Gaia Hotel and Reserve in Manuel Antonio is NOT for the budget-minded traveler. Matter of fact- Gaia is TOP SHELF all the way... so Top Shelf, I'm almost surprised they don't have their own vodka. From its views, to it's restaurant, spa facilities, kick-ass rooms, friendly staff- Gaia is a perfect example of getting what you pay for. The villa we stayed in and is featured in the video below, goes anywhere from about $900-$1200 depending on the season. But don't let that scare you, they also have smaller rooms for MUCH cheaper but still all the amenities.
The terrace outside our room at Gaia Hotel. And the MOST important amenity a hotel can offer- Cacique...Whoo Hoo.
Truth is, we don't often get to travel like ROCK STARS but our friends and owners of Gaia, David and Boris, said they'd be delighted for us to use the room for a few days while we were doing some video shooting in Manuel Antonio. So for us, that's a TOTAL SCORE!
So we decided to go ahead and shoot another video for Gaia since we did the original about 3 years ago but also as BIG Thank-You to David and Boris for letting us hang-out for a few days.
If you're ever in the Manuel Antonio area and want to be treated like Rock Stars or impress that special someone with a romantic get away... Check out GAIA Hotel and Reserve. And here's their website for more INFO- Gaia Hotel and Reserve
Here's the original Gaia Hotel and Reserve video we did back in 2009.
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
NEWS FLASH! We make videos about traveling and living in Costa Rica and the truth is, they're becoming fairly popular on YouTube (2000-3000 clicks a day, everyday, popular). That's a good THING and we're VERY appreciative that some folks find what we have to say useful. Thanx, but that's not the problem.
When we first started making videos we didn't have the foggiest idea of what we were doing and if you watch some of our earlier work, that is painfully clear... I still cringe. But we've learned a few things since then and really, in the last year, we think our videos are much better. But guess what, we made a HUGE mistake when we started. We used copyrighted music on some of our videos and on YouTube that's a big NO-NO. Don't get me wrong, we totally understand YouTube's position, we just thought early on that Guns and Roses, 'Welcome to the Jungle' worked, we were a little ignorant to say the least. Bottom line- we can't become YouTube 'partners', which if we were, we could generate revenue from our videos via advertisements. Did I mention that we don't make much money and every little bit helps us to continue doing what we're doing? Did I mention we have about 240 videos to date on YouTube and that number will only go UP?
So, we have to make this right- Re-do videos or buy the copyrighted 'music', which we have no problem doing but we gotta do something... do you know how hard it is to pull a video off our channel that has like 20,000 hits. Here's a recent example...love this video, but we gotta pull it and change it...UGH!
Okay, my pity party is over, I got work to do. pura vida.
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
Ryan Malcolm, lead singer of 'Low Level Flight', and WINNER of the first Canadian IDOL, emailed to tell us he'd been watching some of our videos and they've been helpful in making his upcoming plans to visit Costa Rica. He also asked us for some advice on some of the area hotels..... but don't worry, our knowledge of 'area hotels' is not the point of this post.
To me this email is COOL for a couple reasons. Just the fact people watch our videos is pretty SWEET and of course I love all the people we get to meet and connect with that otherwise we probably wouldn't, as is this case. But this particular email is even a little more SPECIAL to me. Here's why.
I've mentioned it before but I'm a HUGE music person. I LOVE music. It speaks to me.
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”
― Maya Angelou
“People haven't always been there for me but music always has.”
― Taylor Swift
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” - Plato
I know, for some a little over-dramatic, but for me it's true. I love music like people love their pets.
So this email is how I got connected with 'Low Level Flight'. Thank-you Ryan Malcolm for liking our stuff... but I think I like yours a LOT more. So Thank-YOU and have fun in Costa Rica.
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
If Rancho Margot is good enough for CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta to do a piece on, then obviously we need to make a video on Rancho Margot as well.
We've known about Juan Sostheim and his vision that is RANCHO MARGOT for 6 years now and have been out there numerous times... just never did a video. Hell, it's only about 40 minutes from La Fortuna so I'm not sure why. oh well.
So, 2 things. One, Dr. Gupta's piece runs on CNN on the 23rd of this month, not sure of the time. Two, I've written about Rancho Margot twice in the last few weeks and those links can be found below the video if you're interested. But if you're not sure what all the fuss is about concerning Rancho Margot, then our video, 'Rancho Margot an OVERVIEW' is the next best thing to Dr. Gupta and CNN... hehe ENjoY!
My friends, Jan and Francis, who own Joluva Guesthouse in Granada Nicaragua need your HELP.
I can't tell you how many emails I've gotten in these past months all pretty much asking the same question, "What happened to Joluva and Jan and Francis?"
Although you should check it out, if you're not in the mood just imagine your WORST nightmare. You and your wife move to a foreign country, start a small B&B and get falsely accused of basically running a brothel. It's 100% FALSE but the authorities throw you in jail, SEIZE EVERYTHING- property, bank and credit cards, passports and leave it to you to prove your innocence. Remember, foreigners in a foreign country- trust me, it's scarey shit. Well, that's basically what happened to Jan and Francis.
For the record, Jan and Francis are out on bail awaiting trail but they need HELP to survive day to day and to fight this thing.
