Tim Leffel: There are a variety of rental sites that have listings in these cities. Many of them are expat-owned apartments that are only used part of the year. Try www.vacationrentals.com, www.homeaway.com, and Craigslist. You won't find the kind of selection you will in a big U.S. or European city, but the listings are out there.

_______________________

New York, N.Y.: If you had to chose between spending a week in Puero Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas, which would be the more preferable destination?

Tim Leffel: It depends on whether you are looking for Mexico or are looking for an Americanized resort area. Both are packed with tourists, but in Puerto Vallarta you still get a clear Mexican flavor unless you stay in Nuevo Vallarta or Punta Mita the whole time. Los Cabos is pretty much a golf and resorts area where the foreigners outnumber the locals, without as much history or culture. Plus it's a desert and is more isolated, so prices tend to be higher for food and drinks.

Also, the time of year matters. Cabo San Lucas is blazing hot in the summer, but a great place to go warm up in the dead of winter.

_______________________

Reinholds, Pa.: How safe would it be to rent a car in Cancun to drive to Chichen Itza, then over to Merida? Just me and my 20 yr old son, we want to explore the country side.

Tim Leffel: I am doing the same thing starting this coming Saturday! Actually we're staying in Valladolid one night and going to Ek Balaam since I've been to Chichen Itza twice already, but same general idea. We have four people though and are ending up at a beach house near Progreso. If you weren't planning to go exploring I would instead say take the Executive Class bus direct to Chichen Itza, which ends up being cheaper and easier.

A car would let you explore other areas though and you could get to Uxmal near Merida, which is really worth seeing. There's no problem with safety, especially on the rather empty toll road. Just drive during daylight hours so you won't hit unlit bikes or speed bumps off the highways. Be forewarned you'll pay a hefty drop-off charge for the one-way rental. Usually $80 or $100, on top of rental rates that are already higher than in the U.S. For a variety of reasons, cars cost 40 percent more in Mexico and that cost is passed on in the rentals. A cheaper option would be to bus it to Chichen Itza and Merida, then rent a car in Merida for the exploring.

_______________________

Flower Mound, Tex.: Traveling from dfw to Costa Rica. Isn't it worth waiting until December break to go because of the weather? Or would it still be great in the summer months? Going with children 9 and 15. Do you love a particular area? Any particular itinerary you recommend? Thank you.

Tim Leffel: If you can wait until December, you will all probably have a better time. They call it "Green Season" in Costa Rica much of the year, but it's really "drenching wet season" in some parts. In the summer you will still have a good time, but you'll need to be more flexible with your plans and build in more time for canceled activities and tours because of heavy rain. Getting around can take longer too because of road conditions. Often it only rains for a few hours and then you can go ziplining or rafting or whatever, but it will definitely be easier to stick to a schedule in December.

Costa Rica is a blast for families, but I see a lot of people making the mistake of overscheduling and getting stressed out. Pick one or two areas and do activities there instead of trying to cram in 5 spots in 7 days. Places that look close on a map take a whole day to get to in some cases. There are a lot of great areas, so I can't recommend one specifically, but definitely go somewhere that has rafting, ziplining, and jungle tours. Often you can arrange all this through your hotel without spending any more than if you set it up on your own.

_______________________

Arlington Heights, Ill.: I am traveling to Costa Rica on 4/13/08 for 2 weeks. I plan to drive down the Pacific Coast side to look for possible property purchase. I am a 54 year old woman who will be traveling alone. Is it safe to rent a car and drive alone in that area? Is it better to rent a car at San Jose airport and drive to the coast or should I take a bus to the coast and rent from there? I am not sure how far south I will go, but I am aware that the property is less expensive as you leave the well developed Guanacaste area. Is it possible to buy a prepaid phone locally to get road help if necessary? Thank you for any tips you can provide.

Tim Leffel: I applaud you for having the guts to strike out on your own and find the real story on the ground as you are right that prices in Guanacaste and some other gringo development areas have gone through the roof. (It's not uncommon to see condo ads that say, "Starting at $400,000") You can buy almost anywhere else in the country for far less--unless you are near the Four Seasons of course.

