Quick poll, what would you do?

good question - i'm often faced with these types of dilemmas.

I would think it would depend on if it is "needed" rather than more or less for "entertainment".

If you really need to stay connected for work purposes and stuff, then of course you will have to weight out the pros and cons. If you need it for your personal entertainment, email, surf forecasts, etc... Then, I say give yourself a break from technology... Its not to disconnect every once in a while.

It will also depend on the availability of wi-fi... When I have been there, there wasn't readily available good wifi... Depends on where you stay I guess. And, things may have changed since I was last there 5 or so years ago.

 

bring it. if you can find a wireless connection to access reports your golden. its also good for down time too.

 

I alway bring mine. Just so I can free up my CF cards.

 

Safety issues aside, I brought mine to Europe. The main reasons were to check work email and to Skype with family and friends. This way I didn't have to use my cell phone unless it was an emergency.

 

I agree but BACK UP EVERYTHING ON YOUR LAPTOP in case it gets lost or stolen.

 

I say leave it at home. It will only serve to distract you from taking in everything around you. If you have absolutely have to check emails, a lot of hotels have a computer you can use. Or, if you have any desire to get one and an extra couple hundred bucks you could also get an ipod touch. You'll be able to check your email anywhere you would with a laptop and can check surf reports with the swellinfo app. Of course, you say you're going to be surfing anyway, so what good are the reports going to do?

 

I have a mini laptop that is only a portion of a standard laptop and it goes with me everywhere. Bring it, that way you can leave status updates that make your friends jealous.

 

Some of the netbooks are very handy. I bought one for last year's trip to Europe to minimize paper clutter, travel guides and for checking email and transferring photographs from the camera memory card. It is a 10" Samsung, very lightweight and has an easy to use keyboard (for adult sized hands). It was no problem carrying it in a satchel bag everywhere we went and usually will lock up in a small sized room or hotel safe. No sensitive data goes on this thingy.

On the other hand it really isn't needed for a trip to Costa Rica - you are there, you watch the tides, surf and weather and just do it. And, a vacation from on-line can be good for the core soul

 

I say bring it unless you have a cell phone with internet then I would just leave it home then

 

get an iPhone. i got one best thing ever. its legit to check forcasts and stuff

 

One less thing to worry about.Leave the lap.

 

OK I change my mind, Just bring a camera and leave the cell phone behind as well.
Get pics so we can grovel over the pics of the good time you had.

 

Yeah I am looking into them myself and am gonna ditch nextel I think. I barley even use my own cell phone . My job gives me a cell so I use that all the time. I like all the apps you can get for the Iphone

 

i say leave the thing behind. & the cell phone, too. unplugging & leaving it all behind you is one of the great things about travel, i think. besides, in costa rica nowadays, there are TONS of internet cafes available unless you're way, way off the beaten track.
persoanlly, i like not being able to get in easy contact w/ those i've left behind. in 2005, i was in costa rica (mal pais & santa theresa) for a month & didn't call home or email once during that time. didn't even send postcards. i was having too much fun surfing my brains out & hitting on the tourist chicks that frequent that area.
if you're gonna take anything, take a decent camera.

 

Reason for a laptop

Recently I was stuck far away from home because of the snow. Initially I was moved to an earlier flight to beat the snow - automatically by the airline - and then ultimately ended up being re-booked on a flight several days later.

How was I notified that I had been moved to an earlier flight? By e-mail.

How did I get re-booked on a later flight? Through the airline web page.

I also was also able to check-in on-line an print my boarding pass the night before my flight.
Changing things online beats being on-hold for 45 minutes. Especially if your cell phone is charging you for an overseas call.

Just food for thought. You never know what's going to happen when you travel.

 

Plenty of down time at night, I always take mine, for movies, music, stay in touch with people but I nevr touch it during the day when I am surfing as much as possible.

Take it, you can't surf at night & you need to rest for the next day's surf & the laptop is great for down time.

 

that's why its called "adventure"!

or you could, i dunno, read a book or go out & experience the local culture & atmosphere.


i just think people are way too dependent on technology for entertainment anymore.

 

Don't bring it. You are traveling to a foreign country for a reason...and not just to surf. A vacation is to get away from it all, work, traffic, day to day responsibilities, and yes technology. Your mind will thank you at the end of the 2 weeks for the retreat from normal life.

You've been there before, there is plenty to do in Costa Rica. If you are having trouble finding things to do in your "downtime" then you aren't getting out and experiencing enough of the local culture.