Driving in Costa Rica?
Sep 26, 2017, 11:16 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 102
I don't mean to piggyback on someone else's thread but...our flight arrives in SJO @ 4:40pm, and we're planning on finding a resort/spa near the Arenal volcano/hot springs. Would we be crazy to leave out from SJO after our flight, or do we need to grab a room near the airport then head out first thing in the morning?
Sep 27, 2017, 9:00 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: SJO
Programs: Avianca LifeMiles. Hilton (G), Meliá (G), Radisson (G). National Car (EE), Hertz (PC), Avis (PC)
Posts: 188
I don't mean to piggyback on someone else's thread but...our flight arrives in SJO @ 4:40pm, and we're planning on finding a resort/spa near the Arenal volcano/hot springs. Would we be crazy to leave out from SJO after our flight, or do we need to grab a room near the airport then head out first thing in the morning?
May 23, 2022, 1:27 pm
#18
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,575
We're staying in downtown San Jose for 2 nights and then headed out to the Pacific coast (Jaco) for 3 nights.
How difficult is it to pick up a rental car near downtown San Jose, drive straight out of town to the national highway, and on to the coast? Same question for the return - we'd drive straight into town to the Hertz location and drop off the car.
Is it just a lot of traffic, or is it outrageously confusing in San Jose, even with Google Maps? I've driven in big cities before and driven in a bunch of different countries. I can handle Paris level of traffic but not, say, Lima or Cairo.
I guess an alternative is to take a taxi out to the airport and rent from there, but that seems like overkill if the goal is merely to escape some traffic. I would be driving midday both going and coming.
How difficult is it to pick up a rental car near downtown San Jose, drive straight out of town to the national highway, and on to the coast? Same question for the return - we'd drive straight into town to the Hertz location and drop off the car.
Is it just a lot of traffic, or is it outrageously confusing in San Jose, even with Google Maps? I've driven in big cities before and driven in a bunch of different countries. I can handle Paris level of traffic but not, say, Lima or Cairo.
I guess an alternative is to take a taxi out to the airport and rent from there, but that seems like overkill if the goal is merely to escape some traffic. I would be driving midday both going and coming.
May 23, 2022, 2:37 pm
#19
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 102
We're staying in downtown San Jose for 2 nights and then headed out to the Pacific coast (Jaco) for 3 nights.
How difficult is it to pick up a rental car near downtown San Jose, drive straight out of town to the national highway, and on to the coast? Same question for the return - we'd drive straight into town to the Hertz location and drop off the car.
Is it just a lot of traffic, or is it outrageously confusing in San Jose, even with Google Maps? I've driven in big cities before and driven in a bunch of different countries. I can handle Paris level of traffic but not, say, Lima or Cairo.
I guess an alternative is to take a taxi out to the airport and rent from there, but that seems like overkill if the goal is merely to escape some traffic. I would be driving midday both going and coming.
How difficult is it to pick up a rental car near downtown San Jose, drive straight out of town to the national highway, and on to the coast? Same question for the return - we'd drive straight into town to the Hertz location and drop off the car.
Is it just a lot of traffic, or is it outrageously confusing in San Jose, even with Google Maps? I've driven in big cities before and driven in a bunch of different countries. I can handle Paris level of traffic but not, say, Lima or Cairo.
I guess an alternative is to take a taxi out to the airport and rent from there, but that seems like overkill if the goal is merely to escape some traffic. I would be driving midday both going and coming.
As someone said above, they will automatically charge you for everything at the rental car place, but stand your ground and have your paperwork to back it up and it’ll be fine.
Aug 24, 2022, 8:16 am
#20
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,052
We're staying in downtown San Jose for 2 nights and then headed out to the Pacific coast (Jaco) for 3 nights.
How difficult is it to pick up a rental car near downtown San Jose, drive straight out of town to the national highway, and on to the coast? Same question for the return - we'd drive straight into town to the Hertz location and drop off the car.
Is it just a lot of traffic, or is it outrageously confusing in San Jose, even with Google Maps? I've driven in big cities before and driven in a bunch of different countries. I can handle Paris level of traffic but not, say, Lima or Cairo.
I guess an alternative is to take a taxi out to the airport and rent from there, but that seems like overkill if the goal is merely to escape some traffic. I would be driving midday both going and coming.
How difficult is it to pick up a rental car near downtown San Jose, drive straight out of town to the national highway, and on to the coast? Same question for the return - we'd drive straight into town to the Hertz location and drop off the car.
Is it just a lot of traffic, or is it outrageously confusing in San Jose, even with Google Maps? I've driven in big cities before and driven in a bunch of different countries. I can handle Paris level of traffic but not, say, Lima or Cairo.
I guess an alternative is to take a taxi out to the airport and rent from there, but that seems like overkill if the goal is merely to escape some traffic. I would be driving midday both going and coming.
Dec 30, 2023, 8:48 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2023
Programs: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 176
We're staying in downtown San Jose for 2 nights and then headed out to the Pacific coast (Jaco) for 3 nights.
How difficult is it to pick up a rental car near downtown San Jose, drive straight out of town to the national highway, and on to the coast? Same question for the return - we'd drive straight into town to the Hertz location and drop off the car.
Is it just a lot of traffic, or is it outrageously confusing in San Jose, even with Google Maps? I've driven in big cities before and driven in a bunch of different countries. I can handle Paris level of traffic but not, say, Lima or Cairo.
I guess an alternative is to take a taxi out to the airport and rent from there, but that seems like overkill if the goal is merely to escape some traffic. I would be driving midday both going and coming.
How difficult is it to pick up a rental car near downtown San Jose, drive straight out of town to the national highway, and on to the coast? Same question for the return - we'd drive straight into town to the Hertz location and drop off the car.
Is it just a lot of traffic, or is it outrageously confusing in San Jose, even with Google Maps? I've driven in big cities before and driven in a bunch of different countries. I can handle Paris level of traffic but not, say, Lima or Cairo.
I guess an alternative is to take a taxi out to the airport and rent from there, but that seems like overkill if the goal is merely to escape some traffic. I would be driving midday both going and coming.
We picked up the car at the airport. The rental company (we used Avis, not sure about Hertz, but I reckon it's the same) has a car that picks up the customers at the airport and also drops them there.
All locals ignored the speed limits
We were told they were just for tourists.
Dec 30, 2023, 10:18 am
#23
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 102
A few winters ago we flew into SJO; we landed early evening and by the time we left the rental car place it was dark and raining, and I had an issue with my google maps and I immediately made a wrong turn out of the rental car place into rush hour traffic. The city traffic was a mess, but doable, and once we got our bearings we we found our hotel. Driving in Costa Rica is one of our favorite experiences traveling. Knowing what I do now, and being experienced with offline Google maps internationally (I’m typing this from Athens, GR) I think it would be a nothing burger.
As someone said above, they will automatically charge you for everything at the rental car place, but stand your ground and have your paperwork to back it up and it’ll be fine.
As someone said above, they will automatically charge you for everything at the rental car place, but stand your ground and have your paperwork to back it up and it’ll be fine.