Visas

Passport-carrying nationals of the following countries are allowed 90 days’ stay with no visa: most western European countries, Argentina, Canada, Israel, Japan, Panama and the USA.
Citizens of Australia, Iceland, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa and Venezuela are allowed to stay for 30 days with no visa. Others require a visa from a Costa Rica embassy or consulate. These lists are subject to continual change

Other nationalities please check with your local Costa Rica Embassy.

There is a departure tax of $26 USD for visitor that is to be paid at the airport. The best way to pay this is by cash. If you choose to pay by credit card beware that this is actually debited as a cash transaction and there will be bank fees.

Costa Rica Currency

Costa Rica money is called the colon. 1 USD = 509 Colons. US dollar is accepted almost everywhere so there is no need to exchange. Prices in Costa Rica are frequently listed in US dollars, especially at upmarket hotels and restaurants, Canadian dollars are not widely accepted. Check here for currency exchange rates

ATMs are common in San Jose, but will be hard to find in smaller towns. Credit cards are widely accepted, please call your credit card company and let them know you will be traveling to Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Time

All of Costa Rica is in the GMT -6 zone, which corresponds to U.S. Central Time during winter months, and U.S. Mountain Time when the U.S. is in daylight savings time. The length of days in Costa Rica varies by only half an hour between seasons, so Costa Rica does not observe daylight savings time.

Electric Plugs

Costa Rica's electricity supply is 110V AC at 60 Hz - If you're traveling from the U.S. or Canada leave the electric converters and plug adapters at home. Weather

There is not a bad time for a Costa Rica singles vacation as the average annual temperature is between 70 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit and the coolest months of the year are November, December and January. The months March through May are the hottest months of the year, so make sure you protect yourself from the sun.

What to Pack for Your Costa Rica Vacation

Remember to pack all your liquids in your suitcase or you must follow the TSA rules for carry-ons - 3-1-1 = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger

One easily managed medium suitcase (bus to boat…) and 1 carry on bag. Some days you will be out all day so bring a small bag or knapsack that you can carry all day.

If you are planning on washing clothes as you go, be aware that laundries are few and far between in Costa Rica, but you can hand wash a few items (things like jeans can take forever to dry). Some of the hotels have laundry services—expect to pay a buck or two per item.

Water is another consideration when planning your wardrobe. Cloud and rainforest's have little regard for phrases like “dry season.” It may not rain during your visit, but the saturating humidity dripping from the leaves and the spray from the inevitable waterfall will make you glad for quick-drying garments.

For what to pack on all singles vacations and more tips - Click Here

Documents
* Passport and your emergency contact should have a copy
* Money, credit/debit card – don’t forget to call the banks and let them know you are traveling
* Insurance card and contact information

Miscellaneous
* Insect repellent with DEET (diethyl-metatoluamide)
* Contact lenses and/or extra pair of sunglasses
* Sun block of at least 15 SPF - the tropical sun is strong
* Water bottle
* Camera – and charger – batteries – lots of film or extra memory cards
* Binoculars for animal viewing
* Flashlight with extra batteries for night exploring
* Chargers and Adaptors for all your electronics - if needed (see above)
* Earplugs (for light sleepers)
* Plastic bags – for wet clothes
* Travel alarm clock or use your mobile phone

Phone & Internet

Calling Costa Rica from the United States explained
• 011 - US exit code; must be dialed first for all international calls made from the USA or Canada
• 506 - Country Code for Costa Rica
• phone number - 8 digits
• US to Costa Rica international dialing format: 011 + 506 + 2??? ????

Celll Phone Service - We recommend checking with your individual cell phone carrier to see if your phone will work in Costa Rica and check the international rates for both phone and data. You will have limited phone and Internet service in Tortuguero. There should be readily available Internet in the other parts of the country.
Costa Rica is more known for its adventure activities then for its shopping. Shopping for souvenirs and other items can range from local markets offering traditional goods to large stores and gift shops. Prices at regular shops are fixed and bargaining is uncommon.

