classic traveller careers

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Traveller:Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the Traveller Wiki and Traveller. This page is a list of frequently asked questions and, hopefully, useful answers. This page will be updated on occasion. If you have a question not answered here, please ask on the Talk Page , and we'll get a good answer and post it here on this page.

• 1.1 What is Traveller?
• 1.2 Which edition should I get started with?
• 1.3 What are good published adventures to get started?
• 1.4 What are the inspirations for Traveller and me?
• 2.1 How many versions of Traveller have there been?
• 2.2 Why is Traveller spelled the British way with two L's?
• 3.1 When does Traveller take place?
• 3.2 Is the Third Imperium Good or Evil?
• 3.3 What is a Feudal Technocracy?
• 3.4.1 Is piracy economically feasible in the Third Imperium?
• 3.5 Relativistic Weapons
• 3.6 What is the Smallest Possible Jump-Capable Ship?
• 3.7.1 What are Jump Governors?
• 3.8 What Burns the Jump Fuel?
• 3.9 Can a Starship be Completely Automated?
• 3.10.1 Do Drop Tanks Foster a "Tankless" Setting?
• 3.11 Are Collectors Canonical?
• 3.12 Are Computers Large or Small?
• 3.13 Are Fighters Effective Against Capital Ships?

Introduction [ edit ]

Questions in this section are for people new to Traveller. If you have not previously heard of Traveller, or are just hearing about it now and want to know more, this is the section for you.

What is Traveller? [ edit ]

Traveller is a table top role-playing game (TTRPG). First published in 1977, it was focused on letting player recreate the science fiction adventures of the pulp SF novels of the 1940s to the 1960s. It has since evolved to include many of the SF tropes found in novels, films, television, and video games.

The answer to the question is expanded upon in the full What is Traveller? article.

Which edition should I get started with? [ edit ]

This list is in order of price, and all of them should be easily available.

• Classic Traveller Facsimile edition - The original Classic Traveller rules set. It includes rules on creating characters, resolving combats, handing interstellar trade, and other actions, includes building starships, generating worlds, and a good selection of interesting equipment.
• Cepheus Deluxe Enhanced Edition - A derivative of the Classic Traveller rules, updated and expanded. Includes all of the cool stuff in the Facsimile edition, plus more.
• Mongoose 2nd: Core Rulebook Update 2022 - Mongoose is the primary publisher for Traveller. The Core Rule book update is the latest edition of the Mongoose rules. As above this is a complete set of rules to get started.

What are good published adventures to get started? [ edit ]

• Mongoose 2nd: High and Dry - The players are given a ship, the downside is they need to go get it.
• Mongoose 2nd: Stranded - The players are stranded on a glacier and must make their way across desolate wilderness to survive.
• Twilight's Peak (book) - The player's follow clues from an old book to uncover a deadly secret.

What are the inspirations for Traveller and me? [ edit ]

There is a long list of books and other media in More Reading . If you come across something not on the list, please let us know.

History of Traveller [ edit ]

This section is for background of Traveller rules and setting materials.

How many versions of Traveller have there been? [ edit ]

There have been 11 major versions of Traveller. These are explored more in Versions of Traveller .

Why is Traveller spelled the British way with two L's? [ edit ]

The two primary reasons were giving it a British spelling allowed the title to stand as a Trademark . It would also allow finding potential copyright infringement problems easier.

Setting questions [ edit ]

These are questions about the general setting that Traveller posits, or the Third Imperium specifically.

The following subjects have previously been discussed -- often in great depth -- on the various Traveller forums. They invariably had staunch defenders on both sides, and led to some fiery debates. So, unless you have some new and inspired material, please don't stoke the coals.

When does Traveller take place? [ edit ]

The classic or golden era of the Traveller setting is the year 1105 , counting from the founding of the Third Imperium . This is approximately the year 5,627 in the Gregorian Calendar or about 3600 years in the future.

Some published material deals with other points in time such as the Interstellar Wars , the aftermath of Terra 's (Earth's) invention of jump drive and its subsequent first contact with extraterrestrial life in -2422 , or the Galaxiad , looking back from circa 1902 when the Third Imperium is ancient history that heroic tales are told of. Further, most editions of Traveller can be used to run campaigns in other timelines and universes, with no connection to the Third Imperium .

Is the Third Imperium Good or Evil? [ edit ]

Speculations on the nature of the Third Imperium include:

• The 3I is a massive juggernaut, with an amazing tax base and thousands of spacecraft in even minor systems. Interplanetary trade is robust. Many starports are huge city-sized affairs.
• The 3I is a powerful force to reckon with, with good control over most of its member worlds and the power to back its authority. Interplanetary trade is good on many worlds. Starports are planetary trade centers.
• The 3I is a stable confederation, held together by the nobility of its population, but not all-powerful and overall not wealthy. Interplanetary trade is regular. Starports are common.
• The 3I is a loose, vulnerable sprawl of worlds, which by the way is no worse off than the other interstellar states. Interplanetary trade exists on major worlds. Starports are significant on major worlds but not so massive.
• The 3I is a picture of gross mismanagement over impossible distances. It's a wonder it held together so long. Interplanetary trade exists on only the best worlds. Starports are, on the whole, rather weak things.

What is a Feudal Technocracy? [ edit ]

The definition of a Feudal Technocracy (Government Type 5) is poorly explained in the original rules. Making that more complicated is Marc Miller 's statement that the Third Imperium itself is one.

It became clear that different people had very different ideas about what was and was not a Feudal Technocracy. One side favored emphasizing the feudal aspect while another emphasized the technocratic aspect, using the term 'practice of technology', defined this as requiring industrial activity in all possible areas for a certain TL , producing sufficient surplus resources to support research, development, production and operation and support the expansion of the economy and stated that he regarded this as the prime requirement of a technocracy.

Also, a number of people had expressed the preference that 'critical technology' governments, who govern by virtue of control of some critical technology, be possibly describable as Feudal Technocracies. This type of society is possible at the lower population levels at which FT's commonly occur in the Imperium.

