www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Rolled in Saturday afternoon only to find the airport taxi window closed at the airport. There were a couple of sign posted (in Spanish of course) so I couldn't read too much of it.

There was a guy there handing out taxi slips and directing the drivers to take us to Hotel Castillo. Told us the window was closed the day before.

I asked "How much ? 22 ?"

No, the driver uses the meter.

$30 to the Castillo.

WTF ???

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Reviews with Name, Where we can find her, Description (Height, weight, measurements (best guesses will do just fine)), and a rundown on services provided (and yes, YMMV is understood) would be GREATLY appreciated.

they must have been taking advantage of the closed office situation.

anyway, have fun and be safe!....we'll hold down the fort in SoFla till you get back.

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

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Fast meter, fast meter!

There was an article in the local papers a few months ago that the government had pulled "orange cabs" permit to operate because they were not using meters as they were required to do. Maybe that is why the window was closed.

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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

Wednesday I paid a flat $22 to get to HLH from the airport.Not an orange cab..a cheap yellow car with a fantastically daredevil driver...fun ride.Coming out of the airport I broke through the main line and crossed the street to try to cacth up to a more experienced CR guy I overheard on the plane.He was not much help,really..kind of surly,but I think that had more to do with the cabbies hounding him than with me.

Sunday on the way back I rode in a very clean Toyota celica(I think)..a white one.Another good driver,but it cost me $30...

I think the difference is that at the airport the competition was stiff,but at HLH on Sunday morning it was dead,so I had to call for one.Still,I can't blame the guy for trying to make an extra buck.

Let me ask a question.Is it normal for the cabbie to ask for your passport # at the airport?

Thanks.I got the feeling he was trying to keep a paperwork thing for appearences,but i don't know.

Bad thing is I was keeping an eye on the American frequent tourist for clues,as he was right there listening,and I couldn't get anything from him.A simple head nod or head shake from him would have been nice.

If you have time to plan ahead, get the Costa Rica Shuttle. You must prepay, but it's only $19 round trip. A slight downside is that they pick you up at your hotel for your return to the airport four hours before your flight. Better too early than too late! They picked me up at the Dunn Inn at 8:25am. I was at the departure gate at 9:10am - moved really fast through all the airport checks.

There is a contract taxi service in CR called portadores. They are not allowed to cruise and pick up fares. They are suppose to provide service only to those who have contracted for their service in advance. It sound like the guy was a portadora who was trying cover his butt in case he was stopped by having a slip of paper with your passport information to show you had contracted with him in advance rather then being solicited at the airport. I am not sure this was the case just throwing out a possible explanation for what otherwise was a very strange request.

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

Good to know,ID,thanks.makes me feel a bit better.

I took a look at his paperwork and it had a list of several names and numbers,with times listed,and about half were crossed off,and he wrote mine last,but they picked me up before they got to me on the list order...so it sounds like that.

Yeah yeah here he goes again but--schedule your dental work with Esthetic Dental (surely you need at least a teeth cleaning?) and avoid the taxi fee--they pick you up the airport and drop you off at the Hotel after. And I know at least the Dunn Inn keeps a list of reliable taxistas if the house driver isn't available--I'd be surprised if the others didn't too. About shuttlebus.co.cr--in addition to the long lead time mentioned above, isn't it also true they charge if you bring what they consider excess luggage (they mention it on their site--has anybody actually been charged?) My take--good to use into town; outbound--not so much).

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

if you just have carryon, and your flight comes in during the day...then there is the option of a city bus ride into downtown for pennies...save the price of a short time at a MP...just keep walking from the airport exit to the main street in front

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

How do you know which city bus to take? Do they have a name or number to look for so you don't get on the wrong bus?

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Pura Vida

what I would do is always ask for the bus to the National Theatre or Teatro Nacional, located downtown along the pedestrian walkway.

Once in that general area downtown, most hotels are just a few dollars taxi ride, if not walkable.

Now, being a cheapskate, I would not even make it that far and would usually get off the bus near the edges of the Gulch area and domicile at one of the inexpensive Tico hotels (the ones with the shady guys).

However, there are other CRT members that are even bigger cheapskates (tacanos) and that will hitchike into town....I would throw an empty beer can out the bus window as we passed them trudging along the roadway.

(strangely enough, they seemed to appreciate the gesture and would save the aluminum can for scrap value...often with bankrolls of only $14.75, they had to budget themselves)

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Coming thru airport last week negotiated a rate of 10k with driver upstairs. I've usually paid 8k in past but was with 2 wingmen & we were staying in 2 diff hotels, 1 downtown ,1 in Barrio Amon so felt I'd have to cough up more.

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"cuz I'm a back-door man" Jim Morrison-1969

There re only 2 bus companies that stop at the airport. They are the companies that provide San Jose/Alajuela/San Jose service. TUASA buses are red SW (station wagon) buses are beige. They both end up on avenida segunda about calle 14, easy taxi to any gulch hotel.

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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