Costa Rica Shopping

Coffee is the best buy in Costa Rica. Buy whole beans and not the ground ones. Packaged grinds are much finer than US grinds and more often contain sugar mixed in with the ground coffee. For the best deal, buy coffee beans in the grocery stores.

Costa Rican woodcarvings, mostly bowls, napkin holders and elegant art pieces are good buys.
Local Foods

Costa Rican cuisine is known for being flavorful, yet fairly mild, with high reliance on fresh fruit and vegetables. Rice and beans are the bases of most Costa Rican meals. At breakfast, they're called gallo pinto and come with everything from eggs to steak to seafood. At lunch or dinner, rice and beans are an integral part of a casado, usually consisting of cabbage-and-tomato salad, fried plantains (a starchy, banana-like fruit), and a chicken, fish, or meat dish. On the Caribbean coast, rice and beans are called rice 'n' beans, and are cooked in coconut milk.

Thailand Travel Information, Tips and More

Visa

Visas for Thailand are not required by all nationals for touristic stays of up to 30 days (if entering via an international airport) or 15 days (if entering by land from a neighboring country), provided they hold valid passports and confirmed airline tickets to leave Thailand within the time allowed by their visa, except:

Nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Malta who may apply for visas on arrival for stays of up to 15 days.

Money:  

Thailand's currency is called the Thai baht (THB). International access ATMs can be found across the country. You will be expected to use Thai baht for all cash purchases. Credit cards are widely accepted, though small businesses and vendors at market may not accept them.

It's around THB 30 to US $1 (think 1/3)

Note also that almost all Thai banks now charge a 150 Baht (3.90 USD) fee for using a foreign ATM card..

Time:  

Thailand Standard Time (TST) or Thailand Time (THT) is a standard time used in Thailand. It is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and 12 hours ahead of EST / 15 hours ahead of PST

Electric Plugs

Electricity in Thailand is 220 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Thailand with a device that does not accept 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. Outlets in Thailand generally accept 2 types of plug: Flat Blade Plug & two round pins...If your appliances plug has a different shape, you may need a plug adapter.

Weather

Thailand has three "seasons." The Thais refer to them as the "cool," "hot" and "rainy" seasons. A more accurate description would be "hot," "really HOT" and "really hot AND wet."

The "cool" season from October/November through to March is the prime tourist season. The hot season in Thailand runs from March through June, with April and May the hottest months of the year. The cool season is from November thru February and stills feel hot to most tourists,

The monsoon season usually is accompanied by heavy rain.. This season may start as early as April or May, although it officially begins in June and runs as late as October, when the temperatures begin to cool slightly... Carry an umbrella or raincoat, and you can still enjoy a great vacation in the Thai rainy season.

Mobile Phones

Nowadays it’s relatively easy to use your own mobile phone in Thailand, however, the costs of both making and receiving phone calls can be high. Please check with your carrier for availability and rates.

Calling Thailand from the United States

US to Thailand international dialing format: 011 + 66 + ???? ????
•011 - US exit code; must be dialed first for all international calls made from the USA or Canada

• 66 - Country Code for Thailand
• phone number - 8 digits

Internet Service

Is available throughout Thailand.  All the hotels have internet access (there may be a fee)

Water

Do not drink from the taps. Always use bottled water.
Ice is always made with clean water and is safe.

Customs and Etiquette

Temples: Dress appropriately – cover your shoulders and legs at least to the knee. Remove your shoes and hat before entering temple buildings.
Buddha: Images of Buddha are highly regarded in Thailand. Purchasing statues and getting Buddhist tattoos (if you are not Buddhist) is disrespectful, and sometimes even illegal.
Royalty: The Thai royal family is also very respected and public criticism of them is illegal. The national anthem is played on the radio at 08:00 and 18:00 and before movies in the cinema, where you will be expected to stand for it.
Feet: Gesturing with your feet is considered very rude.

