www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Which door do you exit, how do you get the cab, and how much does it cost? In the afternoon? at night? The offical cab guys wanted 4 mil at night, but I got an unofficial cab for 1 mil after some arguing. Is there a better way to not get ripped off taking a cab from the Del Rey?

The cabs parked alongside the Del Rey are a scam. Walk out the front door and hail a cab coming up the street. The fare from the Del Rey to the Sportsmens should be about 500 colones [about a dollar, day or night]. Make sure the driver is using the maria [meter].

I wondered what he meant by "the offical cab guys" oh he meant the official cab-scam guys. Guess he didn't read the warnings posted in the mens room.. Always grab a cab that's on the move.

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Just make sure that the cab you hail has a meter and turns it on. If not, don't get in or tell him to stop and get out ASAP. I hailed a taxi once in front of DR and it was official red taxi but had no meter. I didn't realize it and had to pay 1,500. I could have argued or made a fuss but, with no power in the whole country, I didn't want to chance getting into it with him in the pitch black street.

Before you get in the taxi, ask "Tiene Maria?" (Do you have a meter?) If the answer is yes, make sure he turns it on. It should start at 405 (base rate). To SL it's about 700.

There was an increase a couple of weeks ago. If oil keeps going up so will the taxi fares.

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Alex Levine

Thanks for the info. I'll have more money for the chicas next time.

Last week it was 650 colones HDR to SL or nearby (Amistad, Cafe Mundo, New Fantasy, etc).

Walk past all the HELPERS outside the bldg and grab one driving by....get to where you are going and toss him a 1000 colon note as you exit.

Otherwise you get burned for 2-4,000 colones every time some HELPS YOU. After a while it can add up, more importantly I think it paints you (us) as dumb gringos to chump at every turn.

Walk out the door on the side where the monkey bar is. Ignore the scammer assholes. Wait for a Meter taxi to come up the street. Ask you get in ask "Con Maria" slang for taxi. The meter should be visible and start at 405 colones which is 81 cents. They may or may not know where Sportsmens is. Print the map or have the Sportsmans card which has directions and the phone number. The trip should be no more than 600 colones in bad traffic. Tipping is not expected or required.

I can understand overtipping a beautiful chica who just rocked you, but tipping a cab here is just not customary.

BKTUNA
I am never going home