gtrekker

The BBC Profiles provide an economic, historical, and political overview, with a section on current leaders. The Profiles also list the media outlets, which include television and radio stations and the press.

National Geographic's People and Places feature provides a short overview of the destination and include a Features section with related articles, photos, and videos, depending on the destination.

Travel + Leisure Magazine's guide to the greatest hotels worldwide as selected by its team of reporters and editors.

Weatherbase provides historical weather information such as "average number of day above 90," "average number of days with thunderstorms," and other similar types of data.

From website: In Costa Rica the visitor can enjoy lovely tropical beaches, the grandest adventures, the wonders of nature, scintillating culture, all the necessary components of an ideal vacation. No wonder, then, that thousands of tourists have made Costa Rica their top travel choice...click for website

Up-to-date information provided by the State Department on matters such as passport and visa requirements, safety and security, crime, health and medical issues, any areas of instability, and the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. It also links to Travel Warnings for that country, if there is one.

Frommer's Forums are divided into countries, and all the messages relating to a country are presented in a list that makes it easy to browse through the topics.

Review site with hotel reviews and candid photos posted by users.

Concierge.com destinations guides include information on getting there, getting around, lodging, places to eat, see and do, ... etc. Although Concierge.com may not have as many hotel recommendations as some guide books, they provide hotel photos along with the recommendations. The destinations guides also have links to articles about the destination published by Concierge.com or Conde Nast Traveler.

In addition to standard listings on attractions, restaurants, and lodging, Fodors.com has a section called "Features" that are specific to the destination. For example, the Features section for Paris has articles titled "Cheese Primer," "Bistro to Brasserie," "Pampering Spas," . . . etc.

Frommer's has put a substantial amount of content online, making Frommers.com a good resource for travel planning. The site is easy to navigate since all the destinations are organized by similar topics such as "Getting There," "Restaurants," and "Suggested Itineraries."

USA Today's Country Guides have information on topics such as Money, Health, Accommodations, Entertainment, Top Things To Do and See, Getting There, Getting Around, Climate, and Map. You can also select the topics you are interested in and create a mini guide that puts all the information on one page for easy reading.

From Lonely Planet
Costa Rica has some of the most diverse wildlife and natural landscapes in the world so it is no small wonder that ecotourism has become big business....click for full article

From Conde Nast Traveler
Published April 2006
Checking in to a posh hotel has always been an indulgence. Now, in many places, it can also be a good deed. News Editor Kevin Doyle reports on why high-end hotels are going socially responsible and how a growing number of travelers are choosing to help others by spoiling themselves ... click for full article

From Travel + Leisure Family
Published November 2006
Costa Ricas jungly Osa Peninsula is just the spot for an adventure-loving family. Theres rain forests, killer surfing, and ocean kayaking. But what would it be like to stay therein a tree house-when you're expecting your third child?...click for full article

From Conde Nast Traveler
Published August 2007
Cruise ships may ply the same waters, but don't assume that all itineraries are created equal. Here, our top picks in ten popular spots around the world-and why we think they're the best. ... click for full article

From Conde Nast Traveler
Published June 2007
Your indispensable guide to 48 rigorously vetted villa rental agents

CARIBBEAN
MULTIPLE ISLANDS
Janis Gibson, Villas Caribe, Atlanta
900 properties (low seasons, $1,750-$140,000; high season, $2,400-$140,000).
Overall portfolio: $$
Gibson has a vast property selection on 28 islands but offers the kind of customer service you'd find at a boutique agency. She'll pepper you with questions to ascertain which island best suits you, and if you happen to decide on one that she's less familiar with, you can speak to one of her colleagues who specializes in that location. You can also use the company's Web site for virtual tours of many of the properties and for an interactive villa locator map for each island (800-645-7498; janis@villascaribe.com; villascaribe.com). ... click for full article

From Conde Nast Traveler
Published June 2006
Your indispensable guide to 35 rigorously vetted villa rental agents in 16 countries

Caribbean
Barbados
Timothy Roney, LaCURE Villas, Toronto
180 properties (low season, $2,100-$39,700; high season, $3,300-$46,500).
Overall portfolio: $$$
In the 20 years he has been operating in Barbados, Roney has amassed a collection of beautifully furnished homes in sunset-view beach locations. He recommends Barbados to families because its beaches are child-friendly, the water is calm, and there's plenty to do to keep kids entertained. He makes things easy for the parents, too: You'll be met at the airport and driven to your villa, where your rental car or jeep will be waiting. Each villa includes a maid, a cook, and access to a 24-hour concierge (800-387-2726; tim.roney@lacure.com; lacurevillas.com). ... click for full article

IGoUGo is a travel review site. The reviews are organized into "journals," which are a collection of reviews by an author about a trip, such as reviews on hotels, restaurants, nightlife, experiences, photos, ... etc.

Virtual Tourist has user reviews on topics such as Hotels, Things To Do, Restaurants, Local Customs, Nightlife, Off the Beaten Path, Tourist Traps, Transportation, ... etc.