Anyone been to Costa Rica with TUI?

[BlowDryRat]

I'm hopefully going this summer with DH and the DC (12 and 9). We've booked a tour through TUI, with 7 nights exploring different places and 7 nights all-inclusive on the beach. I'm really looking forward to it but I keep getting jitters over the AI hotel. We chose Dreams Las Mareas for the pool and the kids club but I keep wondering if we'll get bored. I really wanted to do snorkeling and cruising the coastline but it's so far from the main touristy bit of Guanacaste that options are limited. I'm not bothered about inland activities so much as that's what we're doing for the first week.

Has anyone been with TUI? Which hotel did you choose and what was it like?

[ZiggysPFrow]

We are also planning a trip to Costa Rica, so watching this hopefully!

[earsup]

My sister went about 4 years ago...not sure where but said it was the best trip ever...enjoyed it all...!!

[BlowDryRat]

We were supposed to go last summer but Costa Rica was still on the red list. I can't tell you how grumpy I was about it, I was looking forward to it so much. The DC don't want to talk about it in case it doesn't happen again and they're disappointed.

[Silkieschickens]

We went a few years ago with TUI to Costa Rica with kids a similar age to yours will be and all loved it. We did it as 2 weeks at the hotel but with trips out every other day which worked really well as the trips were amazing but long days. There was lots to do at the hotel, swimming, kayaking, windsurfing, beach, beach volleyball, water volleyball and it was surrounded by rainforest so there were raccoons, a coati, monkeys, gecko etc wandering round the grounds. Food was excellent. We were at RUI Guanacaste and lots of trips out from there, often takes 2 hours to get to places but driving through rainforest etc. The RUI was good but it was lively, nice rooms, amazing food with waiter service every night if you wanted, great sporting activities included but definitely on the lively side and beach was more for sports than sunbathing but that suited us. You could still sunbathe but was a bit wild looking. Not sure how much covid would have affected things but Costa Rica is somewhere we would go back to and due to uncertainty would book with someone like TUI again, had a nightmare getting refunds when booked directly with hotels etc for 2020. Would have thought you could get sailing and snorkelling from hotel either directly or on trips.

We did waterslide through jungle, ziplines through rainforest, active volcanoes, trips to see sloths, horseriding through rainforest, kayaking in sea, Arenal volcano and spa hotel, hot springs, beach volleyball, botanical and butterfly gardens, saw raccoons and coati and toucans and monkeys and sloths in wild. Went to Diamante, just next to our hotel.

[Silkieschickens]

We met a couple on honeymoon who did the trips package first and they said it was amazing and was only 4 of them on it, there's was 4 days then a week at hotel and they were doing more trips from hotel as well. Ours had about 20 trips to choose from so if you do want to go out again there is loads of choice assuming covid has not restricted choices.

[BlowDryRat]

Sounds amazing! What was the jungle waterslide like? If it's the one I'm thinking of the reviews were a bit on the broken bone side.

[Silkieschickens]

It was at Buena Vista, we all loved it there, no issues with the waterslide, just a normal waterslide, there are steps up to it and it isn't massively wide but anyone of a normal size following instruction would not have problems. No-one in our tour had issues and most went several times. It was good fun. I would go in a swimming costume or longer rather than bikini but just need normal precautions like any waterslide. You also need to be fit enough to climb up a hill a few times if you want to go a few times. Maybe someone obese or wearing insufficient swimwear could scratch themselves but would say it was very safe. TUI do regular safety checks on everywhere they use and would say it was similar safety level to UK.

We saw lots of monkeys in trees there, toucans, you zipline past them, the zipline is only about 30 metres up so much lower than Diamante's which is a few hundred metres up and much faster but seemed perfectly safe as long as you followed safety instructions. There was also horse riding and hot springs and you went past active volcanoes and in rainforest. The horse riding was nice though a bit muddy when we were there in August.

[Silkieschickens]

We did take insurance which covered activities such as ziplining and horseriding etc as normal insurance generally does not cover accidents from that but don't think it cost too much extra.

