- lsktravelz@gmail.com
Not only did I think about spending Spring Break in Costa Rica, Lesley Egbert from Live Longitude Travel helped me plan the trip. Because my flight was at 6:00AM, I made a reservation Friday night at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and took advantage of the Park, Sleep, and Fly promotion. The front desk clerk validated my parking ticket at check-in. That was important because my return flight would put me in Chicago before midnight.
I boarded the free Hyatt shuttle at 3:45AM Saturday. There was a short wait at TSA to start the screening process, but PreCheck was not open. If you have read a post or two, you know I fly out of Midway regularly. I adjusted quickly and headed to my gate. Both flights were uneventful. Upon arriving in Costa Rica, I heard, “Please have your passport, flight itinerary, hotel information, and QR code ready.” Do not rely on your cellular devices to hold most of this information. I printed copies of everything I needed, and so did most travelers. There was an incident as I went through immigration and customs. Officers escorted two people out of the airport. Be prepared with your documents.
If you have ever flown to Mexico and experienced the airport madness, you will appreciate the smooth transition Delta Vacations provide. I walked out of the airport and found the employee wearing the official Delta shirt who introduced me to the driver from TAM transportation. The ride to the Westin is 60 minutes, and the driver provided an impromptu tour as we traveled to the resort. I had two moments traveling when I was startled as a solo traveler. The first moment occurred when I took the ferry to Isla Mujeres in Cancun. My second moment occurred in Costa Rica. As a tourist, I did not anticipate the extreme poverty that exists. I could not imagine a luxury resort in Costa Rica, but the driver stopped.
The TAM driver stopped at the main entrance, but the registration desk for the adult-only section of the property was five minutes away. I received a gold wristband, schedule of resort activities, keys, and paperwork for two reservations before heading to the room. The property is beautiful, my room was perfect, and I looked forward to sitting on the patio every morning. I dropped off my suitcase and headed to the pool area for lunch. I met a couple from South Carolina. We hung out near the pool then I headed back to the room for March Madness. Yep, I missed the Loyola game.
When you work with teenagers, the last thing I wanted to see was anyone under 21 years old. Dinner at Faisanella Saturday and Spirula Trattoria on Sunday were worth the reservation. However, I would have preferred an earlier time. Both reservations were at 8:00PM. I ventured out to experience the buffet at Mitra near the beach. Lots and lots of families made this their choice for breakfast. I did not try the Asian restaurant. However, the couple from South Carolina gave the restaurant a raving review. I tried, but I have not acquired a taste for sushi. Some of the restaurants were closed. The Imperial Sports Bar would have been a great space to watch March Madness.
The property was crawling with children on Spring Break. A lot of locals spent a few days on the property. I have not been swimming since I learned how to swim in high school in the late 70s. I had no desire to go kayaking, paddleboarding, or jet skiing, even though some activities came in the travel package. Of course, I supported the shops on the property, even though I did not need two souvenir ornaments from Costa Rica. The couple from South Carolina went to Tortuguero. Even though they enjoyed their time in the small town, they were annoyed by the haggling. The employee at the COVID-19 test site recommended Tortuguero, but he warned me not to go at night as he described the beautiful sunset. I travel solo often, but I wanted someone with me for safety.
Over the next three days, I would spend most of my time near the adult-only section hanging out by the Royal Beach Club pool. Every morning I woke up and started my day by sitting on the patio listening to the sounds of Costa Rica. While I usually participate in one activity on vacation, my biggest concern for this trip was making sure I got the correct channel and times for March Madness. The last Michigan game was on TBS, and it was in Spanish. Even though I did not go to the fitness center, I made sure I recorded 30 minutes of activity on my Fitbit by walking around the property every day. Although I did not see lions, tigers, and bears on the property, other wildlife enjoyed walking around.
Lesley briefly explained the procedure for getting tested. I went to the facility on the resort for my COVID-19 test. I had the option to get tested at a hospital nearby which was less expensive. How many COVID-19 tests have I taken? Seven. I chose the antigen test this time because it was less expensive. I checked my email the next day. No results. I freaked out. I walked over to the testing center and was told, “You should have received your results yesterday. Check your junk mail.” Nothing. The employee looked up my passport number and sent the results while I waited. Negative. You should also know the test results have an expiration date.
On my last day in Costa Rica, I ordered room service and dined on the patio. I met the driver from TAM at 9:00AM. If you think you can avoid taking a COVID-19 test before heading home, you cannot. You need to upload a screenshot, receive a QR code, and the agent will check your code against your passport. Because I had 90 minutes before boarding, I waited in the Priority Pass VIP Liberia Lounge. After going through immigration and customs in Atlanta, I headed to a Delta Sky Club for complimentary refreshments and cocktails. I landed safely at O’Hare, took the free shuttle to the Hyatt, and retrieved my vehicle from the parking lot. I enjoyed spending Spring Break in Costa Rica, and I look forward to spending time at the newly acquired HGV property in the future.
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