| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 12/2/2007 7:29:28 AM | Well I was in san jose costa rica in august !
Yes the so called rainy time. But it only rains from about 2:30pm till about 5pm and then its gone. The people are fantastic & very friendly. Theres lots to see & do no matter if your looking for tour's or just around town. And as for safety at night just use same safety percautions you would if you were in any big city at night.
I made a few new friends down there and they've told me of some great places I must go see and things I must go do next year when I am down there. Hey if any of you ladies are thinking about heading to costa rica in august email me and maybe we can meet down there. I have some of the best places to stay and best places to see & do from people I met who live down there.
Well the coffee is not bad for sure!LOL And a nice motel I stayed at was the CASTILLO on barrio ammon calle 9 avenna 9
I must say women will have too check out the walking malls for sure in san jose !LOL | |
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| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 12/22/2007 7:56:09 PM | My best friend has built a resort there ...its very beautiful..nice climate..friendly people..nice beaches | |
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| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 12/23/2007 6:23:26 AM | | i'm so glad op you have this post,i myself would like to take a vacation there and now that i've read some of the replies,i'm even more excited about experiencing costa rica. | |
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| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 12/23/2007 5:59:39 PM | | Linds32, I cannot say enough good things about my trip to Costa Rica. If you are interested, I have a webpage with photos and info from my trip. Just message me and I'll give you the URL. I stayed at the Tabacon Resort as well as a little nine dollar a night bungalow where the generator went off at 9pm and you had only a candle at your bedside. I took surfing lessons and flew through the jungle canopy attached to a cable. There is so much for you to do there and it tops my list of places I'd love to go back and revisit. The place is just fantastic and the people are the best. Driving can be a challenge, the roads are not the best but its part of the adventure. There is crime, this is because its not a wealthy country with a good deal of job opportunities for the young people. Just be a wise traveler and do not leave valuables in your vehicle. Nearly every place I stayed had at least a small safe where you could put your money/credit cards etc. You are going to just LOVE Costa Rica, I promise! | |
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| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 9/21/2008 8:45:12 AM | | booked for Costa Rica in Feb 09 and can't wait. Also prebooked a trip for rafting on Sarapiqui River which looks great. We caught an Eco tour company for 10 days. Anyone know how safe San Jose is for women alone in the evening? we prebooked a few extra days at the beginning of the trip. | |
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| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 10/6/2008 10:25:26 AM | Hello Smartalec,
I live in San Jose 2-3 months a year and will be glad to answer whatever questions you have. Your safety question is important. I wish I knew which hotel/area you are to be in to be more specific. Downtown San Jose is NOT safe for a solo female after dark. In fact during the day you need much caution. There are lots of nice places- buildings- activities to do and see but dont let your guard down. Make sure you visit the Teatro National, the national theatre. I just hate what my country has become in the crime area. When I first went years ago it was much safer. But as far as the downtown area is concerned, stay on the bricked over pedestrian only walkways, and this covers a lot of walking and stay off the regular streets that have the cars and only a sidewalk. The pedestrian areas, the walkways, are patrolled very good and usually you have a cop in sight. A real interesting place is the Central Market at the very end of the walkway which is a huge smorgasbord of old style stores and foodplaces much like we must have had 75 years ago before supermarkets, but watch for pickpockets. Once out of SJO it gets a bit safer but still the badguys go where the tourist are. I hang out a lot at a beach called Jaco about an hour away and its much like SJO as far as safety, be wary. I use a fake wallet, well a real wallet but it has an expired Dr license and the fake credit cards that come in the mail and only carry enough for my days expenses. Dont carry your passport, carry a copy made at your hotel with the date arrival stamp on it. Passports are worth big bucks and they really want them. Credit cards will be wiped out within minutes of a theft. I never carry CCs on me. The copies of passports are legal as they have so many passport robberies. Its a real nightmare going to the embassy after losing a PP. As a single female NEVER go out alone at night. If you must take a taxi from your front door to wherever you are going. This is sad as there are lots of nice bars/discos to go to. I dont want to scare you or anybody else but have a knowledge of the area that few do,, and even I have been mugged once and pickpocked once also. And I was mugged within sight of the Hotel Castillo which was mentioned by a previous poster, and that is a very nice area. For a safe experience, take a taxi to Multiplaza Escazu which is a very nice american style shopping mall about 10 miles away in the best suburb of SJO. You need to get your hotel staff to tell the taxi or unless you speak spanish you may not get there. Always have the business card of your hotel so you can hand it to the taxi instead of having to explain where you want to go. Dont try to pay anybody exept hotels and resturants with dollars, you have to use colones. You can exchange for colones at any bank. Escazu, the place with the mall is where the rich people live. There are lots of nice bars and restuarants near the mall also. Please enjoy my country,,, but be wary at all times... KF | |
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| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 10/8/2008 6:05:47 PM | I was there over 15 years ago. It was hard to get around but I loved it anyway. Maybe it's easier now. Don't miss Monte Verde Cloud Forest and *do* hire a guide - you'll see things you wouldn't on your own.