I think my internet friend, Colin, who happens to own a very popular hotel in Puerto Viejo, Banana Azul, pretty much sums it up in his comment to my Joluva blog post the other day:
Thanks guys for posting this article. I actually never had the pleasure of meeting these guys or staying at their place. I had always intended to, but running a hotel, keeps one very busy.
Being in the same business they are in Costa Rica and also am involved in exposing myself as a gay man (foreigner) that caters to other gays and lesbians (not exclusively), I find this all very distressing and sad.
I really feel for these guys. They need our help. We have sent a donation and I am going to use this summary and email all my gay friends in an effort to try and elicit some more support.
Not only do I feel for Jan & Francis, I really feel this is a serious gay rights issue that affects the rights and freedoms of GLBT community in Nicaragua and Central America for that matter.
I hope others will consider doing the same. Here is a link to their current website that has a link for donations (Credit Cards or PayPal accepted): Friends of Joluva.
I really hope they beat this!!! Cheers, Colin.
Hotel Banana Azul, Costa Rica.
Thanx Colin, I know Jan & Francis will appreciate your kind words and donation. BTW- not only can you donate but they also keep folks updated as to what's happening with their situation.
Jan and Francis are good people and I fully support them 100%, I hope you will too by showing a little money LOVE. thanx
I don't want to take away from the task at hand, I just want to show Colin some love for his comments and putting his money where his mouth is by showing you his place, Banana Azul, in Puerto Viejo. He probably wouldn't approve of me doing this but oh well, plus we love Banana Azul and if he doesn't like it... too bad...hehe
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
Gaia Hotel and Reserve in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica where we stayed a couple of weeks ago... Yup, every now and then we get to live like ROCK STARS.
A friend was taking her niece to Manuel Antonio and asked us if we wanted to go along. SWEET- a ride. Believe me, riding the buses gets a SOoooooooo old. To make sure we had a place to stay, I called our good friends at Gaia Hotel who said they would love for us to come out and since D'Angelo and I aren't in the position to turn down free rides and lodging (at a 5-Star resort no less), we obviously decided to go. We love living in La Fortuna, but it is nice to get away every now and then.
We love Manuel Antonio, but we love it more during 'low' season. During 'high' season it just gets to darn touristy. And the way Manuel Antonio is laid out makes it seem even more so. Basically one road in and out dotted with restaurants and hotels and during 'high' season, just too many cars and people for our liking. But that's cool too, a lot of people like a lot of other folks around. We just don't happen to be among them.
Anyway, we'll be putting out a few videos in the near future about our little excursion there, so be on the look-out. In the meantime, here's couple Manuel Antonio pics.
Most girls couldn't pull this l@@k off, but she totally ROCKS it.
Surfing is popular in Manuel Antonio.
This is how we like Manuel Antonio.
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
Well, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, did DO Costa Rica, specifically, Rancho Margot located in El Castillo, about 40 minutes outside of La Fortuna. I told you about Rancho Margot, the self-sufficient, organic Ranch and Dr. Sanjay Gupta a couple weeks ago when it just so happened that myself and D'Angelo were shooting our own videos at the Ranch on the same day Dr. Gupta was there.
Coincidentally, I ran into Rancho Margot's owner, Juan Sostheim, yesterday in La Fortuna. He told me the CNN story Dr. Gupta was doing on the Ranch would air on the 23rd of this month (I got to check on that date). I would HIGHLY recommend you check it out, Rancho Margot could just be the example of how it's all suppose to go if us humans are going to be a better guardians of our most precious resources. But more on Rancho Margo, Juan Sostheim and Dr. Gupta later.
D'Angelo and myself were out at Rancho Margot because our good friend, Scott Alan, wanted us to help him make a video for his YouTube Channel, Costa Rica Cooking.
This is Scott Alan, center, and us at a past video shoot.
Anyway, here's the video we put together for Scott Alan if you're interested, part Cooking show, part Rancho Margot. ENjoY!
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
I'm just not that gay I guess, kinda like Manuel Antonio on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. I'm mean we're BOTH gay, but maybe just a little too straight-acting when it comes right down to it... whatever.
First off, I want to say, I haven't posted on my other 'gay' blog, 'Doin' Gay Costa Rica', in over a year. Why? Because there just isn't that much 'gay' in Costa Rica that I care to write about and all the gay INFO I did want to write about, I have. Now I'm over it. That blog can go to gay hell for all I care. Point is, when gay does come up, I'll post on this blog... but don't worry my straight friends, I can assure you it won't come up often, so please find it in your hearts to let me slide from time to time. But today is a gay thing....
D'Angelo and I chillin' at Gaia Hotel and Reserve in Manuel Antonio.
Back to Manuel Antonio. Manuel Antonio has been considered one of the most gay-friendly destinations in all of Latin America. And I guess, it's kinda true, or at least, was true. But like I mentioned earlier, like me, Manuel Antonio is not that gay.
Here's our NEW Video about 'How Gay Manuel Antonio' really is. ENjoY!
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
If you're planning on visiting Costa Rica, WATCH this video first. Not only will it clear up a few misconceptions you might have but also possibly SAVE you from making a few of the more common mistakes travelers tend to make when coming here (which can totally RUIN the vacation). ENjoY and hope it helps. btw- if you're not interested in the INFO in the video...let it load and watch the BLOOPERS at the end, D'Angelo is pretty funny.
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
