The End and Our Travel Tips

We are traveling home today: San Jose — Panama City — Los Angeles — Fresno.  We should be in bed by 11:00 tonight. We've had some awesome experiences yet again. We are blessed. 

We’ve become fairly practiced travelers. We realize we’ve learned some things. We will share them. Read on if you’re interested. 

Nothing ever goes as planned, but with the right attitude, some knowledge/experience, and usually a little luck, our trips turn out great! These are some basic things we try to do, in life, as well as when traveling. 

Learn a little bit about the language and culture of the place you are traveling — 

At least know a greeting or two. English has definitely become an international language. But, using the primary language, at least as an introduction, usually changes the vibe of the interaction and in a positive way. 

For example: We didn’t realize the importance and use of the phrase Pura Vida in Costa Rica. It took a couple days, but once we got used to saying it at appropriate times, it totally changed our interactions with locals for the better. 

Treat everyone you meet, especially service people, extra nice, and be genuine —

People who work in touristy areas often deal with visitors who don’t follow these tips or otherwise are grumpy or frustrated. Be the person who thanks them for their work. Give them a small tip when appropriate. 

For example: Jim asked if our sea turtle tour guide was originally from Tortuguero, hoping to learn about the village. Turned out he was born in Nicaragua, which opened up a different, fun, conversation.  And, Kristi takes time to thank the folks who diligently clean the restrooms at all hours of the day. The shock and surprise on their faces tells you that they rarely receive this well-deserved praise. 

Act like you belong there / walk with purpose — 

Try not to stand in the plaza looking befuddled. If you’re not sure where you’re going, just walk in the direction you think you should go.  Act like you know where you’re going. Then, if you still need to adjust your path, decide to stop out of the way in order to figure it out. You can always go back.

For example: As a six-foot-tall gringo, wearing clothes purchased in the U.S., walking in Central America, Jim is far from inconspicuous. But, we do our best to have a plan and walk like we know what we’re doing, even when we don’t. It reduces the number of interactions with people asking for money or worse. 

Expect problems / Be flexible — 

We don’t mean worry about things. Just remember, things will happen that are out of your control. We’ve had some nerve racking situations, but if it’s out of our control, we try not to let it get in the way of enjoying all of the good experiences. 

For example: There was an accident on the highway again this morning on our way to the airport. We felt the stress.  But what is the worst case scenario?  Missing the flight could add an extra day to your vacation. 

Board the airplane last (unless you’re in first class, which we never are) — 

We know everyone is trying to get to their destination as quickly as possible, but boarding the plane first, while everyone else is fighting to put their luggage away and get seated can be difficult. If you’re the last one on, it’s easy to walk on and get seated. Also, why stand in a line more than you have to? It’s funny because there are usually two or three people who follow this tip and we find ourselves stealthily approaching the gate with them, trying to be last.

Always ask — 

The worst that can happen is the answer is no, but if you’ve been friendly, sometimes you might get something extra. 

For example: When checking in this morning we really wanted to sit in the exit row for our long flight to LAX. It usually costs extra, but after politely asking if the seats were available, the agent changed them for us. You never know.