www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Gentlemen,

I am anxiously planning my next trip and would like to get suggestions/info on overnight trips with a chica. I have never actually left San Jose when I have been mongering. My plan is to arrive on Thursday, have a solid 3 nights of hunting at the Del Rey and then on Sunday leave San Jose with my special chica for one night. My first thought is to go to the spa and resort at the volcano with the hot springs. I am a little bothered by the 4 Hour(?) drive though. I am also thinking of just heading to the coast in a puddle-jumper airplane. I am looking for something romantic and classy. I don't mind spending a few dollars on the trip.

Question 1: Anyone that has been to the Hotsprings Resort with a chica, how was it?

Question 2: What is the best beach to go to? Jaco has some bad memories for this particular chica, so that may be out. Any other suggestions?

Question 3: If I go to the Volcano, should I rent a car, get a taxi, or a shuttle? I am concerned that it would add a little stress to have to drive myself. How is driving outside of the city in CR?

Any suggestions/information is appreciated.

Mr. Lurker:
The perfect overnight Getaway... well to make it real simple, no car rentals, no long drives, no taxis each way.. Over that ridiculous mountain road to Jaco. Here is the G-man’s suggestion and I do not think you well be disappointed. I am sure Easy will second the Nomination.

Take either a Nature Air flight or one of the other puddle Jumpers Early out over to Quepos. Will cost you $95.00 per person round trip. 18 minutes in the air. Leave early on the day you are going... Get a room at the Hotel Parador in Quepos. You can see the site online below... They will pick you up at the airstrip or take a taxi... either way 10 mins to the place. Overlooks the pacific.. Everything you need is on premise it’s gorgeous, romantic and classy... Good food, restaurants, and 5*... still can get green season rates. Get a 100pm check out and grab the 2PM flight back to SJO. They might even have a later flight. But a solid 30 hours if you take the AM out and the 2PM back...
You will not be disappointed.

http://www.hotelparador.com/

_________________
"Success isn't having $$ it is knowing how to Spend It"

My brother G-man,
Thanks for the quick response. I seem to remember you posting about this place a while back. It sounds perfect. You may not be thinking this far ahead, but the stars have aligned and I am escaping October 23-28. My last trip taught me how much fun these trips can be with a few of the boys to hang around with. If you can make it that weekend, let me know. By the way, my novia has an 18yo semi-pro friend that I am dying to get a report on.

If you do the beach thing with a chica Manuel Antonio beats out Jaco for class and beauty. It is a longer drive but you can also fly there as the others have pointed out. I still wouldn't rule out the Volcano. The four hour drive is a pleasant one winding through quaint little towns like Grecia, Saarchi and Zarcero. There are shuttles available, but personally I enjoy driving, the freedom to stop at little miradors along the way, etc., YMMV. As to the effect on the chica. Imagine soaking in a hot springs surrounded by a tropical garden under a moonlit sky watching a nearby volcano erupt. Or taking your chica from behind while you watch the volcano from your hotel balcony. Maybe treat the girl to a spa treatment. She's been to the beach before but not many of them have been to Tabacon. THE GIRL WILL BE ALL OVER YOU!

I can also suggest it is more romantic to hire a driver w/car who is bi-lingual. Then you and your girl are "hands free" the whole trip and being chauffered is a pretty classy thing. The biz reasons are:
1,can be done for the same price as renting your own car and doing all the driving.
2. You can get lost or have a hassle getting around traffic here if you're not used to it.
3. Liability for a rental car is heavy if you hit one of the big pot holes here, or worse yet hit someone or someones cars. Lots of pedestians run over here because they are....stupid. That kind of accident can have you in jail or at least detained in the country until restitution is made in a court of law. Not a pleasant experience. so for the money and ease of mind...someone else driving THEIR car. $50-80 day.

PM me if anyone needs suggestions for bilingual drivers/taxis

I should clarify renting a car seems to be an option that I am in the clear minority here. I'm a weird duck when it comes to that. I actually enjoy the adventure of driving in foreign countries. I have a pretty good sense of direction. The unmarked twisty roads can sometimes be a challenge, however, for me, sometimes getting lost is part of the adventure. The potholes and traffic of CR are actually tame compared to some other places I have driven. Sometime, ask me about the pothole in Haiti that my car disappeared into. I have had only one mishap in CR, a flat tire around Tarcoles, which some locals helped me fix. Maybe I've just been lucky.

When, I am traveling with friends I like to rent as we can all split the cost. I like the ability to pull off the road at a moments notice when we see something interesting and the freedom to go anywhere we want at a moments notice when we get to our destination. This ability seems to be greater when you self-drive vs. even having a driver. On the other hand, if you are with a chica having your hands free is a very powerful argument and it also definitely adds a more classy and luxurious feel to the trip.

I too like to drive in strange places and have a few times driven from SJO 4 hours up to Guanacaste, a great trip. I posted under trip reports "non mongering trip" my last journey. Great time and place but perhaps too far for you.

