The Big Island or Costa Rica?

We are planning a 9 day family vacation in the summer of 2008. We will be traveling with our 3 children, then aged 3,5 and 7 as well as my parents who are in their 60s. All of us physically fit and experienced travelers. Wev%26#39;e done backpacking right through to luxury cruises and are comfortable in all types of accommodation, although don%26#39;t camp. So my question is this - should we go to The Big Island or Costa RIca. I would love to hear from anyone who has done both, especially if they have any experience with intergenerational travel, or travel with smaller children.

The Big Island or Costa Rica?

I have been to Hawaii (all islands) many times and also travel to Belize every year to dive. They are really two opposite vacations. It depends on what you are looking for. In Hawaii, you don%26#39;t have currency or language issues to deal with. Since it is a state, there are no passport or other issues when doing international, especially south of the border, trips. There are highways, good clean water, hospitals, etc. I feel much safer in Hawaii as well.

In Costa Rica, if you are into water sports, the water temp is much warmer.

Intergenerational travel is fabulous. We, as grandparents, get to show our kids and grandkids our fav places to travel and enjoy babysit ting so adult kids can go do something on their own. Sharing vacation experiences together is great, but don%26#39;t hesitate to get out on your own and enjoy things together without the rest of the fam.

The Big Island or Costa Rica?

Aloha,

I have not done Costa Rica, I have done Panama. I have done international intergenerational travel including smaller children, often.

I have very close friends who go to Costa Rica almost yearly. We hope to join them on one of their trips soon.

Do you or any in your party speak Spanish? I ask this because she shares that although English is a second language in Cost Rica it does help to know Spanish. On her first trip they hired tour guides, complete with cars, to take them hiking and exploring. She felt this was a great way to get to know the country.

My friends have compared the Big Island to Costa Rica because they share many common things: Ocean, Rain Forest, Volcano, Beaches, Hiking... So it seems to me you are on the right path....

I have traveled all of the word with children and sometimes parents in tow. Many of my friends thought I was crazy taking a 4 and 8 year old along with a 78 year old and his wife (age not available for print) on a 22 hour flight from Maine to New Zealand... results were always worth it. I can tell you this, Hawaii will be easier and rewarding. You can drink the water, eat the food, speak the language etc. Yet you will still be able to experience another culture.

The Hawaiian Culture is rich in art, history, science,aloha, nature and more.

There are plenty of hikes, dives, snorkels and museums to keep you busy. I can not tell you how many times I have paused on a hike, turned to my companions and said ';I can not believe we are in the US, it looks so much like New Zealand';.

Which ever vacation you choose, enjoy, keep us on your short list!

i went to the big island with my 7 yr old and we had a great time - some days were for touring, or hiking, and some days were just for sitting on the beach and taking in the water/fish/sunset - i don%26#39;t think you can do any of these too often - i am going to the big islaand this summer with my 2nd daughter and we are going camping - i have always felt completely safe amoungst the polonesian peoples - it will be great with children - just be sure they understand there are no amusement park rides -

last summer i went with my 2 daughters 17 %26amp; 7 to costa rica - for 2 months - we had an suv and a map - english was fine but we did learn spanish communication skills within the first week or two - we just picked out a place on the map and went - if we liked it we stayed if not we moved on - it was wonderful and i also felt completely safe there - we basically explored the whole country - it was great - i%26#39;d do it again anytime -

bullsoter - you%26#39;re probably getting from all these posts that Hawai%26#39;i and Costa Rica are both great. It just depends on what exactly you%26#39;re looking for! I%26#39;ve been to both and love them both. So, if you ask more specific questions, we can give you more specific info!

FWIW, Costa Rica will be wetter in summer than the BI (unless you planned to stay in Hilo the whole time!). It tends to be much cheaper, overall, but getting from sight to sight can be more difficult, depending on how far you go. Things are modernizing fast (some say too fast) in much of Costa Rica, but in general accommodations are a little rougher. Both have gorgeous land and flora, but the BI would be the place to go if you are interested in marine life - better snorkeling and easier access to dolphins, whales, and turtles, even though those are all present in CR (the ocean water is clearer in Hawaii). Costa Rica, on the other hand, has more diverse critter life on land. No monkeys, sloths or coatis on the BI!

Contemplating my niece and nephew, who are 3 %26amp;1/2 and 8 %26amp; 1/2, I%26#39;d probably take them to HI, all things considered. It%26#39;s a little bit more comfortable of a stay in the summer, unless you have a lot of money and want to stay in only very touristy areas in CR. There%26#39;s no language barrier (although respectful translates everywhere!) less killer bugs and snakes, tailoring for small children and access to emergency medical care, if necessary. Once my niece got a bit older, I%26#39;d take them to CR - hoping that the best parts of it hadn%26#39;t been over-developed by then...

Either way, both places are great for showing kids the beauties of nature and learning about other cultures. Feel free to ask more questions, but you should have a great time, either way!