Tipping

Not necessary, but always appreciated.

Shopping

Thailand is one of the best places in Asia for shopping and you will have lots of choices with the huge, glitzy shopping malls, department stores, small shops and bustling street markets. Both Bangkok and Chiang Mai have excellent night markets (Chiang Mai Market just steps from our hotel)

Good buys include Thai silks and cottons, leather goods, batiks, silver and gold, pottery with celandine green glaze, precious and semiprecious stones (in particular rubies and sapphires are indigenous to Thailand), pearls, dolls, masks, painted umbrellas, lacquer ware, pewter ware, bamboo and wood artifacts and bronze ware.

Tailor-made clothes are also good value and can be made in a matter of days, yet the standard is very high. (The mall right next door to the Sheraton has a nice selection of tailors)

Duty free shops are located throughout the country and items can be purchased there and delivered to the airport in time for the departure flight. Value Added Tax ( 7% ) can be refunded on goods bought in shops labeled 'VAT Refund for Tourists', where there is a minimum transaction of ?2,000 including VAT.

Local Foods

Thai cuisine is distinctive and a favorite of many people around the world. Places to eat traditional Thai food are plentiful and although prices can vary wildly, the quality is generally very good. Thai dishes can sometimes be quite spicy and when a dish is described as “hot” it will be. Thai food is meant to be shared, and all courses will generally arrive together. The cuisine is characterized by a balance of strong flavors, most notably, lime juice, fish sauce, lemongrass, chili and fresh coriander, and is usually accompanied by rice and/or noodles

BeWare: Although the food sold at roadside stalls can be cheap and often very good, meat and chicken should be thoroughly cooked, and be cautious with salads which may have been washed in contaminated water.

Destinations

Bangkok began as a small trading centre and port community on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River some 200 years ago. Now it is Thailand’s capital, a large city known for ornate shrines and vibrant street life. The boat-filled Chao Phraya River feeds its network of canals, flowing past the royal district, home to opulent Grand Palace and its sacred Wat Phra Kaew Temple. Nearby is Wat Pho Temple with an enormous reclining Buddha and, on the opposite shore, Wat Arun Temple with its steep steps and Khmer-style spire.

Damnoen Saduak is the most popular floating market in Thailand, great for photo opportunities, food, and for giving you an insight into a bygone way of life. The Floating Market is routinely crowded with hundreds of vendors and purchasers floating in their small rowing boats selling and buying agricultural products and local food, which are mostly brought from their own nearby orchards. Therefore, it is a great place for tourists to see this old style and traditional way of selling and buying goods

Phuket is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands off its coast. It is a rainforested, mountainous island in the Andaman Sea and has some of Thailand’s most popular beaches. Phuket Town is the capital of Phuket Province and Thalang Road is lined with colorful 19th-century shophouses and Sino-Portuguese buildings.

Phuket Walking Street located in Old Town is also-known-as Lardyai (talaad yai), which means ‘big market’ in southern Thai dialect. Thalang is a 1/4 mile long commercial and cosmopolitan street which hosts a mix of Baba (Chinese migrants settled in Phuket at the beginning of the 20th century during the tin mining era), Thai Muslim and Indian shops. Phuket Walking Street allows visitors to discover some typical southern Thai culinary specialties as well as local handicraft and gift stalls.

Don’t Leave Home without your Passport!

Visas and Passports:

Visa affixed in a valid passport is required of all United States citizens wanting to enter India. The Indian Embassy has outsourced the processing of visa applications.

An India tourist visa has a validity of either 6 months, 5 years or 10 years. This is a multiple entry visa. Each entry has a limited duration of 6 months. This means that the maximum amount of time you can stay after entering the country is 6 months. Once you exit, you must wait for a period of 2 months before re-entering unless you obtain special permission.

The Embassy of India refers you to BLS International which has all the information on how to obtain a visa to India. Best Single Travel highly recommends hiring a visa company to obtain your visa.

