pack - Blogs - Tripatini2024-03-29T01:48:04Zhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/packEssential packing tips for your Costa Rica vacationhttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/essential-packing-tips-for-your-costa-rica-vacation2016-03-21T20:27:26.000Z2016-03-21T20:27:26.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009051872,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009051872,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9009051872?profile=original" /></a>Coming to Costa Rica on vacation?</p><p><b> </b></p><p>Here are some quick and easy tips on <b>what to pack for your</b> <strong><a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/travel-tips/costa-rica-family-vacations-easy-staying-vacation-rentals/" target="_blank">vacation in Costa Rica</a></strong>. Of course, what you need depends on where you are going and what you will do, but these general guidelines will serve you well.</p><p><b> </b></p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009005259,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009005259,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9009005259?profile=original" /></a>Costa Rica is a <a href="http://www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/smart-travel/features/the-2016-cool-list/" target="_blank">top 2016 vacation destination</a></b>, offering warm tropical sunshine, beautiful beaches, rainforest adventures, and affordable travel. It is one of the <a href="http://www.latinpost.com/articles/105356/20151230/top-5-safest-cheapest-latin-american-countries-visit-2016.htm" target="_blank">safest countries in Latin America</a> and easy to get around since English is widely spoken.</p><p> </p><p>For easy, affordable accommodations, stay in <a href="http://www.allcostaricarentals.com/en/" target="_blank">Costa Rica vacation rentals</a>. <a href="http://www.allcostaricarentals.com/en/pacifico-condos" target="_blank">Vacation condos</a> or <a href="http://www.villasestivalcostarica.com/index.php/en/" target="_blank">homes</a> give you more space and amenities for often less money than hotels. </p><p> </p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009051898,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009051898,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="640" alt="9009051898?profile=original" /></a>COSTA RICA VACATION PACKING TIPS</b></p><p><b>CLOTHING</b></p><ul><li>Choose clothes that you can mix & match and wear more than once. Vacation rentals also usually have laundry facilities, so you can wash clothes during your trip, allowing you to pack less.</li><li>Quick-dry, nylon or similar non-wrinkle outdoor clothing is best for Costa Rica’s variable climates</li><li>Comfortable beach-wear and light tropical clothing for the coasts and lower elevations</li><li>At least one long-sleeved shirt, light sweater or jacket for chilly evenings in higher elevation places, such as San Jose, Monteverde, San Gerardo de Dota, Irazú and Poás Volcanoes, etc</li><li>Water-resistant rain jacket or poncho with a hood: it rains in the rainforest!</li><li>A sun hat or ball cap – a must for protection against the hot tropical sun</li><li>Comfortable footwear, including good all-purpose walking shoes, light beach sandals, and at least one pair of closed-toe all-terrain sandals or running shoes for adventurous activities.</li></ul><p><b> </b></p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009052697,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009052697,original{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="9009052697?profile=original" /></a>ACCESSORIES</b></p><ul><li>Cell phone or tablet (Wi-Fi is common in Costa Rica now). Don’t forget the chargers and necessary cables.</li><li>Camera with extra memory card and batteries.</li><li>Small backpack / daypack for day trips</li><li>Small travel flashlight or head lamp</li><li>If you are into wildlife viewing and bird-watching, bring binoculars</li><li>Travel alarm clock or just use your cell phone</li><li>Sunscreen – a sports waterproof type with at least 30 SPF</li><li>Insect repellent</li><li>Daily hygiene products and personal medication</li><li>Small travel first-aid kit</li></ul><p><b> </b></p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9009053068,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="224" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9009053068,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9009053068?profile=original" /></a>IDENTIFICATION & MONEY</b></p><ul><li>Passport – must be valid for at least six months after your trip finishes. When out on tours, leave your original passport in a safe place and carry a copy.</li><li>Valid driver’s license for vehicle rentals</li><li>Credit cards – Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted; be sure to alert your bank of your travel plans.</li><li>Cash in U.S. dollars (note that $100 bills are hard to cash except in a bank). Nearly all banks have ATMs where you can use your ATM or debit card. Exchange for Costa Rican Colons in a bank rather than at the airport for a better exchange rate.