www.CostaRicaTicas.com

We are planning a short trip in San Jose ,for 4 days and we stay at Casa Conde.I want to know if we should rent a car or use taxi.

Use a taxi which are reasonable. Driving in San Jose can be challenging and the cost of the rental, insurance and gasoline makes it an expensive deal.

If you plan to take trips out of San Jose you can hire a car and driver and enjoy yourself rather then get frustrated coping with Tico drivers.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

there's no reason to rent a car if you're not leaving SJ... If you're leaving SJ, there's every reason to rent...

The cost of insurance, gas, and crazy insurance deductibles makes renting a car in San Jose a pricey proposition. I used to rent a car almost every trip, but I've noticed that strictly using taxis, I spend only about 1/3 of what I do when renting.

Plus, the rental rates during the high season are insane. They are charging $80/day for a small SUV , compared to $35-42 during the low season.

I agree with the others, use taxis. Even if I was going out of town, I'd use Interbus over rental cars. It's a very cost-effective option. And there's no worrying about accidents, thugs puncturing your tires, then robbing you when you stop, petty theft, cosmetic damage which is only covered at 80% (unless you pay even more for total protection).

I had an accident once. Luckily, the other driver admitted losing control at the scene, and they did not go after me for the damage to his piece of shit pickup, and my credit card paid for the damage to my rental. So it didn't cost me a penny out of pocket. Well that's not true.... They did charge me for half a tank of gas because when they hauled away the damaged car, the tank was only half full. I should have told the tow truck to stop at the Texaco on the way to the rent-a-car place. I made a big fuss and the only charge me $24, instead of $48.

Plus you don't have to deal with driving stick...



But seriously, I've found that the best car rental option is 4x4 car rental... it's always 35/day no matter what, and the staff are great...

Both Orange and I used to meet up regularly at Economy, and trust me when I say this, their rental experience, although cheap, is painful... And the rental ended up being about 3-5 less than 4x4 at their cheapest...


I would ALWAYS rent if I was going out of SJ, but in town, there's no point.

....and renting the big ass SUV's does nothing but draw attention to yourself as a gringo tourist.

stick with the smallest car you can handle (and has standard transmission). I've never had a problem.

AVIS is very cost effective. My weekly rate was under $122.00 NOT including any insurance I bought, which when purchased does NOT impact on the coverage provided by American Express or VISA or MC. Just be certain you understand your own card's rules relative to full coverage by the card...each is a bit different....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I rented a car every time I came here for years. Never had any problems but then I was use to driving in heavy traffic full of locos (had driven a lot in Mexico). If you rent, be very sure to inspect the car thourghly, including the underside. Be sure they put into writing even the smallest flaw. AND BE PREPARED TO PUT UP A VERY LARGE CREDIT CARD DEPOSIT TO COVER THE INSURANCE DEDUCTABLE or to pay a very high insurance preiumen to get a lower deductable.

I now live here and NO way am I interested in having a car!!! And if you have never driven in a latin country (especially CR) I would advise against renting--just too easy and more enjoyable to get anywhere you want by bus, taxi, or Tour providers.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Another problem that has not been mentioned is double billing. There are numerous reports on CR discussion groups about tourist (non-mongers) who get charged on their credit card again anywhere from 6 to 12 months after the original transaction.

This has been reported to have happened by more than one company.

I, like many of the gringos who live here, do own a car. Driving is not as bad as many depict it especially if you have experienced driving in a major metropolitan area in the U.S where you have learned to drive "cautiously aggressively"

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

In my 15 trips to CR I have never rented a car, and some of those trips were for 2 weeks or more. If you're not going to leave San Jose, you don't even need one. Really, you only need a car if you want to go someplace that can't be reached via taxi, bus, private bus (Grey Line and Interbus), hired driver or plane (Sansa and Nature Air). Or you live there. Save yourself a lot of money and hassle. This isn't the US, there's no network of freeways and 4-lane highways, a lot of roads are in poor shape, and there are very few signs.

FWIW... I rent a car every trip, but never in SJO. As soon as I get out of the gulch, I want my own car. But when in SJO, I don't feel a car is a necessity. My dos colones...

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

As others have said, renting a car is a painful experience, and driving in Costa Rica is a harrowing experience.

There is one other thing to keep in mind... parking. It is very difficult to find parking in San Jose. Your hotel will likely have some kind of parking, but if you go anywhere, good luck.

For a fee of course, average $10/day.