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Be
a traveler not a tourist! It takes
a person with some combination of travel smarts, patience, adaptability and a
sense of adventure to really enjoy Las Brisas and Costa Rica in general. A lot in one category can make up for a little
in another. Frankly, my wife had not
traveled abroad or domestically very often, so it took her several “canned”
trips to warm up to the self guided trips we now do. I was ready out of the gate because of the experience I had
gained from business travel. Once you
escape from the tourist hotels and tour buses you will never look back.
The ultimate goal: “The car in the parking lot and your body in the pool of Las Brisas del Mar”. Here is how you can accomplish this; Costa Rica has two international airport choices. For trips less than 10 days to Las Brisas del Mar, the Liberia option is probably the best. If your stay is longer, or you have business in San Jose, the San Jose option might be the best choice. We usually fly mid-week. Affordable weekend flights are available, but fill faster. Services like car rentals in Costa Rica seem better mid-week also. Mid-week flights also give you the option to throw in the extra weekend and stretch those vacation days. We find 10 day vacations much better than 7. We just did 24 days and were not close to being ready to come home. Booking days for the Condo are entirely flexible. So find your best airfare and we will see if we can work around that.
LIBERIA AIRPORT OPTION
Las Brisas del Mar is 1 hour and 50 minutes away
from the Liberian International airport (LIR) by car, including the 50 minutes
on dirt/gravel roads. The paved portion has little traffic. Many rental car companies will pick up and
deliver to this airport with no added cost.
The Liberian International airport is very small,
which reduces travel hassles and adds to the charm. Only recently was the
thatched roof on the main waiting area replaced to conform with FAA rules. The
restaurant El Fogón in the airport area is the place to fuel up; see the food
page for details. Service to LIR at
this point is Delta, Continental, American, US Airways or Charter Airlines.
(Check “airfare only” options from vacation companies like Apple Vacations.)
Smart shopping has yielded round trip tickets costing between about $209 to 500
USD from Central Pennsylvania, USA.
SAN JOSE (CAPITAL CITY) AIRPORT OPTION
Las Brisas del Mar is about 4 hours and 30 minutes
away from the San Jose International airport (SJO) by car, including the last
50 minutes on dirt/gravel roads. The first paved portion north of San Jose is a
bit hectic on the over-used main highway.
The paved portion after the turn to the new Tempisque Bridge is pleasant
enough.
The San Jose International airport is small, with
just about as much travel hassle as a similarly sized US airport, but with
better service. On a recent trip, a
Tico skycap noticed my arm in a sling, got a wheelchair, and personally wheeled
me and my luggage through the whole process right to my gate (expediting along
the way). I tipped him $5, and we both parted with a smile. Need I say this did not happen on the US end
of this flight? If you have lots of
luggage and are new to the San Jose airport, these skycaps are a good thing
even if you have two good arms. Service
to SJO is via Delta, United and a handful of other Airlines. Prices have been
historically about $20 to 150 USD less than tickets to Liberia.
I would recommend staying a day or longer in a San
Jose area hotel at the start and end of the trip. I have listed some proven hotels below. The airport is actually nearby Alajuela, as smaller town just
north of San Jose. Cabs or free hotel
shuttles from / to the airport and around the city are the best option while
there. Rental car companies will pick
up and deliver to these hotels usually for free and this will also save you the
12% airport car rental tax. A
nights-stay along the way at a Costa Rican attraction(s) while in-route to or
from Las Brisas del Mar could justify the longer drive. Las Brisas del Mar
could also be a part of a larger Itinerary.
San Jose, Aeropuerto
Internacional Juan Santamaría Arrivals & Departures Status (same
information that is available on the television monitors at the airport): http://www.alterra.co.cr/FIWS/index.aspx
AIR FARE BOOKING
For a quick list of discount airfares search on
Travelocity, selecting the flexible dates option.
(Unfortunately, Travelocity has recently been
forced by the US DOT to disable the international flexible searches. Gee, thanks for the help again US
Government. As a work around, you can
search for international fares using flexible dates by visiting Travelocity's
Singapore-based affiliate: www.Zuji.com .)