The problem is that the roads are rough once you get off the main highways and there are almost no direction signs or even addresses in Costa Rica. If I were doing this, I would probably base myself in one area and do loops from there with a car and driver, maybe moving on to a second town and doing it again. You won't pay much more than renting a car and driving yourself and the person will know where they are going. If you contact real estate agents ahead of time, they can probably suggest someone.

_______________________

Austin, Tex.: RE: Hiking and trecking information for the Cooper Canyon. Original trip date is May, but after reading guide books am now thinking November. I am interested in hiking in & around the canyon but have found very little information except a chapter in Mexico guidebooks covering the entire country. Any additional information would be helpful. I would like to determine how to obtain a guide. Are there persons to hire to carry my luggage (probably a backpack.). Where are some good trecks and is there lodging along the way? What are the most scenic villages or areas to hike/visit?

Tim Leffel: There are some books on Amazon if you search "Copper Canyon," but most are old and/or out of print. Your best bet is to probably do some web surfing and find budget lodges in those areas, places that cater to independent travelers. They will have the best information on trails and finding guides or porters. There are also some tour companies that do organized hiking trips, but of course you'll be restricted to their schedule and itinerary.

_______________________

Ventura, Calif.: My fiance and I are planning a honeymoon to Playa Santa Theresa in Costa Rica at the end of July 2008. First we'd like to stay a day or 2 in the Arenal area to view the volcano and do a zipline canopy tour. Then we want to spend the remainder of our time on a Pacific beach - surf for him, sun for me. Can you offer any advice hints & tips, any insider info on adventures, dining, hotels? Do we travel from California to San Jose or to Liberia? Then what is the best way to travel to the Nicoya Peninsula? Once there restaurants, beaches, forests, waterfalls or other local sites not to be missed? Thank you, Gina

Tim Leffel: That's too much for me to effectively answer, but Costa Rica is well set up for tourists and while the roads leave a lot to be desired, it is easy to arrange point-to-point shuttle transportation for a reasonable price. There is also a huge range of hotels in all price ranges, so it really depends on what you can spend and what is important. The beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula are some of the most attractive in the whole country, with white sand instead of black or gray, so good choice there. Flying into San Jose is usually cheaper, but Liberia puts you closer to the northern coastline beaches. Spend some time in advance with a good guidebook though to figure out your options.

_______________________

Bel Air, Md.: My husband and I will be traveling to the Riviera Maya area of Mexico in 2009. We are both avid snorkelers and would like to know if one particular area or resort has the best snorkeling beaches. Thanks for your advice. Robbie

Tim Leffel: The hurricanes and rapid development—some would say overdevelopment—on that coast have taken their toll on some of the reefs, plus all the cruise ships docking at Cozumel have had an effect on that island's underwater beauty. Flip through a few guidebooks to get their take, but I've found that the further down you go on the coast, the better it tends to be, with the area around Akumal having some good reefs. Alternately, if you have the time to get to Isla Holbox to the northwest, you can have a good chance of seeing whale sharks.

_______________________

Fort Worth, Tex.: My husband and I will be staying in Cozumel for several days in April. While there we'd like to take a day trip to Chichen Itza. We'd prefer to fly over but the only tour operator we can find offering flights from Cozumel to CI is Aerosaab. Can you recommend any other operators offering flights to CI, or should we just plan for a ferry ride over to the mainland and a loooong bus ride to the ruins? Thanks for your help! -- Wendy M.

Tim Leffel: There is just not much demand for flights to there since it's less than a three-hour drive. You might be able to find a helicopter operator if you're up for a splurge, but otherwise bring reading material and take the bus. You can actually get a first class direct bus from Playa del Carmen if you don't want to be on someone else's tour group schedule. The other option would be to go to the ruins at Coba instead. That site is closer and far less crowded. It's more like Tikal than Chichen Itza in the sense that the jungle is still very close to the ruins.

_______________________

Boston, Mass.: What would you consider the most unique activity or visit that you can only do in Nicaragua?

Tim Leffel: Take a ferry to Ometepe Island and spend a night or two on this large, twin-coned volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua, with water all around. Take a guided hike or horseback ride to explore the lush vegetation, serene scenery, and varied wildlife. The island of Ometepe has two volcanoes—one active, one not. The larger volcano, Concepción, has been called the most perfectly formed volcanic cone in Central America by some. The small towns here are a great base for hiking through virgin forest and enjoying panoramic vistas.

