www.CostaRicaTicas.com

1. Intra-bus seems to be the best way to get from the airport to hotel. Will the other people riding together mostly be normal tourists? Will people look at me weird that I'm going to the SL or HDR? If I decide to take the taxi, it is perfectly safe right?

2. Food budget. How much should I budget for eating mostly in the hotel at SL or HDR?

3. I'm hesitant to bring all of my money in cash. What American bank is best for withdrawing at an ATM in Costa Rica? Is the exchange rate bad and is there a fee for using the ATM?

4. Should I care at all about the swine flu situation?

I'd like to add something about the food...

Remember that our favorite monger hotels (SL/La Amistad/Castillo) all provide some sort of breakfast. You can usually find enough good food on the breakfast buffts to keep you going until lunch.

Snacks, pastries, sandwiches are all for sale at the local grocery stores, including Mas X Menos (pronounced Mahs por May-nohs) just east of the Hotel Presidente on Avenida Central (one of the twopedestrian shopping avenues). Prices are in line with Circle K/7-11/SuperAmerica/om Thumb type stores...sometimes better. Buying snacks at the local grocery gives you a chance to meet some more local people, practice your Spanish if you want, and try new foods/drinks.

The Central Market has a few excellent little "sodas," (Costa Rican diners) where a full meal including beverage can be had for around $5.00 - 6.00 Servings are good sized and often very tasty.
Okay, so we have breakfast and lunch covered. Also, there are nice little restaurants near the SL, including La Crioleta near the INS building (major landmark), Ceelle's Soda down the street from the Hotel Presidente, several little chicken shacks and pizza joints.

Okay, now let's talk supper ("la cena" in Spanish). Don't forget your CRT V.I.P. card will save you some money at many good restaurants. Try an Argentinian-style steak at La Esquina de Buenos Aires, or a Europen-flair meal at Balcon de Europa. These are just two of the CRT V.I.P. restaurant sponsors.

As Orange said, hopefully you'll find more experienced guys who can point you to good and tasty food at a reasonable price.

One more thing: I eat well, if not luxuriously while in Costa Rica. My typical food budget, including alcoholic beverages and snacks bought in the grocery store, comes out to around $30.00 per day, maximum.

Hope this helps!

3. I'm hesitant to bring all of my money in cash. What American bank is best for withdrawing at an ATM in Costa Rica? Is the exchange rate bad and is there a fee for using the ATM?

There is a Citibank on Calle 11 and approx Avenida 6.

If your walking away from the HDR on Calle 11 towards RELAX and IDEM its on the left side of the street.

There is a Citibank on Calle 11 and approx Avenida 6.

If your walking away from the HDR on Calle 11 towards RELAX and IDEM its on the left side of the street.

Has anybody used it? Do they have ATM's? I walked past it once and saw a lot of people, but didn't notice an ATM, but then again I wasn't looking that hard.