Multi-Generational Family Travel Thrives in Costa Rica,
Where Kids Can Stay & Eat for Free at Three Top Eco-Resorts

San Jose, Costa Rica, February 25, 2009 – From young adventurers to more senior explorers, Costa Rica is a destination that appeals to all ages, and three resorts in Costa Rica have what it takes to cater to families looking for value for money, and a range of packages and experiences that will appeal as much to grandma and grandpa as they will to teenagers and kids.

An incredible experience any time of the year, Costa Rica ’s shoulder season ( May – September) offers great value in many ways.  Called the “Green Season”  due to an increase in precipitation and rich green growth, showers only fall for a few hours, prices are reduced, crowds are gone while the cloud- forested slopes of the mountains are getting greener, and perfect sunny days at the beach are a regular occurrence.  And starting at the end of March 2009, US low cost carrier Jet blue will join Spirit Air in providing great prices and direct service to Costa Rica from Florida. 

And to entice more families to travel to Costa Rica  during the Green Season, three of the country’s award winning sustainable resorts, Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation & Inn (www.fincarosablanca.com), Lapa Rios Rainforest Eco-lodge ( www.laparios.com)  and  Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort (www.arenasdelmar.com ) are offering free accommodation and meals to children 12 years & under, for July & August. 

 Recognized world-wide for combining sustainable luxury with the highest standards of service, these three resorts can be reserved for separate family stays or linked together to create a milestone journey with the clan through Costa Rica, providing material for family stories for years to come.  From culinary tours and fine cuisine, to meeting local children, families and artists, discovering exotic wildlife while hiking the rain and cloud forests, to climbing waterfalls, relaxing in the spa and learning to surf, to experiencing sustainable eco-tourism, the whole family’s wish list can easily be accommodated.  

 A variety of  family packages are available at the resorts, offering  multiple night stays, meals and guided activities, with overnight room rates averaging from US$220.00 (CDN$275.00*) - US$480.00 (CDN$602.00*) per person depending  on the season.  Finca Rosa Blanca and Arenas Del Mar offer a range of accommodations, including suites with mini- bars, refrigerators and coffee makers that can adapt to any size family, while Lapa Rios’ rainforest bungalows can sleep a family of four comfortably.   And, as all three resorts are managed by Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality, people can simply log onto http://www.cayugaonline.com/familyvacation.html to request assistance to cost out and plan a full itinerary. ( *Canadian rates are  based on current exchange rates)

Showcasing the beauty of Costa Rica is what these resorts do best, and cherished memories may be made when the whole family has the opportunity to interact directly with the local culture and meet members of the local community.  At Finca Rosa Blanca families may take a local community tour with a bi-lingual guide where they will meet the children and teachers of Barrio Jesus Elementary School, and be introduced to local artists.   At Lapa Rios, children are welcome to play and interact with the nearby Carbonera School children and a specially designed Kids Rainforest Tour gives children a firsthand look at Costa Rica’s unique biodiversity.  Families are encouraged to bring art supplies, games and Spanish picture books along to share with local children.  At Arenas Del Mar, a family tour of a certified organic farm provides them with the sights, tastes and aromas of the tropical spices and herbs that play such an important part of Costa Rica’s culinary culture. 

The whole family will also appreciate the fact that all three resorts adhere to stringent sustainable guidelines, and have been recognized for their dedication to reducing their impact while educating guests on the power of protecting and conserving the natural environment and supporting local businesses and communities.

As more and more families travel together, combining rare family time with memory building experiences, the challenge is finding the range of experiences under one resort or destination that keeps everyone engaged and happy while fulfilling their individual vacation desires.   Pre-planning is important and Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality is happy to provide a range of experiences and itineraries for families to choose from.  For more information people may go to http://www.cayugaonline.com/.

 Getting to Costa Rica
It takes between  three  and seven hours to fly to Costa Rica from most U.S. and Canadian cities, and most international flights land in San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (airport code SJO) which is serviced by all the major airlines.  Beginning March 26th, the US low-cost airline JetBlue, will  offer daily direct flights from Orlando, Florida to the Juan Santamaría airport, bringing the total number of commercial airlines that service Costa Rica’s main airport to 13.   Once in Costa Rica, the hospitality teams at Finca Rosa Blanca, Lapa Rios and Arenas Del Mar will assist with booking any internal domestic flights, all which are certified as carbon neutral.

For images and more information, media may contact: Deirdre Campbell, Tartan Group, 250-592-3838 or 250-882-9199

Planning a Successful Multi-Generational Family Vacation:

Knowing the “lay of the land” and developing an itinerary that will take into consideration the whole family’s vacation desires is critical to organizing a stress free family getaway. Below are a few suggestions on how three of Costa Rica’s top resorts can meet everyone’s expectations.