Are Naval Budgets Large or Small? [ edit ]

Since Trillion Credit Squadron, fans have wondered just what sort of budget worlds have to field naval fleets. TCS takes reasonable-looking percentages and comes up with a generous budget for building wartime vessels. If used in normal, non-wartime game settings, these budgets seem to cheapen capital ships with their raw ubiquity. Clearly there are economic controls hidden from the basic view that limit naval construction. What those are is not clear.

This conversation spills over into the question about piracy.

Is piracy economically feasible in the Third Imperium? [ edit ]

"If your getaway vehicle was a Spacecraft (including starships), it was piracy." - Jim Kundert

See Piracy for background information.

This is one of the more flame-war-inducing topics.

In short, while the setting itself acknowledges piracy in some form, referees may ignore this without problems.

Every version of Traveller has included corsair ship designs, and classic Traveller has a "pirate" entry for the starship encounter table. Classic Traveller, MegaTraveller, and TNE have "Pirate" or "Corsair" careers. This reinforces the intent that piracy exists and pirates make interesting gaming experience. Further analysis by fans (e.g. Colin Michael in the 1990s) observed that piracy is quite economical and worth the risk. For example, a merchant need only pick high-value but ubiquitous cargoes, and do it on a relaxed schedule -- for example, capturing and reselling one smallcraft per year -- to live comfortably off of piracy without inviting a fatal reaction from law enforcement.

The argument against piracy is a cipher for the larger problem of economics and security in large interstellar states in Traveller. Detailed economic and military analyses of the Third Imperium show that empire navies have the money, ships, and manpower to, should they choose to do so, place a flotilla of anti-piracy system defense patrols in every owned system, of overkill strength to deter any possible ship-based crime.

Unfortunately, detailed economic analysis also conflicts with military details (e.g. based on the Fifth Frontier War and the Rebellion) of relatively sparse and manageable fleets fielded by the Imperium, the Zhodani Consulate, and others. This indirectly suggests that navies are not actually flush with cash and manpower -- regardless of empire. This promotes the Traveller assumption of laissez-faire interstellar governance which (a) allow piracy but (b) can counter invasions.

Relativistic Weapons [ edit ]

The reactionless drive postulated in MegaTraveller ( Thruster Plates ) allows unlimited acceleration times, so long as fuel and power are available. Given this fact, what's to stop players or GMs using asteroids (or small craft such as lifeboats ) as relativistic (i.e. near the speed of light ) projectiles against unsuspecting worlds? Doesn't this capability give any spacecraft owner access to a weapon of unbelievable power?

It's not impossible, and it has happened - but very rarely, for many good reasons discussed at length on the Relativistic Weapon page. Most travellers in the Third Imperium have heard these tales, so GMs whose players are considering doing this may wish to consult that page and drop it in as lore the travellers know even if it is new information for the players.

What is the Smallest Possible Jump-Capable Ship? [ edit ]

Ships cannot achieve jump unless they displace at least 100 tons. If ships break up during jump, their individual sections drop out of jump at various random spots along the jump course.

How do Jumps less than one parsec work? [ edit ]

What happens if you jump less than 1 parsec? Many people have asked if it is possible to jump within a system , or to just outside the system.

Basically, it is possible and it works exactly like a one-parsec jump. It takes a week with the normal uncertainty factor. The amount of fuel used is also the same as for 1 parsec - (1 divided by the maximum jump range) times the total amount of jump fuel for a full length jump. e.g. A one parsec jump in a Jump-3 capable ship will be 1/3 of the fuel required for a 3 parsec jump. A point to remember though, in a week the solar system may have moved a bit.

What are Jump Governors? [ edit ]

The Jump Governor is a subsystem that allows a jump drive to jump fewer parsecs than its stated rating. For example, a Jump-5 drive with a governor is capable of making Jump-1, Jump-2, Jump-3, or Jump-4, with typical fuel usage at 10% hull volume per parsec.

Every standard jump drive has a Jump Governor.

However, non-standard jump drives may exist, which by definition do not have a Jump Governor. For example, a prototype Jump-7 drive could be installed in a ship. Since it is not a standard, off-the-shelf jump drive, it might only be able to make Jump-7.

The Jump Governor was originally an invention of the step between the initial publication of Classic Traveller Book 2 and High Guard . You can review the history .

What Burns the Jump Fuel? [ edit ]

There has always been open speculation on how jump drive fuel is burned. Officially, most of the fuel goes to inflate the jump bubble, and most of the rest is used by the power plant in a very inefficient "high power mode" that generates a spike that powers the jump drive. Unofficially, alternate theories are often used.

Can a Starship be Completely Automated? [ edit ]

Yes and no. This question is actually related to the nature of machine intelligence. A ship cannot be completely automated, but it can be entirely operated by machines. Characters operate a starship, whether biologic, or a robot with a brain, or a high-tech ship's computer with an implanted personality.

How Do Drop Tanks Work? [ edit ]

Drop tanks are designed to feed fuel rapidly into a power plant, then eject into space, reducing the ship's effective volume and improving its performance capability. Their typical purpose is to increase a ship's jump range for one jump.

For example, a 300t ship may have an additional 100 tons of drop tanks attached. By draining and then ejecting these tanks, it could power one jump-5. Of course, the tanks are left behind, and are typically destroyed by the ship's jump field.

Do Drop Tanks Foster a "Tankless" Setting? [ edit ]

Discussions on drop tanks often head for edge cases. The intent of drop tanks is to allow temporary long-range jump capability. Clever engineers, however, consider that a starport fuel tank could charge up the jump drive for a fuel-less jump. As noted, this is an edge case, since the setting does not accommodate this capability and would be completely changed by it. However, as an edge case, it could operate in fringe situations, and is likely to be unstable. In short, it would make a great plot device for a game.

