www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Taken the Public bus,many times,Lately,back and forth to airport,some drivers are helpful,some arrogant twats...they won't open the underneath storage sometimes,so i just bring my suitcase on and won't pay for extra seat ....yes,also interbus are all over the place,compared to years gone bye,gone down service wise,but if you send an e-mail for missed pick-up,they eventually make good but once bitten-twice shy.......

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Jaco is called little USA by all ticos

I suggest using Interbus when arriving in SJ with all the cash you are carrying. Especially late in the evening.
When going back use the buses as now you do not have all that cash on you.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

Went upstairs and paid my tax after getting in on my flight. I went to the bank not the currency exchange and cashed $ 200.00 . The rate was 496 to 1 . When I went to the Colonial it was 500-1 and Palma Real was 501-1 so as of last Saturday the bank at airport was not the best option. I also want to thank the good folks at Continental Airlines for a first rate flight to Houston. I am a Delta man but my flight was over sold so I hitched a ride and was impressed . The bus ride was fine as usual. OK have fun Uncle H.

Not a bad idea, especially at night - not too worried during the day - but re security, unless your luggage is really huge, I'd bring my rollaboard on the bus vs in the compartment below - just sayin'

However, I'm going to try the public bus next trip - in May, I got so frustrated w/ Interbus I just said Phuck it and took a cab ($21) - I came off the plane, passed through customs and immigration, and almost an hour later, the dope from Interbus was still out there holding up a sign w/ the other 2 names he was waiting for - wonder if he considered the fact maybe they missed the flight b/c it was May not Jan and the airport was not crowded - if they were here, certainly an hour later they would have come out .

In fairness, I've never had a problem w/ Interbus, except too many seem to have a hand out for a tip without really doing anything to earn it - for example, the trip before last, I told the guy w/ the clipboard I was going to the bank and to buy my exit visa - I know this is a good thing to do from over 30 trips - but some, especially newbi's, do not - he did not suggest anything of value (he had no idea if this was trip #1 or trip #36 - point is, he should have said "there is a bank upstairs, and its a good idea to buy your exit visa now so you don't have to later"). So its time to try other options.

I don't think I'm cheap, or even particularly frugal in most matters - but I look at things this way - if I took a cab for say $25 - and the bus ends up costing me (w/ a short cab ride to my hotel) $5 - the savings is a dinner, or 2 lunches - for a service you are going to have to get.

It's proven to be far more efficient to deal with Interbus via a USA based business which contracts with InterBus: http://www.shuttlebus.co.cr/ . Emails are swift and always...unlike InterBus which lacks an understanding about the need for rapidity in communication. Too, you're not having to deal with the dreaded Costa Rica Spam filtering problem which sends their emails to you into nowhere land.....and even your emails to them to the same place as in NOWHERE. Use http://www.shuttlebus.co.cr/

The guy who runs that site was the ex CFO for InterBus for 5+ years; his brother is one of the managers of InterBus; and everything goes flawlessly when using them. He lives in the USA....Michigan as I recall.... Extra "bonus" is you can pay for the service via PayPal here in the USA which gives you recourse if there's a problem. Over 30+ times I've used http://www.shuttlebus.co.cr/ and never had a problem....either from the Airport to La Amistad or back. They pick me up at 4am to get me to the airport for an early morning flight and have always been EARLY in getting to La Amistad.

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Just a few notes: I generally don't come in with a wad of cash, instead relying on ATM's. I carry a dummy wallet with an expired entry stamp and photocopy of my passport. Carry extra colones back with me for next trip, tip the portero, bus and taxi drivers.

I'm using Interbus again next week, from the airport to the hotel. It's hard to beat $11.40. I had a very good experience with them last November, so I figured I'd try them again. I booked online, with no trouble at all. Paid via Paypal.

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

I thought about what you and Hermann said and actually thought about doing it, however, I would not do it at night and would probably not do it if I have a lot of valuables on me as I would think, based on what I was carrying at the time of my arrival, taking the bus would expose me to a risk greater than paying 25 bucks for a fast, relatively more secure direct path to my hotel.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

Last trip I got on the bus alone with $1700, my phone, Zune and laptop (in my carry on) plus my suitcase with other pricey electronics.........No Worries

Will I do it again? Every Freakin Trip.......

The train from the Mpls Airport to downtown has more worrisome characters on it than the Tico's on the bus going to or from work.

The train from chicago o'hare airport to the city can be bad at times with 3/4 of the passengers being skid row habitants overnight and the occasional robber.

Sent from my Motorola_i1 using Tapatalk

Is it true that local buses are free if you are over 65? with cedula...........

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Jaco is called little USA by all ticos

This Website can be of general help: http://thebusschedule.com/cr/index.php
Also extracted from Brother Defender121's mentioned site: http://www.aresep.go.cr >> may be a bit tough to navigate

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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

Bro Steven1, thanks for the tip on the US based site http://www.shuttlebus.co.cr/

I tried the Interbus website once and, as you said, never received a response.

Does anyone know the price of a cab from the airport to the Sportsmen’s?

Last I was there in Feb, it was $25 and i believe it still is, but someone please correct me if i'm wrong.

32 bucks via meter last month 25 from SL to airport