www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi, my CRT brothers! We'll be landing Sept 9th and will be renting an SUV. We'd like to stop by for a tuneup before hitting the road to Jaco, maybe picking up a tica to take to the beach. I'm concerned about parking safely with our baggage in the vehicle while we get our oil checked. . Any thoughts or suggestions?

Yeah, rent the car on the way OUT of town.

Were you actually planning to rent a car out by the airport, drive in to SJ, find some chica to take with you to Jaco and hit the road that same afternoon? Or are you planning to spend at least the first night in SJ and allowing yourself more than just an hour or 2 to find a chica who can take off with you? The latter would be a more sensible and realistic approach. Finding chica travel companions who can just take off that quickly is not like walking into a supermarket and grabbing something off the shelf.

If you go the 2nd route, the amount you pay for an extra day of car rental will be more than cost of getting into town (and around that first night) using cabs (or Interbus transfer) and it won't come with all the hassles of driving a car downtown, finding parking for it, worrying about it getting broken into, etc.

If you still insist on going the 1st route. There is a guarded parking lot directly across from the HDR going towards the Morazon. There is street parking in front of the SL and there is a small driveway with enough room for 1-2 cars directly in front of Relax. How secure any of these places would be is anybody's guess, but personally I wouldn't leave luggage in a car anywhere in SJ unless it was a guarded lot with a locked gate and probably not even then. If you go to either of the hotels you could probably check your bags for an hour or two inside, for maybe just a small tip to the desk clerk. You could also bring your bags in with you to Relax and it would probably be secure enough if you have locks on the bags, but that would be a little weird and I've never seen anyone do anything like that. It won't cost more than $10/ea to take a cab or shuttle into town and another $2-3 to take a cab to one of the car rental agencies on Paseo Colon when you're ready to head out to Jaco (unless you had them deliver the car to you at the HDR or SL). That still seems like a pretty small price to pay for not having to worry about a car and bags left out on the street in SJ.

There's been countless episodes related in the local news about leaving your luggage in your car, DON'T ..............unless you want to invite a break-in.

So my first advice would be to find a safe place to keep your luggage before trekking around the city.

The DR has a lot right across the street, at night a fellow named William keeps an eye on your car, I tip him 1000 colones when I leave. The SL has guards out front to keep an eye on your car, but still you'd be better off with your valuables located elsewhere than a car.

There's a lot on the next block from the Relax, it's a couple doors next to the Tin Jo restaurant, same side of the street as Relax.

I've been driving around here for 3 years,never had a problem (knock on wood), but I cover up the loose change, put my sunglasses out of sight, remove and hide the face plate to my cheap radio, the car has an alarm, and I always park where someone can keep an eye on it.

Thieves here love newbies you have cameras, laptops and passports to steal. Keep them all out of view. Have fun with the chicas but watch out for the ladrones!

"Were you actually planning to rent a car out by the airport, drive in to SJ, find some chica to take with you to Jaco and hit the road that same afternoon?"

Er, yes...

Is this really that foolish? It sure is starting to feel like it...

*ahem* so maybe we need to alter our plan...

Yes! Skip Jaco

Cujo

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"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

G2U,
Don't worry. We were all foolish newbies once and, never having been there, you just didn't understand how things ARE down there.

As for finding traveling companions, I wouldn't take any chica I hadn't taken out on a "test drive" without AT LEAST an hour session or more. Without staying overnight in SJ and having a room, that pretty much eliminates the SL or DR chicas unless you were also planning on taking them to a short term room like the Hotel Asia. MP chicas, like at Relax, will probably want to finish their shift. And most chicas, whereever they work, can't simply just hop in a car with some guy that just offered them a trip to Jaco. They'll usually at least want to pick up some personal items from home before they go (unless you're prepared to buy them everything they'll need once you're there) and most have Babi*s that they need to make arrangements for. On top of all that, they will ALWAYS take MUCH more time getting ready to go than they say they will. And you probably don't want to be driving down to Jaco after dark, particularly if you've never driven in CR before.

Besides that, even if you don't session with a chica first, you still need to evaluate their longer term compatibility and that is not something that is so easy to assess in just a 5-10 minute interview over drinks at a bar (particularly if your spanish skills are poor and she speaks little english). Are they chain smokers, incessant talkers, don't talk at all, cellphone junkies, do they always like to order the most expensive items on the menu and do they hit you up to buy them something every 2 minutes. etc.? A chica who initially seems like a sweetie often will often reveal personality traits after a while that could drive you crazy after you're forced to spend hours in a car with her and day(s) doing nearly everything together.

Even if you stay over a night or two in SJ before heading to Jaco, its not like Jaco doesn't already have chicas of its own. IMHO, if you go to Jaco, you might be best advised to rely on the girls that are already there this first trip and save the travel companion shopping for later when you have more experience and have a better idea what you're doing.

G2U, exactly what Prolijo said. In fact, you really need to do a few sessions, at least one being an overnighter in your hotel room, with a chica before even thinking about taking her on a road trip. You need to find out if you'd REALLY want to be with this chica for a few days. Just grabbing any ol' chica is a sure path to extreme disappointment at best, a setup for being robbed at worst--yes, there are chicas who will steal anything valuable of yours not nailed down.

