Going to Costa Rica for your honeymoon is absolutely going to be an unforgetable experience. In order for you and your partner to enjoy yourselves during your honeymoon, a little bit of planning is required. Although this varies from couple to couple as some hate a well planned trip while others can’t do without it. So you and your partner are the best judge of that. Anyway just in case you need some tips I’ve listed down a few things to help you with it. Please bear in mind that these are just guidelines so feel free to change and modify them to suit your needs.
Depending on the time that you have but a good guide if you have the time to spare is to plan your trip between 9 months to 1 year in advance. Start by listing down what you want in your honeymoon e.g. places that you want to see in Costa Rica etc. Next decide on the time of the year for your honeymoon to take place either directly right after your wedding or later. Although Costa Rica is a sunny through out the year but it doesn’t hurt to check out the weather when your honeymoon takes place. Work out a budget and determine how much you intend to spend. Do proper research of Costa Rica. Although English is widely spoken, it’s always an advantage to learn Spanish which is the official language of Costa Rica. Furthermore if you can speak the local language, it helps to get a good deal when it comes to shopping.
After you have done the initial planning above, the next step will be to work out the details. This is usually done between 6-9 months before your honeymoon. Start making airline reservations, consider the time schedule, food, seat assignment and luggage policy. For additional precaution, it’s advisable for you and your partner to buy travel insurance. Next will be to decide on your lodging, list down the types of hotels and resorts that are available and choose your rooms depending on your budget as well as the amenities or facilities that you want. Also the location is important for example Tamarindo beach is a popular place with honeymooners so if you intent to go there, look for a hotel that’s near to that beach. Besides that you may want to plan your transportation which included airport transfers, car rental etc and make sure that you keep all these information organized and easy to find. If you haven’t had proper vaccinations for traveling to tropical places, please make plans to do so. Persons traveling to Costa Rica from some countries in South America and Sub-Saharan Africa must provide evidence of a valid yellow fever vaccination prior to entry. The South American countries include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.
Now that you’re getting closer to your trip, please ensure that your travel documents e.g. passport is renewed and the name on your passport and tickets match. If you’re an American citizen, visa is not required to travel to Costa Rica but you’ll need a return flight ticket otherwise they will not let you in. Costa Rican authorities generally permit U.S. citizens to stay up to ninety days; to stay beyond the period granted, travelers must submit an application for an extension to the Office of Temporary Permits in the Costa Rican Department of Immigration. Start booking for the tickets for your excursions while in Costa Rica, shows or any other dinner reservations. It’s also a good time to ensure that you have the proper luggage for the trip. You’ll also want to make house and pet sitting arrangements. Also get the appropriate clothing for the trip and that shouldn’t be much a problem as Costa Rica is a tropical place, so just make sure you wear thin and loose clothing to keep cool and sun block is a must.
About 1-2 months before your honeymoon, make arrangements for your mails and packages to be sent to your friends and relatives place while you’re on your honeymoon. Find out what kind of adaptors and voltage converters that are needed. The adapters and voltage used in Costa Rica are the same as in the US. So if you’re not from the following countries (Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guam, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Palau, Puerto Rico, Saba and Saba (St.Eustatius), Taiwan, Trinidad, Tobago, Turks/Caicos Islands, United States of America, Venezuela, and Virgin Islands)., please get an adapter converter for your trip. As it gets closer to the day of your honeymoon, most people tend to overlook or forget the need to confirm their travel reservations which include hotel, air, excursions, dinners etc. So please remember to do so. Also equally important is to double check your bank accounts and credit cards to ensure that you have ample cash or spending limits to minimize any embarrassing moments during your honeymoon where you run into problems paying either for your hotel or a meal.
Now for the final fortnight countdown to your Costa Rica honeymoon. Time to start packing and pick up all your tickets from your travel agent. Purchase travelers checks and exchange your money to the foreign currency. The currency in Costa Rica is Colon but US dollar is long known as the 2nd currency in Costa Rica however most of the local traders there prefer to use the local currency. Please remember that you’re on a romantic trip with your new spouse so please remember to prepare for romantic gestures such as candle light dinner on the beach. Sexy clothing is a must especially in sunny and hot weather of Costa Rica and finally please enjoy your honeymoon and time together with your partner.