best route for driving and/or shuttle services

A preview of the 3 Costa Rica locations of the Universities Study Abroad Consortium, along with the cooking and dancing classes.
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Last Friday I Ranted about status quo acceptance of mediocrity and how we can claim our power to send a message about the appalling respSummaryonse to the situation in the Gulf.

Today I want to share a little story of mediocrity in customer service.  This is yet another example of the growing status quo many of us who travel have come to expect…which is a sad, sad state of customer service levels.

I was in West Palm Beach airport last Friday. I was doing a 17 hour turn to visit Frank McKinney and friends, and then rushing to get back to California for a horse event on Saturday.

I got to the airport and the flight was on time. They announced the incoming airplane was on approach as it began to rain.  A quick summer squall moved through for about ten minutes and then the sky was blue.  The plane didn’t show, and didn’t show. Finally they came on the PA to say the plane was diverted to Tampa, but would be back in an hour.  An hour came and went…then 2 hours. Seems the weather went to Tampa with my plane and both stayed there. Everyone on my flight to Houston was going to miss their connections..and all those connections were the last flights out for the night, so needless to say people were a bit ticked.

I was really looking forward to a horse event Saturday am, so I was disappointed to miss it. But I learned long ago it does no good to get upset about airlines. It’s one of those places where we are truly powerless.  I went to get rebooked and then sat to wait another hour for the flight. (It turned out to be 4 hours late.)

But then my senses told me to go back and get a piece of paper with my rebooking info, which the agent conveniently forgot to give me. I went back to the agent, a new guy who checked my record. One look at his face told me I was in trouble.

The first agent booked me to San Jose, Costa Rica.  OOPS.
There were now NO seats to San Jose, Ca until 8pm Saturday night ( you gotta be kidding me)
The agent’s response to my dismay was “Mistakes happen and the weather isn’t our problem. Do you want to get home or not?” (And yes I was very nice, you get nowhere getting mad they have you in their control.) What a customer friendly attitude!

I pushed a bit more and finally got on a flight at 11:30am out of Houston to San Francisco, where I could rent a car and drive to San Jose. ( I would get to Houston by 10:30 pm that night on my late flight, progress!) So I booked it.

I got to Houston and went to get my new boarding pass since my original flight was long gone. The agent gave me a puzzled look.  “Why are you going to Costa Rica? Are you sure that’s your final destination?”

OMG!

This nice lady shook her head as I shared my story. She started typing codes into her system and the next thing you know…I’m on a 9 am flight to San Jose, California. “But there are no seats on that flight?” I questioned. She looked at me like I was demented. “Ma’am, it’s wide open.” So much for overbooked Saturdays.

And then there was the Marriott where I stayed for 7 hours in Houston.

I was starving when I got there so I ordered a big room service chicken caesar salad. It didn’t come, and didn’t come so I finally called at midnight to learn they’d lost the order and closed the kitchen.
Going to bed hungry, I put my little card out on the door for a big breakfast and set the alarm even earlier to have time to eat in peace. 30 minutes before I had to leave for the airport I called them to ask about breakfast. They didn’t have my order.  I opened my door and there was the little card, still there.
I went downstairs starving and looking forward to a Starbucks blueberry scone when I hit the airport.  I had a reservation for the 7:30 shuttle and was there at 7:20, eager to get my food! At 7:40 I went to the front desk to ask about the shuttle.  The agent looked at me with disdain and informed me that the shuttle doesn’t run on Saturdays. When I showed her my reservation slip for a 7:30 shuttle (that the agent had given me when I checked in) she shrugged and said it wasn’t her problem since she didn’t make the mistake. Sigh….
I even got to call my own cab to get to the airport since she was checking in convention goers and was too busy to call for me.

The good news is my flight to CALIFORNIA was easy, with a great flight crew who just laughed with me over my stories.

I arrived in San Jose early, called the shuttle at the hotel where I park my car 2 blocks from the airport and waited.  For 55 minutes.  I called 6 times, was told the valets were told I was waiting, and waited again.  I could see the hotel from my spot, but I can’t walk there thanks to the way the terminal is laid out.

When the shuttle finally arrived almost an hour later, the driver (who knows me) told me the operator inside never gave them any message until 5 minutes earlier.

Some days, you just have to laugh…

And isn’t that a sad thing. Especially when it’s all due to people whose status quo level of service delivery is, well, mediocre at best.

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There are loads of opportunities available to help people get into volunteering abroad however many people could still be asking themselves why bother? Truth of the matter is that giving up your time and going to an under developed country is a tough job and not everyone is cut out for it.

However that’s not to take away from the fantastic experience that volunteering abroad is. There are loads of opportunities available in a variety of projects and countries which means that whatever you would like to help in you will be able too.

Mostly you need no skills for volunteering which means that you can go abroad and start learning new skills in something you may have never considered trying before. When it comes to the length of your stay that is down to you. People that have taken part in volunteering before would recommend staying long as possible however you could stay for as little as 2 weeks in some projects. Volunteering is very much appreciated in any of the needy countries that you choose, so whatever time you can give them will always be welcomed.

