Our job at Pacific Trade Winds is both rewarding and fun. We work with unique and interesting clients on a daily basis, creating extraordinary experiences and memorable vacations. They come from all walks of life, with interests and budgets just as unique and different as they are. The one common denominator is that we customize every vacation to its owner's needs. The customization is not only based on their requests, travel dates, personal needs, and budget, but also influenced by other factors such as availability, logistics, provider policies, seasonal weather patterns, and much more.
The purpose of this article is to shed light on how it all works. We will discuss topics such as; what not to expect, how and why a first draft itinerary is created, perfecting your itinerary to your needs, pricing, our responsibilities, your responsibilities, important notices, and who we are. Admittedly, some points may seem like fine print, but we do not look at it this way. In fact, we go the extra length of calling things like this to your attention every chance we get to ensure you understand the process before reserving. We strongly believe in sustainable tourism, which is only possible with ethical business practices which in turn require clear communication and transparency. Ultimately, our goal is to provide accurate and clear information so you can make informed decisions with realistic expectations on every level.
So you have $400 and the next week off of work. You search the internet, find our company and request a luxury 7-day vacation with little other information. You think "wow, this company has great reviews. I'll just tell them that I have a $400 budget and they can figure out my activities, transportation and surely will put me in a luxury resort as that is what I requested".
There are a few problems with the above scenario:
In the above scenario, we will either send an email stating your budget is too low and ask if you have flexibility with your budget, send a budget friendly itinerary with low cost options, or send a luxury itinerary with realistic pricing.
First draft itineraries are intended to provide a starting point to demonstrate what is possible and to open the lines of communication. They include options based on the following key points as well as some others:
After sending the first draft, we rely on feedback from you to fine tune your itinerary. You can change any item as you like. Before reserving, changes to hotels, tours and transportation are easy, so please let us know what you think. The more feedback you provide, the better your results will be.
Click on the more info links in your itinerary for comprehensive descriptions, more photos, detailed amenities, GPS map locations, ratings and reviews. We even provide a URL to the provider so you can find direct information.
Call or email us with questions, comments or any modification requests. It is much easier to change your itinerary before reserving, so please carefully consider all aspects. Keep in mind that the average itinerary requires several iterations, so we're used to doing this and want to help make your trip as memorable and personalized as possible.
Most importantly, choose your hotels and tours wisely. You know yourself better than anybody and ultimately, the decision is yours if something is right or wrong for you.
We never add booking fees unless specifically written and you'll always receive first class service. In fact, nearly all of our vacations actually cost less than when reserving direct and we never have hidden fees. Reserve and pay only when your vacation meets your expectations.
In short, we specialize in Assisted Independent Travel (AIT). AIT trips allow you to select each aspect of your trip as if you were planning on your own, but gain all of the aforementioned services and nearly always do so while saving time and money.
We do NOT select hotels, tours or transportation methods for you. This is your responsibility. Including a hotel, tour, or transportation option in an itinerary, email, chat, or conversation does not mean or imply that we recommend or endorse it in any way. For example, the best hotels are often reserved solid for the holidays 9 or more months in advance and 6 or more during the remainder of the high season. Similarly, we can only make suggestions based on your budget.
Keep in mind that what is perfect for one person may not be the best for another. No matter what hotel, tour or attraction you consider, including the world's top rated, you will always find at least one questionable review. You know yourself better than anyone else does. Please do yourself a favor and thoroughly review every little detail on our site as well as third party sites to ensure you select the best options for you.
The bottom line is we work with over 700 hotels in Costa Rica that range in price from $70 - $3,500 per night. Most better hotels are reserved many months in advance and cost more money than some can afford. We can only suggest what is available within your budget and provide accurate information. In the end, you are ultimately responsible to decide if the hotel, activity, or transportation method is right for you. If it was up to us everybody would reserve a year in advance, provide detailed information and detailed feedback, select top rated activities and destinations, and have a budget allowing them to stay in top tier hotels.
Pacific Trade Winds is based in Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica. We have been planning Costa Rica vacations since 2007. In that time, we have assisted over 40,000 travelers. We are big enough to provide the best prices and added values, yet small enough to truly care about your experience. We practice sustainable tourism and are accredited and in perfect standing with the Costa Rica Tourist Board (ICT), Costa Rica National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), and Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating (BBB), as well as many other chambers. We encourage you to check out our reviews on third party sites such as TripAdvisor or the BBB review site where we also have stellar ratings. We want for you to know that our ratings are not based on the options you select. They are due to our efforts to provide accurate, detailed information so you can make informed decisions and our unsurpassed desire to provide stellar customer service to each and every client no matter what their budget or background is.
Thanks again for this opportunity to be at your service. Let's open up the lines of communication and get started on planning your perfect vacation. Feel free to get started now by calling toll free 1-866-853-9426.
Grab your tickets to Costa Rica and let's start planning your perfect vacation!