Are Collectors Canonical? [ edit ]

Collectors, first used in the very early adventure "Annic Nova", appear to be game-breaking devices. However, they are clearly edge-case uniques in that adventure. Later canonical treatment of collectors as starship components (in Traveller5 and ported to Mongoose Traveller) are less troublesome and provide a niche capability.

Are Computers Large or Small? [ edit ]

Starship computers are mainframe-sized affairs, taking up a ton or more of volume. Some rule sets abstract this volume from starship design; however, the tonnage is still there. It is subsumed into other components, which removes a step from ship design. Regardless of how the tonnage is accounted for, ship computers are hardened multitasking machines in a large physical network.

Are Fighters Effective Against Capital Ships? [ edit ]

Fighters exist in the Traveller universe. Therefore, they are effective in certain roles in squadron combat -- even against capital ships. Note that they are likely not cost effective against capital ships, even though they could pose a risk against them. Considering a Tigress dreadnought costs 360 billion credits and a Sylean heavy fighter costs 100 million credits, it is likely that significantly more than 3600 well-organized Syleans are needed to take down a Tigress. Assume that 7200 Syleans have a 50% chance of defeating a Tigress, and a 50% chance of being defeated.

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Classic Traveller Review

Part 1 - intro.

What it says on the tin. We’ll be digging through the classic Traveller rules, specifically the Traveller Book, as that was my introduction, to look at the rules and mechanics. We’ll ignore the more imperium-specific factors, though some of that is tied to creating stellar background polities that match the game mechanic choices of things like FTL travel and comms. We’ll also ignore the expansions beyond the three LBB’s/TTB, at least at first, as I don’t want to complicate the baseline rules with systems and skills introduced specifically for High Guard (large and small ship design, abstract space combat), Mercenary (more weapons, etc.), Scout (detailed star system design), and Merchant Prince. Some of these may be useful, but I speak from experience in saying they are far from necessary in playing an effective campaign.

CT Review Table of Contents

Introduction

Generating characters

Classic Traveller - Combat

More IronMongery

Starship Economics and Design

Space Combat

Space Combat - plugging rules

Some of the first clues a D&D or similar player gets that there is something different - other than “hey, this is sci fi” - presents itself on page 9.

The Character Generation System: Unlike most other role-playing games, Traveller does not simply dump in- experienced 18-year-olds into the world and let them fend for themselves. In Traveller it is possible for a character to gain experience for up to 28 years in one of the six prior services (army, navy, marines, scouts, merchants, and the nebulous other). In practical terms, this means a band of adventurers will not consist entirely of striplings. Some may be inexperienced, but there will also be characters from all levels of experience, and from all walks of life

In short, it’s a backstory generator, as well as a skill generator. You come through this process, assuming your character survives, with a special set of skills, and an actual background in life to justify them.

From there, it describes that there are systems to generate and explore alien planets, meet alien life, and possibly kill it. It also describes the materials required (dice, pencil, paper). Also a glossary of terms.

Interestingly, on page 11:

Referee. An individual who creates and administers a hypothetical universe , and adjudicates conflicts between the players and other inhabitants or forces within that universe. … To a certain extent, Traveller is a contest between the referee and the players, as the referee represents all the nasty things that the universe can throw at people. As such, it is very easy for a referee to come to view the players as "the enemy", whose every move is to be thwarted, and to take every opportunity to make things tough on the players , throwing problem after problem their way and piling disaster on top of disaster. This makes the players sullen and suspicious, and spoils the entertainment value of Traveller. A referee's fun in Traveller is different from a player's fun. While players plot and scheme on the basis of (often) incomplete data, the referee sees all and knows all. Observing the reactions of different people to the same problem, or watching an intricate plan unfold (and often turn out quite differently from what the players had intended); these and more are Traveller's rewards for the referee.

Emphasis mine.

Traveller explicitly - even using the term “referee” - lays out the role of the GM (referee from now on) as an adjudicator. His role is not to be the enemy (or a friend - on page 15 it warns explicitly against stepping in to overrule the universe in a deus ex machina ), it is to act as an interface to the universe. The referee puts together and hands over information about the world the characters are operating in, and watches as a good plan comes together. Or not.

Navy chow..

Some advice is laid out to start small, perhaps a few standalone scenarios if the group doesn’t have RPG experience. It also delineates hopeful traits of a good Ref: Imagination (to construct a narrative matching up various table rolls to the current situation), improvisation, a sense of proportion (basically no monty haul campaigns any more than misery campaigns…), and organization to minimize downtime.

On 13 is some useful advice for how to delineate world data for the characters

Preliminary Steps: Once the referee has settled on the background for his or her universe, accumulated a group of players, and created characters, then what? The referee still has a few duties to perform before the first adventure. In all likelihood, the players will be dumped into the middle of a new situation. If the adventure were "real life", the people involved would know what they had done with their lives up until that time, they would know where they were and how they got there, and might have a halting familiarity with the geography of the region. It is necessary for the referee to divide the information about his or her universe into four parts: 1) information which player characters would logically know by virtue of what they are, 2) in- formation which player characters can find out with little or no cost, 3) information which player characters can find out only at great cost, and 4) information which the player characters would be unable to find out by their own efforts. Type 1 could be such things as how to behave in polite society, or some simple data about a planet if the character has navigation skill. Type 2 could be information obtained from a library, from asking around at bars, hotel lobbies, and so on, or obtained by direct observation of some event or condition. Type 3 could be information that requires the theft of one or more documents (payment in time) or the bribery of some official (payment in money). Type 4 , should be information about the true nature of reality, perhaps the fact that the information contained in the library is false with regard to the planet mentioned above, or other information for the referee's eyes only.

Somewhat in alignment with Arbiter’s examples as the PC being your interface to the world, your translator, this implies a similar perspective. Regardless of what the players know, there are things the characters will know and not know, be able and not be able to do, because of the character traits and where they are. Here the rules specifically discuss information gathering, but following the logic leads to almost any other interaction through the PC between the world and player.