[ihatethecold]

My Thailand trip in April has just been cancelled and i'm considering Costa Rica instead. Ive always wanted to go.
We love wildlife and thought the Mayan Riviera was amazing for seeing animals. I cant imagine how much better CR is for this.

[BlowDryRat]

Snap. We went to the Riviera Maya in 2021 and would love to go back. I'm hoping CR is just as good, if not better.

[LambLamb]

Hello!
We are also looking at Costa Rica with Tui for next Easter but keep getting told to do it ourselves independently. DH and I travelled extensively pre DC and have never been to an all inclusive resort (we usually book villas) but am slightly nervous going further afield with them to a country I know not a lot about. Sounds silly really.
We are looking for a resort that we can do day trips from, and will make it my mission this week to get a shortlist.
Any ideas welcome!

[rookiemere]

I've not been but someone on here highly recommended the Tulemar resort in Manuel
Antonio.
We had a full DIY trip organised for summer 2020 which of course didn't happen and probably never will now as DS has a big rugby trip to SA next summer and probably too old to want to go away with us the following year.

[rookiemere]

Oh and BA no longer doing direct flights from Gatwick.

[Quartz2208]

We did right when first choice (now part of TUI) started the route. We were some of the first people who did it in 2008

it is amazing hoping to go back next year (now the kids at 13 and 9 are old enough)

We had the AI as a base and used a local tour firm to do trips out - looking at yours maritojobotours.com/ is right by you

Have a look to see if you are missing something in your 7 day tour. We did Palo Verde, the Diamante zip lining Arenal VOlcano and Rain forest walk

Really lovely to have local guides etc. Maybe see if anything is missing from your other 7 days and fit in one or two to break the week up

[LambLamb]

I have an appointment with tui this weekend. It looks like the tui tours are for 12 years plus. Neither of my kids are old enough. If we can book some tours from the resort, that would be ideal.

[Icecreamsprinkles]

I am off to Costa Rica next January after having to cancel last year due to covid. Can’t wait!. We are doing it ourselves but I think you will be fine with the all inclusive . I think the 7 day tour will be quite intense so it will be nice to have some down time and relax at the Las Mareas. I think the kids will love it to. Hope you have a fabulous time and if you get the opportunity let us know how you get on. I would love to hear a trip report

[dumbcrumb]

we went in feb 2020. we did the usual tourist route. Arenal, Monteverdi Uvita and finally Manuel Antonio. we organised it ourselves it was so easy . felt so safe as well
communication was easy it felt really safe
the wildlife was astounding
we saw a everything including a humpback whale and her calf so amazing.
whatever you do you'll have a fabulous time !!

[SuzyQ12]

We went to Costa Rica for a wedding pre Covid and it was fantastic! Great wildlife, the people seemed to genuinely care about conservation, snorkeling was great, zip line, hiking and waterslide in the rainforesr all amazing. The sea is so warm, and the sunset is a real experience, its so fast, literally goes down in seconds! Hope you have a great time!

[ihatethecold]

Where did you stay Suzy and what time of year did you travel to CR?
Id love to go. Take my older kids. We’ve done Mexico a few times and love the wildlife there.

[mellongoose]

Also watching in hope!!

[bestbefore]

We did this trip with a 13 and 10 year old a few years ago - www.exodus.co.uk/costa-rica-holidays/family/costa-rica-adventure-family-holiday/fnr#itinerary was ace - best holiday we've ever had. I don't think it was this expensive then though!
Even if you don't do this trip to follow this sort of intinery is a good start though for us the local guide was 100% worth it. It's an amazing country - we learnt so much there and had some great experiences.

[SuzyQ12]

We went in early December, it was sunny and in the mid 30s weather wise

[Arghteens]

Those going to CR this year, are you taking anti malaria meds? I’m confused! Only checked our Tetanus status is up to date so far, we’re going in July. Any advice?

[RishiRich]

We're not taking anti-malarials. We specifically booked Costa Rica because it's supposed to be malaria-free.

[Arghteens]

Thanks Rishi are you getting any other vaccs? Seems to me we don’t need any?