Beard suggests two beaches, Playa Hermosa and Playa Flamingo, for their "tremendous amounts of marine life and large schools of fish." Playa Hermosa, a 25-minute drive from Liberia International Airport, is best for inexperienced divers because of its calm waters. It's known for the sea turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs from July to December, and for its surfing.
For more advanced diving (because of strong currents and surge), head to Playa Flamingo, an hour from the airport, with dozens of certified dive shops lining the beach and large schools of vibrant fish.
Intermediate and advanced divers should also consider the Catalina Islands, an hour south of Playa Hermosa by boat. During your dives, you might spot spinner dolphins, ridley turtles and whale sharks.
For more information: Costa Rica National Tourist Board, 800-343-6332, www.tourism-costarica.com. My wife and I plan to spend a week in Phuket, Thailand, then visit Bangkok and the north. We've heard about terrorist activities in Thailand. Is it safe to travel there?
Bruce M. Fonoroff
Potomac, Md.
There is a concern about increased terrorism in Southeast Asia, according to the U.S. State Department's consular information sheet on Thailand, which was updated in September. Most of the recent problems have occurred in the southern provinces and along the borders. Extremist groups "focused primarily on Thai government interests" are fueling the politically motivated violence in the south, according to the State Department fact sheet.
Robb Maxwell, an Asia analyst for the Annapolis-based travel risk management company iJet, cautions that January and February may not be the best months to visit Thailand. Jan. 4 is the anniversary of an attack on a military compound in the south, and Feb. 6 sees general elections. Extremist groups have threatened to attack temples, landmarks and tourist spots, among other places, he said.
"Whether they have the capacity to do that, I don't know," Maxwell said.
Aside from those months, Thailand should be fine for a visit, he said. He advises tourists in Phuket to contain their visits to a resort. Bangkok "should probably be okay," he said; visitors there should keep a low profile and take the usual precautions against big-city crimes. In the north, avoid the borders. "Other than that, the region is fine," he said.
For peace of mind, you can notify the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok of your visit to Thailand by registering at https://travelregistration.state.gov. For the consular information sheet: travel.state.gov/travel/thailand.
Send queries by e-mail (travelqa@washpost.com), fax (202-912-3609) or U.S. mail (Travel Q&A, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20071).
