We'd never been to Costa Rica before and do not speak Spanish. So we knew we needed assistance booking our trip. According to our go-to source, TripAdvisor, Costa Rica Expeditions was our best bet. Every single Costa Rica Expeditions employee gave us five star GOLD service.
On CRE's website is a questionnaire so that they can make a vacation for you that serves every need/desire you have for an excellent trip. I filled out all the blanks and sent it off. Within hours, I was contacted by a CRE planner.
I told him how long I wanted to stay, what I wanted to see, and what I was willing to spend. He made an itinerary reflecting exactly what I'd asked for. He explained about the 1/2 deposit when booking and the other 1/2 30 days out from the trip. From the very beginning, I was impressed with the individual care and concern about making our trip great.
Our vacation planner was always a step ahead of us in sending confirmations and information. We were confident that we would be cared for as if we were VIPs. My husband, who worries about every detail, was confident that we were in excellent hands. From sign-up to after the vacation, we had detailed information about what was next.
Our hotels were excellent... we were immersed in the Pura Vida of Costa Rica. The food was superb. Connection times were exactly as planned. We never once doubted that we were important to CRE.
Our drivers and guides were exceptional. Andrew Newcomb stayed with us for 5 days, escorting us from San Jose to Torteguero to San Jose to Punta Islita. His interaction and care for us was far, far beyond expectations. He was personable, bilingual, and knew much about everything we were interested in. About 7am as we were on the move from one side of the country to the next, Andrew told us that there had been a minor accident with the driver that had been originally assigned to us. The accident was NOT his fault and he was hale/hearty, but he couldn't make the connection to pick us up.
Costa Rica Expeditions had contacted Alex, another of their wonderful drivers, to take the original person's place. Alex was exactly on time for the connection and stayed with us for the next several days. His driving and care for the job was exemplary. Although he did not speak English, there was no doubt in our minds that both Alex and Andrew truly wanted us to have the vacation of our dreams.
If you are going to Costa Rica, by all means, use the services of Costa Rica Expeditions. Tell them what you want your experience to be. They will grant your every wish. Every employee we came in touch with was exceptional.