40 trips over 15 years - I think i have a "perspective" so I'll take a swing at your questions, although you have not received any bad info:
Fieldtech wrote:
Thanks to all who have taken time to share their wisdom and experiences in the Newbie section. I have been reading endlessly and may not remember reading the answers, so my apologies if it missed it. Chances are my eyes were burning from crawling through the posts and information overload. But if you will bear with me and answer a couple of questions...
1. Money: I thought I read some place that there is a problem with $100 bills? Is that right? I'm trying to avoid the wad of cash and travelers checks.
Sometimes, however i've never had an issue - make sure they are not too worn (the bills in any denomination don'r have to be new) - forget travelers checks - they are NOT widely accepted and are so 1970's
2. Money #2. Also thought I read that the condition of the bills/money (U.S.) is a problem and that the bills all need to be in mint condition. True?
Not really - just not torn and not too worn; leave the travelers checks at home - change at the airport bank - its across from the Spirit ticket counter - walk across the street into the terminal drom baggage and customs - avoid the "Cambio's" (rip offs) and deal wit the bank only - the exit visa place is right next to the bank; buy your exit visa and then its done.
3. Taxis: At the airport I have read take the red cabs with yellow stickers and take the orange cabs? Which one is right? I'd hate to start out the trip by taking the wrong cab.
You could save yourself 1/2 the price of a taxi and take the costa rica shuttle bus (shuttlebus.co.cr.com) directly to your hotel - great option.
You can also see if there are guys to share a taxi to downtown - almost always other guys going downtown and the price is 1/2 if you share a cab; 1/3 if there are 3 of you - you all don't need to be going to the same hotel.Its not Colombia in the bad ole days when people were kidnapped - you will be approached by many asking "taxi, senior?" and you can negociate - $20 flat is fair, but look into sharing. Never pay $30 - too much - and if you pay $20 vs $30, you just bought yourself lunch with the savings 
Your next trip, look into the airport bus but maybe not for your first trip - great option and w/ a taxi from the terminal to your hotel total cost is about $3.00
I'm heading down in March and will post in the Roll Call section also. Thanks in advance.
1. Money: I thought I read some place that there is a problem with $100 bills? Is that right? I'm trying to avoid the wad of cash and travelers checks.
Sometimes, however i've never had an issue - make sure they are not too worn (the bills in any denomination don'r have to be new) - forget travelers checks - they are NOT widely accepted and are so 1970's
2. Money #2. Also thought I read that the condition of the bills/money (U.S.) is a problem and that the bills all need to be in mint condition. True?
Not really - just not torn and not too worn; leave the travelers checks at home - change at the airport bank - its across from the Spirit ticket counter - walk across the street into the terminal drom baggage and customs - avoid the "Cambio's" (rip offs) and deal wit the bank only - the exit visa place is right next to the bank; buy your exit visa and then its done.
3. Taxis: At the airport I have read take the red cabs with yellow stickers and take the orange cabs? Which one is right? I'd hate to start out the trip by taking the wrong cab.
You could save yourself 1/2 the price of a taxi and take the costa rica shuttle bus (shuttlebus.co.cr.com) directly to your hotel - great option.
You can also see if there are guys to share a taxi to downtown - almost always other guys going downtown and the price is 1/2 if you share a cab; 1/3 if there are 3 of you - you all don't need to be going to the same hotel.Its not Colombia in the bad ole days when people were kidnapped
- you will be approached by many asking "taxi, senior?" and you can negociate - $20 flat is fair, but look into sharing. Never pay $30 - too much - and if you pay $20 vs $30, you just bought yourself lunch with the savings Your next trip, look into the airport bus but maybe not for your first trip - great option and w/ a taxi from the terminal to your hotel total cost is about $3.00
I'm heading down in March and will post in the Roll Call section also. Thanks in advance.
). The red taxis are ones that drop off outgoing passengers and can be picked up upstairs or down the ramp. They aren't allowed to do airport pickups in the arrivals area. You have to go upstairs to the departure level or down the ramp to the street to catch one. For a first trip, I would just jump in an orange taxi and be off to your hotel without worry. The driver should have a badge around his neck. You will see a bunch of drivers standing outside the glass doors as you exit outside. You pay the metered rate, not a penny more. If the guy is helpful, gives you any advice on the way in ("be careful at night"-I had one taxista tell me this; I appreciated it even though I already knew) and helps you with your stuff, a small tip (~$2) is ok. 