FIRETOWN!
World News – Truth Spread Like Fire

This economy is no joke. Taking a vacation is far from many people’s minds. How to make it through the year, paying bills, interest payments, mounting debt. The stories coming to us are similar.

See also: My Top 10 Vacation Destination Places in the World

But amongst all of the negativity within the reports, there is one thing you can take out of this as a positive, and that is that fact that airline tickets all over the world are now at an all-time low.

Depending on your standard of travel, almost any destination is now affordable. Not only are airline tickets very cheap, you can also get excellent deals in youth hostels and even upscale hotels in Central America and Asia for next to nothing. Not only are vacations very affordable, right now would also be an excellent time to buy vacation properties and beach houses. If you have some extra money and need to get away from the depressed atmosphere in Europe or the U.S., now is a good time to book a flight somewhere and prepare yourself for an adventure that brings out the survivor in you or simply serves as a great re-fueling of your engines.

Out of all the places I myself have been to in the past few years, I will now focus on only two:

1) Bali

What many of you are not aware of is the fact that Bali is just one of many islands in Indonesia. You may have heard about Bali, but even more beautiful neighboring islands such as Lombok are likely new sounds to your eardrums.

Bali has been a popular vacation spot since the early 80s and if you want a vacation involving a great nightlife, meeting people from all over the world and enjoying the surf and the beach life, then Bali is the place for you. What makes Bali however so attractive is the fact that the islands surrounding it are very untouched and full of exotic wildlife.

Bali is a part of Indonesia and so are Borneo, Komodo Island and many other places which you may have heard of. The travel experience can be complete if you are flexible within your planning. Bali is also a two hour flight from Australia.

Here are some more pictures:

Courtesy:

Which Parts of Indonesia are your favorite?

For more information on Bali, visit Villas in Bali or contact us through this website.

Example:

The Beverly Hills Bali villas, located far away from the famous suburb of Los Angeles in California, is located in Jimbaran hills, facing the famous Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue. The name was chosen to rightly reflect the elegance, luxury and space the resort offers. My husband and I came here for our honeymoon and enjoyed every bit of it.

Beverly Hills Bali

We have a network of travel websites and hotels interested in giving our readers a deal.

So when are you coming?

Pack your bags and experience something different. You outlook on life needs some adjustment and once you’re in the paradise-like locations you have always dreamt of, it becomes a lot easier for you to solve your problems back at home with a martini in your hand, at a beautiful beach and with a clear mind of relaxed focus and under the influence of a refreshing sea breeze.

More information can be found by following Bali Tourism on Twitter.

2) Costa Rica

Visit Costa Rica Online.

Once I start talking about Costa Rica, I find no end. Costa Rica is so full of beauty and fun, there is very little I cannot say. The best thing to do is once again post some pictures and let the talking be done through the visual experience.

Courtesy: Costa Rica Online on Facebook

Courtesy: Costa Rica beaches on Facebook

If you have more pictures, please add them to the Facebook group or contact me on Twitter.

Here is a crash course about Costa Rica:

For the past few years I have been coming to Costa Rica. No matter where in the world I am, there is something missing which Costa Rica has to offer.
One of the reasons Costa Rica is now the most sought after vacation spot is the variety of offers to everyone’s vacation needs. Costa Rica has excellent beaches of all sorts. The party beaches, the secluded quiet ones, the great surf and the snorkling.
Anywhere you are, you will not be bored. But most of all you will be able to do things you have not yet done and realize that
there is never a need to limit your activities as budgets vary. Costa Rica is one of a kind and in order to give you an idea as to what every location is like, I am going to start with the beaches and work my way down to the beautiful inland:

Santa Teresa, Nicoya Peninsula.

