General Info

[QUOTE=Marak5]The best place to stay is the Del Ray. You can stay closer but it has never really worked out for me. They have a bar with a casino, and you bring the girls up to your room. It can cost anywhere from 60 to 100 usd.

They have massage type places close to the Del Ray. I have never ventured that far off from the Del Ray. Except once.

I went to the Atlantis. It is largely a strip club like they would have in the USA.

The del ray is where it's at. Approximately 60 dollars a night. I think the cab ride from the airport is 5 or 20 dollars. It is not that great for food, I would not expect that much.

I wouldn't recommend more than 2 or 3 days. I have heard of people staying for extended amounts of time or living there but they get homesick. Then the girls want more time with familia.[/QUOTE]


with all due respect, the DR is the worst place to stay. The average length of sessions,most have found, are shorter when stayinig at the DR- there is just too much insentive to go down stairs and back to work. Stayinig at the Sportsmans or Amistad, or severa other places, are far better options. Most vets of CR would argue that the DR is NOT where it is at, but an option of last resort, and a place where one needs to have great interview skills to sort through the sharks and clock watchers. There are dozens off MPs, oodles of good stip clubs (Atlantis is a clip joint and a joke, try Le Grillon), and the Sportsmans for far more consistant freelancers..

Venture outside the Del Rey and watch your world expand....

I have taken classes there and highly recommend it. They are very well run, organized and will take care of all your needs. You will be very happy with them and good luck with your Spanish learning. I stayed at Hotel Castillo, a chica friendly hotel, and often walked there in the morning or took bus.

[QUOTE=RexG]I have just completed my plans to take 4 weeks of Spanish lessons at Costa Rican Language Academy (CRLA) in San Pedro, a suburb on the east side of San Jose. The school is near Mall San Pedro and the University of Costa Rica. So far I have been pleased with this school. They have spent a lot of time on the phone with me answering my questions. They helped me find a place to stay, and they are going to meet me at the airport (no extra charge). This school seems to be a little more focussed on academics than the mostly vacation-oriented schools that are numerous in CR, and I am fairly impressed with the pre-test that they have already asked me to complete. If anyone has any experience, good or bad, with this school, please post a response.

Hopefully, I'll be able to spend a weekend or two at Sportsmens Lodge. Should be great for practicing mi español.[/QUOTE]

[url]http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/1279554.html[/url]

This was in the Miami Herald in Miami, FL.

This will be my first trip to the DR and would like to Know what I should pay for the cab ride form the airport to the Sportsmen Lodge. Form what I been reading it is form 5-25 dollars. It is a small amount but I hate it when they grossly overchage me. It make us all look like fools.

[QUOTE=Dick Hertz]This will be my first trip to the DR and would like to Know what I should pay for the cab ride form the airport to the Sportsmen Lodge. Form what I been reading it is form 5-25 dollars. It is a small amount but I hate it when they grossly overchage me. It make us all look like fools.[/QUOTE]


Dick H.

A taxi from the airport to the Hotel Del Rey should run you about $ 20.00.

Most taxis have a meter....called the Maria in Spanish. On a regular short ride in a taxi tell the driver to start the Maria. It should start at 425 colones which is about 75 cents....then your short ride of around 1/2 to 1 mile should not be any more than about $ 2.00.....but coming from the airport from town is about 8 to 10 miles so you will pay more for that trip.

On the longer trips like from airport to town you will want to bargain the price with the driver.....get your best price and then get into the taxi for the trip....if the first driver says $ 25 to 30.00....then go to another taxi....you should find it right around $ 20.00 or maybe less.

From the Hotel Del Rey to the Sportsman Lodge is only about 7-8 blocks and that taxi ride should be no more than about $ 2.00 to $ 2.50.....

The taxis located at the curb in front of the Del Rey will quote you a higher price....so walk up the street towards the Morazon Hotel....one block and flag down a passing taxi....tell him to run the Maria.....and then your fare should be around $ 2.00 or so from in front of the Morazon Hotel to the Sportsmans Lodge.

