www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I plan to use Uber while in CR. I have two questions. Will the cost be automatically charged to the credit card on file with Uber like here in the states? Do you tip the driver in cash or through Uber?

Yes.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

Cash tip

Be careful leaving the airport, not sure if this happened to anyone else but here goes:
In August, i requested from the airport to Castillo and the normal route came up. Young tico picked me up and went the opposite way so i asked him, why this direction? He told me the main bridge is closed after 9 pm so we had to go another route. I went with it because i thought the charge woukd stay the same. He explained the bridge wait could be an hour so this route would be only slightly longer than the normal drive. Cool....actually not cool when i noticed the charge the next day of more than double!

On my trip out back to the airport, i mentioned this to a different uber driver and she said the bridge is NOT closed at night and i should report him. She said the route is the correct route when it comes up on the app itself and it takes into account any road closures.
I challenged the fare on Uber app as 'bad route' and they knocked it back down to the normal 6000c.

This was about my 10th uber use so i knew it seemed odd. I didnt sweat it too much since i knew i could challenge it on my ccard. Didnt want to raise a stink while i am at the mercy of a tico at night in a strange area...

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Entertainment purposes only, nothing posted above is true nor reflects reality nor my experience.

Thanks for posting this. I am still on the fence about using in CR for my trip. I'll keep this in mind.

I use UBER all the time around town, but I prefer to just use the taxi's at the airport when I come in. They're there, waiting for passengers, you don't have to go looking for someone, they are all licensed and vetted and I've never had any of them do anything but take me straight to my destination with no headaches.

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

automatically charged to your payment method in the app... i use paypal, which charges my visa card.. some guys will load up their uber account with credit to avoid any paper trail...

tip in cash...

ive been getting charged around 7mil colones from the airport, wait for the driver by the cafe on the arrivals level

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its easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled- mark twain

Thanks for the info guys.

This has been the only issue i have had, all others have been very professional and personable and no issues.
When you do get the Uber, remember their first name and always sit in the front seat...when they oick you up say 'Hola Eduardo, como estas?' They are still spooked by the police as its still illegal there.
Last few time they called me and asked me to meet them at departures up top. If you arent comfortable with that then get an orange taxi or arrange a pick up from Sportsmen drivers, just tell the front desk if you are staying there.
SL drivers are not cheap but they are reliable generally

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Entertainment purposes only, nothing posted above is true nor reflects reality nor my experience.

No, you should absolutely just use taxis. The best ones are the ones without a meter - especially in front of known gringo spots. Just pay them the $20 they demand to take you three blocks...

And, of course, since Tico taxistas are well known for their scrupulous honesty if you accidently leave anything in their cab the taxista will immdiately return it...

The above is sarcasm. While taxi drivers in places like La Sabana where gringos are rare are just typical Tico taxistas (poor service and steal anything you leave and masters of the 'this rojo is counterfeit' scam); taxistas around the gringo haunts are a higher level of thief. No meter or crooked meter; crazy prices; and so on.

And then there is the whole part where no taxista knows where anything is in San Jose (okay, they can find Mall San Pedro but they have no clue as to streets or anyplace that's not a major place - you have to tell them).

Uber is half the cost. You know who the driver is. If you leave a cell phone or whatever in the car you can contact them right away (and you might get it back). 90% of the time the car is very clean (you need a hep c shot after taking a taxi). And thanks to the Uber app they know where the Phuck they are going (only gringos and Uber drivers understand streets in SJ).

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

On my only CR trip so far, last year, I got a taste of that.

I took a taxi from La Amistad to Monica's, and the guy said that he was having trouble finding it. I was at his mercy... I just figured he'd know. He drove around a bit. It was annoying.

I was left without enough to give the massage girl a decent tip.

Next time I'll just walk it... They have showers there! A total reset from sweat to clean.

same exact thing just happened to me on wednesday at SJO to Amistad... i guess UBER drivers are trying to get over on the uber system and customers...
got a quick refund from UBER but wasted 45 min of my life... this was around noon too...
Phuck him, he wasted gas and toll taking the longway downtown for 5000$ colones which is what uber eventually charged me

also had to runaround and meet him up at departures

the other ubers ive taken this trip has been hassle free... so there are good and bad apples like anything... still a better experience than red taxis for me

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its easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled- mark twain

Exactly, more gas, less trips, and they don't get the pay off of the higher fare when challenged...last several times they wanted me to meet at departures which is understandable since arrivals is so clogged down to one lane choke point at the exit of the airport. No issue for me with 2 carry ons but i can see it being a pain with more luggage

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Entertainment purposes only, nothing posted above is true nor reflects reality nor my experience.

how much have you guys been tipping? from Airport to SL (my enter button doesnt work sorry) From SL to DR, From SL to Zona etc.

No one tips taxi drivers in Costa Rica. Believe me they don't expect a tip..
Maybe just round off the fare to avoid him fishing for coins etc..

I used to take the orange cabs, but decided to go cheap. I used Uber once with no problem from the airport, but the last couple of times I had problems with the Uber app in the airport so just used the Interbus shuttle--book online ahead of time for $10 credit card charge, and I think about $15 if you just stop by their small alcove on the back side of baggage claim and make arrangements on the spot. Its a shared shuttle, but both times I've used it, there was just one other passenger that was being dropped at hotels near mine. You walk about a half block with the driver to a parking area in the covered garage and take off from there. They'll pick you up for the return to the airport for the same rate, but I just use La Amistad's free ride when heading home.