Helping People in Need, But Having Fun, Too

I am very proud of what we do. People are in need, and we help. Our little company is able to make an observable difference in people's lives. However, that isn't all we do.

I was about to write my article with all sorts of sad comments -- talking about the tragic consequences of poor healthcare and the sad circumstances that force people to make choices based on hard financial necessity. People who are between a rock and a hard place, as it were.

But I reconsidered, and enough with the negativity!

Our clients have a wonderful time! And we have the photos to prove it! There is no need to focus on the sad and the tragic. The Costa Ricans have a saying: PURA VIDA. It basically means "Have a good day" but extends to enjoying life in general. Let's enjoy life.

The reason for a trip with us is pretty clear --medical or dental. And that is rightfully the focus. But around those appointments there is no reason to not enjoy yourself. In fact, it is extremely difficult to ignore the exotic location you'll find yourself in.

Our patients are saving so much money by doing this, they are usually at liberty to spend money on vacationing and tours. Our patients will (for instance) visit the hospital two days and spend three days on sightseeing expeditions. There are volcanoes, 200-foot waterfalls, coffee plantations, majestic forests, organic farms, wildlife refuges, riverboat trips, sunny world-renowned beaches. There is even a theme park, much like a Six Flags. For the less adventurous, there is shopping and museums and parks all convenient. Whatever your adventure-comfort-level, the verdant scenery, breathtaking views, and boundless fresh air will thrill your senses. The plentiful fresh fruit and beautiful local meals only enhance the experience.

There are tours that appeal to all sorts of interests. Bird-watching, coffee-lovers, nature-lovers, shoppers, beach bums, church-sightseeing, sustainable farming, architecture, or family fun. We have people who prefer to travel with a group or others who are seeking an immersive experience.

Dental surgery or a medical operation is quite a bummer -- that cannot be helped. In fact, it is entirely proper -- after all, that is the reason for the trip. Discomfort can dampen the mood. I have no interest in trying to tell you it can't happen, but what is amazing is that we put together FUN trips despite all these hurdles.

Another part of this that is amazing is how within reach it is! For $300-$600 dollars a person can get a round-trip ticket to Costa Rica, and from there decide how much money they want to spend on hotels and tours. The value is quite simply unbelievable.

useful links - exchange rates and holidays in Costa Rica

Please follow this useful link for exchange rates vesus the U.S.
http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/paginas/indicadores.asp

The Costa Rican money is the colón. 
Our DentaRica staff have discovered what most Costa Ricans seem to know without talking about. It is easiest to think of the currency for everyday use the Mil, which is a bill for 1,000 colones. One MIL is about $2 at current rates, making 10 MIL about $20. Be careful you do not accidently reverse this doubling rule-of-thumb the way I have once or twice!

Also, while I am here please check out the Happy Planet Index, which is an independent survey and listing of the Happiest Places on Earth factoring in quality of life, environmental health, and prospects for a healthy future. Costa Rica is first on the list! And the U.S. wasn't even high enough on the list for a mention....

Here is a list of holidays for Costa Rica. Their festivals are a sight to behold! Maybe your trip could be planned so you are in Costa Rica at these times, or maybe you want to avoid all the hubub and confusion!

Mi Cafe Arena

This is one of my favorite places to visit when I am in Escazu. It's a lovely little restaurant located very near our partner DentaVac and many of our partner hotels. It's also a lovely little restaurant with amazing homestyle food served with authentic Costa Rican spirit. And they now have a website besides their Facebook account!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mi-Cafe-Arena/134760853244248

http://www.micafearena.com/

It's not a very big cafe, and their internet presence isn't the fanciest, but you go there for the quality, not the advertising. They are more of a "mom and pop" type of business, like a huge number you'll find in Costa Rica, and you'll be very happy when you go there,

To share a story of mine, before I went to Costa Rica for the first time I read extensively in various travel books, and once I even read one published just a few months before my trip. They recommended this one restaurant for amazing food and authentic fun atmosphere. It was awful. I don't know why the book recommended them. Perhaps the restaurant owners found out the reviewer was coming, and staged impressive festivities. Maybe he was paid somehow, I don't know.

In any case, I've learned to trust those travel books only but so far. This wasn't the only time they led me astray. In this day and age, you can e-mail and speak to someone with personal experience and then compare to what others have also told you. At DentaRica, we pride ourselves on personal experience and our advice is part of our service. But my advice is also free. 

Why not all medical and dental tourism is the same

Other countires have medical tourism, but I think Costa Rica offers the very best. I eliminated out all the other options for my medical tourism company that most other medical tourism facilitators offer, such as India, Indonesia or Mexico. Cheaper is not always better, and travel to some places is downright hazardous for Americans. I always feel safe in Costa Rica, and the doctors I partner with are very warm and friendly.   In quality of healthcare, they're rated as high as the U.S., sometimes higher. You see, Costa Rica is much different than other Latin American countries. They disbanded their military, and took all that money and put it into national healthcare. That's why their costs are so low. Some countries have low cost, because they have low quality, but not in Costa Rica. Even Rush Limbaugh praised Costa Rica medical care on his radio show:  http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2010/0311/Why-Rush-Limbaugh-would-go-to-Costa-Rica-if-Obama-s-healthcare-plan-passes/(page)2

If you travel abroad for healthcare, please make sure you use a facilitator that is competent and interested in the outcome for your elected procedure or treatment, and who is well acquainted with travel in that country and in the area of your hospital or clinic. Using a company located in the USA gives you peace of mind if those agents travel frequently with customers. I strive for customer satisfaction, and take a personal interest in each patient.  I spend up to 50% of my time assisting patients in Costa Rica, and the remainder of my time here with staff assisting customers. I don't always recommend the cheapest doctor or clinic, if I know the outcome may not be as good for you.  I use the hotels that can best accommodate you within your budget, taking into account travel time to the hospital or clinic, convenience and safety for you. And the food... I love to tell people about my favorite places to eat, usually a Tico mom and pop cafe nestled away out of the mainstream.  Everything about medical and dental travel is out of the mainstream,  thinking outside of the box, and it isn't for everyone, but if you choose DentaRica Travel  to meet your needs, your experience should be a positive one.  I can be contacted at kathy@dentarica.com