Central America Homes 4 Rent

Getting There

SJO is currently under reconstruction. The dimly lit but otherwise pleasant
airport features the normal assortment of duty-free shops and a selection of
restaurants. SJO is serviced daily by American Airlines, Continental Airlines,
Delta Airlines,Iberia, Thomas Cook, Martinair ,Spirit Airlines, United Airlines,
US Airways, Air Canada as well as Taca and Copa Airlines. Connecting the airport
with cities such as: Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Philadelphia,
Charlotte, Atlanta, Phoenix, Orlando, Chicago, Newark, Toronto, Montreal, Madrid,
Frankfurt, Bogota, Caracas, Lima, Guayaquil, Quito, and all Central America.
Frontier Airlines is slated to begin non-stop service from Denver on November
30th, 2007 and will fly to SJO 5 days a week.

There is a US $26 exit fee at the Juan Santamaría Airport. This must
be paid in cash, or by Visa (in which case it will be processed as a cash advance).
The fee can also be paid in advance at some hotels.

Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) is near Liberia in
the Guanacaste province. This airport is closest to the Pacific Northwest coast.
Liberia receives flights from Delta, American, United, Continental, Air Canada,
Sky Service (charter), and First Choice (charter). Connecting the airport with
cities like: Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Newark,
Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, London, etc.

Getting Around

Public bus

Most major tourist destinations in Costa Rica are serviced by at least two
daily buses from and to San Jose. The advantages of public transportation in
Costa Rica are that tickets are cheap (rarely more than $7 US per person) and
they cover most towns around the country.

Rental car

For 350-700 USD a week you can rent a econocar/mid size 4WD. Insurance is the
majority of this cost and it is not optional. 4 wheel drive is good for extensive
travelling outside the Central Valley, especially in the wet season. In the dry
season going from La Fortuna to Monteverde via a direct route was over a boulder
strewn 15-30 MPH road. 4WD was also useful on the Nicoya coast.(above based
on 2001 roads)

Due to the condition of most roads outside San Jose, car insurance, even with
a zero-deductible option, generally does not cover tires and rims. Car rental
companies requires a guaranty deposit from 750 USD during the rental period
and a credit card is necessary for this process. Using an insurance program
provided by some types of gold or platinum credit cards is a good advantage
since these credit cards would cover small scratches, small dents as well as
the entire rented vehicle in case of collision or theft. For car rentals check
this site which has tons of references from real people with real names and
emails and many have telephone numbers orbitcostarica.com. A reliable company
is Dollar (www.dollarcr.com) with competitive rates, great cars and good service.

Taxi

Another easy way to get around Costa Rica is to use the services of mini-vans.
At most of the hotels, the receptionist is able to assist travellers who want
to travel across the country by arranging for the services of a driver. Rates
are reasonable (US$29 per person, for example, to get from San Jose to Tamarindo
in April 2007) The drivers know the roads well; the vans are clean and comfortable;
and they take you from door to door.

Taxis are available in most large cities. They are usually inexpensive, charging
only a few dollars to get most anywhere within the city. The meter is called
"la maria"; ask the driver to turn it on immediately upon getting
in the car, or he may leave it off and make up his own, more expensive, price
when you get to your destination. Official taxis are red with a yellow triangle
on the side. If you are alone, especially if you are female, ride in the back
seat as riding in the front with the driver can be seen as suggestive.