You can easilywalk from the Hotel Del Rey to the Sportsman Lodge....about 7 blocks..... but only during the daytime....don't walk around much after dark in San Jose.......Taxi's are very cheap and good insurance against getting mugged, or robbed......although I think those things are fairly rare for Gringos in San Jose.

I have made many, many trips to San Jose CR, and was there last week.
I have only been pickpocketed one time and never mugged or robbed or had any other problems ....on the street.

Headsup......

If you are staying at the Del Rey and have a reservation, the hotel does have a free ride to and from the airport....you will need to cal them from the airport and ask if they will come to pick you up.

I even got this free service once when I was heading to the airport and just happened to be leaving from the Del Rey Hotel....I asked, and they said ...no problem....as they assumed I was staying at the hotel....which I had done several days before...but had since moved over to the Morazon Hotel since the Del Rey was all filled up over the weekend....so I got the free shuttle ride from the Del Rey to the airport and then gave the driver ( a Del Rey Hotel employee) a propina...tip of about $ 5.00 for his service. But this was certainly less than the standard $ 20.00 taxi ride to the airport.....

If you are sort of cheap like me....you can also take a bus from the airport to town....and get to the Del Rey or the Sportsmans.

Walk down the short hill in front of the airport and get the bus that stops there...and ask the driver if it goes to San Jose....should cost you about 50 to 75 cents or so.....it will go to the Tunsa (sp) bus stop which is only about one block from the Central street in San Jose....2nd Avenue....you can then get a taxi on over to the Del Rey Hotel for about $ 1.50 to 2.00, which will save you some money instead of taking a taxi all the way from the airport to town.

Last week I took the bus from downtown to the airport....took about 20 minutes and cost less than about $ 1.00.

Do not go to the Coca Cola bus terminal....this is a completely different one...with buses going to Jaco Beach, Quepos, and such.

Steve

The last few times I have been to CR I have used Interbus, which is a shuttle van that waits for you at the airport with a sign with your name on it and takes you to your hotel. You can purchase your incoming and outgoing ride online for only $9.50 at this site:

[url]http://www.shuttlebus.co.cr/[/url]

Dick H, The advice from Stevewxly is very good but I think that if this is your first trip and if you do not speak Spanish forget the bus idea.

Also I found that as you come out of the baggage area there is a counter on the left just inside the door leading out. Here you can pay for a taxi to the city. You can pay in dollars and they will allocate the taxi for you. Should be between $20 to $25. Can save you the hassel of trying to bargain outside. Also will save you from getting into a pirate cab. These are unauthorized cabs that hangout around the airport.

Hope you are planning to arrive during the day time.

Just be alert and cautious like you would be in any strange city.

[QUOTE=Venice Sam]The last few times I have been to CR I have used Interbus, which is a shuttle van that waits for you at the airport with a sign with your name on it and takes you to your hotel. You can purchase your incoming and outgoing ride online for only $9.50 at this site:

[url]http://www.shuttlebus.co.cr/[/url][/QUOTE]

Venice Sam,


I have been on Interbus before on trips from San Jose to Jaco Beach and or Quepos, but was not aware of this trip.......Thanks for the good info Venice Sam. I guess old dogs can learn a thing or two even from Newbies......


This shuttle bus sounds like a very good alternative to taking a taxi from ot to the airport in San Jose. This is the first time I have heard of this service....but I will make a note of it, and try to use it on my next trip.

And yes, this would sure beat the he** out of taking a local bus and then having to lug around all your luggage....which is what I had to do when I took the city bus from downtown SJ to the airport last week on my trip.

$ 9.50 for the price also seems to be very reasonable for this shuttle trip.

One question.....as I just glanced at their website.....is a reservation necessary ????? Or can you call them for pickup when you arrive ?







$ 20. to 25.00 in a taxi is a little high to get from the International Airport to the downtown area.....$ 9.50 is a much better price !

I will save the website and give them a try on my next trip.....