And we also arrive at my first major disagreement, mostly because the paragraph itself outlines exactly why it is dumb:

The rolling of dice is a convenient way to represent unknown variables or to assist the referee in making deci- sions. Feel free to modify the results if you do not like the way they turned out . Change a death result to a severely wounded result if you feel a character has behaved heroically and deserves a second chance, or kill off one who has done something incredibly dumb but lucked out on the die roll. Be fair in doing this, however, and try not to be too heavy-handed. Most players feel better if their character is done in by the die roll than if killed by fiat.

In this case, I’ll feel free not to fudge the dice. Sadly, Marc returns to this again later with notes on not letting a character die if it makes the player feel bad. For a guy who obviously came out of a wargaming background, he spends a lot of time worrying about ego investment in characters, and willing to handwave away rules and results, made worse by later implying, repeatedly, that arbitrary GM decisions affecting the character are likely to backfire by being too friendly or misery-inducing to the GM, and not addressing the bigger elephant in the room of making the game itself a cheat.

Personally, since he left it an option, I’m of the “git gud” school. Otherwise, I’d make sure up front I was playing that way (i.e. playing not-quite-Traveller).

Interestingly, after some more advice on game setup, comes this tidbit on time:

Game Time: The passage of game time is of great importance. Player characters' actions must be measured against those of the rest of the universe . One of the most important parts of being a good referee is keeping proper track of the passage of game time. One of the greatest tools available to a referee is the ability to make players waste game time on items unrelated t o the task at hand, especially i f the group is working against a specific deadline. The ratio of real time to game time is left up to the referee . Obviously, it must be a flexible ratio, depending on circumstances.

Unless one is playing a coordinated shared world, distances and the jump drive make 1:1 prohibitive, but Traveller nonetheless explicitly tells you you need to track time, not just for costs of living, but for events in the universe at large. The rules remind the referee that there is a universe outside of the players, and it will respond. An example is provided where the players are loudly discussing things while at a restaurant, so the referee should have the manager drop by to ask them to be quieter.

Finally, some dice mechanics are explained:

Throw : That dice roll required to achieve a stated effect. If only a number is stated, it must be rolled exactly. A number followed by a plus (such as 8+) indicates that the number or greater must be rolled. Similarly, a number followed by a minus (such as 6-) indicates that that number or less must be rolled. Throws can be identified because the sign follows the number . Die Modifier (abbreviated DM): A number to be applied to a die roll before it is used. Die modifiers are preceded by a sign which indicates whether the number is to be added to or subtracted from the die roll. Thus, 1-4 would be added to the die roll while -2 would be subtracted. Interpolation : In many cases, the rules may call for the generation of a random number within a specific range, such as from 10 to 60. In this case, inspection of the highest number will give the number of dice to be rolled and the multiplier to be applied. For instance, if the rules call for 10 to 60 animals to appear, the referee may deduce that one die is to be rolled and the result multiplied by 10.

Overall, this is a better than usual set of instructions on how to use the tools to play a game and learn the system, though with a bit of a split personality when it comes to the Referee overriding the dice.

Next stop - character generation. We’re going to roll at least one up.

Credits for artwork - screenshotted from the Traveller Book. Images and text excerpts are used here to illustrate the game and its mechanics and feel.

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Sámara: A Travel Guide to Costa Rica’s Coolest Beach Town

• February 26, 2021

There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. As ever, all opinions are my own.

Are you considering visiting the surf town of Sámara in Costa Rica? Need some persuasion? Well you’ve come to the right place! This Sámara travel guide is designed to tell you everything you need to know to plan your escape to this stunning area of Costa Rica.

I spent a few days in Sámara at the end of my G Adventures Costa Rica tour, and I fell for it fast!

Unlike many other places in Costa Rica, this small town on the pacific coast is surprisingly authentic, and you’ll never have to deal with crowds of other tourists. Most tourists skip over Samara entirely, which in my opinion is almost criminal!

Even if you’re not into surfing, there’s a whole load of reasons you’ll love Sámara. First of all, obviously, the lack of crowds is a big selling point. There’s also the laid-back, anything goes vibe that makes you want to quit your life and become a full-time beach bum. But Samara is also a fabulous base for a tonne of awesome activities that’ll keep you entertained for days! 

Heading to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast instead? Check out my travel guide here.

How Much Time Do You Need in Sámara?

In Sámara, it’s easy to do whatever it is you want. Feel like reading a book on the beach for a couple of days? No problem. Feel like packing a bunch of activities into your stay and keeping busy? That’s also cool!

Aside from surfing and being a beach bum, there isn’t much to do in Sámara itself so it’s a good idea to get a balance of beach time and adventure activities. I think 3 days in Sámara is ideal for most visitors, but if you like surfing you’ll want to stay there longer.

I personally could have stayed there for over a week without getting bored! Sprawled out on the beach, drinking out of a coconut, I almost cancelled my flights home to extend my trip!

Alas… Real life responsibilities won in the end, and I caught the bus back to San Jose promising to return one day…

How to Get to Sámara

There are a few options for getting to Sámara depending on how adventurous you are.

Obviously, if you’ve hired a car, you should drive to Sámara. It takes around 4 hours from the capital city of San Jose, or 2 hours from Tamarindo. I’m a big scaredy-cat when it comes to driving, though, so it was never something I considered!

The option I went for, and the easiest option by far, is by joining a Costa Rica guided tour that goes to Sámara. There are a few different tour providers in Costa Rica, but I opted for G Adventures and I highly recommend their tours.

I went on this one , which hits up all the highlights of Costa Rica (including Sámara) over 14-days, and I had the time of my life! Taking a tour was ideal for me, as it meant I didn’t have to think at all about logistics and how to get from A to B. Y ou can read my full review of the tour I went on here.

Your final option is to catch a bus to get to Sámara. From San Jose, the bus takes around 4 hours and costs around $8 one-way. There are also local buses from Sámara to popular nearby destinations such as Tamarindo.

Things to Do in Sámara, Costa Rica

Going surfing.

