Planning your perfect Costa Rica family vacation? Learn essential tips, itinerary ideas & how to pivot when travel goes wrong!

Join Melissa from Family Travel Unpacked for a complete guide to Costa Rica with kids—from cloud forests and coffee farms to zip-lining adventures and beach resorts. After an unexpected flight diversion forced a complete itinerary change, this family of four discovered amazing destinations most visitors skip entirely.

In this episode:

• Essential tips: car seats, souvenirs, feeding kids & must-have travel gear
• What to do when your flight gets diverted mid-air (yes, really)
• Hidden gems in Costa Rica's Central Valley most tourists miss
• Best family activities in La Fortuna including zip-lining and hot springs
• Honest Andaz Papagayo resort review with points & miles strategies
• Money-saving tips using credit card rewards and travel insurance
• What worked (and didn't) for kids ages 11 and 14

Perfect for families planning their first Costa Rica family trip or looking for adventure-plus-relaxation itinerary ideas. Includes specific recommendations for wildlife spotting with kids, maximizing points and miles and more.

00:00 Welcome to Family Travel Unpacked
00:44 Essential Costa Rica Travel Tips
04:12 Unexpected Travel Challenges
07:43 Exploring Costa Rica's Central Valley
10:51 Adventures in La Fortuna
14:97 Relaxing at Papagayo Peninsula
19:50 Trip Highlights and Reflections
24:08 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Resources:

Our travel binoculars

Perfect 7 Day Costa Rica Itinerary for Families

Andaz Papagayo Review

La Fortuna with Kids Guide

Costa Rica Central Valley Day Trip

The Wildest Flight Diversion Story

Travel Insurance Comparison Tool

Best Travel Credit Cards for Families

Southwest Companion Pass

Hosted by Melissa Conn, founder of The Family Voyage, certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, and mom of two who proves family travel is achievable for everyone.

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