Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

alina Posted: Feb 03, 2003 04:20 PM

Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Hey everyone!

I am really upset now. FH and I were really all set to go to a specific beach (and more like specific hotel) in Costa Rica. So far I have only seen positive reviews of the area. Yet, I just spoke to a coworker of mine, who went to that same beach last year, and he hated it. He found the place actually unsafe, and they cut their stay on the beach a night early!!! (they planned to stay 2 nights, but only stayed one).

So now I am really really concerned. And I can't seem to find any '-' info on my own. I have checked here, wedding channel, the knot, and eopinions, in addition to Frommers, Lets Go and a few other travel books.

Does anyone know of any other travel review sites, specifically with detailed location descriptions? Please help me

MarcellaBella Posted: Feb 03, 2003 04:24 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

check out epinions.. they are pretty great..

there's another site, can't think of it right now.. I'll get back to you..

also, if you've heard something bad, and you have your heart set on going there.. just check it out.. Not everyone is going to be 100% happy with anything, you know? also, find out what it was that they didn't like or were unhappy with? it may be something you can address and avoid..

MarcellaBella Posted: Feb 03, 2003 04:25 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

www.epinions.com

www.frommers.com

alina Posted: Feb 03, 2003 04:30 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Marcella, I have tried both of these sites!!! Thank you!!! The location in concern is 'Tamarindo Beach', and the coworker mentioned that a)its a surftown (which i knew) and that b)he didn't feel safe walking late at night and found people at the bar there a bit crazy... When I asked about day conditions, he said he felt pretty safe, but commented that there was not a whole lot to do (no problem).

I tried to get him to tell me what was so crazy, etc, but since its just an acquaintance, he didn't really specify.

On the flip side/positive note, we picked this specific beach b/c of the fact that it has some nightlife (while others don't at all) and b/c we kind of fell in love with the hotel that's located there.
And a friend of a friend, who is from Costa Rica, but now lives here is having her wedding on Tamarindo Beach, so I am asking myself, it can't be that bad? Right?

MarcellaBella Posted: Feb 03, 2003 04:38 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Honestly, we live in NYC and I know of tons of people, most being family from overseas, who can't believe that I live here in this crime infested city.. do I feel safe here, HELL YES!!

All I can suggest is that with ANY country, you have to be careful, and being careful means, not leaving the resort, unless you go on some guided tour, and just be smart about certain decisions you make..

As for crazy people, some people may think I'm a little crazy at times, lol so it really depends on the person..

I would def go.. who knows.. perhaps your co-worker is just saying that.. maybe he/she was not having a good week?

alina Posted: Feb 03, 2003 05:20 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

just bumping to see if other people know of any travel review sites.

jennyg Posted: Feb 03, 2003 05:31 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

try fodors.com They cater to more of an upscalwe crowd and will definitely let you know if it is at all unsafe.

Edited to say, they also have section on the website, 'Talk' that you can pose ask your specific question on - people are very helpful and very specific. I planned most of my HM with these recommendations.

cw0904 Posted: Feb 03, 2003 10:33 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Alina have you done searches on Costa Rica on LIW? I remember evelynrtorres went for her HM and loved it. And Curly2003 was looking into this but I think she is changing her HM venue. Forum mail Curly she will be more than happy to help you. I think she is in contact with Evelyn too, not positive though.

curly2003 Posted: Feb 03, 2003 10:35 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Hi,
I speak to Evenlytorres everyday and can let her know you need info on Costa Rica. Good Luck!!

alina Posted: Feb 04, 2003 08:43 AM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Jennyg, thank you for the fodor's referrence. I have found their search feature helpful, yet still couldn't locate any bad info on Tamarindo
I may just post a question there, and see what kind of replies I'll get.

cw0904 and curly: I have read the long thread on LIW about costa rica and have found it extremely helpful. I will email evelyn to find out if she knows of other resources on Costa Rica, but I dont think she went to Tamarindo beach. I'll definitely email her, as I have found her very helpful.

Thanks again girls. I guess I'll continue searching, but most likely will stick to my original plan unless I discover something icky!!!

jennyg Posted: Feb 04, 2003 09:43 AM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Alina, you should def post a question on fodors - I'm sure people would be able to give you specific info and hopefully calm your worries!

alina Posted: Feb 04, 2003 10:04 AM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Jennyg, I just did, I am hoping to get my answers. But the fact that a friend of a friend is having a wedding on the same beach also calms my worries a bit.

curly2003 Posted: Feb 05, 2003 02:49 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Bumping for Evelyn who seems to be on today and NEVER RESPONDED TO MY EMAIL, LOL!!!!!!!

(Ev- I emailed this one to you at hotmail).

evelynrtorres Posted: Feb 05, 2003 02:51 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Gracias mi amor! Si, yo lo vi! she actually e-mailed me so I wrote her back, hopefully I helped in some way.

loca!!!

curly2003 Posted: Feb 05, 2003 02:51 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Oops

alina Posted: Feb 05, 2003 03:11 PM

Re: Help with travel review sites for South/Central America!!!

Evelyn you helped me a lot actually. I just still have not fully checked out the newsgroups that you sent me... I'll try to do that within a few days!!!

I'll keep you posted.
Curly, thanks for bumping this!