This place is alive and sort of a spring break type of spot. A little further out you can get to Manzanillo and Playa Hermosa and find
solitude, but Santa Teresa in itself is where the nightlife is at. Not a sleezy place, just young and crazy and
one of the best surf spots on the planet. Santa Teresa is all on the same main road 2 minutes from the beach and you can find cheap cabinas as
well as high end luxury hotels. Many celebrities frequent Santa Teresa. Nightclubs outdoors and right by the beach
offer a mix of tranquility and excitement. You can never spend too much time in Santa Teresa. Everyday the surf is great and
people get along. I like Santa Teresa because it is what it is and no need to apologize for it. In the offseason (May to October) however Santa Teresa is almost a ghosttown
as during the rainy season you will not be able to find too much to do and people do not come, but as soon as the rain ceases, the population increases and I mean by
100 fold. If you want to go to Santa Teresa, you should book a cabina or hotel in advance unless you are fine to go with the emergency possibility of having to be in a camp ground for a couple of days, which btw. can be fun as well.
It’s very easy to get there. I know many who went straight from the airport to Santa Teresa and didn’t leave until it was time to go home.
There is Transporte Rodriguez where you take a 10 USD bus all the way from Coca Cola station in San Jose or the Airport in Alajuela and in about 5-6 hours you will be there.
1 1/2 hours of the ride is a beautiful ferry ride. Something like an additional 2 USD so you see that there is a chance to take a cheap trip.
Some cabinas are as low as 15 USD a night. There is no limit to the top as luxury hotels exist everywhere in order to service the ones who have it and are not afraid to use it.
Car rental services are very helpful and making sure you find your way and so are the people working in any of the restaurants, stores and gas stations along the way.
“The Point” is at the northern end before you reach Manzanillo and Playa Hermosa and there you have great surf and frequent competition and award ceremonies for the winners of the competition.
Santa Teresa is on top of my list. But if you are the kind of person who wants to explore the jungle and nature, you may want to make it your last stop as you could be stuck in paradise.

Manuel Antonio

I love Manuel Antonio simply because the vibes of relexation and fun collide so smoothly. Manuel Antonio is famous for one thing and that is it’s national park.
In Manuel Antonio, you can have a hotel on the hill and walk down to the beach where people surf and just hang out.
Restaurants can be quite expensive. You see a lof of vendors on the streets, but you can live on little as well.
The locals are very helpful, sometimes you need to keep yourself from buying too much, it’s a tourist place overall.
The national park itself has a beach in it. You walk around seeing all sort of wildlife and monkeys stealing from the bags of the people who are in the water as the beach is a part of the national park.
An idyllic environment you can easily lose yourself in and fun for the whole family. Many different eco projects are at home in Manuel Antonio and something for everyone’s interest can be easily found.
At night there is a sort of night life, but nothing wild, which makes Manuel Antonio a great alternative to neighboring Jaco and Quepos.

Overall Manuel Antonio is a must visit for anybody who has the time to go. Even a week or two with the family will not end in boredom. Surfing lessons are
highly recommended to take as some of the best surfers in Costa Rica teach there.
Embrace it, love it, and leave it with some beautiful memories.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo and the caribbean side of Costa Rica are a different world compared to what you have experienced on the pacific side and in the inland areas.
Puerto Viejo is full of English speaking Costa Ricans as many of their ancestors came over from surrounding caribbean Island and locations such as Jamaica and Belize (both former British colonies).
Puerto Viejo is relaxed, very laid back, great music and a nightlife which reminds me more of a reggae festival than
spring break. There are many low budget places to stay and most are in good condition. Puerto Viejo is also famous for its neighboring Playa Negra (Black’s Beach) which has black “sand” which in reality consists of volcanic ashes.
There are many small town around Puerto Viejo which invite tourists to take excursions and discover some of the tropical rainforest and secluded beaches.
Puerto Viejo is one of the most relaxing places and pretty cheap. In my opinion it’s an excellent spot to spend 2 or 3 days before exploring more areas or moving right down to Bocas del Toro, Panama
which is only about 2 hours away and my own personal favorite of all vacation spots.

Montezuma

There is no surf in Montezuma, yet people lose themselves in this relaxed little town consisting of only a tiny landmass right by the beach with a few nice hotels and apartments up the hill.
It is close to Cobano which is the business center of the Nicoya Peninsula, so the town of Montezuma is full of expats who have managed to live in Costa Rica full time.
Montezuma is famous for it’s beach bars, street vendors, the most relaxed athmosphere you can imagine and the street performers who come out at night to provide
non-stop entertainment to anybody strolling through the tiny town or sitting in one of the bars nearby.
This sleepy little beach town is next to Cabuya which is an even more relaxed little village by the water.
Montezuma is also home of the many movie and music festivals it hosts and the night club at the end of the main road (maybe a total of 300 meters)
opens occasionally for long nights out. Overall Montezuma is an experience you will never forget. The vibe is what draws the people in,
the lack of stress, the hippie type of community which is full of those who once longest for the great escape and have finally found it.
Make Montezuma a stop on your trip to Costa Rica. And let the sense of self realization and refreshment of your soul carry you through the life that you know for the rest of your time to come.

Cabuya

Cabuya is so quiet, it’s unbelievable. About 10 minutes from Montezuma, you can relax and watch the waves. Unlike Montezuma, there is surf, but other than that not too much excitement other than a few hangouts where you can
meet with friends to play music and just chill. By car Cabuya is about 40 minutes from Malpais. Through the backroads you will be able to reach the other side of the Nicoya Peninsula and from there be able to connect back to Santa Teresa.

