Holiday House Swap

Do you remember the movie the Holiday? Two women with guy problems swap homes for the holidays in other countries where they each meet a local guy and fall in love...

Well, home exchange isn't just for the movies. If cost is preventing you from taking a vacation this year, a home exchange program may be just the answer.




House swapping has become increasingly popular over the last few years and it's a budget friendly alternative to weekend getaways and long term vacations.

There are many home exchange sites that offer a yearly sign up fee of $59. This will give you access to a website where you can not only look for homes that are open for exchange, but prepare a listing for your own home where other house exchange seekers can find you.

How it works - after paying the initial fee and making a listing for your home (make sure you include lots of great photos of your home and interesting information about the area you live in) - start looking for homes in destinations you would like to travel. You can then contact the home owners and see if they are interested in swapping houses with you.

There will be no charge for you to stay in the home you choose and you will not make any money for opening up your home. With hotels costing upwards of $100 a night - this can be a huge money saver. Especially if you have a large family. This will also allow you to have a home with a kitchen where you can make your own meals, also saving you a ton of money.

Staying in a home exchange can allow you to spend more time in your dream destination. This may also allow you to visit places that you normally would not be able to afford - besides the cost to get to the destination, the cost of food and any activities you may be interested in - the biggest part of your vacation (the lodging) is free.

It's easy to imagine people wanting to swap homes for a destination like a loft in NYC, a cozy cottage in France or a beach house in Florida - but what if you're hometown doesn't exactly come to mind for top vacation destinations? Trust us, there are plenty of people who will want to visit for reasons you may never dream of.

Sometimes people aren't looking for the hottest destination - they are just looking to get away, to visit some place new and with the house exchange program they get the benefit of free lodging with all the comforts of home.

HomeForExchange.com contains over 13,000+ listings worldwide in over 85 countries. Join the leading home exchange club now!

For more information on home exchange programs for a trip to Costa Rica please contact us:
Pura Vida Travel 

Pura Vida Travel

 Our passion for travel and life is expressed through Costa Rica's motto - Pura Vida. 

Pura vida, pronounced POO-rah VEE-dah, in English means "pure life" 

however, these two words have much more meaning throughout

the Costa Rican culture and for anyone who has spent any 

amount of time in this majestic country. 

 Costa Rica is a truly magical place that has captured our heart and soul.

 The Happy Planet Index has ranked Cost Rica as the happiest country in the world two years in a row. The citizens are sublimely satisfied and the love for the environment is authentic in its caring practice.

Costa Rica, a landmass encompassing only .03% of the earth’s surface, contains 5% of earth’s biodiversity- a density that is unmatched anywhere else in the world. Aside from arid regions in Guanacaste, Costa Rica is green and lush year round. Its thick forests, vast wetlands, and misty mountains teem with life. Volcanoes, beaches, mountains and jungles - Costa Rica has a little something for everyone.

There’s no other place on earth like it; in fact, we guarantee a truly rewarding and unusual adventure.

Our agency offers personalized one on one travel agent experience with agents that have first hand knowledge of all things Costa Rica and a real thirst for adventure and travel.

We can assist you with your cruise, hotel, hostel or all inclusive resort reservations for trips to Costa Rica as well as other destinations all around the globe. Surf trips, yoga retreats, sport fishing packages, rental cars, romantic getaways or eco-trips for nature lovers.

Contact us today to start planning your adventure! 

PURA VIDA TRAVEL on Facebook 

Recommended Places: Mystica Lodge & Yoga Retreats

I'm in Heaven - and Eden as it should be… 

Thank you for letting us rest our bodies, our souls, and our senses in such natural splendor. It is love in all the best sense of its essence. 

My only wish is that all those whom I love - family and friends - will one day be able to come by and be filled with this beauty! ~ Visitor Review of Mystica Lodge Retreats 

Since 1993 Mystica has offered comfort, healing, art, taste, adventure and yoga retreats in a spectacular location in the heart of Costa Rica. This magical oasis is located on a hill in the lush valley over looking the beautiful Lake Arenal and the majestic Volcano Arenal. 

The grounds are covered with fruit trees and exotic flowers leading you to the organic garden, natural pool, tree house healing space and the sanctuary by the river. Relax in hammocks, get a therapeutic massage and wake up to the powerful practice of yoga.

Entering the restaurant your senses will be awakened by the colorful artwork, Mediterranean Cuisine and the peaceful ambiance created by the enchanting music.  

The cozy accommodations will allow you to connect with nature and also invites you to go deep in to your inner world. Your stay here promises to be meaningful and life changing. 

It is our joy to share with you the wonderful energy of Mystica, a piece of heaven here on Earth.

Upcoming yoga retreats at Mystica:

February 2 - 9, 2013 - 8 Threads of Light Retreat with Jenna Minardi

8 practices derived from a lifetime of seeking to develop personal awareness and awaken our creative potential. Then we weave those awakened dreams into our destiny. With ritual, movement for body and soul, and opening doors to the mystical and sacred, we journey together to commune with the Divine within all of us. Inspired by teachings from the study of Yoga, Native Indians of South and North America, and other mystical traditions.
* Please bring a journal and a stone.
* Included in price ~ Transportation to and from Liberia Airport, Accommodations, Food (includes 3 meals out at a restaurant), Adventures (Hot Springs and Trip to Rio Tenorio National Park – Blue Waterfall Hike).

