www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Are they reconstructing any of the runways?

i hear there are food wars taking place. lobbyists trying to get lucrative vending contracts at the airport. sure hope something changes because the selection is really phucking lame.
and nothing is open past like 11 at night. honestly they should just blow up bradley "international" and start over. the poorest excuse for an international airport on the face of the earth.

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

I spend a lot of time at a location in the desert which is a little closer to LAX than it is to Las Vegas but I almost always opt for flying out of Las Vegas. Even though it is farther distance wise it is often closer time wise. The reduction grief cannot be overstated.

Talking about LAX.... I'm leaving from it on Tue, August 10 with a stop in Mexico City. Will be my first time in Costa Rica and my flight lands at 11pm! I hear the best option is to go upstairs at SJO airport to a bank to get Colones. But... is this still open that late at night? Also, I'm staying at Sportsmens Lodge, what would be the best transportation and price to the hotel considering the time of my arrival? I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this question... but considering you guys are talking about LAX, maybe you've taken the same flight before. Thanks for any help!

Thanks! So where in the city is the best place to exchange my money the day after?

I'll be flying out of LAX on December 4th for my annual pre-Christmad trek.

To get the true rate, you have to exchange at a bank. But banks in CR are extremely slow. The SL takes about a 5% commission on exchanges, call it a convenience fee. You're paying about $5 per $100 exchanged. Unless you are going to be exchanging $2k or more, I wouldn't waste time in line at the bank.

LL1267: I would walk over to the INS building on Wed morning after 9 a.m. and use the BCR ATM on the second floor, inside the building. INS is the tallest (maybe the Holiday Inn is...) building in Barrio Amon. Go out SL front door and turn right...walk to the corner in front of you, turn right again and look to your 11 o'clock at the 20 story building 1 1/2 blocks in front of you. Walk in the front door and take the escalator to the first landing, turn left. 10 meters to your front is a stand alone BCR ATM. I've never been charged a withdrawl fee there (YMMV). It seems to me, to be more secure than using other ATMs.

Have a good trip.
CH

LatinLover1267 – if you are going to take a taxi the cost is around $25 to $30. I have paid both prices on the exact same trip with the maria (meter) was operating.

Try to have the correct change or smaller bills; not $100 bills. The taxi driver probably cannot make change for large bills.

One thing to keep in mind since I have regularly changed $$$ for Colones at the SL Front Desk and that is they tend to have a limit. I believe it's about $200. Could be wrong but that's what I recall. I just mention that in the event you were thing in terms of cashing $500 or $1K etc. A short 5 minute walk up to Ave. Cental and there are boatloads of banks with ATM machines in case you want to use your ATM card to get cash.

All great advice!

Crazy horse: Thanks for your detailed directions. This sounds more like an ATM though, I was actually searching for the best rate when exchanging money. But if i need to withdraw money, now I know where to go!

Diego- Thanks for the info. You must be a smart man with such a great name as Diego! Trust me, I don't say that just cuz I'm a Diego as well! haha.