|
This is a brief detail of my experiences in renting a car in Costa Rica.
Background:
I worked in San Jose and thus had plans to depart on the weekend. They were extended, and I ended up having more time. Thus, the rental lasted from Friday evening to Monday Morning.
Choices, Choices, Choices:
There are many vendors, just as in the States. While I am a Hertz man in the US, obviously who knows whether my status, points and preferences would carry over. To this day I don't know because I opted to go Avis, due to relations with my client.
In fact, as detailed below, this was the best option -- if you can piggy-back onto an existing business (if you have the option) you can SAVE much and avoid hassles. To wit:
Financial Security:
You're going to pay, Gringo. For some of the minor ones and some of the major ones, I was quoted dos mil dolares for security if using a debito, and mil qienentos ($1500) dolares for using credito. In other words, as a security deposit, they're going to hold a $h!tlo@d of money on your cards.
Why? Who knows. It's not the issue. The issue is that if you want the car bad enough, you're going to fork that over. I didn't -- because I was able to use the relationship with my clients and their offering of the car.
In fact, the car was dropped off, secured and signed for using one of the client personnel. Tico relationships and trust go a long way, and if one of them vouches, then you're as good as gold. But again, mine was a unique (1 in 10000, I'm sure) experience, and you may have none of these options.
Plan for the worst: have lots of money on deposit, and get ready for some wild rides.
Driving In Costa Rica:
Since my driving involved going to Poas from San Jose, it's going to really encompass that. However, I did do some in-town (San Jose) driving both during the day, at night and in heavy traffic.
It's not that much different from the states. Allow me to caveat that, however. If you've never driven in a major city (>1,000,000 inhabitants) in the states than you'd better get ready for a shock.
You see, it's like Chicago driving to me. People cut in front of other people, they drive right up to the bumpers of other cars, they beep, honk and generally swerve. If that kind of driving shakes you, I wouldn't advise you to drive, my friend.
However, if you're reading this far, you're a seasoned driver and you're not going to let anything stop you from enjoying some sin-Taxista libre in the great SJO, eh? Me sigue, por favo.
Driving Ettiquette:
It's really simple: don't hit anyone. They're not going to hit you, I can promise you that much. They may seem like they will, but they're used to stopping on a dime and speeding away from danger.
Driving is moderately slow to somewhat brisk, but at no times were any more than 1 in 100 cars really doing break-neck speed. In the city, in fact, it's more of honk-to-find-awareness driving. If you have any question of where someone's bumper is in relation to yours, tap your love button twice to get their (and your) attention. It works wonders. I'm told, also, that driving in Beijing and Bangladesh is by horn also. It's kinda of like a radar system.
Accidents do happen, and it's often the car-car type. However, what I'm more worried about is the incredibly dangerous roads you're going to drive on.
The roads in San Jose (CR's largest city, no doubt) and on the way to Poas are passable, asphalt and readily marked for two way traffic. And yes, you drive on the right side of the road (I wonder who's to thank for that). The danger here is as follows: if you swerve too far off the edge of the road, your tire is going to do evil and wicked things and lead your car right into a large ditch which can easily sever your car into several pieces.
Lemme reiterate: each side of the road has a ditch, normally 18", but sometimes 36" or more deep and often 2-3' wide. It is for water (trash) and it will quickly envelope your vehicle.
Make no mistake, all drivers are exposed to this and there are relatively few roads that DON'T have the ditches. Get used to it -- you're not in Africa, and at least you have roads with markings, paving and ditches for drainage. But mark my words, if you stray, you'll pay. They just looked nasty.
That's another reason to keep your speed <80km almost everywhere except the large highway (Autopista General viaje Alajeula) where you can cruise 80-100kph. I did 120kph, shoot me.
Laws and Regulations:
You're going to rent from a reputable place, right? You're going to take all of your vital docs with you, License, Passport, and all of the rental paper, right? A map too, right? A phone number of the place to call and a phone number of your hotel, right?
You're good then... at least that's what I'm going to tell you at this point. I had no issues, I was never pulled over by Fuerza Publica nor the traffic force/police, so I cannot say what is and what isn't mandatory for you to have on your person.
Police and Laws:
If you do get pulled over, I would suggest a few simple rules (which are easily translated from large metro cities). Although the Chris Rock "How not to get your ass beat by the police" comes to mind, I'll just summarize and keep it simple:
(1) Be very freaking polite. Smile gently. Don't act mad or put out. They have guns and they probably make 1/30th of what you make.
(2) Try to explain, simply where you are going and where you are coming from.
(3) Do not ask if there's a problem. They're going to let you know.
(4) Above all, cooperate. I understand that Costa Rican jail isn't a place to spend your descretionary time if you can avoid it.
Singals for Traffic and Navigation:
(1) Yes, Virginia, they use traffic lights. Look for them. You've been stuffed into the back of a Red Taxi for a while, so you haven't noticed them. They are GREEN, YELLOW and RED. The green will flash twice right before the yellow signal. Then it's yellow, and then red.
I wouldn't run a red light if I were you.
(2) Some lights ALSO have stop signs. I guess this is a fall-back, fail safe. Remember, EVERY INTERSECTION you should probably check your oncoming and cross-traffic. Just be safe man.
(3) Honk if you feel me. Hell, honk if you just want to keep space.
(4) San Jose is just a city that never really took up the idea of street names. That's the hardest thing for me to accept, but it's life. Some streets do have names, many do not. Get a good map, but then again, don't depend on it. When you're out of SJ, forget about it. I didn't see a single street or road name, outside of the main ways, and then the name was only on a map. I miss Chicago (sigh, sniff sniff).
(5) In the country, everything is much the same, but keep a bit slower speeds if you want to keep your life. The roads up to Poas dropped precipitously off and I can just see my little 4x4 flipping over the side down a ravine and ending up the size of a coke can. Not fun.
Summary:
(1) Rent reputable (big name) if possible.
(2) Take all documentation and prepare to get pulled over if you're a goofy driver.
(3) Don't cut in front of too many people, but do know that you can cut in front if you know how to drive in a very aggressive city (think large US metros).
(4) Have a good time, fill up, etc.
(5) Take a map and remember to watch your speed.
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
Calendar
