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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dave Williams" data-source="post: 1254394" data-attributes="member: 53820">I'm really enjoying the report, keep it coming !Like so many, I too have a non birding partner so trying to keep a balanced holiday is essential for a harmonious relationship !! My wife is very tolerant and is quite happy for me to take time out, even whole days to go birding but I need to know she will also be equally content lying by the pool. Recently we have been to both Goa and Gambia where that is perfectly possible. I can't, however, contemplate going to overnight birding camps as that would be unfair as the facilities are not made for non birders. Observations on the accommodation you had is really important. We took a First Choice tour to Kerala three years ago but we were very lucky that they had changed the way the tour was organised since we had originally booked it ( when it had first come out) and we ended up on the original schedule as a party of 4 with both a driver and knowledgeable bird loving guide. In fact he kicked off my now obsessive enthusiasm for bird photography. We could stop on demand etc. Others that were on the same flight were part of a 30+ coach tour. That has put us off going again. Quite simply we were spoilt.The image I have of your party of 21 is, I'm sure, exactly as it was. My wife gets fed up if she has to hang around for too long whilst I try for that elusive better shot. With 21 non birders, stealth and patience don't come into it !I have also checked out specialist birding companies and to be honest I don't think they offer the best of value either. They haven't the buying power for low cost flights and hotels but to give an example from the Gambia last winter :-Thomsons 2 week package tour to decent three star hotel B&B £1200 for 2. To hire a specialist bird guide plus transport and driver was £40 per day. Had I ( I didn't!!!!) hired them every day it would have cost £480 for 12 days making a total cost of £1680.The specialist tour company was staying at a lesser hotel and spent some considerable time in the locality of the hotel we were staying in. ie you didn't need a guide really.The hotel they stayed in was inferior and the cost for their tour was £1485 for birders, £700 for non birders. Total cost £2185.To get back to your report Steve, Costa Rica along with Brazil are two areas we have been considering very strongly for a year or two. The biggest problem is neither venue are used as winter destinations by First Choice. Without a doubt if you want to go somewhere exotic the only way is with a tailor made company or package but for the time being I am more than happy to exhaust the cheaper package tour route.Incidentally, back to Goa November/December and if anyone else reading this is going and would like to split some guiding costs....get in touch !!!Once again keep the report coming . Invaluable stuff !</blockquote>

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