Jaco

Jaco is not the most family friendly place but for the single people and young couples it appears to be a sought after vacation spot. Jaco has been booming for quite some time and
the skyline reminds you of Miami. If you want seclusion and quiet, you may want to skip. If you like parties and excitement, then come on in.
There is a lot to say about Jaco, but if you are the sort of person who is ready for anything, you”ll likely prefer to live it than read about it.
Jaco is only a 40 minute boatride away from Montezuma. So if you don’t like it, just pack your stuff and jump on the ship. Or go to Manuel Antonio and recuperate.
From the nightlife that is. And whatever else comes with it.

Quepos

Quepos is close to Manuel Antonio but more of a party town like Jaco. So if that is what you want, be my guest and go.

Malpais

Malpais is close to Santa Teresa, on the very same road. It borders on the national park and the backroads will take you to Cabuya. From Malpais you can easily access all the best spots on the Nicoya Peninsula.
Malpais has a couple of places to go out and a lot of cabinas and hotels for those who prefer peace and quiet. The wealther Costa Ricans tend to live there, Mel Gibson is building a house on the hills, Malpais is very close to the tourist spots but has the idyllic isolation one can only dream of when reading about
tropical paradise getaways. Malpais is right by the beach and there are a couple of spots where you can surf, but the best places to surf are 20 minutes from there and located in Playa Carmen adn Santa Teresa.
Malpais is the area where I recommend buying real estate. If not in Malpais itself, then the bordering smaller towns between Malpais and Montezuma, such as Las Calinas, where you still can find cheap land.
All of the areas in the vicinity are appreciating in value yearly. The roads are being improved and you can easily invest a little bit which is bound to turn into a lot more down the road.
A trip to the Cabo Blanco National Park at the south end of the Peninsula is minutes away and other than deep sea fishing, snorkling, relaxing by the beach and surfing you can simply spend your days hanging with friends and
inviting people to your huge back yard with a pool. Malpais is where the ones who have it choose to live and even though the prices for some properties are sky high, there are many you can still get at more affordable prices.
The resorts on the hill are a great start for getting a feel for what it would be like to live there. Malpais is an excellent place due to its location and its vibe. But if you are not the type of person who likes peace and quiet … don’t go!

Cobano

Cobano is the business center on the Nicoya Peninsula with fast internet, banks, the court house and doctors. It’s a 20 minute drive from Montezuma, 30 from Playa Carmen and about 1 1/2 hours from Paquera where the ferry will take you back to and from Puntarenas to connect from and to San Jose.
Cobano is not where you want to live, but bording Tambor and the outskirts with mountain land and villages which are ideal for those who prefer a cooler climate.
There are a few places to stay but nothing fancy, rather cheap. Cobano is the place where you have business meetings, see your lawyer or simply hang out with people you know who live in other parts of the Nicoya Peninsula.

Playa Carmen

Many consider Playa Carmen Santa Teresa, but what it is is a small area between Malpais and Santa Teresa where the beach bars are and the surfer go aside from “the point”.
This is also where you will have a lot of surf competition and related events. It’s a great place for beginners when it comes to surfing.
Two banks and Western Union. One of the banks is open from Noon to 7 PM which pretty much tells you the state of mind vacationers are in.
Playa Carmen has many cheap and mid priced cabinas and hotels as well as youth hostels for backpackers.
I love Playa Carmen. It’s where things are happening and you can easily meet many other vacationers there.

Tambor

Tambor is the pearl of the Nicoya Peninsula and unless you have extra coin, it may be wiser to move onto the other places. It is upscale with high end hotels, casinos and golf courses and the airport is there from which you can choose between multiple
daily flights into San Jose. Tambor is where a new marina is going to be built. Many excellent restaurants right by the water.
Great properties available. Tambor is very close to Cobano and only 40 minutes from the ferry. There are a few cheaper places, but mostly you will find
the upper income class of vacationers. Las Delfinas and Barcelo are two places which are very popular. Fine dining and great hotel rooms. A few smaller night clubs. You can look for some cheap deals and have the time of your life.
If money is not a problem for you, Tambor is highly recommended as both, an area to stay as well as a location to build a villa.

Tamarindo

Tamarindo was the first place I went and stayed in Costa Rica and it brings back great memories, but Tamarindo is not what everyone likes.
Many tourists, good surf, but also a lot of crazy nightlife. Not a place to bring kids. But if you want to meet people and let loose, then Tamarindo might be your place.
Tamarindo is about a two hour drive from the international airport in Liberia from where you can have daily flights into Atlanta.
Tamarindo is close to Playa di Coco, another beach town but smaller. You have many hotels and backpacker hostels in Tamarindo and all types of pricing available for you to stay.
From Tamarindo it’s a one hour drive to Playa Grande, but a 5 minute swim. Many nightclubs by the beach, but watch yourself and your belongings at all time.
Fun is guaranteed and if you can afford the better places which are usually located right by the beach, then Tamarindo is something that you might enjoy.