Often volunteering is done as part of a project which means that you won’t be alone. Also you are not required to work for every day of your stay which means that you can experience the rest of the country and culture. Whilst you are there you can taste the food, sample the night life in some places and even just sit and communicate with local residents. It is a real humbling experience and many people that have done it have gone back time and time again to donate a little of their time to the people that really need it.

Why not have a look at the different volunteer projects that are available. You can usually have a break in studying to do it, or your employer might even give you time off for this very worthy cause. There are tons of resources online that can help you to understand exactly why your time and help is so vital, so have a look and decide which project you would most like to help.

Image taken on 2010-08-31 12:17:06 by RobertCiavarro.

costa rica bus schedules

cheap way from costa rica to somewhere else in south america? (any help would be wonderful)?

Hello everyone! If anyone has any fantastic resources or any way to help me, I would greatly appreciate it. As of now, I am studying abroad in Santiago, Chile and the man I am in love with is in Costa Rica. I have a two week break in a few days and he has 2 more weeks in Central America. Is there ANY cheap way to get us reunited? I would be willing to fly to Ecuador or Colombia or something… but a $500 flight from CR to one of those places is a little out of his budget. If anyone has any suggestions or ANY way to help us, we would both greatly appreciate it. (maybe someone who knows a flight attendant, someone who just knows bus schedules or helpful information, or even someone who knows someone you sails and is heading down south?) I don’t know, but if you have anything, thank you thank you. We are currently weighed down with aching hearts. Thanks again.

The cheapest way would probably be for you to fly to Panama and for him to bus to Panama.

Finding a Bus in San Jose, Costa Rica

costa rica surfing vacation packages

2-2-10 Coconut Harrys Surf Report Nosara Costa Rica

Image taken on 2008-02-21 14:57:41 by Happy Dogs.

Image taken on 2008-02-21 22:25:30 by Happy Dogs.

Image taken on 2010-02-15 13:56:54 by ARKNTINA.

When I look up the airfare to fly from San Francisco to Costa Rica on Jan 24, 2010, I find $297 with stop-over in Denver.
But when I look up the price from Denver to Costa Rica on the same day, I can only get $453.

Does such difference make any sense to anybody?
Only one segment in 50% more expensive, then the longer flight with connections, containing it.
How the airfares are calculated?

www.RecreoCostaRica.com – Our Costa Rica Resort located close to Liberia, Costa Rica offer elegance in villas and suite appointed with amenities that rival the finest resorts. Located on the Pacific Coast in Northern Costa Rica, Recreo Costa Rica Resort offers all-inclusive luxury villa vacations in one bedroom suites or up-to five bedroom villas. We provide all transportation for your from Liberia International Airport to our Resort and return. Ask your assigned concierge about this additional service during your reservation processing.
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With beautiful Spring like temperature all year round, Segways are always FUN in Costa Rica. Take a tour with us and see full article at: [ www.welovecostarica.com ] Distributed by Tubemogul.
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costa rica tourism board website

Why Costa Rica [INTEL]

Many people in the United States are finding themselves out of a job and also without valuable health insurance. When costly medical procedures are needed, they cannot afford to have them done in the US. Therefore, many people are traveling to foreign countries to have the procedures done. This is called “health tourism”.

In the past, people usually traveled outside the US for non life-threatening procedures such as cosmetic surgery or dental surgery. However, the growing trend is for people to seek foreign treatment for more life-threatening conditions such as heart bypass surgery, heart valve replacements and spinal surgeries. In some cases the cost can be as much as 90% less than it would be in the United States. Popular destinations are Thailand, Costa Rica and India.

As many as 85,000 Americans travel to foreign countries for medical procedures every year. Companies are springing up to meet the needs of this new foreign traveler. In South Carolina, Blue Cross and Blue Shield has started the “Companion Global Healthcare” department to assist clients seeking foreign healthcare. They help with travel arrangements, transportation between airport in hospital and coordination of care.

A worldwide trend

People from many parts of the world, not just America are traveling to other countries to receive healthcare for various reasons. People from Europe travel due to long waiting lists at home, some come from the middle east because they believe the medical personnel are more highly trained and some people travel from Africa because they do not have access to these services in their own country.

What to consider

While traveling abroad for healthcare procedures can be beneficial, there are a few things to consider first. For example, traveling a great distance to and from the other country can be hazardous, depending upon your condition. Anyone considering a foreign medical care should consult with their physician first. Some conditions such as cancer are best treated by a doctor in your own country with whom you have an ongoing relationship.

Investigate ahead of time

Thoroughly investigate the hospital or facility you are considering travel to. Check to make sure that they are accredited with the Joint Commission International, to ensure that they meet US standards. Also talk with the physician to find out how many procedures they have done and where they received their training.

Meet with your physician before you go and make sure they will provide your medical records to the overseas doctors and to make sure both sides have the other’s contact information. Also arrange aftercare before you leave. Make sure you have everything in place for your care when you get home.

If you require a costly surgery and do not have adequate health insurance, traveling to a foreign country for your treatment may be an option. Contact a reputable company to assist you and meet with your own physician to discuss the possibility of a foreign procedure. Thoroughly investigate the foreign facility and doctors your self. Make sure that they are an accredited facility and meet basic guidelines before you go.