A flight to Liberia brings you 20 minutes from Playa Del Coco and Playa Hermosa (and lots of playas) a great place is www.ranchoarmadillo.com
lots of rain forest stuff, wild animal recue area and beaches near by fishing, diving etc

migrant

Every visit to CR, for over 15 years, I have rented vehicles. Always 4WD and usually a Toyota product. The ability to completely control your freedom of movement is, for me, priceless. I always purchase the full insurance (about $18/day) and never worry about damage to the rental car/truck. A couple times that full insurance sure came in handy. Be aware that you still may have personal liability if you are involved in personal injury accidents.
My usual area of travel takes me through the central and south Pacific regions, where most "roads" are nothing more than horse and cow paths. There are many little towns full of attractive young ladies that savor experiencing a "rich Gringo". Plus traveling through the mountains and along the coast on "primitive" roads while pouding cervecas and looking for private beaches is a phucking ball. I almost NEVER see law enforcement and many times rarely even see other vehicles (whole lotta cattle, horses, and goats though).
You gotta get outta the gulch to really experience this wonderful country.

Has anyone here driven through the Cerro del Muerte (Ridge of Death)? I hear that stretch of road can be quite tricky due to its twists and turns, roadside cliffs and often being clouded in. How bad is it really? And how late can you drive it before it clouds over too much? Also has anyone been to Mt Chirripo or Dominical?

I'm still waiting for my 1st car to get repaired in CR after letting someone else drive it, had to buy another one it is taking so long.

I was in the passenger seat and we were driving to the Del Rey to do some late night gambling and a car swerved into our lane, the driver not being very experienced in CR turned off the road and into one of those huge ditches, my arm went through the window and got cut up and pinned under the car, almost lost it!

Now its all healed, just a nice big scar.

Interesting experience in the public hospitals.. look more like an army hospital in the middle of a war, they didn't even charge me anything for the surgery and whatnot.

I've ridden a bus through the pass of death a couple times going to Panama and back ( still on the leave every 3 month routine ) .. it was in the middle of the night, dark.. foggy and the bus going about 80km at least. Had to close my eyes a few times.

In the day I wouldn't have a problem driving it but i'd avoid it at night.

I have said that I am adventurous but let me add a couple of caveats on things even I would not recommend.

1) If you are staying in San Jose and are not traveling around the country, you would be crazy to rent a car. The traffic is a mess, the drivers are crazy, parking can be a problem, you always have to worry about car theft/break-ins and taxis are plentiful and cheap. Even when I have a car for traveling the next day, I often take a cab to go to local destination.

2) I do not drive around much after dark. Again in the city, you have better options. In the country it makes it harder to spot the potholes in time to avoid them. The only exception I have made to this is for short distances over better quality roads that I am already familiar with, such as between Tabacon>La Fortuna or Playa Hermosa>Jaco or Manuel Antonio>Quepos.

3) Finally, I generally do not rent unless I have someone to split the costs with. If your share of car costs are only $30/day, you usually come out ahead over paying $75-100 for a day tour. But if your car costs are $60/day plus more for admission to Cafe Britt or La Paz or where ever your tour is going, it aint worth the bother of renting.

To those of you who are willing to pay $50-$80 per day for a driver, if I'm down there then, I'm more than willing to drive you. I don't mind renting the car, taking the liability and doing all the driving. Actually, I'd be happy just to split the costs but since you don't mind paying more, what the hell.

Thanks for all of the advice. I think I will either do either the hotel Parador or Tabacon, but will not be renting a car. The story about driving into one of those ditches on the side of the road is enough to spook me. What does a driver cost? I would guess $200 round trip to Tabacon?

Keep in mind that there are certain risks with private cars too - are they adequately insured, how well maintained are they, etc. Another route to take if you don't want to rent a car is to take one of the modern "tourist" buses. They are are all very new well maintained with strong A/C and fully insured with large panoramic tinted glass windows. Some even have TV and bathrooms on board. The price to La Fortuna (or Manuel Antonio) is $30/pp each way and departs at 8AM (9AM for MA) and 1:30PM everyday.

For much less than that, if you or anyone else here are down there when I am, I'll rent, assume liability, and safely drive you whereever you want to go to, from and AT your destination (assuming we are able to agree on where to go). This is not a commercial offer. I just love driving in Costa Rica and am glad whenever I find someone to help share the costs.

Simplified option package...example Jaco Beach trip:

Tico bus...$2.50 each way. Hourly schedule SJ to Jaco. No air, packed bus...but hell, the price is right. Have to rely on local taxis getting around from there.

First Class bus: last I heard, $20 each way, smaller daily schedule, but with air and reserved seating.

Rent a Car: In season its around 80-100 day for rent and full insurances (at least for anything you'd be safe or want to be seen in). Plus you pay gas and do all your own driving. Change your own flat tires...etc. Have fun.

Hire a driver: $50-100 day, they drive their own car, interpret, negotiate for you, and is a personal chaffeur/valet service. Usually has a cell phone you can use or borrow. No risk to you if an accident. This is MY preferred choice.

I can recommend a couple good bi-lingual drivers with reliable trans if you want to PM me. I CANNOT get you a discount or get a commission! LOL

CRMonger,
I travel and stay in Dominical almost every trip down to CR. Wonderful, beautiful, and romantic area to take that chica especial (you need a car, though, to thoroughly explore and enjoy the area). My most memorable driving excursion was in the early 90's when two buddies and I tried to travel from Monezuma (on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula) north to Samara. Up a mountain, down a mountain, through a stream or river, and up a mountain, down, etc. Outstanding verticals that the 4WD could barely climb, and mindblowing downhills skiing along on the red clay mud with the emergency brake on trying to maintain control. We were told by the locals when we left Montezuma that we probably wouldn't make it all the way through. So we loaded up with hielo and cervecas. The trip took 11 hours, but the sites and scenery was stunning. I'd do it again.