We would stay in a family suite, which includes two king size beds and a private terrace with a balcony a “picturesque volcano view.” The family suite has a first floor and a mezzanine bedroom above with its own private bath. There are also many other amenities provided in each of the rooms including hammocks, rocking chairs, central air conditioning, marbled bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs, satellite TV with 37" flat screen TV, wireless internet, etc. The Springs Resort and Spa provides superior accommodations, which is extremely important to this dream vacation. I believe the most important part of this room is the view of the Arenal Volcano. I would be able to lounge on the balcony in a hammock, relax and watch the sunset with the view of the Volcano.
Why Costa Rica?
I recently saw The Springs Resort and Spa on ABC’s The Bachelor, coupled with pictures from my friend’s family vacation there, and I immediately wanted to visit Costa Rica. The beauty of the resort and all the activities it has to offer amazed me.
After searching The Springs Resort and Spa on tripadvisor.com, I noticed that it has a very high traveler rating. Out of 223 reviews, 192 people rated their stay as excellent. Many of the reviewers on Trip Advisor say that their vacation was “amazing, beautiful, an experience head and shoulders above most others, slice of heaven, paradise on earth” and etc. Therefore, after researching Costa Rica and the Springs Resort and Spa for myself, I knew that this would be my dream vacation.
After searching The Springs Resort and Spa on tripadvisor.com, I noticed that it has a very high traveler rating. Out of 223 reviews, 192 people rated their stay as excellent. Many of the reviewers on Trip Advisor say that their vacation was “amazing, beautiful, an experience head and shoulders above most others, slice of heaven, paradise on earth” and etc. Therefore, after researching Costa Rica and the Springs Resort and Spa for myself, I knew that this would be my dream vacation.
According to reviewers on Trip Advisor, the hotel staff offers first-rate customer service and are very friendly. Additionally, the food is exceptional and the architecture is modern and has exquisite detailing. The grounds are planted with beautiful shrubs and flowers enhancing the landscapes of the resort. The resort is very private, making you feel very safe and secure.
The Springs Resort and Spa at Arenal has a spectacular view of the Arenal Volcano, natural hot and cold springs, four unique dining experiences, and a full service spa. This resort promises to overwhelm its guests in every aspect of quality, service, and design. The Springs Resort and Spa is the ideal resort for bird watching, hiking, wildlife tours, and kayaking. This hotel is located twenty minutes from the main town, La Fortuna, where tourists are able to experience the local culture of Costa Rica.
In order to prepare for the vacation, we must book the flights and room reservations. Then, we will research the activities we want to do at the resort and view the recommendations from other tourists to provide the ultimate vacation experience in Costa Rica. As the official language in Costa Rica is Spanish, we must learn the basic sentences/phrases and words required when traveling and staying at the hotel. Additionally, we should convert our Canadian dollars into Costa Rican Colons for the ease of paying for activities, meals and etc. Lastly, we must bring our passports, camera, identification, luggage, sunscreen, and toiletries.
| Budget | ||
| Flight | $800 x 3 adults/1 child | 3200 |
| Family suite | $505/night x 9 nights | 4545 |
| Tax | 13% | 590.85 |
| Total room amount | 5135.85 | |
| Massage | $115 x 1 adult | 115 |
| ATV tour | $40 x 2 adults | 80 |
| Horseback riding tour | $35 x 3 adults/1 child | 136 |
| Canopy tour | $66 x 3 people, $44 x 1 child | 242 |
| Miscellaneous | 200 | |
| Total | $14244.7 |
Transportation
To travel to The Springs Resort and Spa according to a travel agent at itravel2000.com, we will first have to travel from Toronto Pearson Airport to Miami. Then we will have to go from Miami to Liberia, Costa Rica. From Liberia, we will have to take a bus/shuttle to the Springs Resort and Spa. According to the travel agent, this will cost approximately $800 per person.
To travel around in Costa Rica, you can take public transit, rent a car/motorcycle, taxi or by plane.