Fare costs vary with time, departure and arrival
airports. Check back often as buying
airfare these days is like playing the stock market. Research and timing can pay off in savings. Tip: Possibly due to current terminal
construction, security check delays and checked luggage problems are too common
at Miami International Airport (MIA). I
still will fly through this airport but I will pay a little more in terms of
airfare or travel time to avoid it.
(check
the “find best rates box”)
http://www.usairways.com/
http://www.delta.com/
http://www.continental.com/ http://www.aa.com/
GROUND TRANSPORTATION
I suggest renting a vehicle from one of the many
rental companies in Costa Rica to get around when not in the San Jose
area. But it’s a good idea to adjust
your plans to avoid driving at night in Costa Rica.
Vehicle Rental- If
your plans are to only travel paved roads and the direct road to Las Brisas del
Mar during dry season, being careful to dodge the potholes, you can save some
money on a standard car or van over a 4 wheel drive vehicle. I like manual transmissions for the extra
control and added gas mileage they afford, but if all the drivers in your crew
aren’t manual experts you might opt for an automatic. There will be times you will need to stop on upgrades and start
off again without stalling. My favorite
is a Toyota RAV4 or Suzuki Gran Vitara 4x4 from MAPACHE Rent-a-Car. The company and its vehicles have treated me
right on my last eleven trips. A new
bonus; construction is now complete and the new Liberian rental office is now
open. They usually respond well to
emails but remember the native language is Spanish so keep any English
communications straight forward. Check
the WEB site link below for an idea of vehicle selection and pricing. Before comparing prices always get the total
cost, including mandatory basic insurance and ask the additional cost of
elective insurances (see also below).
Book in advance right after the airfare booking and confirm a few days
before travel via email.
In any case, be with the agent to be sure he marks
all the existing damage to the car at pick up.
Every dent, scratch, ding and crack in the body or the glass should be
recorded. In the case of a substandard
tire I guess one should hold out for another tire, another rental car or at
least record its poor condition along with all the dings. Also, call your credit card company and
inform them that you WILL be in Costa Rica to avoid rejected charges. At car pickup, rental car companies will
often require a substantial amount of money, say $1000.00 for a two week
rental, to be placed on hold on your credit card as a deposit. While driving, be sure to have your driver’s
license, Passport photo copy or passport and copies of the rental paperwork
with you. As a result of high new car
import duties and maintenance cost, rental cars are somewhat expensive in Costa
Rica. Saving costs by buying supplies
and preparing your own meals, or searching out the locals’ bargain restaurants
and taking self guided side trips will offset this somewhat.
MAPACHE Rent-a-Car
Main Office: Phone: (506) 586-6300
Main Office Fax: (506) 286-0211
Airport Office: Phone: (506) 443-8584 Fax: (506)
443-8583
Email: mapache@racsa.co.cr
Address: San Jose, Costa
Rica,
Main Office: San
Sebastian from the Catholic Church, 50 Mts. East, next to Bar Las Vegas.
Airport Office: Alajuela
200 Mts. West from the Hampton Inn Hotel
VEHICLE
RENTAL INSURANCE SIDE BAR (Skip all but
the highlights in Brown if you wish)
Everyone has to pay the Costa Rican Government mandated TPL
(Third Parties Liability) insurance of about $10 per day or the agency will not
rent the car to you. The cost and
coverage of this is usually included in with the
basic TPI/CDW (Collision Damage Waver) insurance and runs about $18 per day. Some agents have informed me that the rental
client (you) will be libel to cover 20% of the total damage to third parties,
as well as up to some amount, $1000 to $2000 for example, of other types of
damages as deductible amounts from the basic TPI/CDW insurance. These deductible amounts can vary with the
type of damage. Deductible amounts are
set by the car rental companies and can vary between companies. If you do pay for CDW insurance your credit
card company will likely not cover any deductible amounts resulting from a
claim. There is also a very good chance
that your non-Costa Rican auto insurance will have no coverage in Costa Rica. I guess whether to pay for the elective
Additional Protection Insurance(s) (API) to cover deductibles depends on how
lucky you feel. Even if you are a
careful driver, the chances of minor damages are higher than in the U.S., due
to the road conditions such as kicked up rocks. Because of this I always take the
elective CDW & TPL API insurances in addition to the basic TPI/CDW
insurance. Be aware that
even after buying all available offered insurances for “0 deductible” damages
to tires or windows, for example, may be explicitly excluded from the coverage. Also be aware that only some APIs
offered cover the deductible of the TPL coverage, you may have to elect two
different APIs to get total coverage. Read all the forms you are asked to sign. Finally, if you'll have additional drivers,
they should know to bring their driver's license on the trip and make sure they
are listed on the agreement.
