www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Nothing personal, but Golfer's budget makes me look like a "low-rolling" , "low-life."

For the same money as the $60 round trip taxi fare, I can have several hours of delightful intimacy with a sweet, naked chica or two.

Of course....... to each, his own.

I'll pick the chica over the taxista.

This thread has given the OP the full range of options to get from the airport to his downtown hotel. He has a choice of spending $1 to $30.

After your first or second trip you may try out the money saving bus options if :
1. It is day time.
2. You have only one bag.
3. Are fairly young and energetic and know some Spanish.

When I go to CR I have at least $1000 cash , a laptop, a phone and camera in my one bag and at least 2 credit cards. I am old and obviously a tourist. My Spanish is poor. The bus terminals have plenty of pickpockets and smash and grab gangs hanging around looking for easy targets - that means old guys like me and women with K*ds and baggage. So for me $30 looks like a no brainer.[/quote]


You have not tried the airport bus, have you?

Because while your post is not completely false, it seems written by someone who is unfamiliar with this option, and might be incorrect in some of his conclusions - this is by no means a "shot" at you - its just I think this option is so worthwhile trying (admittedly, not later in the evening, not if you have a bunch of luggage, not on your first few trips)

With the exception of a dedicated camera <I would guess you are an bird watcher and want to make sure you get a pix of the many species of birds native to Costa Rica > and a dedicated lap top <I carry an i phone as well as a cheap phone I bought in Costa Rica for local use and to call the USA> we have roughly the same "profile" and bring roughly the same amount of money - although likely I'm far better looking >

Not to sound like the famous CRT sock puppet "Greengo" but one of the things San Jose lacks is a central bus station (along with great food, smooth, uncracked sidewalks, and quiet nights in may sections) - the bus in question goes in to a small terminal across from a large Church - its a good neighborhood, and while pickpockets and gangs can operate anywhere, I would not be overly concerned - its small and you walk out on Ave 10 to one of the main walking streets in SJ.

(I freely admit my sense of direction sucks, but the station is on Ave Central <I think > and the walking street behind it is the same on the Presidente Hotel is on, many rest's, shops, stores, ect - it also takes you past the Mercado, as well as the Post Office, its near the Opera House - downtown Beriut its not).

Normally, you carry your bag with you on the bus - I've never been told to put it in the luggage space below the bus, on the sides, but I would "watch" it when the bus makes its few stops, replicating the route of countless taxi's) - just as abundance of caution.

You honestly don't need much Spanish to ask the driver, Direct? (or directo a San Jose) - all that means is the bus goes to San Jose without going to Alajuala first - not the end of the world if it does, but I've seen people just ask "San Jose" and the driver indicate the next bus, which pulls in very quickly (they know if you are a tourist, you probably don't want to go to Alajuala first) - I'm told - that buses leave San Jose - or arrive at the airport - every 15 or 20 min's.

As Americans, we tend - with the exception of some major city's - to stay away from mass transit - what I'm saying is the bus is such a great, easy, option that it deserves strong consideration - at least from SJO to down town.

Guys who never take public transit back home will not use this option. It's not in their comfort zone. I use the Tuasa bus when I arrive during the daytime. I feel safe and secure. Don't mind the extra 5-10 minutes getting me to central. The bus is an option but not the only one.

...- my point is its a great option, that guys should not be afraid to try - get out of their comfort zone, if you will

my only entry into this topic is to state that the comfort zone should encompass all of the worldly goods you are transporting. If you've got more than $500 in cash and crap, then consider the value of the comfort zone before you decide.

Your chances of being robbed - if that is the point of your post - are no greater than on other modes of transport - its a viable option, Bash - and guys should not be afraid to try it - to put a monitary value - IOW, if you had a few hundred dollars vs more than the $500 in your example.......does not make a case for a taxi or against the bus - or so it would seem to me.

PS Some might tell you to cab it all over - even the one block, say, between the HDR and the Morazon - while yes, anything can happen - it would seem a bit of overkill to me - having made the walk 100's of times - just MHO.

However, I am not dragging suitcases, carrying up to 3 grand in cash, and a backpack loaded with up to a grand in electronics when I am doing it.