Stick to their advice.

I second that motion! Hot-co sucks big rhinoceros balls.

About leaving your shit in the car.... it will be broken into EVEN in a parking garage. If the thieves don't, the parking attendant will steal your shit.

I saw this posted in one garage: "No estamos resposable para tu mierda."

I've weighed in on renting a car and driving into SJ. I've weighed in on what's involved with finding chicas to travel with. But I haven't weighed in yet on traveling to Jaco. On that I'd have to "third the motion" to skip it. However, I always try in my posts to allow for the different perspectives of others. For example, I thought that renting a car and driving into SJ before heading right back out to Jaco was a bad idea but I provided suggestions on how you might go about it if you insisted on trying it. In the case of Jaco, I personally think its pretty much a waste of time any time of the year. Sure its the one beach area in CR with halfway decent P4P, but the P4P is much better in SJ and the beaches are much better elsewhere. To me Jaco is just a poor compromise. Obviously, there are many guys who like to go there and feel differently.

So here is my slightly more charitable version of assessment of Jaco. Jaco MAY be a worthwhile place to visit under SOME circumstances BUT at least it is NOT such a great idea to check under the circumstances that you're proposing for the following reasons:

A) It can be hot and humid as hell in Jaco. During our winter months it can be tolerable or even a welcome change from the cold you probably have back home. HOWEVER, during the time of year that you propose going (Sept) it is one of Jaco's 2 rainiest months (the other being October) when Jaco gets on average over 20" of rain. September is when Jaco is at its hottest and most humid. The whole point of going for P4P there as opposed to up in the mountains of SJ is so that you can enjoy a beach environment, but how can you really enjoy the beaches when its raining or overcast or oppressively humid? At such times you might as well be back in SJ.

B) You obviously have NEVER been to SJ. Given what so many guys here are saying about SJ relative to Jaco, why would you rush off to Jaco before you at least checked out SJ for longer than a quick in and out "oil change" at an MP? If you do that, you won't really know what you're missing back in SJ while you're down in Jaco. And so, if you do that, you may wind up spending more time in Jaco than you would have otherwise and only discover later that, like so many or even most others, you actually prefer SJ much more than Jaco

C) You fly in through the Central Valley anyway. I have no idea how early you get in or whether you really have enough time to get down to Jaco before dark or not, particularly if you stop first in SJ, whether you take the time to find a travel companion or not. However, Jaco will still be there the next day and if you wait until then you'll at least be making a more informed choice.

How about one of you stays with the vehicle while the other(s) get(s) his(their) oil changed?

Even better -- follow the advice you've gotten from virtually everyone who responded.

mh

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mh

talk to the fine folks at SL. If you are staying there they can help you with a garage for overnight. I live in Costa Rica, a few hours from San Jose. When I am able to make it to SJ for a few days and there is a room available at SL I simply tell them I will be driving when I make the reservation and would like to make arrangements to park my car.

Another option is at Hotel Don Carlos. I have paid the overnight secuirty guard 2,000 Colones and then tipped the morning guy an additional 1,000 Colones when I had to stay at Castillo one night while SL was full.

Not sure about other options as these are the only I have personally tried.

That's a great point.

It gets dark pretty early in CR, unlike the US where it stays light out till 9pm now. Driving at night is dangerous for many reasons. First, in case your rent-a-car gets a flat or whatever, you and your luggage will be in deep trouble wide open on the road like that. You will feel like chum in the water with sharks circling. Good luck finding a phone to call the non-existant AAA.

Second, there are a lot of winding roads up and down the mountain. One wrong move and you are falling off a cliff (not that dramatic, but you get the point). Or some crazy Tico driving like a maniac and makes a wide turn and well.... you can imagine. Or a trucker on a long haul dosing off and....

The best thing you can do is just forget about Jaco. If you got a hard on for Jaco, then stay at least 1 night in SJ and leave in the morning. That will give you time to get your rocks off, maybe find a travel companion, and get a feel for the place somewhat. Just know that there is a good chance that after spending a night or more in SJ, you will ditch Jaco altogether. Or if you go to Jaco after a day or two in SJ, you will be miserable there and will come back early to SJ before you leave. It has happened before once or twice.

Dollars to donuts, this is the beginning of a great "WTF happened" story! Guys who have been here a dozen times wouldn't attempt this feat but don't let that discourage you! Do whatever you want and don't let these naysayers deter you from your mission. Keep good notes and try to keep track of the costs.

This could be the best Trip Report ever!

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

G2U,

Unless you are a surfer, you are going to be very disappointed in Jaco. It's a dirty little town. The only thing remotely nice about it is the surf and the fishing and you'll find as good if not better of both a little further south. I can't imagine wasting any of my time ever going back to Jaco. Manuel Antoin or maybe any of the beaches in between Jaco and Quepos yeah. Jaco, no. After spending 5 days just south of Jaco (Playa Bandera) (sp?) I just don't know why anyone would waste vacation time there.

There are a lot of beautiful places in CR, for sure. Jaco just isn't one of them IMHO. YMMV, as always. As for driving to SJ and keeping your stuff in the car while you shop for Ticas... NO WAY! That would be asking for trouble on many fronts, like the others have said.