</li><li>Emergency contact information; put this information in your luggage and wallet.</li></ul><p><b> </b></p><p> <b><i>Article by Shannon Farley</i></b></p></div>Pack with a purpose when you visit Santa Teresa, Costa Ricahttps://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/pack-with-a-purpose-when-you-visit-santa-teresa-costa-rica2015-04-24T02:12:05.000Z2015-04-24T02:12:05.000ZShannon Farleyhttps://tripatini.com/members/ShannonFarley<div><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008951088,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="250" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008951088,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008951088?profile=original" /></a>If you are a <a href="http://www.whattowearonholiday.com/en/index.php" target="_blank">Pack Light</a> traveler, you probably often find yourself with extra room in your luggage when you go on vacation. Have you ever thought about using that available luggage space to provide supplies to communities you visit?</p><p> </p><p>The desire to <b>give back or contribute to the place people visit as tourists</b> is a fast-growing movement around the world. <b>Volunteer vacations</b>, or volunteerism, are a very popular way to take a vacation. Another way is to <b>“pack for a purpose”</b> and <b>bring needed school and community supplies</b> to your vacation destination.</p><p> </p><p><b><a href="http://www.pranamarvillas.com/en/" target="_blank">Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat</a> in Costa Rica</b> has been cooperating with the program <a href="http://www.packforapurpose.org/" target="_blank">Pack for a Purpose</a>, which connects travelers wanting to make meaningful contributions to help the places they visit and local community-based projects that receive and use the supplies.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008950694,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="250" class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008950694,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008950694?profile=original" /></a>“Every time there is a yoga retreat coming and they ask us if there is a way to help the community, we tell them to <b>make a little space in their luggage and bring colored pencils, scissors, notebooks, coloring books, etc. to donate to the local schools</b>,” commented Tania Bertolo, Concierge at Pranamar Villas.</p><p> </p><p>In 2014, the <a href="http://pranamarvillas.com/en/the-hotel.html" target="_blank">beachfront hotel on Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica</a> <b>donated supplies to local schools</b> in the nearby communities of Manzanillo and Montezuma that had been <b>brought by hotel guests as donations</b>.</p><p> </p><p>“We would like to <b>offer to our guests</b> <b>that if they would like to do something to help our community</b>, and they can make a little space in their luggage, to <b>bring supplies for the children</b>. We have this great organization to give the donations to that is working with the children in our community,” said Bertolo.</p><p> </p><p>That organization is the non-profit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aprendiendo-Unidos/1542192829333490" target="_blank">Aprendiendo Unidos</a> (meaning “Learning Together” in Spanish). Since March 2014, <b>Aprendiendo Unidos has been helping the local children of Santa Teresa and neighboring communities</b> who attend schools that don’t have ample educational resources and school supplies.</p><p> </p><p>Gabriela Medina, Director of Aprendiendo Unidos, said <b>the organization currently helps four schools in the Santa Teresa area</b>: Bello Horizonte in Manzanillo, Mal Pais, and two tiny rural schools of San Fernando and Bajos de Ario.</p><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008951255,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="500" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008951255,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008951255?profile=original" /></a>“We have learned that the <b>public schools are really lacking in books, paper, pens</b> … all the things we take for granted as part of a school’s supply to the students. However, that is not the case in the public schools in Costa Rica,” noted Pranamar Villas’ owner, Susan Money. “<b>We invite our guests to pack a few notebooks, or any school supplies they can fit, into their suitcases</b> for us to distribute to various schools. It sets a tone of appreciation not only from those of us who are residents, but from people all over the world who are able to spend time in this part of the world.”</p><p><br /> “<b>Pranamar will make sure your gifts go directly to the schools</b>, and your kindness will make a difference long after you leave!” Money added.</p><p> </p><p><b><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008951701,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="250" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008951701,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008951701?profile=original" /></a>What can you bring or give:</b></p><p><b>Ongoing needs:</b></p><ul><li>School supplies like pencils, notebooks, kids’ scissors, backpacks, etc.