Ace's Five Day Visitors List for San Jose:
Input from CostaKid, Shamas, Nononsense & others below on board.
The following is a list of what to bring with you
on a five day trip to San Jose, fishing for "pink snapper"
and receiving "massage therapy".
It is designed for a first time visitor, and it is expected
that a veteran visitor will have made personal adjustments.
Before you leave home remember to stop the mail, turn down the heat and notify your neighbors.
If you are a first time visitor, I advise staying at the Hotel Del Rey.
Cash: (cost is $ 800-1400 plus air)
10 one dollar bills, perfect, unmarked, untorn
5 five dollar bills, perfect, unmarked, untorn
5 ten dollar bills, Perfect, unmarked, untorn
10 twenty dollar bills, untorn, unmarked, perfect
18 fifty dollar bills, perfect, unmarked, untorn
Hundred dollars bills are often rejected suspected of being fake.
Travelers checks are ok, but almost impossible to cash
Two credit cards. ATM card is optional, in lieu of fifties.
Leave extra credit cards at home
The above cash assumes you will pay cash for your hotel.
If you charge your hotel and meals, deduct that sum from the
cash requirement.
Bank Exchange rate as of Feb 2006 was about 500Colones for 1 US dollar,
( C10,000 = $20.00 ) Changes every day, less favorable at hotel and casinos.
Check the exchange rate before you start the trip.
www.xe.com/ucc/full.shtml
Other:
PASSPORT, TICKET, MONEY, carry on board
Photo copy of passport and of entry stamp.
Drivers License as backup ID & for car rental
Print out or copy of hotel reservation confirmation.
Secure Money belt or secure neck pouch, under shirt. Use in transit
for passport, ticket, money.
Camera, film or media cards, extra batteries, recharger, carry on board.
I recommend the Canon Powershot A series or Powershot SD series.
The SD series are smaller. Image stabilization is more important than more pixels.
Ballpoint pen, needed on board for immigration forms.
Sunglasses. Folding umbrella April thru December.
Map of SJO printed out from net
See CostaKid's A Posting for All Newbies
under General Information, and Ace's Top Twenty Tips
under The Newbies Section, maybe not on page one, and
www.dongordo.com
Do your research first.
List of essential names, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses.
Remove non-essentials from wallet and leave at home.
Clothing, year round:
2 pair pants: 1 khaki, and 1 khaki or jeans, (shorts at beach)
Short pants versus long pants a matter of choice. I like long
3-4 shirts: 1 long sleeve, 2 short sleeve (warm days, cool nights, hot bars)
1 light nylon jacket or light jog suit top for mountain touring
1 pair all purpose walking shoes. Extra pair of shoes if you will do the outdoor adventure activity.
Socks and underwear for 5 or more days
Swimsuit for beach or jacuzzi, 2 or 3 if rafting or multiple jacuzzi parties
NO (expensive) jewelry, no gold chains, no gold rings.
Cheap, but reliable watch, waterproof is best, like a sports watch.
Toilet stuff
Usual shave kit and toothbrush, etc
Favorite Shampoo, (3-4 mini hotel size containers of same)
(Shampoo may or may not be available at hotel.
Hotel will have soap, but no small wash cloths)
Condoms, dozen of your choice, flavored if desired for CBJs
Vitamin V , for get up and go
KY jelly or liquid, small size, transport in leakproof plastic ziplock bag(s)
Extra toothbrushes for new friends.
Buy mouthwash at local Mas X Menos store. Safety caps leak
Asprin for hangovers, Pepto Bismol and imodium tablets for stomach. I carry other common stuff like antihistimines and sudafed, alkaseltzer.
Sunscreen for beach or mountains.
Medicines, carry on board:
14 days supply, in case of being stranded by whatever
(It happened to me flying stand-by)
Extra contact lens set, case
Glasses and Reading glasses, if needed
Optional:
Calculator, ziplock quart and gallon size bags for everything,
Cheap pocket knife & corkscrew in checked luggage,
Plastic cups, inexpensive gifts like perfume, lingerie.
Mini massager, small note pad, small Spanish dictionary.
Portable cheap radio-CD player for room,(leave it to new friend).
Special CDs, book. Small alarm clock. Hat or cap. Earplugs.
Austin House travel neck pouch, or money pouch under belt for around town.
Money clip instead of wallet. Leave wallet in room safe.
Note: reasonably priced booze and mixers are available in stores and at airport.
Roll of USA toilet paper which may not fit in small TP holder, Kleenex
Shower cap for little darlings.
Cigarettes and lighter for smokers, small candles for atmosphere.
Always a bathroom de-odor spray, half used from my bathroom, which I leave.
Small backpack for tours to carry water, TP and so on. Do not carry in town due to pickpockets.
Budgeted expenses for 5 days:
Taxi to hotel $25 (can be shared) Fare are reported to have increased.
Tips to bell hop $2 arrival and $ 2 check out
Tip to maid for extra towels $ 2
Tip to maid on check out $ 5
Water in bottles $ 2, from bakery next to Presidente hotel
Taxi to airport from hotel $ 25 (can be shared) May be more today.
Departure tax $ 26
Hotel $ 297 incl tax (w/ CRT discount)
Food $ 100 - 200 (assumes no "entertaining" ) ?
(Big buffet breakfast included in room rate at some hotels)
Bar expenses, including drinks for "friends" $ 100 - 250 ??
Fees paid for "massage therapy" and "fishing" $ 200 - 500 ???
Taxis around San Jose at night $ 10 (500 colones each way)
Airport (home) parking $ 40
Optional expenses:
Breakfast or drink at airport $ 7
Drinks on plane $ 14 optional
Cigars $ 50 - 100?? Street vendors sell fakes
Gambling money $ ??
Worthess souvenirs, T-shirts $25 from flea market East of Mas x Menos.
Tours $ 50 - 130
Stoli at airport dutyfree shop upon arrival $10, mixers $ 3
Internet Cafe fees, $ 0-5
Read what Orange has to say here:
https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... ght=camera
For more than you can absorb read:
http://www.paulglassman.com/CostaRicaGuide.htm
Remember that your passport, ticket, money and credit card
are the essential items to keep safe at all times. Use your room safe and hide the key. Always, all the time, especially when having guests.