A Girls’ Trip to Costa Rica. But With No Phones, Did It Happen?

Despite economic uncertainty and the rising cost of living, there’s one thing some of us are unwilling to give up: travel. A recent study by American Express in the United Kingdom found that almost half of the population are more interested in taking a major trip this year than previously, while more than half of those surveyed said they are saving up for a bucket list adventure. While our wanderlust hasn’t dampened, the way we travel post-pandemic has changed in many ways, and many travelers are more savvy than ever when securing a jet-set deal.

Back in 2021, a 22-year-old from Arkansas named Trevor Rainbolt shuttered himself in his Los Angeles apartment to memorize the world. For months, he spent his time studying Google Street View from his desk chair. Delivery drivers handed over his meals; a barber came to style his hair. After a while, his memory grew planetary. When you see cabbage-like plants thriving along the sides of a Russian country road, he learned, you’re most likely looking at Sakhalin Island. On a bridge lined with pea-green pavement? You’re above a river in Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan province. If your vista, but for the sweep of golden grasslands, screams South Africa, you’ll be in Eswatini.

As savvy as seasoned advisors may be on the nuances of travel, it’s not possible for them to have their fingers on the pulse of every destination on the planet. That’s where destination management companies (DMCs) come into play, say travel sellers who capitalize on their services.

Last month, as I explored Costa Rica's Pacific coast, I took particular care to visit the Blue Zone of the Nicoya Penninsula.

I had just turned 9 when I discovered Anthony Bourdain's show "No Reservations." It wasn't like the other Travel Channel shows. Sure, the premise was straightforward: Bourdain traveled around the world to meet up with locals and try their cuisine. But instead of focusing on tourist hot spots and flashy, curated experiences, "No Reservations" was about traveling by the seat of your pants and getting as close to the local culture as any outsider could be allowed. I was an immediate disciple.

Diplo, born Thomas Wesley Pentz, fell in love with Jamaica, particularly its Portland parish on the northeast coast, nearly 20 years ago. “I was D. J.ing on a cruise ship, got off in Ocho Rios, and drove through Port Antonio to get to Kingston,” said the 13-time Grammy nominee who has collaborated with Dua Lipa, Sturgil Simpson, Snoop Dogg, Shakira, Bad Bunny and countless other musicians. “Portland is sort of like Costa Rica, all jungly and waterfalls. And Port Antonio is this quaint little town where I’d go on a sort of retreat, “Mr. Pentz added. About eight years ago he bought some farmland and built a house there.

When planning a multigenerational trip with 11 other people, I knew I wanted to head somewhere warm.

My partner and I decided to splurge on a vacation to Costa Rica for a milestone birthday celebration this year. We spent 12 nights traveling across the western side of the country, trying to soak up as many of the Central American country's highlights as possible.

Need an escape from your everyday life? We’ve got the ultimate tropical getaway for you—a chance to win a dream stay at the luxurious adults-only Hotel Three Sixty in Ojochal, Costa Rica. The lucky sweepstakes winner and a guest will be whisked away to this eco-luxury resort paradise, with accommodations, flights, meals, and more included.

As two Central American titans of tourism, how do you choose between Costa Rica and Panama? Both have incredible landscapes teeming with wildlife, beautiful beaches dotted along both the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines and a vibrant local culture. 

Welcome back to another episode of the TravelPulse Podcast!

Airbnb hasn’t been vocal about its strategy for experiences since it paused adding new ones last year or even a couple of weeks ago when it confirmed it has been removing some experiences providers from its platform.