www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I'm planning my first visit to San Jose and I found some cheap round trip tickets from Newark to Liberia, $210 vs $480 to San Jose.

My questions;

Is it worth the trouble? Are there any interstesting p4p stops along the way? Whats the best ground transport options?

Thanks for your help....looking forward to my visit!!

Sounds like a lot of hassle for a little savings. If you're coming to Costa Rica for mongering, you want to land at SJO.

Its not worth the savings on flight. You'll end up spending more and lose valuable time.

Its at least 4.5-5 hour drive from Liberia to SJO downtown.

If you rent a car the base price may be cheap, but insurance will cost you.

Hiring a taxi/van to bring you to downtown will negate any savings you had..for that long of a drive they'll want at least $175-$200 each way.

Its not recommended.

It's actually doable if money is a big issue, but you would need to take Interbus. Taxis would kill any savings plus tack on another $200 to the cost. It's $200 each way for a taxi, at least that's what we paid 4 years ago. It's probably $250 now. Forget the public buses too, especially if you have luggage. I like to close my eyes, and you can't (make that shouldn't) sleep a wink on a public bus or youy'll wake up in your undies and with no luggage. You can take Interbus from Liberia to San Jose for $34-38 each way, depending on the time. But there are only 2 buses daily, at 8:15am and 3:15pm. You would have to arrange for them to pick you up at one of 8 spots they have listed for Liberia. The closest is Hilton Garden Inn, across the street from the airport. Then they would take you to the hotel of your choice in SJ. The ride is about 4 hours.

http://www.shuttlebus.co.cr/website/sho ... egment=376
http://www.shuttlebus.co.cr/website/sho ... egment=418

Total cost would be about $75 round-trip. You'd still be saving almost $200 but wasting 8-10 hours on the road.

Thanks Orange for the response. The interbus info you posted is exactly the info I need.

I agree with Chico & Zebra that if I just want to spend all my time in the Gulch, I should just fly into San Jose and save the 8 hrs travel time. But, since this is my first trip to CR, I'd really like to explore the country a little, especially if its gonna save me some money.

Now..heres how I see the trip going;

I arrive in Liberia at 1:30PM...grab a bite to eat and hop on the interbus to San Jose at 3:15 for a 7PM arrival at SJ. Gives me plenty of time to wash up, have dinner and a full night of mongering...no quality time lost on the trip in.

I'll Spend the next 5 nights in SJ having fun, getting to know the girls and fellow CRT members. Day 6 - leave for one of the costal towns near liberia...spend a day exploring and hopefully mongering and then back home.

So does that sound like a good plan? Are there any p4p locations around Liberia worth spending the night for? ...Thanks for your input.

It sounds like a great plan... but be prepard for it all to go to hell... Muy Tico, late arival,etc

It may end up costing you more than the savings but maybe not... it is your choice

You can take a nature air flight from the Liberia Airport to San Jose. Only takes about 40 minutes. A nice flight if you can handle some of the bumpiness

Can't remember how much it was, but wasn't very expensive.

I know you are likely going to CR for gulch activities but I would recommend a day or two in Guanacaste. Very nice beaches, hiking, etc...if your into that sort of thing.

If p4p is a must, there are a few working girls in Playa del Coco (about 20-30 minutes or so away from the airport). Nothing like in San Jose, but if you keep your eyes out it is pretty obvious. There are a number of girls who hang out at the bottom of the stairs to the casino.

When I was there, a month or so ago, it consisted of a handful of dogs and a couple 7s and 8s. Not sure about price as I didn't inquire.

It depends what you want.... Straight to san jose will be the most convenient if your set on the chicas.

Here's a Website with that Nature Air info, including the promo code (to save $15):
http://www.onetravel.com/travel/airline ... 5goda3BR2Q

I believe this is the longest URL I've ever seen.

_________________
"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

Yo, Jammen36,

Another option would be to take a taxi from the Airport to the bus staton in downtown Liberia (calle 10-12, avenida 7), then take a Pulmitan Bus (route 500 or 500SD) to San Jose. Buses run every two hours from 3 a.m. to 10 p.m., and it is about a four or four and a half hour ride. Tariffs was $3 or $4 last time I rode it, several years ago.

Jazzbo,
The website you posted is a 3rd part site that charges a service fee. On that site, I priced a flight for mid-October at $206. The same flight was $182 on Nature Air's website.

http://www.natureair.com

Yeah that's true Brother Orange but as much as anything, it was for the promo code. Sorry I confused. BTW, NatureAir offers a 1-week unlimited flight option (with some restrictions) for $222--that could be cool for someone wanting a whole-country overview:
http://www.natureair.com/cheap-flights- ... -rica.aspx << scroll down just a wee bit

_________________
"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

Hey Defender,

$4 for a 4hr trip to San Jose sounds too good to be true, almost tempted to take that route. But, this is my first trip to Costa Rica and I'm afraid that my white Gringo a$$ is gonna attract too much attention in a Tico bus....don't want to get robbed before my adventure begins.

Thanks to all the valuable intel you guys have provided..I think I'm gonna take the Interbus for $40 to San Jose and they fly back with Nature Air for $90.

Now the only thing left to figure out is where to find a beach with some HOT, TANNED TICAS willing to please!!

The busses in CR are (overall) very good and very cheap, as they are marketing to the local population.

You are highly unlikely to have any problems w/ crime, or standing out as a gringo (you will, however, stand out as a cheapscate - KIDDING ) No caged chickens or goats on the buses either.

However....(and you knew there had to be a "however) - based on your post, its going to cost you $40 + $90 = $130 r/t - are you saving that much vs a direct flight into SJO plus the time and hassle factor to make it worth it - one thing if you were going to stay on the Pacific side - but my dos colonies - not worth it for basically a trip to San Jose. Consensus of vetrans says no, but up to you