Guest Hook Travel Guides Costa Rica's Southern Zone | Page 7

ELLENS’S TIPS ON WHERE TO STAY... Costa Rica's Southern Zone has a number of options depending on your needs. Below is Ellen's very own vacation rental, along with a couple of other suggestions that she has. Plus see some of Ellen's practical tips below to help you begin planning your stay! Ellen’s Very Own... An award winning 3 bedroom villa overlooking the gorgeous Ventanas Beach and Pacific Ocean. With its private pool, gorgeous ocean views and upscale amenities, it is TripAdvisor’s Top Vacation Rental for Ojochal in 2013! An ideal jungle base from which to explore the spectacular southern Pacific coastline! Visit Ellen’s Website to Find Out More… Ellen Suggests... A good alternative if I'm booked, it's just down the road from my place and it’s also very private and spacious, perfect for family gatherings or an escape with a group of friends. Jay is also an amazing owner! Visit Jay’s Website to Find Out More… Ellen Suggests... For shorter stays or, if you cannot find room at either Jay's or mine, the hotel Lookout at Playa Tortuga is a great option. It’s not a luxury hotel but has great TripAdvisor reviews and I myself have stayed there and would recommend it. Visit the Lookout Website to Find Out More... The Practical Stuff... Getting Here... You can fly into the international airport in San Jose and drive the 3 - 3 1/2 hours (not including stops for the amazing views!). Or take a private VIP shuttle from San Jose Airport. You could even take a 30 minute scenic morning flight over the mountains and along the coast to Palmar Sur airstrip. From there we can arrange to have a 4x4 rental waiting for you and then drive the 25 minutes to Villa Mariposa. Be sure to rent a 4x4 for access to the villa and beaches! Local Currency... Costa Rica's currency is the colón (colónes plural). Refer to Travelex or any other foreign currency websites for the latest rates. The locals will not take big bills so don’t let the currency exchanges give you anything bigger than ¢10,000. Visa Credit Cards are widely accepted. However, Amex and MasterCard are more problematic and not generally accepted. Do NOT bring travelers cheques/checks. They do not work well here! Weather Conditions... Close to the equator, we have consistent temps year round. High Season runs Dec – Apr, with beach-perfect weather. But North American summers are also a great time to visit. Running May – Aug is the Green Season, a favorite time for locals and travelers in the know. Magical and energizing, it’s gloriously sunny most of the day with short afternoon rains that freshen the air and add to the lushness of plant life and encourage active wildlife!