Costa Rica - Travel Advice

[TravelTime]

Going to San Jose for 3 nights for the first time. Does anyone know if the San Jose Marriott is close to the "action"? It's a last minute trip so I don't have much research time. Any information to help me orientate would be much appreciated.

[Squidward]

I'm heading down next month to SJ for a couple of weeks and it'll be trip number 5 for me (lucky guy). While down there I'm planning on taking a trip to the East coast to do some tarpon fishing. Unfortunately due to my ongoing adherence to the motto: "the only thing better than steady pussy is new pussy" I don't have a ready girl to travel with me. Any ideas on the best way to find a chica that would want to take a couple of days off and travel without me landing a wack job or getting robbed by her BF? I'm not really worried too much on the looks dept. But really just want a nice girl for a fun time on the beach. Just looking for a trusted source to set me up with someone without running into the problem of it looking like I got her from a pimp.

[Bearyc]

Great option. Calls from CR to US are free. Oddly, local calls within CR come out of your int'l bucket. As do calls from US to CR of course. Roughly $10 for 220 minutes I think. US calls within / from US are free. I did not pay more for my area code when I bought, maybe 3 years, not sure now. It is more for a vanity #. Very good voice quality. One problem is very, very often on calls from US to outlying CR areas, you will not get thru. Generally very good to SJ area and larger towns. If you are going to be making alot of local calls in CR, get a CR sim for your unlocked cell phone.

Google voice lets me call or text the states for free.

[Rayy371]

There are literally thousands of reports on many websites that describe all of the activities available in Costa Rica. If you do some research you will find the answers to most if not all of your questions. Afterwards if you want answers to a few specific questions I am sure people here will help you but nobody is going to write a novel to create a map for you because you don't want to do any of the work yourself. Google is your friend in this case and it doesn't mind answering any of your questions.

Thanks, I went to Lucky Dog and got the help I needed. I always feel when traveling the first time to a strange country it is better to ask than to make stupid mistakes. The owner was great set everything up as far as rides, hotels reservations, and advise on which Hotels were better than others and the atmosphere. GOOGLE is great but the information is sometimes not accurate and suspect at best.

[Beavis]

So I am making my first trip to CR and I want to fly down the Friday after thanksgiving and stay Jaco beach for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Then I would like to go to San Jose and Stay 3 nights. I would like any help to make this trip the best.

Ray

There are literally thousands of reports on many websites that describe all of the activities available in Costa Rica. If you do some research you will find the answers to most if not all of your questions. Afterwards if you want answers to a few specific questions I am sure people here will help you but nobody is going to write a novel to create a map for you because you don't want to do any of the work yourself. Google is your friend in this case and it doesn't mind answering any of your questions.

[Qncterra]

The problem with Tico's is, retention is not in their vocabulary. Even I make a mistake every now and then. It's my utmost importance that the client stays happy. Even if it means I have to give him / her a free ride. It's hard enough getting a customer, so you want to do everything in you power to keep them. Customer is King! Too some locals don't get that.

One Lucky Dogg.

Well, you are right about retention and even when they try they don't know how to manage it. I just spent nine days at another hotel in October. Stopped my Morazan because I had left my neck travel pillow and knew that housekeeping would have it for me. As I waited for them to bring it down, I was told that the new front desk guy, who wouldn't let me speak to a manager was no longer there. I really didn't like the idea of paying interest on the 11 nights while they used my money. I was also told that they want me back, and I would not have to pay in full up front, but want me to pay more per night. Well that won't happen because their new "preferred rate" is 90% more than what I negotiated at the other hotel.

[Qncterra]

Apparently, some of the airlines are including the departure tax in the ticket price. Jet Blue did this to me twice this year You don't this for sure until you are in the line. My problem is that I usually buy the ticket downtown and they would not refund it at the airport. Before my return trip, I emailed Jet Blue and was told that it is not included. I kept the original receipt and planning to use it, only to find that it was included. My friend on United said that his was included too.

[Rayy371]

So I am making my first trip to CR and I want to fly down the Friday after thanksgiving and stay Jaco beach for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Then I would like to go to San Jose and Stay 3 nights. I would like any help to make this trip the best.

Ray

[Manny51]

Hi guys!

Thinking of vising CR in a couple of weeks. I have been to San Jose a couple of times, and want to try something new. I wanted to go to the Nicoya area, like Nosara, Liberia, and Tamarindo. I have RTF, and I don't find anything useful. Any punting fun to be had up there?

Thanks in advance!