Sámara is all about surf, and whether you’ve never set foot on a surfboard in your life or you’re a seasoned pro, you’ll have the time of your life surfing here.

The guys over at C&C Surf School have unbeatable enthusiasm for teaching you how to surf and are full of helpful advice. A few people in my tour group took lessons here and had nothing but good things to say about them. Everybody managed to stand up on their first lesson, which is a huge achievement!

If you already know what you’re doing they have a wide range of surfboards to hire, although they don’t have too many more “advanced” boards. They also hire out rash vests. Be sure to hire a long sleeve one if you can to protect yourself from the sun!

Surfing here was unbelievable. I just couldn’t get enough. The waves were so clean and easy to ride along (especially compared to the windswept slop I surf back at home)! Sámara is the perfect place to learn how to surf.

That said, though, the surf is only pumping at certain times of the day. When I was there, it was first thing in the morning and around sunset. During the middle of the day, it was almost flat! That means you’ll have time to either lounge on the beach in between surf sessions, or fit in an activity.

Snorkelling

How better to explore Sámara’s surrounding area than by boat, stopping off to snorkel at all the best spots? 

I love snorkelling and always try to do it at least once per trip. There are quite a few snorkelling tours available in Sámara, so I recommend using Viator to check out your options.

This tour gets rave reviews! Taking in the gorgeous scenery at Barco Quebrado, Sámara and Carrillo, you’ll be able to snorkel to your heart’s content and get to know the area by its best and most beautiful asset – the ocean!

Stand up Paddleboarding

Even if you haven’t tried stand up paddleboarding before, taking a paddleboarding tour is one of the best things to do in Samara. Sámara beach itself can sometime be too ferocious for stand up paddleboarding, but joining a tour will enable you to visit the tranquil nearby waters of Carillo, which is much better suited to paddleboarding.

During a paddleboarding class, your guide will give you a quick introduction to paddleboarding and teach you how to balance on the board before you set off along the coast.

Horseback Riding

Fun fact: the first time I ever went horseback riding was in Costa Rica.

Ever since, I’ve made it my life mission to convince everybody else to go horseback riding in Costa Rica too. Well, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but the experience was just magic!

Luckily, you can go horseback riding in Sámara – and you can actually ride on the beach (goals)!

This tour takes you riding up a mountain through the jungle to reach amazing viewpoints, and allows you to see a part of Sámara not many others visit which isn’t accessible by vehicle. The final leg of the tour includes galloping along the beach.

I’m always super cautious before recommending animal activities as animal welfare is something I am passionate about. Fortunately, this tour company is consistently praised for the condition of their horses, and they pride themselves on never taking the horses on more than one tour per day. 

Meeting Turtles

Ever wanted to see turtles nesting and hatching on the beach?

Well, from Sámara, you can take a tour to see the baby turtles . From Sámara beach, a guided turtle tour will take you to either Corozalito, Camaronal or Ostional beach where you commence your turtle hunt.

The tour guides have a huge emphasis on the wellbeing of the turtles and give you a full safety briefing before you spot the turtles and, after that, you’ll be able to watch the turtles making their way into the ocean.

The peak turtle hatching time in the area is September and October, so, although you can still spot turtles outside of these months, there’s always a risk that you could miss them.

Mangrove Kayaking 

Sámara isn’t far away from the Ora River, a popular kayaking spot in Costa Rica. Paddling the quiet waters of the river on a guided kayak tour is the best way to explore the mangroves. As you paddle you’ll be able to spot wildlife such as monkeys and birds, as well as an easy way to explore the tropical rainforest. 

Sunset Booze Cruise

I skipped this tour in favour of extra time spent surfing, but judging by the state of the girls on my tour group who went on it when they returned to the hostel, I definitely missed out!

With alcohol, soft drinks and snacks all included in the price of the cruise, this is without doubt the most epic way to catch the sunset in Sámara. There’s an opportunity to snorkel and dolphin-spot on the journey before you settle in to witness the sunset over drinks. The cruise lasts around 3 hours.

The girls on my tour who went on this came back so drunk (in the best way possible). They all said they’d had an amazing time – and it sure looked like they did! Check out prices here .

Quad Biking

This was another tour that I skipped in order to go surfing in Sámara (I’m sensing a theme here…) but the people in my tour group who went quad biking couldn’t sing its praises loud enough!

The quad biking tour includes a safety briefing followed by pure adventure! You’ll get to take in the hills and jungle as you zoom through the rainforest. The tour finishes off at the beach, where you’ll get the opportunity to snorkel and wash away all the dirt from the journey.

Be sure to bring a bandana if you’re going quad biking! The wheels kick up dust and dirt like there’s no tomorrow, and breathing in a bunch of dust is something nobody wants.

Is Sámara Costa Rica Safe?

Yes, Sámara is safe, and I didn’t feel concerned for my safety at all whilst I was here – unlike in a few towns on the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica where harassment was a problem.

I would have felt fine walking alone in the town centre at night by myself, but fortunately I didn’t have to, and I’d always prefer to go out with others after dark.

Obviously, like everywhere else in Costa Rica, stay sensible, keep an eye on your belongings, and don’t go wandering around dark alleyways by yourself at night, and you’ll find that Sámara is a perfectly safe place to visit in Costa Rica.

Where to Stay in Sámara

There are great accommodation options in Sámara for all budgets, but especially if you’re travelling on a low to mid-range budget. Here are my picks for the best places to stay in Sámara.

Hostels in Sámara

Sámara has quite a few hostels, but there are only a couple that have good ratings:

Matilori hostel – Surrounded by Mango trees and just 50 metres away from the beach, you can’t beat the location of this hugely popular hostel. It’s fairly small so it’s easy to get to know other people in the hostel, which is ideal if you’re a solo traveller looking to socialise. It also has all the facilities you’d need, including a kitchen to prepare your own food (and keep costs down) and reliable wifi if you need to get some work done or call home. 

One night in a 6-bed dorm costs around $15 , with a private double room costing $40 . Check out availability and reviews here .

