www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I just completed an October trip and I noticed the souvenir prices seemed about half what they where in my previous December trips. After completing my purchase the clerk said Mucho Gracias.

I picked up a couple of amusing driking shirts. One has a couple of drunk frogs diving into a glass of Imperial.

well well october is off season,less tourist business etc... so yo can get better prices on most everything. december is dry season and busier . HAVE A GREAT PUPPY

I still think souvenir prices in CR are too freeking high.

Used to fly to sjo via lacsa ( Groupo Taca ) whic had/and still has a stop over in San Salvador. Ceramics arts and crafts stuff at the airport started from 1 buck something USD and up, and they were well produced. And that's the price at the airport shops.

Damn we couldn't even buy anything decent as souvenirs for 3 USD at sjo. A simple key chain costs like 6, 7 USD . A plastic piece of CR animal chart goes for like 11 USD. You do the math fella's.

As much as I love CR , they are definately milking their tourists industry.

I agree. At SJO airport, t-shirts are $17. They are these cheap press on (not embroidered) things that I wouldn't pay $6 for.

-Orange

Guys all airports are high priced........a hefty % of their sales goes to the airport management same as the ball parks in the USA.
In CR there are a number of places with inexpensive gifts. Make a right from the Pres and go about 2 blocks and you will find a flea market with los of goodies.

Ok guys, if you don't know then I feel obligated to enlighten you on a few things (just to return the favor for the body of knowledge many here have gifted to me):

1.) Don't buy souvenirs at the airport!!! Remember that whole "NO CIEN" phrase? Well, it applies at the airport too.

2.) Stay out of those tourist cubby-holes. They may offer many pretty trinkets that glitter and shine but it is nothing more than monetary rape.

Rule number of 1 of tourist shopping: Shop where the locals shop. Not only will you save yourself a lot of dough, but you also encounter various things you won't find in the tourist dives.

Coffee in airport was an extra 50 cents for milk. Lucky I saw the shops gave free coffee samples.

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Hanging in Laurelas with the Paisas

Mercado Central on Central Avenida seemed to be a fairly reasonable place to purchase souvenirs.

Zebra

That for sure, nobody can dispute that .

Guys, once you see that sjo souvenir prices are comparable or higher than others metropolitan centres such as Miami, Chicago, Toronto, LAX , Hong Kong, may be you'll see what I am trying to point out.

Anyway,the animal charts I mentioned are of similar prices through out San Jose. I came across some at the large bookstore inside the Multiplaza near Zapote last year, and the prices were about the same as the ones at sjo. A sheet of paper for almost a tenner. If anyone knows where I can get cheaper charts, let me know. I am looking at one now and it says,

Costa Rica Field Guide
- Rainforest Publications Costa Rica
- Island Graphic Design.

Thanks in advance.

BTW the only thing I usually purchase at sjo on my way home would be Cafe Britt grounded coffee, which they offer discount when you buy multiple. I know I can get them outside sjo, but with the discount factored in, it worked out fine.

That will work for a lot of things but not for things people take home as souvenir gifts. The locals buy necessities not trinkets.





If you buy in quantity Café Brit at the airport is comparably priced to the souvenir stands in town but is still over priced. You can buy Café Rey at a supermarket for about 1/2 the price of Britt and Volio from their store near the Central Mercado for even less. Both are excellent coffee used by the locals.

Ticos and residents do not buy Britt. It is for tourists.

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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

Ding Dong,
I'm gonna be lurking around central mercado later this week. Do you have more specifics about that store for cafe Volio. The address and the name of the store. I need some cheap presents.

muchas gracias,

sincity

Mercado Central is approx 1 whole block and Valio coffee is on the North side which would make it Ave 1 between Calle 1 & 3.

There is also a very good coffee roaster/grinder right in the mercado
called Cafe Moka.

Much cheaper than the airport Cafe Britt prices and available in 1Kg and
2Kg bags.

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Y.N.W.A.

True. I usually drink Ray and Amigo when staying with locals. But being the picky sob that I am, Britt has a crisper taste than the usual cafe, the aroma is stronger too. I don't want to sound to anal here, but guys, you don't have to take my words for it, give it a try and do a comparison with rey, you will be able to tell the difference. For gifts as well, that my pick for CR cafe.

Mind you, I still have rey and amigo in my cupboard as a matter of fact. They both are good cafe but Britt is just my personal choice. Sure , tourists buy them at sjo or at touristo shops, but they are still great IMO.

One other thing, Rey and Amigo ( other brands I haven't tried ) do stain you teeth more than Britt. For me I don't give a damn really from years of red wine, habanos and what have you type of food stain, but for those that are sensitive about their pearl white chompers, do take note.

Shirts were $4 by the Hotel Presendite.

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Hanging in Laurelas with the Paisas

Where else can someone get cheap sourvenirs? El Pueblo has cheap sourvenirs?

Also, what items are cheaper in Costa Rica than the US? Are there any bargains to be found in designer clothes? Mens Suits?