www.CostaRicaTicas.com
https://forum.costaricaticas.com/

A couple of newbie questions
https://forum.costaricaticas.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=30146		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  TooShy [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:31 am ]
Post subject:  A couple of newbie questions
Hi guys,

All of the past postings on this site has helped me a lot. Could you guys help with the following questions as well. Some are rather stupid but I'm a super newbie.

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?

Thanks guys.
Author:  Orange [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A couple of newbie questions
Sklb wrote:
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?

I wouldn't say it's the best, a taxi is the best (fastest). There is no safety issue when you take an orange (no relation :roll: ) airport taxi or a red taxi upstairs. Interbus is the cheapest, apart from the public pus. It's all tourists, mostly tree hugger, hippie, eco-tourist types that don't bathe quite enough for my taste. Probably trying t save water. Anyway, if you go to HDR, you may get a few looks. SL isn't really known as a monger hotel as well so I wouldn't worry.

Besides, you are usually the only passenger in the bus. I have never taken it with other people, but my flights always come in at 9:30am. If you are coming mid-day, there may be others.

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

Depends what you will eat. You can eat for $5/day or $100/day. For example, a typical meal at SL is about $8-10. The HDR food is overpriced garbage.

Sl has pretty good food, but I would not eat all the meals at the hotel. Get a taste of the local flavor, there are many very good restaurants around town. Hopefully, you will meet some guys that have been there before and you can tag along for a meal.

Sklb wrote:
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 are no American banks here. The best place to withdraw money is any BCR (Bank of Costa Rica) ATM or HDR, they have 2 ATM's and one should work depending what system your bank uses.

The exchange rates aren't set by the CR banks. Your home bank will so the conversions based on their rates. You should call them to find out what their current rate is.

Many US banks also charge international transaction fees, currency conversion fees, etc. Check with your bank beforehand.

Also, VERY IMPORTANT, let your bank and credit card bank know that you are travelling to CR and what dates. Otherwise, your cards may get blocked if they think it's being fraudently used.

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

You should take the same precautions in CR as you do in the US.
Author:  SnapperTrapper [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well said Orange. Kudos to you for taking the time and effort to provide great information to a “newbie” rather than the harsh “use the search function” that some CRT brothers advise. :lol:
Author:  TooShy [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Orange for the info. Yes, I've searched the forum quite a bit to these questions. Sorry I did ask repetitive questions. There's a lot of differing opinions too, so I'll just have to stop preparing and just go make the trip and form my own opinions.
Author:  SnapperTrapper [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
And don’t be surprised that after you make your first trip you schedule your second trip within days of your return.
Author:  Ramair4 [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 2:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A couple of newbie questions
For a first trip keep things simple. Take the taxi to SL (make reservations early). Bring what you plan to spend in cash and lock it in the room safe, but have something in reserve on a debit card. You can convert your dollars to colones at the desk in the SL as you go. The rate won't be as good as at a bank but the its safe and convenient. The dollar is pretty strong vs colones right now ($1 = 580 colones) so you won't get hurt.
Author:  El Ciego [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
Double post. Thanks Brent. :)
Author:  El Ciego [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Food cost answers
I'd like to add to the answer regarding the food budget issue...

Remember that our favorite hotels (SL/La Amistad/Castillo/HLH/ Amon Plaza) all provide some sort of breakfast. You can usually find enough good food on the breakfast buffets 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 Maynohs) just east of the Hotel Presidente on Avenida Central (one of the two pedestrian shopping avenues). This gives you a chance to encounter some more normal 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.
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, so we have breakfast and lunch covered.
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 an elegant European-style 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. :D

Hope this helps!
Author:  SnapperTrapper [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
El Ciego wrote:
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. :D

Hope this helps!


You can say that again, oh wait,,, you did. Lol
Author:  Planenutz69 [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A couple of newbie questions
Sklb wrote:

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.
Author:  Orange [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A couple of newbie questions
Planenutz69 wrote:
Sklb wrote:

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.

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.
Author:  Mucho Gusto [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A couple of newbie questions
Planenutz69 wrote:
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.

I'm pretty sure this used to be a Banco Cuscatlan office. I've used them in the past to deposit / withdraw funds. BC used to have an ATM, so I'd be willing to bet that Citi-Bank must have one.

MG
Author:  Cujo's [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
You guys eat too damn much :P

Really though, this is all post session eating right? Damn, I can't get down feelin' all Jabba the Hut. :shock:

Cujo
Author:  Nhhank [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
The place El Ciego mentioned is spelled Criollila watch the double ll it is kind of a J
The food is OK and they have some outside tables
they close early 9:00pm
Good in a pinch
Author:  Irish Drifter [ Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A couple of newbie questions
Orange wrote:
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.


Citi bank has ATM machines. I do not know of any bank in San Jose that doesn't have an ATM machine. Not all dispense either dollars or colones but many do.
Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/