Expert: Stephen Tanenbaum - 12/2/2004

Question
Free if possible but I'm thinking you might know more about Costa Rica than I do since I have never been there.  It's on my list of things to see and do before I leave the planet.  I also have a strong desire to see Rome but I'm thinking of waiting until the dollar is strong again before venturing to Europe again.

Thanks alot!

Alton Armstrong

Answer
You are on the mark when you say FREE! We have been using free airline 'award' flights around the globe for many years. Here are highlights of our FREE travel strategy:
1) We pay about $60 yearly for our favorite Citibank American AAdvantage credit card.
2) We rarely use checks and collect tens of thousands of miles yearly.
3) Newbies usually get a bonus of 10-15,000 miles when obtaining the Citibank card.
4) Spend another $95 for a Diners Club card and receive 12,000 miles the first year (1000 per month when using the card at least once per month..but ANY purchase at any Shell gas qualifies. With a single phone call Diners miles can be transferred anytime to any airline account, like to your American Airlines frequent flyer acct.
5) Contact American and open a free American AAdvantage frequent airlines account.
6) Check 'junk' looking mail which on occasion pitches
great offers like 10,000 mile bonus for  upgrading your
credit card.

Otherwise, assuming you need tix now and you do not have the miles for a free award ticket, I'd suggest major web research to find the lowest priced ticketing. I'd also
buy the NY and LA TIMES SUNDAY newspapers available somewhere near you (specialty magazine newspaper store like Tower Records) and check their many listings, some in small two inch square ads that cover most of the globe. Be sure to check the credentials of any vendor you considering for a ticket purchase.

I have a close friend whose just returned from Costa Rica. I'll ask her for some input and assuming she agrees I'll forward further info. We've spent a couple of days there off a cruise ship. We did river rafting one day and an eco forest hike the second day. Both very pleasant though
not spectacular like say Alaska or Africa.

I hope this helps. Steve Tanenbaum