Costa Rica Tourism Industry
The Costa Rica tourism industry has grown dramatically over the past years. By 1995, tourism became the largest foreign exchange earner in Costa Rica. The tourism boom began in 1987, and in 1992 over 500 000 foreigners visited Costa Rica spending an estimated $200 million, which created 15 000 jobs. The industry now employs 500 000 Costa Ricans (17% of the population). Tourism is now on par with bananas, which has become a key economic priority in Costa Rica. Many new hotels are under construction to further develop the tourism industry.
Since the late 1980s, Costa Rica became a popular nature travel destination for foreigners. Costa Rica’s competitive advantage is it’s well-known system of national parks and protected areas. Costa Rica is home to a variety of flora and fauna, as well as numerous beaches and volcanoes that can be safely visited.
Due to the global economic crisis, travelers to Costa Rica began to decline in 2008. However, in 2010 the number of visitors rose to 2.098 million people.
Activities
During this dream vacation, my family and I plan on being adventurous tourists. This travel experience will be different from anything we have undergone before.
During this dream vacation, my family and I plan on being adventurous tourists. This travel experience will be different from anything we have undergone before.
Horseback riding tour- $35/person for 1 hour
This tour allows guests to view the wildlife and the Arenal river, primary rainforest and Arenal Volcano. I haven’t been horseback riding since I was younger so I believe this would be a perfect way to horseback ride and view the landscapes and wildlife that Costa Rica has to offer with my family.
ATV tour- $40/person for 1.5 hours
My mother and I would go on the Wildlife Preserve and Off Road Trails Tour. I have never been able to ATV before, so this would be an activity that would challenge me. The ATV tours offer breathtaking Volcano and lake views and opportunities for wildlife sighting. This would definitely be an adventurous experience for my Mom and myself.
Canopy tour- $66/adult, $44/child for 3 hours
This is the ultimate adrenaline tour. Sky Trek is a system of zip lines ranging from mountain to mountain which allows you to glide along cables as high as 524 feet. Additionally, this tour offers an incredible sky tram ride over the rainforest and views of the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal.
Lastly, I want to spend part of a day visiting the main town, La Fortuna. This will enable to me to fulfill my goal of experiencing the local culture. During our day visit, we will take a taxi from The Springs Resort and Spa to La Fortuna. While in La Fortuna, we will have lunch in a local restaurant and visit many souvenir shops.
On previous vacations, I spent most days relaxing on the beach and not participating in many activities that the resort had to offer. This vacation I want to be more involved and take full advantage of the amenities The Springs Resort and Spa has to offer.
Most days I want to spend relaxing at one of the many hot springs and pools. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be eaten at one of the four restaurants. These include Las Ventas (fine dining), Tres Cascadas (buffet), Ginger Sushi, and Treetops Grill. Then on the other days I spend not relaxing by the pool, I want to partake in the activities listed above.
9:00am- Wake up and have breakfast
10:00am- Pool/Daily activity
1:00pm- Lunch
1:30pm- Pool/Daily activity
6:00pm- Dinner
7:00pm- Nightly activities
My goals of this vacation are to experience a new culture, strengthen my family's relationship, relax, and participate in activities that challenge me and broaden my horizons. Costa Rica offers something for every tourist depending on their interests and goals of their vacation.
Adventurist: Costa Rica is known for its adventurous activity offerings. Some of these activities include rafting, hiking, surfing, horseback riding, ATV tours, and etc. These activities allows tourists to see parts of Costa Rica you wouldn’t be able to see any other way.
Relaxation seeking: Costa Rica has many sandy white beaches that allow you to relax in the sun. These individuals are completely satisfied spending their days on the beach without any organized activities. These tourists shield themselves from the real experience of the destination and have little contact with the local culture/people.
Sightseeing: Costa Rica has numerous tropical rainforests and volcanoes that are worth seeing. These tourists want to surround themselves in the local culture and attempt to get as far from home and familiarity as possible. This being said, these individuals would enjoy a tour of local villages and islands, as well as tours of Volcanoes (Poas, Irazu, Arenal).
The Springs Resort and Spa in Costa Rica is the ideal luxurious vacation. I believe that this trip will be a once in a lifetime experience. I hope to be amazed by the Costa Rican culture and activities provided by the Springs Resort and Spa. Upon returning to Canada, I anticipate that I will want to take full advantage and engage in the opportunities presented to me at University and in my personal life.
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