See
also: http://www.servicecarrental.com/insurances.htm
http://www.mapache.com/insurance.html
Want to save some money and don’t mind doing a bit more work and having a bit more exposure to loss during the car rental? Determine what sort of vehicle and how much driving you'll be doing, and then contact third-party insurers (ie, Visa), before arriving in CR. The agent at VISA informed me that if I pay with my VISA card in Costa Rica and pay the TPL I will be covered for 31 days of rental with no deductible for damage to the rental car but it’s important that I decline the CDW or VISA will not honor a claim. It appears there will be no coverage for the deductible portion of the TPL so I will have to elect the rental agency liability API to cover this. Make absolutely sure they will cover you. Otherwise, do take the insurance offered by the rental agency. If you do have a problem be prepared to do lots of work spread between two countries getting any claim settled should you choose this route. Taking along a printed copy of your third-party insurers guidelines for reference just in case is suggested.
See
also: http://www.visa.com/benefits and select: Auto Rental Collision Damage
Waiver Program.
Note: Not all rental agencies refer to the insurance
components with the same name or abbreviations.
If
you do have trouble due to accident, significant damage or theft:
1) Do not move the vehicle from its final stopping point till instructed to do so. Do not leave the scene. Call your car rental representative. Also both the Traffic Police Department 222-9330 and the National Insurance Company INS 800-800-8000 need to be notified to investigate.
2) Get copies of everything. Take pictures, if you can (digital ones come in handy with the insurance company -- You can just email them). Document everything, especially the names of involved parties.
3) Remember it's a stressful moment, but remaining cordial will go a long way.
4) When you get home, contact Visa or the insurer right away. If you used the rental agency's insurance, you probably won't have to deal with anyone at all once you've handed the keys back.
Disclaimer: Being neither a lawyer or
insurance agent I offer this only as a starting point for your own
investigation of your circumstances.
Read the rental contract’s fine print. I can offer no guarantee that
this information 100% correct in every situation.
Gas
and Tire repairs – When driving I suggest that you
get gas and repairs when the opportunity presents itself as service stations
can often be some distance apart. I
like to fill up before reaching the ¼ tank mark. But should you run low, locals often sell gas in jugs like this
“station” just outside of Paraíso on the road to Santa Cruz. Keep in mind major service stations sell by
the liter and often local “stations” sell by the gallon which is 3.78
liters. Expect to pay about 20% more at
these local stations, a bargain if you really need gas off the beaten path. Juan pictured here recently repaired a tire
for a friend. This case would normally
be a plug job in the states. Here he
dismounted the tire and patched the inside, then remounted the tire which took
the better part of an hour. He threw in
two tire patch plugs that I had run out of on top of the repair. Total cost $4. Tires are expensive here, don’t drive on a flat and trash the
tire if it can be avoided.
Taxis - There is only one legal & official “orange” taxi servicing the
International Airport Juan Santamaría (San Jose). http://www.taxiaeropuerto.com/ But it might be possible to grab a “red”
government licensed cab outside of the normal arrival ground transportation
area.
These official San Jose Airport taxis
are orange in color to differentiate from the normal red government licensed
(and unlicensed pirate) taxis available elsewhere in Costa Rica. For safety reasons I recommend not using
pirate taxis. After the baggage claim
area there is a stand provided to purchase rate controlled tickets for these
orange taxis. Even if you grab one of
these orange taxis without a ticket you will most likely end up paying the
normal rates. One driver stopped at a
ticket booth in route and purchased a ticket for me. I remember a reasonable $14 for two passengers to Santo Domingo
de Heredia which is about a 20 minute ride.