Local Currency:

India Currency: The Rupee (INR). INR1 = 100 paise

Paper Denominations: INR500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5

Coins: INR5, 2, 1 and 50, 25, 10 paise

Credit cards: Most large hotels, stores and restaurants will accept international credit cards but if you are planning to vacation in more remote areas or shop at local markets, do not count on credit cards for payment. If paper money in India is too torn, grubby or marked, merchants may not want to accept them.  The bills can be exchanged in major banks but it’s easier to ask for newer bills.

India Local Time:

India follows a single time zone, called the Indian Standard Time (IST). IST maintains a 30 minute offset from GMT. This means that when it is 12:00 GMT, it is 5:30am everywhere in India.

10.5 hours ahead of EST / 13.5 hours ahead of PST

Electric Plugs:

India uses 230 Volts, 50 Hz alternating current as the power source. Plugs and sockets have grounded / earthed 3 Pin connections (Type D) or ungrounded 2 pin connections (Type C).

But travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 110-120 volts the socket is supplying. If your appliance is from another part of the world, and it is built only for 220-240 volt electricity, or a Japanese appliance built for 100 volts, then a travel plug adapter by itself won't be sufficient. The voltage will have to be changed from 110-120 volts at the socket, to whatever voltage your appliance requires. This is accomplished with a voltage transformer.

Weather:

Climatic conditions vary considerably because of the size of the country. The coolest and driest time of the year is from December to February. If high temperatures aren’t a problem for you then travel during the months of March, April and May. While the monsoon rains in June and July provide a brief respite from summer heat, the humidity in the big cities in the summer months is usually unbearable for most tourists.

What to Pack for your India Vacation

It is very important to plan conservative yet light, airy clothing for vacations to India. While cities like Delhi and beach resort destinations may have a more casual dress code, it is still important to respect the local culture and dress accordingly.

Keep in mind when planning your India packing list: shoulders and knees should always be covered.

For what to pack on all singles vacations and more tips - Click Here

Shopping in India

Bustling bazaars with native handicrafts, and boutiques with brilliant textiles are found everywhere. Shopping in an Indian bazaar can be overwhelming, vendors will inundate you with options, prices and colors. Half the fun when buying goods in the bazaars is the bargaining .

Indian craftsman have been perfecting their art for centuries, passing down traditions from generation to generation with each town having its own speciality. Silks, spices, jewelry and many other Indian products have been traded, and merchants have travelled thousands of miles in order to make their purchases.

Souvenirs you will find hard to resist during your India vacation:

* Bangles- Glass or metallic:  available in almost every region of India, each state designs
* Jewelery such as necklaces and anklets which can be made from gold, bronze, and silver.
* Incense sticks:  Scented with sandalwood or some other exotic aromas, these sticks will certainly add a touch of India to any home.
*Dried spices: Indian cuisine is all about the aromatic spices. Purchase spices and enjoy the taste of India long after your travels.
*Sandalwood is known for its distinctive aroma and its therapeutic properties.
*Handicrafts and Artifacts:  Handicrafts such as stoneware and silverware, brass, silver, and marble are easily found throughout India.
*Textiles:  Gorgeous prints and handiwork especially on women’s clothing.
*Tea:  India is home to world famous Darjeeling tea and one of the largest tea exporters in the world.
* Ayurvedic and Herbal Products:  Natural products for holistic use.

Local Foods

In western India, the desert cuisine is famous for its unique taste and varieties of food. Rajasthan and Gujarat are the states that represent the dessert flavor of Indian food. Here an immense variety of deals and aches (pickles/preserves) is used that simply substitutes the relative lack of fresh vegetables in these areas.
In Southern India, the people make great use of spices, fishes and coconuts, as most of them have coastal kitchens. The foods of Tamil Nadu use of tamarind is frequently made in order to impart sourness to the dishes. It simply distinguishes the Tamil Food from other cuisines.

Don’t Leave Home without your Passport!