For families travelling with matures or senior members of the family, Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation & Inn (www.fincarosablanca.com)offers easy access to begin or start the family journey, as it is located only 15 minutes from Costa Rica’s International Airport. These family seniors will also appreciate the obvious work ethic behind this family owned and operated resort , the tour of their organic coffee plantation, and the value offered by a well-thought out design that allows suites to be connected to accommodate the whole family while sharing common areas and a kitchenette.

Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort (www.arenadelmar.com) offers the best of both worlds with a beach front and rainforest experience in one sustainable destination.  Its design and layout is well suited for families travelling with the golden generation who prefer to have all amenities close at hand. The grandparents can relax in the spa, on the beach or by the pool, while the rest of the family takes advantage of the resort’s proximity to one of Costa Rica’s most popular national parks and abundance of activities within easy reach – from horseback riding on the beach, to surfing, ocean swimming, kayaking, sun rise and sunset sails to canopy walks and zip lines and numerous options for hiking.   A favourite activity for teenagers is the two hour evening walk around the Arenas Del Mar nature reserve to discover the spin tingling wildlife that only comes out into the rainforest at night. 

And for the family members who like to walk on the wild side, they will appreciate Lapa Rios Rainforest Eco-lodge’s (www.laparios.com)  commitment to preserving some of the last remaining tropical lowland rain forest existing in Central America where the adventuresome family can encounter birds, trees and plants found nowhere else in the world.  Guided hikes will bring kids nose to nose with exotic white-faced monkeys, three toed sloth and coatimundis, while the more sedentary members of the family can relax in their open balcony surrounded by the lush gardens and vibrant forest.

Other ways these three resorts will appeal to the whole family include:

• Baby Boomers will love the authentic, Costa Rican cuisine available at all three resorts and the in house spas which use natural ingredients for a variety of authentic, relaxing  beauty and wellness treatments.

• Gen Xers  & Gen Ys or Millenials will  enjoy the creative side  of Finca Rosa Blanca’s  individually hand crafted suites that  reflect the local art and are  inspired by nature’s colours,  as well as displays of owner Glenn Jampol’s critically acclaimed artwork.  They will also appreciate how Lapa Rios  is built around 16 private bungalows that open to spectacular ocean views, and are set in the heart of the rainforest, allowing  you  to immerse yourself into the rich colours,  flora and fauna.

• Gen Xers and Baby Boomers will love the fact that Finca Rosa Blanca grows and roasts its own organic coffee and will want to take a  guided tour of the Inn’s 30 acre organic coffee plantation where guests can learn how organic coffee is grown and harvested, roast and pack their own coffee beans to take home and participate in a “catación” or a coffee tasting, to discover  how the professionals determine quality and taste. 

• Extremers (young, active children who show no fear! ) and Gamers ( young adults and teenagers who grew up with computers and video games and are expert multi-taskers) will revel in Lapa Rios’ own  private nature reserve spread over 1,000 acres of Central America's last remaining lowland tropical rainforest in Costa Rica, where the tropical wildlife, flora and fauna open up to a world of adventure and discovery. 

• And young at heart family members seeking to add the adrenalin building eco-adventure for which Costa Rica is famous, Arenas Del Mar is perfectly situated at the gateway of Manuel Antonio National Park surrounded by beaches and rain forested mountains. Surfing lessons, white water rafting, waterfall climbs, horseback riding and canopy “zip line” tours are just some of the options. 

Finally, the whole family will appreciate the fact that all three resorts adhere to stringent sustainable guidelines, and have been recognized for their dedication to reducing their impact while educating guests on the power of protecting and conserving the natural environment and supporting local businesses and communities. 

Finca Rosa Blanca, for example, has consistently achieved the highest score of five “green leaves” in the Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST), a system invented and utilized by Costa Rica’s Institute of Tourism (ICT) and renowned worldwide as one of the most stringent and comprehensive certification programs for Sustainable Tourism.  The Inn received an unprecedented 100% score and continues as the leader in sustainable tourism in Costa Rica and internationally.

Consistently named a top hotel by major travel publications,  Lapa Rios  has been honoured as a 2007 Corporate Sustainable Standard-Setter by the highly respected Rainforest Alliance and recognized as one of the top 50 eco-lodges in the world by National Geographic.    As a new property, Arenas Del Mar is following in their lead and is working closely with the CST as it develops a comprehensive sustainable tourism program for the resort.  This dedication to the quadruple bottom line has helped the resort gain recognition among the  authorities in travel media as well as a loyal following of guests.

For more information on all three resorts and visiting Costa Rica, people may go to:

www.cayugaonline.com
www.visitcostarica.com

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