There was a chain of ice cream parlors called Pops and they had *really* good coconut ice cream. Check it out.
Don't know if pineapple will be in season, but they have a variety there that they don't export that's delicious. At first I thought it was unripe because the skin was dark green and the interior white, but it was the sweetest pineapple I've ever had.
Enjoy. The people were really friendly when I was there. | |
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| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 10/8/2008 7:59:24 PM | I enjoyed reading about everyone's travels to Costa Rica. I have been on many trips and I'm planning one to Costa Rica next year and looking forward to really having a great time. | |
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| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 11/1/2008 7:23:04 AM | | I went to Costa Rica in April this year and loved it. I was there for 2 weeks at the Melia in Guanacaste. Its about 45 mins from Liberia airport. They have a shuttle that runs from the airport to the hotel $55 for 5 people I believe. I have the link if you need it. I am going again in Feb (4-14) I am using my air miles so the flight was $22. I am staying in Liberia for the first night and then I am off to the Mtns for 2 nights at a Spa http://www.tabacon.com/?gclid=CLjT2fzxm5MCFQYTIgod82S6rg I hear the place is great and they have alot of exciting things to offer in the area. Then I am meeting up with friends and staying at the Melia http://www.solmelia.com/solNew/hoteles/jsp/C_Hotel_Description.jsp?codigoHotel=5891 for a week. Then it is back to the artic cold of Feb in NY. There are alot of small towns in the area. I liked Flamingo and Tamarindo which are 10 mins away. The people I met were very friendly. But like anyplace you go in the world you will find good and bad. ie: NYC you can have the best time of your life in NYC or it can be the trip from hell. Use common sense and enjoy yourself. anything else I can help you with please asked | |
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| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 11/5/2008 7:25:17 PM | As I am planning a trip to Costa Rica later this following year, I really enjoyed reading all the informative posts here!
After reading about all the great places to not miss, I'm taking as much advice as possible to add to my itinerary. I'll be there 4 weeks, with 2 weeks to do some sight-seeing and adventuring!
I am planning to travel alone, and plan on staying the first part of my trip in San Jose, which scares me quite a bit after reading some of the warnings. Very good information to know... Taken to heart! However these plans can't be changed as my connection to the following part of my trip starts from there. 
I'll be looking into if I can make my connection from Limon.
With this new advice, I'll be shortening how long I am San Jose. Anyone heard of the hotel Hotel La Posada? It sounded really neat on trip advisor. Can anyone recommend a hotel in Limon?
I'll be spending 2 weeks near the Caribbean coast approx. 1km north of where the River Pacuare enters the Caribbean sea. As I understand it, it's near the rain forest. Although much of my time will be occupied during that time, I'd love to know if there is any "little known" places to see or "don't miss" things to do in that region?
As I get further into planning my spare 2 weeks, I'd like to contact some of the posters here that have given such great advice with more questions  | |
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| Costa Rica: Pros and Cons
Posted: 11/5/2008 8:20:35 PM | Pros: You can re-enact those Corona commercials
A definite Con: getting sand in your private parts
But seriously with that much time, I'd wing it some at least the last 2 1/2 weeks. | |
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