[QUOTE=Soft Bob]Dick H, The advice from Stevewxly is very good but I think that if this is your first trip and if you do not speak Spanish forget the bus idea.

Also I found that as you come out of the baggage area there is a counter on the left just inside the door leading out. Here you can pay for a taxi to the city. You can pay in dollars and they will allocate the taxi for you. Should be between $20 to $25. Can save you the hassel of trying to bargain outside. Also will save you from getting into a pirate cab. These are unauthorized cabs that hangout around the airport.

Hope you are planning to arrive during the day time.

Just be alert and cautious like you would be in any strange city.[/QUOTE]

Soft Bob,

I agree with your advice for first time visitors to San Jose......buses to and from the airport are perhaps not ideally suited for unseasoned visitors.......the shuttle service described by Venice Sam sounds like a great deal to me.....and I was not aware that it was available before now......from airport to town....and or reverse. So this info will come in handy on my next trip to CR, as I plan to give this shuttle service a try - coming and going from the airport.

[QUOTE=Stevewxly]Venice Sam,

I have been on Interbus before on trips from San Jose to Jaco Beach and or Quepos, but was not aware of this trip. Thanks for the good info Venice Sam. I guess old dogs can learn a thing or two even from Newbies.

This shuttle bus sounds like a very good alternative to taking a taxi from ot to the airport in San Jose. This is the first time I have heard of this service. But I will make a note of it, and try to use it on my next trip.

And yes, this would sure beat the he** out of taking a local bus and then having to lug around all your luggage. Which is what I had to do when I took the city bus from downtown SJ to the airport last week on my trip.

$ 9.50 for the price also seems to be very reasonable for this shuttle trip.

One question. As I just glanced at their website. Is a reservation necessary? Or can you call them for pickup when you arrive?

$ 20. To 25.00 in a taxi is a little high to get from the International Airport to the downtown area.$ 9.50 is a much better price!

I will save the website and give them a try on my next trip.[/QUOTE]I am not sure about calling them for pickup. I book my arrival and departure before I leave each time. The payment is real easy too as they use paypal.

The last time I was picked up by Interbus my plane was about an hour late and they even waited for me. Also, I have been the only one in the van all three times I have used them.

Yes the shuttle bus should be good, I think you have to book in advance unless you see it outside where they have come to pick someone else up.

If you are 2 or 3 persons being picked up from a couple of different flights you may find that you have to wait till they have picked up all the passengers. This could be upto an hour delay but should be acceptable. Also a little extra time dropping others off at different hotels before getting to yours.

Another thing to be aware of is NOT to change money at the arrivals money changing booth at the airport. You get the worst rate in the world. Go upstairs to the bank in the departures area or wait till you are at your hotel.
Keep a few $5 and $1 with you to use till you change money.

Or you could ask someone while you are waiting in the customs/immigration lines or after you clear same if they would like to split the cost of a taxi to downtown.

You could approach anyone but you would probably be more successful if you singled out a solo male traveler to ask.

In the past when I was going to the Dominican Rep I would bring sex toys such as dildos to use as tips. They really enjoyed receiving these things on more than one level. Bringing them in the country was never a problem as no one ever checked my bags. Would this be a good thing to do in Costa Rica?

I plan a trip to costa rica and had a few questions I hope you guys can help. I would like to know if in the market places if there are fake or counterfit coach bags or purses. This is kind of how I make a little profit when I travel to other countries. If not is there any kind of things I can buy there and bring back to sell!!! Please help me, any direction would help.

Geo

[QUOTE=George Sims]I plan a trip to costa rica and had a few questions I hope you guys can help. I would like to know if in the market places if there are fake or counterfit coach bags or purses. This is kind of how I make a little profit when I travel to other countries. If not is there any kind of things I can buy there and bring back to sell!!! Please help me, any direction would help.

Geo[/QUOTE]
You might try Mercado Cenral. It's several block with all manner of merchandise. I've never looked for fake coach bags but I'm sure there available. Just wondering if their cheaper abroad than buying them at some flea market back home? Do you have to pay duty on faux items?