Rates start at $1450 per person (Double) and $1660 per person (Single) 

Please contact us on Facebook - Pura Vida Travel for booking information or dates of other upcoming yoga retreats in Costa Rica 

Give The Gift of Travel This Christmas

Avoid giving "stuff" this Christmas and instead give your loved ones an "experience". Stuff sits around, experiences get you out! 

Travel experiences are not something people usually think of gifting, but they are easy to give and appreciated by sun seekers and adventure seekers alike. 

Whether it's a weekend get a way for your girlfriends, a romantic jaunt to an all inclusive resort for your partner or a week long vacation to a perfect tropical location - travel gifts are a unique and completely satisfying gift. Your friends and family will thank you for the memories created. 

Imagine these creative gift giving possibilities:

Instead of eating away your Christmas budget on more toys that your kids will forget about as soon as the 12 days of Christmas are over, parents can set aside that money and use it to take the family on a cruise. Present the gift to the kids with a globe or a map and let them help you plan the places you will visit.

Book a weekend get a away or cruise for the grandparents to thank them for the many years they have doted over you and your children.

The holidays can be stressful time for parents - nothing soothes the soul like a romantic beachside vacation. Get the kids taken care of and book a relaxing retreat for just the two of you.

If you have friends and family who like to travel or you know of a trip they have already planned - ask for their travel agents contact information and purchase extra's for their trip. Pay for a romantic dinner for two or an adventurous shore excursion.

If you yourself are dreaming of a trip and you would much rather make your travel dreams a reality rather then receive another sweater this year - let your friends and family know. Give them your travel agents contact information and have your family buy you a travel gift certificate that you can use towards your trip!

Contact us at Pura Vida Travel. 

 

 We can help you with theme parks, hotels, car rentals, cruises, all inclusive resorts, air fare and land destinations all over the world. We specialize in travel to Central America. We look forward to helping you make your travel dreams come true.

 For those on a tight budget this year, another option for a very affordable vacation is through a home exchange program. For just $59 for a year membership - you can trade houses with someone in your ideal vacation destination.

Recommended Places: Cabinas Las Olas

Hotel Cabina Las Olas is located in Playa Avellanas, one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Costa Rica. Playa Avellanas is also one of Costa Rica's best surfing locations in Costa Rica offering point breaks, beach breaks and reef breaks. It's location on the northern coast of Costa Rica offers easy access to Playa Grande, Playa Tamarindo, Playa Langosta, Playa Negra and Junquillal making it a coveted surf location, perfect for surfers of all experience levels.

During your stay you can also enjoy many other water activities such as snorkeling, fishing, diving or kayaking as well as hiking, biking, horseback riding and yoga. The shores of Playa Avellanas are never crowded, offering it's residents and visitors a peaceful, relaxing beach retreat like no other. End your day relaxing in a hammock with a cerveza and take in a beautiful Pacific Coast sunset while relaxing at Lola's Restaurant, located just down the beach, voted one of the best beach bars in the world.  

Hotel Cabina Las Olas offers comfortable accommodations completely surrounded by nature. They have a fantastic onsite bar and restaurant as well as a surf shop. The path down to the beach directly from the hotel winds through mangroves, covered on both sides by an estuary. This gives you the opportunity to truly get in contact with nature. You will encounter monkeys, iguanas, various types of birds as well as the vibrant sea life that awaits you on the beach, hermit crabs, starfish, sand dollars and sea turtles. All setting the perfect scene for nature and relaxation. 

Playa Avellanas is truly a backwoods paradise like no other. It's beauty speaks for itself but your trip will be enriched by the atmosphere and the warm staff at Cabinas Las Olas. You will not be able to leave Costa Rica without feeling as if you've found your home away from home. 

Book cheap airline tickets to Latin America

Contact us for more details - puravidatraveling@gmail.com
Or on Facebook 

Eco Fun Monkey Tour - 6 night package

Costa Rica is most known for its lush rainforest and where there are rainforests, there are monkeys. Costa Rica is home to four distinct species of primates - the endangered howler, spider, squirrel and capuchin. This group of monkeys are classified as New World monkeys.  

Seeing monkeys is probably on the wish list of everyone who visits and Costa Rica will not disappoint. Just listen for the deep call of the howler or rustling leaves overhead, telltale signs that monkeys are in your vicinity. No environmental issue is more important for the survival of Costa Rica's monkeys then the protection of the forests and because of this, Costa Rica has an ambitious conservation program. 

We have many packages available for Eco-Tourists who long to spend time in nature while they are visiting the country. 

Come join us on our Eco Fun Monkey Tour:

Your 6 Night Package Includes:

2 night stay @ Arenal Paraiso Hotel at Arenal Volcano 

3 night stay @ Poco a Poco Hotel in Monteverde 

2 night stay @ Casitas Eclipse Hotel in Manual Antonio

Travel to each location with your private professional GUIDE 

Take These Guided Tours on your Quest for Monkeys 

Cano Negro Boat Tour in Arenal for Howler, Spider and White Face Monkeys.

Manual Antonio National Park Tour for Central Pacific, Capuchin and Squirrel Monkeys.

Monteverde Skywalk Bridges Tour for Black Howler Monkeys.

When to visit: Anytime
What to pack: Your camera! 
Please contact us for more details - puravidatraveling@gmail.com
Or visit us on Facebook

Promotional Air fares available from most U.S. gateways, as well as additional nights and tours. Please inquire.

Local government taxes will be collected locally. Passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months of the return date to the USA. Price is subject to availability

Start planning your trip to Costa Rica with travel guides from Lonely Planet