
Originally Posted by
tmokes
Thanks! I'll check the air fare to see if it's doable...
I'm like a skier trying to go skiing cheap and I only need a beginner hill. No sense in spending money for world class destination. Closest I can drive to is Westport WA and that's about 7 hrs drive... Might as well take a short vacation and go somewhere warm so I can paddle around every day trying to stand up by the end of the vacation.
Never been to Dominican republic or costa Rica. Thanks and I will try to make it work. I have some time off coming up.
Cool...
Being on the left side of the continent and believe me, it is way easier to learn in warm/tropical waters so I concur with you on "passing on the Westport" notion, your American dollar will go far in Mexico & Central America. Crossing over the continent to DR or the like is going to soak up airfare bucks, and Hawaii, while considered a quasi-epicentre for the origins of surf, doesn't always get consistent surf due to its abrupt bathymetry - but for beginner style surfing on a longboard, sure, you'll get some foot time on the deck fo' shizzle. However, your USD is a USD there too, and it ain't cheap. SO - scratch HAW if I were you and focus on Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. All west coast locales. PM me if you want some decent surf'centric areas to go to.
Dudes invite to hit Pavones is a sweet deal at $20 a night, but Pavones/CaboMat need swell to fire, and if it's not firing and you're just lazing around in the waters, the rips there can be downright frightening. Move up to Dominical, sand beach, always something in the water, and if it's too big? Go to Dominicalito. Pavones/Cabo Matapalo are also pretty removed from any forms of civilization or amenities compared to other areas in CR. Not a bad thing, just not the easiest place to get out and go pick up a couple sundries.
But ya, Nica, Mexico, CR, and Panama - your dollar will stretch nicely there - the airfare will keep you in this side of the coast, and you'll have consistent waters (and warm waters at that!!) to learn in.
Peace
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Skier, surfer, lover of life...
And self-admitted adrenaline junkie.
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