www.CostaRicaTicas.com

When I arrive at SJO, I am usually guided through Immigration, baggage claim and Customs by an airline emplohyee.

Invitably, these airline employees are in a hurry, and I have never been offered the opportunity to shop in one of the duty-free shops.


My question is this: If I can prevail upon said airline employee to help me to and through the duty free as part of my arrival routine, is there one particular one I should request? I have been told that there are more than one shop. Which is the best for booze and cigars? TIA

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

El C,

There's a small duty free almost the size of a large closet across, or nearly across the Food Court. It's run by some type of non-profit organization and sells both cigars and booze. I always use it for liquor purchases on the way out. There is another one, that I use on the way in, located in the far corner of the baggage claim area behind the escalator. I believe that concession only sells booze, though.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

El Ciego,

I always stop at one of the duty free stores to buy booze. I have visited several different ones, and off hand could not tell you if they differ much in price, although selection does vary. Orange, however, gave me a tip and now it comes down to convenience. Because I am one of the first ones off the plane, I tend to rush to the immigration line in order to avoid further delay. After immigration, you go downstairs to get luggage. Orange let me know that there is a small duty free shop in that area, so that is now the one that I use. I generally only get a few items that are in stock (Stohli, Kahlua, Ron Centenario), so a large selection is not important. So an important question for is do you have to wait in line for immigration, or are you escorted to the front? Also, do you need to have a large selection or are you looking for more standard fare?

Ciaociao

EC

I've shopped in three different Duty Free shops at the airport and have found that the liquor prices are pretty much the same at all three. Don't know about the cigars, but the ones I've seen for sale don't seem to be stored properly so I'd be skeptical.

Remember you will need to get to the Duty Free no less than one hour before your departure time in order to make a purchase.

PHX

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

CiaoCiao,

What happens at Immigration depends on many factors, including the dispositions/personalities of the airline employee and the Immigration officers. Sometimes I go to the front of the line, sometimes to the rear. I once got escorted to the Crew/Diplomat line, only to be shuttled to a regular tourist line when it proved to be shorter and moving more quickly.

I don't need a wide variety. Like you, I'm interested in a few "staple" items, mainly rum and vodka. I had heard that the cigars are not properly stored in the Duty Free stores, so I'll probably buy elsewhere.

Thanks to all for the advice. Any others?

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I forgot about the guy selling cigars in front of the Food Court...

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

All the duty free shops at the airport are run by the same concessionaire. The prices are exactly the same. The easisst one to use is in the baggage clain area as it is after you clear immigration. Stopping at one of the shops in the departure area saves you no money and puts you further behind the hoard at immigration as well as having to lug your box of 8 liters further.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Señor Ciego

I always do what Ciao and Orange do – hit the one downstairs by the baggage claim. A perfect set-up in a muy-tico Costa Rica: ATH right there, do the duty free and by then the carousel is spitting out your bags. I also try to get as front on the plane as possible and usually check in stuff. Either way you have to go right by it on the way to Aduana/ Customs. Then off to the taxi’s.

By the way - that ATM machine for years only dispense 5K notes, which a couple hundred bucks is a shitload of ‘em. Just my luck mid-July is was broke or out of money, no big deal, but it is so handy…

Glad you get to go soon El Ciego,

EC,
Definitely hit the duty free by the baggage claim. It's much more convenient, and I usually have time to hit the head, AND buy some liquor, before my luggage comes down the baggage carousel.

MG

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!