saving money in Costa Rica

[TorontoOlympics]

hello, we have never been to Costa Rica before and we're planning a trip there later in the year.

I am looking for ways to make this trip a little more affordable so I could do with some sound advice..Please can you guys share some suggestions on saving money in Costa Rica?

[VacationBuddy]

hi there,

One of the best things you can do when you get to Costa Rica it's to befriend the locals. They will be a better resource of information and they'll tell you the cheapest and best places to stay and eat.

For instance, try visiting a soda, which is the Costa Rican version of mom-and-pop shops. These shops offer cheap and authentic Costa Rican food and are found throughout the country.

If you can, try visiting Costa Rica during the off season which falls between May and November.

Another way of saving money in Costa Rica, it's to book ahead of time for hotel accommodation, and to look out for vacation packages as these packages usually include meals and activities.

Hope this helps
Vacationbuddy

[Tuanis Human Tourism]

Originally Posted by TorontoOlympics

hello, we have never been to Costa Rica before and we're planning a trip there later in the year.

I am looking for ways to make this trip a little more affordable so I could do with some sound advice..Please can you guys share some suggestions on saving money in Costa Rica?

There are a million tips on saving money in Costa Rica, little things like knowing how to use the bus or how to make sure you get a fair price on a taxi. The bust is absolutely the most affordable way to go if you are three travelers or less... and even with four or more you usually save a decent amount.
Your money saving starts when you arrive... for starters you will pay $20 for a taxi from the airport to San Jose... and that is a fair price. The bus stops right in front of the airport every 10 or 15 minutes and it costs less than a dollar. There is absolutely no reason to pay for a taxi from the airport, yet everybody does. Once in San Jose you can get almost anywhere for $5-7 in a taxi.
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For the bus you just have to ask locals. There are rarely bus schedules posted and when they are they are usually inaccurate or outdated. Buses sometimes come 30 minutes early or 30 minutes late. For cross-country buses there are several different bus companies (Musoc, Tracopa, Tica Bus, Mepe, etc.) and it depends on which part of the country you are going to visit that dictates which bus company you are going to use to get there. There is sometimes a central terminal and sometimes not.
If using a taxi you should ask someone else (not a taxi driver) how much you should expect to pay for a taxi from point A to point B. Then when you go to the taxi parada you go down the line and ask them if they will take you to point B for X amount of dollars. You will eventually find someone who says yes... no matter what you should always have a preagreed amount that they are going to charge you. They may say they cant do it with a meter but they always always always can. Taxis will eat up your money in a hurry in Costa Rica so use them minimally.
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Don´t eat in touristy spots... the food is always more expensive and rarely as delicious as a locally owned soda. If you are paying more than 2,500 colones for your meal (usually including a drink) you are probably paying too much.
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Lodging is cheapest at hostels, no question about it. But if you want private rooms you should expect to pay about $40 per night depending on location and demand. Dont be afraid to ****er a little, but politely. I usually say something like "I don´t have that much money... can you give me the room for X?" and half the time they say yes. ****ering wont work and isnt polite in a hostel though. If you really want to scrape by you can pack a tent and in many places you will find a place to either pitch it for free on the beach or pay $5 for the night to have services nearby.
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My personal reccomendation would be these guys- they are a 30 something couple who lives yearround in Costa Rica and they do a very unique type of thing... basically they will spend as much or as little time as you want showing you around Costa Rica, they can arrange for you to stay with families in Costa Rica which is both inexpensive and gives you a very intimate experience with the people and the culture. If you want to do tours they can help arrange it, pretty much whatever you want to do. If you are the type that likes human interaction you just tell them to "connect you to the people" and they do... the neatest part about it is that they dont set a price on the "connect me to the people" thing... they will show you around, introduce you to people of all types, and at the end of the tour they give you an envelope in which you put whatever you feel like the experience was worth- or at least what you can afford- and they dont open it until after you have parted ways. They say it is easier to keep the interaction genuine when there are not expectations of dollars involved from either side. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with them... especially Jean´s family!
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Good luck, enjoy Costa Rica! It is amazing!

[bellaok2010]

Originally Posted by TorontoOlympics

hello, we have never been to Costa Rica before and we're planning a trip there later in the year.

I am looking for ways to make this trip a little more affordable so I could do with some sound advice..Please can you guys share some suggestions on saving money in Costa Rica?

i think to make trips greater. U should ask for more friends to join your trip!

[BlackEyes]

Actually, in any place that you go, money will surely be an issue and you will almost always end up spending them all. If you plan to stay for a long time in that area then I suggest that you find a job to make sure that you don't run out of money for expenses. You can make use of search engines to locate job openings in the area that you will be staying and the places that offers the best but most affordable accommodation.