Las Mariposas – Just like Matilori hostel, Las Mariposas is just 50 metres away from the beach (Sámara really is all about beachside living!). This hostel is well known amongst travellers to Sámara for its social atmosphere, and it has a hammock area outdoors where you can chill in the evening and chat with other guests. It also offers free coffee in the morning.

One night in an 8-bed dorm costs around $14 , with a private double room costing $40 . Check out availability and reviews here .

Hotels in Sámara

If you’re travelling as a couple (or just prefer your own space and a few extra luxuries) staying at a hotel or guesthouse in Sámara is the ideal option for you. 

The Good Life Lodge – This is the perfect compromise between a hostel and a hotel – it has a communal kitchen, so you can cook your own food to save costs, but it has the little luxuries you wouldn’t find at a hostel. We’re talking about a hot tub, flat-screen TVs, welcome beers and the all-important AIR CONDITIONING! This place gets rave reviews, which you can check out here . 

Double rooms cost around $79 per night . Check availability for your dates here . 

Hotel Peace & Lodge – For one of the best places to stay in Sámara, check out Hotel Peace & Lodge. This place is one of Booking.com’s most popular stays in Sámara, and looking over the property’s pictures, I’m not surprised. With a restaurant, a swimming pool, a garden and a bar, it isn’t short of facilities, and all the rooms are spacious. The price also includes breakfast!

Double rooms cost around $102 per night . Check availability for your dates here .

Best Restaurants in Sámara

Sámara is a small town, so you’re not going to be overwhelmed by choice of places to eat here. That said, there are enough great restaurants in town serving up both local and international cuisine, so you won’t be disappointed. Here are my top picks:

• Samara Sushi – this sushi place is wildly popular and gets rave reviews. In fact, my Costa Rican tour guide said it was his favourite sushi ever! The decor is unique and makes the restaurant feel super laid back, and their 2 for 1 sushi special (which runs after 5pm) is always a hit. Unfortunately, though, it’s quite pricey.
• Restaurante Sheriff Rustic – for an authentic Costa Rican soda (a local restaurant) you don’t need to look any further than Restaurante Sheriff Rustic. I ate here twice, and it was perfect! The prices were reasonable, the staff offer killer recommendations from the menu, and their ceviche cannot be beaten.
• El Lagarto – Is this the best restaurant in Samara? I think so! And so do all the online reviewers! The specialty at El Lagarto is anything grilled, and boy, I didn’t think grilling could make anything taste this good! The restaurant is down a back street and a bit hard to find, but that only makes it more of a hidden gem.

Don’t forget to check out my post on traditional food and drinks to try in Costa Rica!

Things You Need to Bring to Sámara, Costa Rica

For Sámara, you’ll definitely need some mosquito repellent spray and bands , and a quick-dry travel towel for all those beach days you’ll have. Other than that, you won’t need anything special beyond what I covered in my Costa Rica packing list .

I do want to emphasise how important it is that you purchase travel insurance before you visit Sámara, though. 

A lot of people don’t think it’s necessary to get travel insurance before travelling to Costa Rica – and it makes me wince whenever I hear about it! Costa Rica is fairly safe, but being careful and visiting safe destinations doesn’t prevent plain old bad luck from happening!

Not only is travel insurance very affordable, but it can save you from all manner of nightmarish situations – whether that’s having your flights cancelled, accidentally damaging your laptop, or even getting injured on an activity! I recommend World Nomads for travel insurance and would NEVER travel uninsured . 

Travel insurance is the kind of thing you often don’t think about until you need it. Don’t get caught short!

I hope this post has helped you to plan your visit to Sámara – you’re going to love it! With so many fun activities right on its doorstep, and that incredible beach, I can’t understand why Sámara isn’t swamped with visitors. I’m definitely happy it isn’t, though!

Don’t forget to head over to my other Costa Rica posts for more trip planning tips!

Ella Moore is the founder of Many More Maps. Growing up just 45 minutes away from Liverpool, Ella has spent years exploring the city inside out. In her teenage years, she was introduced to the music of The Beatles, and the rest, they say, is history! Today, she stands as a leading authority on Beatles tourism in Liverpool, helping over 40,000 people a month to plan their dream trip to the city.

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I’m so glad I came across your post. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit I’d never even heard of Samara. Now I can’t wait to go there.

Thanks Jenn! Samara is so lovely!

Thanks for this. How did you feel about the Hotel Villas Playa Samara. We are an active couple in our late 60’s and early 70’s who want to stay in an all inclusive but still take surfing lessons and do some excursions. Did you see this hotel and what did you think of it.

Hi Steve, I’m glad you found the post helpful! I unfortunately didn’t see Hotel Villas Playa Samara during my time in town, but given your interests I think you’ll have a fabulous time in Samara no matter where you stay! I hope you have a great trip 🙂

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Concerts + Events

School of music, venue rentals, concerts + events.

Helen DeVos Legacy Award Gala

Kent Philharmonic Orchestra

With her GRAMMY-Award winning and chart-topping album, Linger Awhile , 23-year-old Samara Joy makes her case to join the likes of Sarah, Ella, and Billie as the next mononymous jazz singing sensation recorded by the venerable Verve Records. Her voice, rich and velvety yet precociously refined, has already earned her fans like Anita Baker and Regina King and appearances on the TODAY Show, The Tonight Show w/Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show w/Stephen Colbert, CBS Mornings, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, and more, in addition to millions of likes on TikTok — cementing her status as perhaps the first Gen Z jazz singing star. The New York Times praised the “silky-voiced rising star” for “helping jazz take a youthful turn” while NPR All Things Considered named her a “classic jazz singer from a new generation.” In February 2023, Samara Joy took home two GRAMMYs - Best Jazz Vocal Album and the auspicious Best New Artist award.