Arenal

Arenal is the city where the famous volcano lies. It’s a tourist attraction and with it comes a lot of nice places to lodge and a vibe that invites you to
enjoy your stay. Bars, restaurants, golf courses and many other places providing fun things to do for those who want to experience the place which Costa Rica is known for.
Arenal is up on the mountaints, so the climate is cooler than most parts. The scenery is tropical rainforests and forests and Arenal if chosen will likely give you the
kind of tranquility and sense of belonging as a lot of it can possibly remind you of home.

Manzanillo

Now every city in Costa Rica has a namesake somewhere else, and the Manzanillo I am referring to is located in the vicinity of Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula.
Manzanillo is where the homes of celebrities such as Leonardo Di Caprio and Giselle Bundchen are located.
It lies on a dirt road, bumpy, not the kind to take with a car you really care about visual appearance speaking.
But the isolation combined with the closeness to the places where so much is happening, it delivers all of what is needed in order to have a life that anyone on earth will envy you for.
One thing about Manzanillo is that land is still available. Not many are willing to look outside of the hotspots and are missing the best parts of the country.
If you want to find something that is hidden where you can build a large house very close to the beach and enjoy tranquility and safety, I recommend Manzanillo aside from a few other places.
Manzanillo also connects to Cobano by continuing on the road which leads to it. A lot of farmland is nearby which gives the place a vibe that completely differs from the tourist spot
flair which locations well visited represent. You will hardly ever see a tourist in Manzanillo. Only friendly and relaxed neighbors who have relocated for the same reason as you have.
Unless the residents with the municipality decide not to allow it to happen, Manzanillo can easily become a tourist spot in the future, which would include an increase in the property value.
But at this point and time it isn’t, so regardless of why you would like to purchase land there, a good time to do so is now.

Samara

Wonderful beach town. One main road leads from Nicoya. With a strong truck it’s only a few hours away to drive from Santa Teresa. The beach is endless and leads towards nearby towns which are
preferred locations for high end resorts, fine dining and whatever else a tropical luxury vacation may offer you.
Surf is decent, restaurants and bars cheap, there is a light nightlife which includes the few pool table bars on the main road leading towards the beach and also the
nightclub right at the beach. There is Bar Olas also by the beach and a few other places.
Samara is so relaxing, it’s not even funny. You can easily lose sense of time and wind up just spending your whole vacation there.

San Jose

San Jose is of course the capital and variety of entertainment would be an understatement. Most Costa Ricans do not like San Jose and dread leaving their beach paradises to go do business in the nation’s capital for a day or two.
San Jose in itself is business and congestion, but if you like casinos and risky nightlife, it may be where you want to hang out.
I personally find San Jose not that bad when you know the city. You know where to go and go about your business and then leave.
San Jose also is the home of the National Museum where you can get a feeling for the history of the city and the country.
San Jose was not the capital to begin with, but when Cartago was hit by two earthquakes in a row, they decided to move the government to San Jose.
San Jose despite its urban feel has a lot of beautiful mountainous surrounding areas.

San Pedro

San Pedro is where the University is located. Great area, nice mall, cheap places to go out. It’s a student community with a very local and excellent athmosphere.
If you are in the San Jose area and want to go out, this is the place to hang to meet good locals. San Pedro also is a hotspot for job opportunities for those amongst you with a limited budget and a dream of living in Costa Rica.
Simply get to know people and ask around. For those who want to stay longer, there are many places where you can rent a room or an apartment fairly cheap.
San Pedro is the place for those who like to explore a new vicinity from within rather than going the mainstream tourist route.

Heredia

Heredia is the home of the Universidad Latina.

Alajuela

The part the airport is located in. Outskirts of San Jose and about 40 minutes from the downtown area.

Puntarenas

Puntarenas is from where you take the ferry to Paquera to make it to the Nicoya Peninsula. Not much there, not a great place for the most part but some of the golf courses, hanggliding companies and such are located there.
I do not recommend spending much time there, but you can also find some nice locations up on the hills.
Puntarenas however has been a hotspot for investors as it is a place every tourist has to go through in order to make it to the Nicoya Peninsula.

Limon

A new marina is coming, but other than that Limon has little to offer and can be quite dangerous. Not recommended.