You can read in the newspapers about tourists who have suffered accidents while vacationing in Costa Rica. You can read about tourists who have become gravely ill while visiting Costa Rica. You can listen to the rants about how expectations regarding these crises have not been met.

This is not about beating anyone up who has endured a horrible experience. These events have caused pain, suffering and financial hardships. It is a tragedy whenever someone becomes injured or sick at a time when they are paying for a memorable holiday.

The real issue is, taking personal responsibility on your holiday. First, whenever you leave your area of health insurance coverage, you should purchase travel insurance. If would not go uninsured at home, why would you travel to a foreign country uninsured?

Travel insurance is available, online, via companies like World Nomads, Travel Guard, Insure My Trip, etc. Just Google travel insurance and you will see many options. A standard insurance policy for a couple traveling for a week, through World Nomads, (a company my family uses), is $98. A policy for 3 weeks is $170. It includes emergency evacuation.

Some of you purchase flight insurance and never think about your personal needs. Costa Rica is a personal responsibility country. Costa Ricans are not likely to be very sympathetic to someone who is angry about their care and the associated costs. Things happen and being prepared is your only protection. The same goes for tourists traveling to the US. There are no free rides. Hospitals are money-makers, not charities.

Second, when you are planning your adventure activities, always use reputable tour companies and guides. This is not the time or place to go bargain hunting. The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” holds very true. But you may also get a whole lot more…

A woman in her 50’s who rented a condominium from me was checked in by me personally and given a list of recommended activities and agencies to book through. I was not making a commission. I merely wanted her to be safe. She later told me that she had found a guy with a smaller boat that took her to the island for less money. She was very proud. I was horrified.

The boat, most likely, had no life jackets, no safety planning, etc., etc. She has no idea how lucky she is. People have drowned in small boats in that location.

Do your due diligence, the same as you would at home. Vacation is not a good time to throw caution to the wind. Make sound choices, pay a bit more when necessary, plan for accidents and illness ahead of time, (just in case) and return home with good memories and great photos.

Double-check your accommodations via Trip Advisor or other review and information sites. Use licensed taxis, turismo vehicles and busses for your transportation. Rent vehicles from reputable agencies that you have researched. Use tour agencies and guides who are certified.

Have a wonderful time, because you will know you are being personally responsible for your holiday and have done your research. And, for those who have not and have sad stories to share, use the hard earned lesson and be smarter next time you travel, anywhere.

Travel is life altering. You can bring back memories, knowledge, new ideas and an appreciation of all you have experienced. Or, you can bring back bitterness and anger that bad things happened to you — most of which could have been prevented — or at least alleviated – by planning ahead.

There is some romantic notion that throwing a few things in a bag and venturing to unexplored places is always going to be sweet and enjoyable.
You, with the Internet available to you, can make that happen, or not.

[custom_script adID=97]

Written by VIP Member Wendy Bishop Strebe who moved with her family to Costa Rica in 2003 from Northern New Mexico. The family built, owned and operated a lodging establishment on the Caribbean side for 7 years. They then moved to the mountains of Heredia, where Wendy, a vegan/vegetarian chef, nutritionist and aromatherapist, provides cooking classes, health coaching and aromatherapy treatments.

Wendy and her family like to spend time in Jaco on the Central pacific coast and also have a lovely weekly and monthly rental in Rohrmoser, San José. In her former life, Wendy worked in environmental issues, watershed restoration, grantwriting and mediation. Wendy has four adult kids and two grandkids.

If you are looking for a comfortable, fully furnished home for rent in an upscale suburb of San Jose, Costa Rica that is available for weekly and monthly rentals, perhaps for a vacation, medical tourism or business then take a look at Wendy’s Costa Rica rental home Casa Orleans here, it’s your perfect home away from home. You can also email Wendy here.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.