Samara is still relatively new to jazz. Growing up in the Bronx, it was music of the past — the music of her parent’s childhoods, as she put it — that she listened to most. She treasures her musical lineage, which stretches back to her grandparents Elder Goldwire and Ruth McLendon, both of whom performed with Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes, and runs through her father, who is a singer, songwriter and producer who toured with gospel artist Andraé Crouch. “Sometimes I catch myself when I’m singing — I'm like, ‘Whoa, that was a dad moment’,” Samara quips. Eventually, she did follow in the family tradition, singing in church and then with the jazz band at Fordham High School for the Arts, with whom she won Best Vocalist at JALC’s Essentially Ellington competition. That led to her enrolling in SUNY Purchase’s jazz studies program, where she fell deeply in love with the music.

Though she’s young, she relishes the process of digging through the music’s history. “I think maybe people connect with the fact that I'm not faking it, that I already feel embedded in it,” Samara says. “Maybe I'm able to reach people in person and on social media because it's real.” The gatekeepers of the jazz world tend to agree: in 2019, she won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, and she’s since performed with legends like Christian McBride and Bill Charlap. Legendary late pianist Barry Harris was a particularly important influence and mentor. “You inspired me as well as many others with this fire for teaching and playing that couldn’t be dimmed by anything or anyone,” Samara writes in Linger Awhile’ s liner notes, dedicating the project in part to Harris’ memory.

On Linger Awhile , which was produced by Matt Pierson and recorded by Chris Allen at Sear Sound in NYC, Samara is accompanied by esteemed veterans: her former professors, guitarist Pasquale Grasso and drummer Kenny Washington, form the core of the band, which also includes bassist David Wong and pianist Ben Paterson. With ease and a preternatural assurance, Samara swings right alongside them through understated yet powerful renditions of this creative collection of standards.

There are burnished, gleaming versions of chestnuts in “Misty,” “Linger Awhile” and “Someone To Watch Over Me,” transporting listeners to some romantic, long-lost supper club.

Those familiar tunes are listed alongside some more unusual, if equally vintage selections: “Sweet Pumpkin,” a Ronnell Bright tune performed by the likes of Blue Mitchell and Gloria Lynne, and “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood,” which Samara uncovered on a collection of Sarah Vaughan rarities, add a lilting, upbeat bent to the album’s selections.

“When I heard the lyrics, I was like, ‘OK, this is positive — it's not as much about heartbreak,” Samara says of “Mood.” “I liked the way I felt after hearing her singing it, and hopefully I can create the same feeling for people when they hear that song.”

Samara aims for the opposite on a spine-tingling version of “Guess Who I Saw Today,” originally popularized by Nancy Wilson. This gently grieving rendition showcases the young singer’s exceptional control and range, as well as her refined, distinctive style.

Marrying Samara’s interest in classic standards as well as crate-digging is her take on the iconic Thelonious Monk tune “‘Round Midnight” — instead of the traditional lyrics, Samara sings those written by Jon Hendricks, which she had only heard in a vintage TV performance by Carmen McRae. “Those lyrics haven't been recorded that much — so even though it’s a song that a lot of people know, this is a different take on it,” Samara says. It’s the only song on the album that includes a horn section, including trumpeter Terell Stafford, trombonist Donavan Austin, and finally tenor saxophonist Kendric McCallister, who is responsible for the arrangement, a transformation of Cootie Williams’ original.

A concept that will likely be foreign to Samara’s TikTok following is that of vocalese, a jazz technique showcased across Linger Awhile . “Nostalgia (The Day I Knew)” was the product of a jazz transcription class she took with trumpet master Jon Faddis at SUNY Purchase, in which she took down Fats Navarro’s solo from the original 1947 recording and wrote her own lyrics to that melody — inspired, she quips, by the teen romance novels she was reading. She went through the same process with “I’m Confessin’,” combining that song’s original lyrics with her own, set to Lester Young’s 1952 solo. Especially for a contemporary listener, hearing how seamlessly Samara transforms these instrumental lines into breezy lyrics is astounding.

Also included on Linger Awhile is “Social Call,” co-written by vocalese pioneer Hendricks and Gigi Gryce — a fitting, beautiful tribute to those who paved the way for Samara’s exploration of this often-overlooked subgenre.

The release is just one more step for the ascendant, 2x GRAMMY-winning vocalist, who has spent the past several months touring all over the world on increasingly larger stages — still shocked to be performing in front of thousands who hang on every word. “I'm still very much a student, even though I've graduated,” Samara says. “So this is only the beginning… there is much, much more to come.”

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Eric Cole makes first career ace at Zurich Classic

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It was already a feel-good week for the team of Eric Cole and Russ Cochran. It got even better on Thursday afternoon.

Cole made an ace on the 207-yard par-3 14th during the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. It’s Cole’s first career ace on the PGA TOUR. Cole’s approach landed just short of the green before popping up, slowly meandering to the front-left hole location and falling into the cup. The hole-in-one moved team Cole/Cochran to 3-under through five holes.

The 35-year-old Cole hoped to spend the week celebrating 65-year-old Cochran, whom Cole invited to play so Cochran could hit his 600th career start. Cochran had been stuck on 599 career PGA TOUR starts for over a decade. His last PGA TOUR event was the 2013 Sony Open in Hawaii (T41).

Cole’s caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son, and Cole plays with both father and son back in Tequesta, Florida, a suburb of Jupiter. Cole floated the idea to Russ, who was apprehensive at first. Eventually, Cole wore him down.

“I thought it would be pretty cool to get him his 600th,” said Cole. “Russ was kinda shaky about it, and then I stayed on him pretty hard and he eventually he came around. He’s been getting ready for it.”

Reed stayed on Cole’s bag while Russ’s other son, Ryan, is caddying for his dad.

“It’s a cool family week, and in New Orleans it will be a cool celebration of Russ,” Cole said.

Now, it’s a celebration of them both, with a special memory to share.

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First And Last: Samara Joy Talks GRAMMY Win, ‘Cheetah Girls’ Fashion, And More

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First And Last   is a video series that uncovers surprising moments in the lives of our favorite figures in entertainment, music, and more. As the subjects are hit with rapid fire questions — forcing them to think of their earliest to most recent bits on the spot — they give us a genuine look into who and what made them into who they are today.