Watch out for the very aggressive, self proclaimed and self employed
“sky caps” that will grab your luggage to help you the one meter (three feet)
to your cab after which they almost demand a tip. Don’t confuse these annoying hustlers with the helpful skycaps
you will meet at your departure.
When hiring any taxi you should be sure
they either start the fare meter or establish a reasonable price up front. Normally if you ask for a fair price, one
will be quoted, as haggling (negotiating) for price is not the norm in Costa
Rica. The majority of taxi drivers
consider their job a profession and provide good service at the fair government
regulated rate. Taxi drivers are not
tipped unless they provide some extra service for you. A little extra is appreciated but not
normally expected; see the tips page for
details.
Even though it runs contra to normal
Costa Rican culture a hand full or locals seem to be learning the tourist
hustle. Just refuse to overpay for
provided services for everyone’s benefit.
Transportation
by Art-
Originally from the USA, my friend Art has made Playa Junquillal her
home since 1998. Using her large, late
model 4x4 she will whisk you to the destination of your choice or pick you up
at the airport, answering your questions about Costa Rica enroot. Recently she has begun to also offer 1 day
tours to 14 different locations as well as several 2 to 3 day escorted
trips. Maximum 4 adults or 2 adults
with 4 children.
Phone: +506 (658) 8058
Cell: +506 (814) 8565
Email: artbrykala@yahoo.com
When I last checked her rates were for
example:
|
Liberia |
$90 |
|
Tamarindo |
$75 |
|
Santa Cruz |
$30 |
|
Guaitil |
$45 |
|
San Jose |
$230 |
|
Playa Ostional |
$60 |
Bus Transportation- In response to inquiries I am researching this option. The connection to Playa Junquillal is
through Santa Cruz. Ride with the
locals for only 500 colons on a recycled yellow school bus (or slightly better
at times). This schedule was
handwritten for me by the driver and I get the feeling it’s subject to change.
Playa Junquillal (Bernardo’s) to Santa Cruz
|
|
5:30 AM |
|
12:00 PM |
|
4:00 PM |
Santa Cruz to Playa Junquillal
|
|
10:15 AM |
|
2:30 PM |
|
5:30 PM |
SAN JOSE & ALAJUELA AREA HOTELS (WITH SECURE PARKING)
Hotel Bougainvillea
Nice grounds & rooms north of the city in Santo
Domingo de Heredia, good restaurant, free shuttle van to Hotel Villa Tournon.
Apartado 11-3100 Santo Domingo, Costa Rica
Email: bougain@racsa.co.cr
Email: info@bougainvillea.co.cr
Telephone (506) 244-1414 / Fax (506) 244-1313
http://www.bougainvillea.co.cr/
Double rate is US$ 80.00 plus 16.4% tax, Visa
Hotel
Villa Bonita Just a 5
minute, $3 cab ride from the Airport in Alajuela this Costa Rican owned and
managed Bed & Breakfast represents an excellent value. Pleasant & helpful owners Humberto &
Carmen had lived in Key West USA for a time teaching Spanish before buying this
one time wealthy Costa Rican casa and converting it into a B&B hotel. Their English is very good as a result. Employee Hannia offers a choice of four
prepared to order entrees for the included Breakfast. There is a computer provided in the lobby for free Internet
access and a WLAN if you have your own computer. Fans, no A/C, with secure parking available. I was able to find banks, bars, restaurants
and shopping all within walking distance (see below). Neither Alajuela nor this hotel could be termed elegant. But elegant often just makes me uneasy so I
enjoy the comfortable hospitality of this hotel and the people of Alajuela in
general.
Del Servicentro La Tropicana, 300
metros Este, 100 metros Norte, y 50 metros Oeste
Alajuela, Costa Rica
Email: humcar@racsa.co.cr
www.hotelvillabonita.com
Phone / Fax : (506) 441-0239 Cellular : (506) 370-0921 or 833-7183
RATES (includes 16.39% sales +
ICT taxes and breakfast) Single :
$45 Double: $55 VISA
Hôtel Le Bergerac
Rooms vary – Room 12 is very nice, French Restaurant, Located near the University at the west end of town
First entrance to Los Yoses, 50 meters south
Mailing Address: 1107-1002, San José, Costa Rica
Email: reserve@bergerac.co.cr
Email: info@bergerac.co.cr
Tel: (011-506) 234-7850
Fax: (011-506) 225-9103
Double US$ 95.00 plus 16.4%, Visa, includes
breakfast
Hotel Villa Tournon
Walking distance to San Jose downtown & El Pueblo which is one of the most famous entertainment centers. The hotel restaurant and bar are acceptable.
