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What's best or most comfortable travel from airport ...interbus Costa Rica for $15 or taxi? Any disadvantage to interbus?

I would not sit in a van dropping people off at one hotel after another on the way to my hotel.

Plus these vans want you to get up and extra early on the return.

So you save a few dollars for a few hours.

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

In other words...take a taxi. Are vans crowded, local or other tourists?

I used interbus and recommend it to all. Arrived on 9 Sep around noon, and this chica was waiting for me with a sign and my name on it. I was the only passenger and it dropped me at the sportsman's lodge, way cheaper and dependable than a cab. the interbus and driver was waiting out front of the hotel 30 minutes prior to my pickup time for return trip to the airport and again I was the only passenger. I give it 5 stars for cost, reliability and courtesy of the drivers.

I have used Interbus half a dozen time more or less. I have had it all to myself half of those times. The other half of the time when I did have to drop off others. It was all on the way with negligible loss of time. If they were not on my way, they were put in another van.

My feeling is that they always drop off the monger alone one way or the other.

I am arriving again Friday and will use them again. For me it is not much different than a taxi airport pickup. Except they wait while I go upstairs to the bank and pay my exit tax every time.

I hardly ever see the sign with my name. But, the first guy who asks me for a cab gets my response "Interbus" and always walks me over to them anyway. They all work together it seems ... day in and day out at the airport.

I also recommend.

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--==xpatriot==--

I would have to add a +1 to the reliability of Interbus, I have used them to and from the airport several times, and from san jose to playa hermosa and back and they were always on time and never more than 2 or 3 other people on the bus. All my airport transfers I was the only one. My last trip my flight was a tad late and the airport was packed took me 1.5 hours to get out the front door from the time we landed and they were still there waiting for me.

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Not banned yet...

Interbus.

http://www.shuttlebus.co.cr/ is a USA based company from which you can book Interbus and save a little.....used to be a much bigger savings. Irrespective, it's more secure as one can pay through paypal. The guy who owns that web site was the CFO for Interbus and his brother is still a "supervisor" for Interbus.

I too, in over 23 usages of that outfit, have never had a problem and more often than not, I'm the only rider. In those instances where I was not the only rider, I've grown to almost "enjoy" it as I get to see other hotels; their locations; and "image". I learned of Adventure Inn through that, as an example, as well as a couple of other joints not in "our" circle......

I've always traveled with a carry on bag; a checked bag; and a couple of computer bags and never been charged a cent for the bags, either. Tipping the driver is not mandatory, either. Why should you? Ticos don't; Euros don't; other Latin Americans don't. Only idiota Norte Americanos tip.

Steven, that is interesting and I totally agree. I also enjoyed having another passenger or two. I one case I rode with an American Airlines stewardess who owns a vacation hotel on the coast. It was interesting to get to know her and she understood and encouraged my reason for travel to Costa Rica.

Also, as you have mentioned I get to see other places too which is always enlightening. While you tend to be very anxious to get to your purpose of travel, it is always nice to have diversity. On another trip I met another monger staying at the Del Rey for his tenth time but never heard of the SL. Again interesting conversation and then ran into him at the SL and Del Rey for a drink he could be a CRT member by now.

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--==xpatriot==--

Happens more than you might think; some guys just never "progress" past the HDR/KL for whatever reasons; 2 or 3 come to mind, friends, and a guy I ran into in a res't in Miami Beach; real "genius" who knew it all - not - the sad thing is guys with this limited knowledge sometimes think - as in the case of the 3 that come to mind - they "know" Costa Rica.

I've taken Intebus and with one major exception, had decent experiences - Agree that on the return trip they want to pick you up way too early; solution is say your flight leaves an hour or so later (If they ask further, tell them its a charter in connection w/ TACA - but they probably woun't) - I also found they tend to be somewhat agressive hustling for tips, from the putz with the clipboard to the driver.

Since we have like 3 related threads on this topic, I'll cut and paste the following, for a few more ideas:

More guys should take the bus

( its easy - you don't even have to be a world traveler to do it - simply exit out of the airport to the right, and look for the stop - there will likely be people waiting; bus comes by frequently - you can - and should - ask "Directo" to make sure the bus goes directly to San Jose vs a stop first in Alajuale - not the end of the world if it does - you can take a cab to your hotel; total fare for me is around $3 - so the $25 +/- you save buys your meals for the day, pays 1/2 of my hotel bill for the day, among other things - if you look at from that perspective, the bus makes a ton of sense)

Another thing to consider; ask guys on your plane if they are going down town - you don't have to all be going to the same place, either - if you have 3 total in the cab, it works out to <$10 each - good deal.

Another way to save a few $$$ is go over to the bank side of the airport - located in the ticket lobby, across the way from baggage claim - change money; buy your exit visa (you were planning to do this before you left the airport vs finding a bank in SJ, and carring the money all over town - or depending on your hotel - and buying the exit visa before you leave the airport is just smart; one less thing to worry about, no problems with lines the day you are leaving, no worries that the few hotels who sell them have their computer down or are out of the forms - yes, this was on your list.....right )

What you do is look for a red cab letting people out - offer the driver $15 or so - he might take it; he by law is prohibited from picking up fares at the airport, so vs having to deadhead back to SJ, he might gladly take your offer vs zero.

You will NOT find him "crusing the baggage claim area" - but you will at departures.

Also, for a conventional pick up, $20 - 25 should still work - but you have other options to like Shuttlebus.co.com - good option if they get going right away; not so much if you have to wait for other guys and their flight is delayed - too, the constant assholes who work there with thir hands out for a tim gets to me and makes a good deal not so much - so long as its daylight, you are not carrying $$$$$$$, the best option is either to share a cab w/ 2 other guys or take the bus.

that is interesting and informative conversation in costa rica forum. and i found it helpful
so tans seawub for being here and providing this kind of information that i like personally