Costa Rica Forum: Costa Rica expeditions

For me, there was no better way to go to Costa Rica--I wish more countries had companies as good as this one! We are two seniors and we traveled with our 13 year old grandson. We were met by courteous and friendly guides and drivers. Our guide, Sheila, did everything posible to make sure we got to see and do what we came to see and do. ALL of our drivers were professional. We did a lot of strenuous activity and the people at the zip lines and the waterfall rappelling were professional, careful and made us feel quite safe. Places were chosen for us that were not crowded and we were able to make changes in the itinerary. Our hotels were all exactly as described and maybe even nicer than we expected. But it is the staff that is wonderful. They are very careful in who they hire so you will be in good hands from the get-go! It was easy, reasonably priced and VERY flexible.

The small glitch was taken care of as soon as possible by a responsive staff. I would recommend this company very highly!!

I wanted to share our experience with CRE on our recent 30th wedding anniversary family trip to Costa Rica. We had an active trip, many activities, which our three sons in their 20's+ enjoyed with us. Below is the note that we shared with CRE after the trip.

Hi Luis,

I wanted to thank you for a fabulous vacation in Costa Rica! We were very impressed with Costa Rica Expeditions and all the arrangements that you made for us. The rafting was the best we have seen, well done with a great river guide, and safety and camera crew following us. The Tortuga Lodge was like a fantasy island experience, arriving by boat, staff waving from the dock, how nice. Hearing the animals all around us made for a great experience. The food and service was excellent. Great host staff as well. Flight to Arenal was good from the small airstrip, we felt safe and comfortable. Volcano Lodge was real nice, beautiful property. We watching the volcano spew smoke while sitting in the hot tub. Rappelling and biking was excellent, great tours guides. The Hidalgo Hot Springs and dinner was excellent as well. We had a surprise heavy rain while sitting in the hot springs. The boat and jeep to Montverde was excellent as well, made it an easier travel. The Montverde Lodge was another excellent experience, beautiful, cooler, great food and staff. Thanks so much for including many of the meals, we really appreciated it.

Luis, you and CRE exceeded our expectations! What a fantastic family 30th anniversary trip. Thanks so much.

The Beveridge's

We just traveled across Costa Rica for a week with CR Expeditions...they provided us with lovely experiences, great guides, transporation and hotels. We are frequent international travelers, and usually make all of our own arrangements but were a bit flumoxed with lack of addresses and way-finded in Costa Rica. We followed fellow travelers' recommendations in working with CR Expeditions, and couldn't be happier.

We have booked a trip with them for jan. 10. Did you go to Monteverde or Arenal? Would you have any advice on what to avoid? Were the guides English speaking and knowledgeable?

Thanks,

Beth

Costa Rica Expeditions has great guides - really top notch. Our experiences with them were wonderful.

I wrote about it here …elizabethhansen.net/2010/03/your-bff-in-cos…

Elizabeth Hansen

La Jolla, California

Thanks for posting, but the blog post comes off more like a commercial for Mike than anything else.

Don't get me wrong, I like the company, expensive but very good at what they do.

Cheers

Inca

My experience has been less favourable. They refused to help me with any reservations, including with their own lodges, unless I booked an entire trip with them. When I initially made inquiries, they suggested places to stay that had a minimum night requirement that I would not meet. I was surprised that I knew more about this than they did. They were also charging me about 1/3 more than I have paid with another company for the exact same itinerary. I booked with another company who has been great!

As a friend of Michael's and fellow Travel Professional back in the early summer I wrote to Michael asking for an hour of his time at a Travel conference that we were both due to attend to enable me to 'pick the master's brain'.. Michael's reply was 'Unfortunately my plans have changed but why don't you come to Costa Rica after the conference' and that is exactly what I did.

Arriving into Costa Rica following a very busy week at the conference I arrived with a totally open mind and suitcase of dirty washing.. Being the worse client I did not take the time to read any materials on Costa Rica thinking 'I would be fine' and just headed there with fond memories of a day I had spent there off a cruise ship with my family a few years ago. The main intention of my trip was to learn from Michael who I strongly believe is one of the master's in our industry - I was also hoping to learn a lot about Costa Rica too and what it had to offer.. From San Jose to Monteverde to Tortuguero and back to San Jose I had the opportunity to spend time with Michael and his wonderful wife Yolanda, son Hilton and sister in law Daisy, meet many of his team at the two beautiful lodges that Costa Rica Expeditions owns and manages and see Costa Rica through their and their guides eyes.. whether we were hiking, fishing, kayaking, flying, sailing or simply relaxing in one of the lodges talking shop - two things were very obvious 'I am not the only person who believes he is a legend in this business - so do his team and anyone he knows in Costa Rica and secondly how much he really cares about this business after all these years and is constantly seeking ideas/feedback and ways that he can improve his current product and properties and what he can do differently as we move forward to give more to his clients'.... Costa Rica itself is a place that I hope to return to on a regular basis in the near future however returning there wihout Michael Kaye and his company would be simply inthinkable as the one thing I will never forget as that I was afforded the experience I was because of them - thank you Michael and your amazing team for an incredible week..

Andrea Grisdale

CEO

IC Bellagio, Italy

We scheduled a trip to Costa Rica at the end of July and first week of August 2010. I called several places including Costa Rica Expeditions, and I could not afford them. We had what I call a nice budget, for being gone 11 days, but the price I was quoted was very high. I worked with Meghan at Pacific Trade Winds in Costa Rica and we had a wonderful time. There was not one glitch, it could not have been better. If anybody has any questions, please let me know.

Stacy