P.O.Box 6606-1000 San José, Costa Rica.
Email: hvillas@racsa.co.cr
Telephone:(506) 233-6622 Fax number:(506) 222-5211
http://www.costarica-hotelvillatournon.com/
Double US$ 80 plus 16.4% tax, Visa
ALAJUELA AREA RESTAURANTS
Soda Yire is located two blocks
north of Parque Central on Avenia one.
Muster up your courage and jump into mainstream Tico life. I could have not felt more welcome in this
small, friendly, locals restaurant despite the language barrier. I sat down and ordered the advertised Plato
del Dia 950 colones (Plate of the day $1.90).
Wow, rice, beans, chicken and a small salad, what a deal. OK, the drink was extra but the owner threw
in a free coconut candy dessert. I must
have behaved myself as a customer. I
find as long as you remain respectful, patient and polite you will be welcome
almost anywhere in Costa Rica as a foreigner.
A walk in the park makes a great follow up to the meal.
Hamburguesas Los Talleres & Guitarras Bar are two independent establishments but on the same block near Hotel Villa Bonita. Gee, I wonder where they get the paint for their bright exteriors (see pictures)? Experience Tico fast food, order a Hamburguesas from Los Talleres with everything for 700 colones (Hamburger Workshop). Keep your eyes open for the Tico secret sauce that helps makes this place so popular with the locals. Then wash it down with a few cold Imperials 600 colones at the Guitarras Bar.
SAN JOSE AREA RESTAURANTS
Restaurante la Cocina de Leña in the El Pueblo complex offers classic Costa Rican fare, like Abuela (Grandma) made on special days, in an upscale family-bistro atmosphere. The portions are generous, so be careful not to over order. The menu prices are reasonable, with many entree selections, so you can always come back again for another meal. This was a favorite of ours years before we met the friendly owner Carlos and his family while they vacationed at Las Brisas del Mar. The El Pueblo complex also offers shopping, bars and discos.
Centro Turistico "El Pueblo", San José
Tel: +506 (256) 5353
Fax: +506 (222) 3154
L'Île de France gourmet restaurant at Hôtel Le
Bergerac is operated by it's renowned chef and owner Jean Claude,
who provides full-service French classic dinners Monday through Saturday. It is
classic French at non-classic prices.
Reservations are recommended.
VISA
http://www.bergerac.co.cr/restaurant.htm
Hotel Bougainvillea’s Gourmet Restaurant
features international and local cuisines.
The restaurant is a favorite with both the locals and hotel guests.
http://www.hb.co.cr/EN/guest_services_and_facilities/restaurant_bar/
Lukas Restaurante also in the El Pueblo complex. It is a pleasant open air Bar/Restaurant
popular with the Costa Rican business crowd.
“All the flavor of the Costa Rican kitchen” offered on an international
and local cuisine menu.
Centro Comercial El
Pueblo, San Francisco, Calle Blancos
Tel: 233-8145,
233-2309 Fax: 233-6410
TRAVELING HOME
North American and European
tourists traveling with passports have a 90 day legal stay, while most other
foreign nationals have only 30 days. You must leave the country for at least
three days before returning for another stay.
A $26.00 (USD) exit tax is charged upon your departure from Costa Rica
via air unless you have been in Costa Rica for less than 12 hours, in this case
you can apply for an exemption at the airport.
At my last exit from Liberia they seemed to be accepting Colónes, US
dollars or credit cards. But be careful
as I have a report that a VISA payment resulted in a $10 finance charge for a
cash advance and 60 cents of interest added to the billing statement in
addition to the $26.
Las
Brisas del Mar beachfront vacation condo for rent in Playa Junquillal,
Guanacaste, Costa Rica !
All
rights reserved 2003-2008 Tiempo de Playa S.A. (Translation: Beach Time Inc.)