[Dgfd]

That is a US website and fails to consider two factors: 1) the airlines make up their own rules and might not let you board the flight, and 2) Costa Rican immigration makes stuff up as they go along, and has been very, very strict and unpredictable in recent years. I consider traveling with a passport with such a short expiration date to be a needless risk to take. You need to renew it anyway, it won't cost more money to do it now and it will have the same expiration date as if you do it at the last minute, and illness or accident might delay your departure.

There's the rub. Most airlines aren't going to let you board due to their rules regardless of the law. TACA / Avianca let me do it 4 times.

With way less then 6 mos left, even less then 3 weeks on the last flight. Not hassled at all at Immigration. I long for the pre 9-11 days.

(and really up to a few years after 9-11) when all you needed was a certified birth certificate and a DL, pay $3 for a little green tourist.

Card which they stamped with your days--and it was always 90--like automatic--then, and that was all you needed. I've got a whole wall of them little greenies nailed up in the garage for chuckles. Aside from the killings, the passport thing and all the new banking bullshit are other major reasons I hate Al-Quida. Now Uncle knows a lot easily. And so can anyone else if you are ever required for whatever reason to show your passport.

[Horn Dog Too]

All Right!! My first time in San Jose is tonight!. I'll be getting in too late and probably too tired to partake, but I will be heading to the gulch tomorrow afternoon. I'm pretty sure I want to at least stop by the HDR and their famous bar to check out the scenery and get the lay of the land. Then I'll head to Monica's. I am curious though about one more thing. I've read in the forum about casino's in the area. How many are there and is live poker played in any of them? Thanks in advance. HD2.

[One Lucky Dogg]

I have not ever seen this hub so cheap. For out and. W, brothers and sisters who are looking for a deal to Costa Rica. Lowest fare found for travel within the next 30 days.

Seats are not available on all flights or all dates of travel. You may need to have flexible travel dates to find this fare. Fares for travel on holidays may be higher. All mandatory taxes / fees are included in the price. Tax-inclusive fare may be a few dollars higher or lower depending on the airport you connect through, if any. Baggage fees, if applicable, and other optional fees are not included. This means we searched a range of dates to find you the best price. FOUND USING FLEXIBLE DATES ON: Delta.

One Lucky Dogg.

[One Lucky Dogg]

Thanks, I know that the six month chargeback is my ace, if I have an issue. Since I didn't get to speak to the management, I told the new guy at the front desk that they were making a mistake by trying to treat all customers the same, and that they would be losing me, who spends 7 to 11 nights four times a year, but that didn't phase him.

The problem with Tico's is, retention is not in their vocabulary. Even I make a mistake every now and then. It's my utmost importance that the client stays happy. Even if it means I have to give him / her a free ride. It's hard enough getting a customer, so you want to do everything in you power to keep them. Customer is King! Too some locals don't get that.

One Lucky Dogg.

[Qncterra]

Too bad this happened to you. If I were them, I would go out of m way to satisfy a customer. Not all is lost. You do have the right to dispute the charge with your credit card company for up to 6 months. If the loose their credit card processor because of a charge back, they might reconsider their policy.

One Lucky Dogg.

Thanks, I know that the six month chargeback is my ace, if I have an issue. Since I didn't get to speak to the management, I told the new guy at the front desk that they were making a mistake by trying to treat all customers the same, and that they would be losing me, who spends 7 to 11 nights four times a year, but that didn't phase him.

[One Lucky Dogg]

I know that few have anything good to say about this hotel, except that it is close and convenient. Most have moved onto to other hotels. While I have been a reasonably long standing supporter, I think that it's time for me to move on too. I recently reported that the hotel had changed owners. When I checked in on Saturday, my credit card was charged for the full 11 nights up front. This has never happened in all of my years of traveling anywhere. I have been trying to get clarification from the management, but was insulated by the front desk. Finally, got a message from management today, that they were sorry for my dissatisfaction, but many people make reservation for seven or more days, but leave after three, and the room is no longer rented. I understand their dilemma is the same as other hotels, but I have always stayed my full reservation and cannot reasonably pay for something like that in advance, so I will seek another on my next trip. They claim that they will reimburse me if I have an emergency and need to leave early. Yeah, right, so what's the point of charging my card the full amount and closing the ticket? On top of this, none of the hotel room phones have worked since Saturday. They are still down today, and I didn't know until a friend called my see-phone.

Too bad this happened to you. If I were them, I would go out of my way to satisfy a customer. Not all is lost. You do have the right to dispute the charge with your credit card company for up to 6 months. If they loose their credit card processor, because of a charge back, they might reconsider their policy.

One Lucky Dogg.