| Tips and Hints for Surviving Costa Rica |
| Transportation: |
| } Very Cheap }Piratas (taxis not registered with the state) Can be good and generally less expensive if you know where you're going and how to get there. HOWEVER!!! they do not have insurance if you were to get into a wreck. } For some reason ticos are VERY sensitve about thier cars so NEVER slam a car door. }If you don't know your way around very well ALWAYS insist on use of the 'maria' or meter. The laws say they must use the meter at ALL hours ANYWHERE including to other providences. Don't let them tell you otherwise! >If going a long distance, to the suburbs, another city or crossing into another province OR if it's after 10pm (when they can charge a higher rate) tell the taxi driver where you are going and ask for a price ahead of time. Usually this will turn out to be cheaper than using the maria. }Streets (calles) run North to South and Avenues (Avenidas) run East to West. Although most of your directions to get somewhere will be 'this many meters in this direction' from a well known landmark such as a park, building, or store which sometimes no longer exists. }Both taxi drivers and busses are notorious for not having much or any change so use the smallest denominations possible to avoid difficult situations where nobody has change. } About 99 percent of the busses in CR have electronic counting bars at both front and back entrances. DO NOT stop between them OR go through them more than once. If you need to hand somthing to the driver after you've passed through, DON'T reach between the bars again. If this happens the counter will count an extra person and you'll have to pay again because the driver will otherwise have the missing amount docked from his pay. }Busses such as the Periferica (runs around the outside perimiter of the city) is a great way to see many parts of the city you may not otherwise get to see. |
| Other Stuff: |
| }Store clerks and waiters will jump you from all sides before you ever get a chance to look around or at the menu but if you send them away you'll have to hunt them down to ask questions or order. }Most places you'll need to ask for the check when you're ready to pay. Just catch the waiters eye and/ or kind of raise your hand like you're going to ask a question then make a gesture in the air like you're writing a check. Many places will not bring you the check till you do so. }Service tips are included in the price of meals and many services. SO, you don't need to tip unless the service was super and you feel like it. Also, because they don't expect anything extra you'll find service to be HORRIBLE in most places. Be prepared. }Giving a 100colonies or so to the kids who pack your groceries at the store is a great idea since these kids work but, apart from tips, most don't recieve any pay. }Avoid eating food sold on the streets, even outside of bars. There's no quality control and although it's different and a fun experience, I've personally had food poisoning from eating carne asada from a street vendor. }DON'T change your money at anyplace other than a bank or exchange house oked by the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica. People on the street claiming to get you a good exchange rate often use counterfeit money. } For a real taste of Costa Rica go to any little cafe or hole-in-the-wall soda and ask for a 'casado'. Rice, beans, salad, your choice of meat and often mashed potato, veggie, and/or any other tipical costarican food for very cheap. }If you're buying groceries: you'll save incredible amounts of money by doing your shopping for meats and produce at the open central market. 1 and 2 blocks north of the Mercado Central in Downtown San Jose. Or just ask for directions to the 'Mercado'. It's a great experience. But since most people only do thier shopping for a day or two at a time, foods bought here don't last as long as those from the supermarket. |