</li><li>Art supplies for painting and coloring</li><li>Children’s books in English or Spanish</li><li>Ball caps, sun hats and sunscreen for kids</li><li>Water filters and re-usable water bottles</li><li>Games like puzzles, Scrabble, etc.</li><li>Musical instruments</li><li>Funds to help pay for school uniforms, assist with nutritional support at the schools, upgrade school facilities</li></ul><p> <b>Requests for 2015:<a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008952066,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="200" class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008952066,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008952066?profile=original" /></a></b></p><ul><li>6 First aid kits for the schools</li><li>50 New or gently-used yoga mats to teach kids yoga</li><li>IPod and speakers to use for dance lessons & yoga</li><li>50 Mini-computers or tablets for language lessons, etc.</li></ul><p> </p><p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9008923452,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img width="600" class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9008923452,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9008923452?profile=original" /></a><a href="http://www.pranamarvillas.com/en/" target="_blank">Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat</a></p><p>On <b><a href="http://www.enchanting-costarica.com/costa-rica-2/santa-teresa-costa-rica-chosen-top-beach-central-america/" target="_blank">award-winning</a> <a href="http://pranamarvillascr.com/en/the-beach.html" target="_blank">Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica</a></b>, on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, <b>Pranamar Oceanfront Villas</b> specializes in <strong><a href="http://pranamarvillas.com/en/yoga/yoga-classes-and-retreats.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica yoga retreats</a></strong> and <b><a href="http://pranamarvillas.com/en/packages/surf-yoga-packages.html" target="_blank">Costa Rica surfing vacations</a>,</b> with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pranamaroceanfrontvillas" target="_blank">daily yoga classes</a> for hotel guests and the public.</p><p> </p><p><b><i>Article by Shannon Farley</i></b></p><p> </p></div>How Do You Unpack After a Trip?https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/how-do-you-unpack-after-a-trip2010-01-28T02:41:16.000Z2010-01-28T02:41:16.000ZCarol Margolishttps://tripatini.com/members/CarolMargolis<div>The most-viewed article on my website, <a href="http://www.smartwomentravelers.com" target="_blank">SmartWomenTravelers.com</a> is <b>Top 7 Tips for Packing Your Suitcase</b>. But unpacking my suitcase is actually a bigger chore than packing it! This got me thinking about the different ways that people unpack their suitcases.Upon returning from a trip, my husband immediately (and I mean <u>immediately</u>!) opens up his luggage, gets his dirty clothes into the washer and totally empties out his bag. I, on the other hand, roll the luggage into our bedroom where it sits next to my nightstand for a day …. or two … or more. I hate unpacking!When I am home for just few days, I usually do not open my bag until a few hours before I need to pack it again. My workout clothes are washed and repacked, but the other clothes can get washed or dry-cleaned when I have time. My small bottles of liquids get refilled with shampoo or conditioner, if needed, and get tossed right back into the luggage. My makeup bag and hair brush stays in the bag to be ready for the next trip.Returning from a vacation, I’ll wait just as long before emptying out my bag, if I ever truly empty it. Check any piece of luggage and you’ll likely find maps, ticket stubs, boarding passes or other miscellaneous items. The only item that I always put back in its place, and immediately, is my passport. I leave that at home in a safe place when I am not traveling internationally.A coach of mine used to get very frustrated by his wife’s still-packed suitcase sitting in their bedroom, but he did not want to be the one to unpack her bag. Then he figured out a perfect way for her to want to empty it out – and fast! He’d invite friends over for dinner, friends who had not seen their new home. Of course they’d want to see all the rooms in the house, so his wife just had to get her suitcase unpacked and put away before her guests showed up. This trick only works for so long, however, before you run out of friends who have never seen your house, or your spouse figures out your stunt.So what is your modus operandi when it comes to unpacking your bag? Are you a get-it-done-now unpacker like my husband? Or do you get around to it when you have time, like me? Or maybe something in-between? Does your bag get put away in a closet or become part of the bedroom furniture as it awaits your next trip?So much is written on how to pack … now let’s hear about how to unpack -- painlessly! I'd love to hear how you make this an efficient process once you return home from a trip.</div>