Also, if you do any kind of adventure activities here, you'll likely be the only one or only group out in the wilderness. It's a wild frontier for now.

_______________________

Brooklyn, N.Y.: What's your favorite Spanish language school? I'm considering anywhere from Mexico to Bolivia, beginning sometime around Easter. I'm a 49 y.o. experienced traveler who's looking to have fun and to learn. Access to spicy food is a plus, gaggles of American students a negative. Any ideas? Thanks!

Tim Leffel: I did an immersion course with my family in Antigua, Guatemala, but this is not your place if you want to avoid gaggles of students. Neither is Cuernavaca, Mexico. There are a lot of good articles and listings at the Transitions Abroad website (where I am a contributor). Follow this link to their language study portal. Your best bet is probably a less popular town in Mexico where half the people aren't speaking English around you and you are forced to practice. I say Mexico because there's less spice as you head south.

_______________________

Madison, Ct., and N. Richland Hills, Tex.: In your opinion, is Mexico City safe for two middle aged ladies who are seasoned travelers? If so, where would you say is a good location to stay? We are interested in the museums, good restaurants and of course, shopping. We are partial to small, historical, centrally located hotels in safe areas. Thank you, Gigi

Tim Leffel: While I think most of the safety worries people have expressed today are unfounded, Mexico City does have a valid reputation as a place where crime is a real issue. Any guidebook on the city will tell you where to stay and go and where not to, plus will give tips on the usual common sense advice: don't wear flashy jewelry, take only official taxis (preferably from your hotel or a restaurant), and don't go walking around bad neighborhoods at night swinging your purse. In general, the areas where the popular hotels are located are going to be the safest ones to be, with the strongest police presence. If you are seasoned travelers, you will likely avoid the mistakes that cause most victims to become victims.

_______________________

Sarasota, Fla.: My husband and I would like to spend a couple of days in Mexico City, then take a bus to Oaxaca and Puebla. He's concerned about general safety in Mexico, as well as safety on our transportation routes, including taxis in the cities. Can you please advise? Thanks!

Tim Leffel: See the note above about Mexico City, but really most of the Mexican violent crime you hear about is drug related and has nothing to do with tourists, just as most of the gun homicides you hear about in the U.S. don't occur in the Greyhound station or on Amtrak.

I've taken buses all over Mexico without any issues and am about to do so again two weeks from now in Guanajuato State. I honestly feel as safe doing that as I would driving my car to the grocery store in the U.S. After all, far more people die from car accidents near their home than from some freak crime incident in a foreign country. Do some research and you will find that of the millions of tourists who go to Mexico each year, a miniscule fraction experience anything worse than a pickpocketing and even those are rare outside the capital (even for all the dumb drunk college kids in Cancun and Cabo).

_______________________

White Plains, N.Y.: We were told that in June, July and August it is the rainy season in Costa Rica, but it may only rain for a short period each day in the late afternoon. Is this correct? or can it rain for the majority of the day? We would be going to the volcano area and the rainforest. Thanks for your help.

Tim Leffel: If you are in the "rainforest" in the rainy season it will rain a lot. Sometimes for a few hours, sometimes all day. When I was there last May, it was already coming down in buckets half the time. The La Paz Waterfall Gardens receive 14.5 FEET of rain per year, compared with 2.5 feet in London and 3 feet in rainy Seattle. It's a roll of the dice to be honest, but I would take lots of rain gear...

_______________________

Vacaville, Calif.: We will be visiting Costa Rica this summer and are considering a side trip to Nicaragua. Is it faily simple to drive from Liberia Costa Rica to southwestern Nicaragua? What are the entrance requirements from Costa Rica to Nicaragua for U.S. citizens?

Tim Leffel: It's simple to ride, but not to drive. Take a bus to the border than another bus after you cross. Getting yourself from one country to another only requires a passport. Taking a car across involves a mountain of paperwork and half a day of patience. It can be done, but it's not easy on that particular border.

_______________________

Tim Leffel: OK folks, gotta run, but thanks for tuning in today. Sorry I couldn't get to all the questions, but hopefully you found it helpful. Hope to run into you sometime in Mexico or Central America!

- Tim Leffel