Samara Joy , the GRAMMY award-winning jazz singer/songwriter, sat down with VIBE for the latest episode of First And Last . The young musician spoke about how the  Cheetah Girls  inspired her fashion sense and her career milestones thus far, like winning two GRAMMYs.

To kick off the conversation, the “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood” singer detailed how she fell in love with jazz music. “[It was] ‘Lover Man,’ sung by Sarah Vaughan,” she said, right before gently breaking out in song. “Because I saw a video of her singing it live on YouTube, and she was like, ‘I don’t know why/but I’m feeling so sad.’ I was like, ‘Oh, I’m sad, too. I’m sad, too.'”

The jazz singer also showed love to the  Cheetah Girls  as she opened up about her first collaboration with Theory. To celebrate the feat, she disclosed her first “fashion girly” moment, and Raven-Symoné’s Galleria Garibaldi was to blame.

“Okay. Because I wanted to be Galleria Garibaldi. Okay. Raven-Symoné, if you’re out there. Okay, you inspire. I wanted to learn how to sew. I wanted to learn how to make clothes just because of that. I was so inspired. I mean, I can’t sew, but it made me want to. It made me want to look fly going to middle school and stunt on everybody in the cafeteria,” she said laughing.

“I literally went to Barcelona where they shot  Cheetah Girls 2  and was in the exact same spot that they filmed that song in the park. I [got in my bag] a little bit. I did a little bit. It was a lot of people, but I still did it.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Theory (@theory__)

As for her career, Samara disclosed that it’s been a while since she’s gotten nervous before a show. Joy opened up about hitting the road as a touring artist since high school and how that experience molded her mindset.

Additionally, the songbird also shared a story about her immediate thoughts after winning and then holding a golden gramophone for the first time.

“The last time I was nervous to perform. It’s been a minute. I’m not going to lie. The last time I was nervous. I’ve been on the road since I graduated. We’ve been touring nonstop. I’ve gotten a lot of experience over the past couple of years. The last time I was nervous. I performed in Umbria opening for Tom Jones in Italy and it was like 5,000 people there. Maybe that was probably the last term that I got nervous.”

“My first thought was like, ‘Dang, my speech is on my phone and my phone is on the table.’ I wrote that whole thing out and I left my phone on the table,” she expressed, giggling. “ I was just in shock when they were like, ‘And the best new artist is,’ and I close my eyes. They had the cameras on us, but I closed my eyes. I was like, ‘Okay, if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.’ The camera catches me the moment I opened my eyes and was like, ‘Oh, shoot, it’s me.’ I was like, ‘I’m thankful.’ I’m seeing all these people standing up, Adele and Lizzo and stuff. I look back at the video, I was like, ‘Oh, this is real. This is really happening.’ It felt like a dream, honestly. I don’t think anything has ever felt that much like a dream than that moment right there.”

More from VIBE.com

First And Last: Tone Stith Talks Love And Possible Normani Collaboration

First And Last: Ryan Trey Admits He Missed A DM From A "Huge" Female Artist

Samara Joy, Yebba, Mariah The Scientist, And More New R&B For The Long Ride Home

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‘Pulp Fiction’ Reunion: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman and Harvey Keitel on How Quentin Tarantino’s Classic Movie ‘Changed Cinema’ and the Trajectory of Their Careers

By Todd Gilchrist

Todd Gilchrist

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John Travolta , Uma Thurman , Samuel L. Jackson and Harvey Keitel reunited at the TCM Classic Film festival on Thursday for a 30th anniversary screening of Quentin Tarantino ‘s “ Pulp Fiction ” to reflect on the film’s impact on their careers — and upon the medium itself.

Though she and her three costars were the only members asked to speak before the screening, several other members of the cast and crew joined them in the auditorium of the TCL Chinese Theatre, including actors Phil LaMarr, Burr Steers, Frank Whaley, Eric Stoltz and Julia Sweeney, as well as producer Lawrence Bender and executive producers Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg. Bruce Willis was not in attendance, but his wife Emma Heming Willis and daughter Tallulah Willis appeared in his stead, receiving applause from the capacity crowd.

Keitel laughed as he recalled how Tarantino mispronounced his name the first time they met, then offered a contemplative take on the filmmaker’s effect on the arts.

“Quentin is one of those talents that changed the environment that we were working in with his huge talent,” he explained. “His aesthetic force was so powerful that it had the power to change your direction, and we’re all here tonight for the same reason: we respect the art and the artist. God knows our country needs it now because of what’s going on in it.”

Pausing a moment, Keitel drew an unexpected analogy: “It reminds me of the MAGA hats. I keep thinking, I’m a MAGA fan,” he said, the crowd uncertain what he’d say next. “It’s just that Trump didn’t know how to spell underneath it, ‘vote democratic’,” he concluded as audience members cheered.

Though the film made Jackson a screen icon overnight, the actor regarded its effect on his career slightly more modestly than his costars. “I was floating along and doing well, and this film was a great boost to me, just working and doing it through the work,” he said.

Though he’d received the first supporting actor award in Cannes history for his performance in Spike Lee’s 1991 film “Jungle Fever,” he said returning three years later to watch “Pulp Fiction” was especially fun since he got to watch it with Willis, the costar of his next film, “Die Hard With a Vengeance.”

“Bruce and I were sitting there watching the film and the audience was loving the movie,” he remembered. “And Bruce said, yeah, this movie is going to make you popular, but ‘Die Hard’ is going to make you a star.”

History would ultimately decide: 30 years later, he’d be wrapping up the Q&A at a standing-room-only anniversary screening of “Pulp Fiction” with an answer about a cinematic legacy that’s now academic. But, more personally, Jackson confessed it created one downstream effect he was only too pleased to embrace.

“It changed my life drastically in that this was the particular role where all of a sudden people started thinking I was the coolest motherfucker on the planet.”

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