AAATours, AAA Tour Costa Rica is your perfect Costa Rica travel agent. We care about your safety and will go out of our way to protect you and your valuables. Our guides will always take you to the safest places to stay, the safest tourist destinations and will make sure that you will not get taken advantage of. AAA Tours will only recommend the Costa Rica tourist attractions that meet safety standards, not all Costa Rica travel deals that are offered on the internet are looking out for you. When AAA Tours sends you a quote for your Costa Rica family vacation, we will give you a choice of hotels or hostels where we know you will be happy with. You do not have to use our recommendations but we highly advise you to choose them, after all we live in Costa Rica to take care of you!
So Your Flight Arrives To Costa Rica… Then What?
ENTRY & EXIT OF COSTA RICA:
- A valid passport is required for entry into the country of Costa Rica. Canadian and US citizens do not need a visa.
- Non-US citizens, please contact the nearest consulate or embassy of the country to which you are traveling to determine your entry/visa requirements. U.S. State Department passport, visa and travel advisory information may be found at www.state.gov/
- There is a US$28 departure tax charged at the airport.
- US citizens are allowed to bring back $400 worth of merchandise duty-free.
LANGUAGE:
- Spanish is spoken in Costa Rica, but you will find that many people speak English, especially in the tourism industry. Do not worry AAA Tours tour guides will translate everything for you!
- Please note: All of our tour guides are fluent in the English language.
CURRENCY:
- Currency is the Costa Rican Colon, which currently trades at about 500 Colónes to one US Dollar (CRC ₡500=US $1).
- 24-hour ATM’s are widely available in Costa Rica and usually provide the best exchange rates besides the banks.
- Major international credit cards are accepted in many hotels and restaurants.
- Traveler’s Checks are accepted at most large hotels and stores, but you may have trouble cashing them at local boutiques and restaurants.
- Tipping for service is 10-15%, although most hotels and restaurants automatically add a gratuity to the bill.
- Table service at a bar or restaurant will cost you 10% additional … an Automatic Service Fee is added on to your tab when you sit at a table! So always sit at the bar if at all possible if you want to save money.
- Shops in resort towns are often open late to accommodate tourists.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION:
- Taxis from the airport cost about $20 to downtown San Jose.
- Rental cars are usually $40-$80 per day without extra insurance. We fully advise to get the additional insurance when renting a car. Local drivers are extremely aggressive on the roads, they do not have driver’s education and most of the time it is a free for all when driving. If you have an accident, you must stay put and do not move your vehicle at all until a M.O.P.T. Police tell you to move it. This is the law, even if you are blocking an intersection for hours waiting for the police to arrive in investigate. It is much safer and cheaper to hire AAA Tours to do your driving, we are used to the roads and the local drivers.
- Road rules are the same as in the US, though Costa Ricans drive more aggressively. Most road signs use international symbols. Driving Speed in Costa Rica is in Kilometers per hour. Stay within the speed limit and obey the laws. Tickets must be paid prior to leaving Costa Rica and the fines are extremely expensive. It is not worth getting a ticket during your vacation.
1 Kilometer = .62 Miles
60 MPH = 96.5 KPH
40 MPH = 64.5 KPH
ELECTRICITY:
- 120 volts/60 cycles, which is compatible with the US.
HEALTH & SAFETY:
- Use hotel in-room safes for your valuables and passport.
- Just as you would when traveling to an unfamiliar area, consult any major guidebook or check with your hotel about any areas to avoid or precautions to take, and use common sense.
- Water in many first class hotels is potable, but you should confirm this with the front desk or to your tour guide–if in doubt, drink bottled water.
- Bring sun block and drink lots of water in the Caribbean heat.
OTHER:
- Bring binoculars — one pair per person. You will be glad you have your own personal pair of binoculars when trying to quickly spot a monkey, toucan, or macaw.
COMMON SENSE:
- Realize that you may stick out, you are not a Costa Rican, you may not dress like a Costa Rican, you may not act like a Costa Rican, and thieves know that.
- Do not travel by yourself at night anywhere in the country. There are thousands of taxis – either have the restaurant or hotel call you one or stand out front and wait for one to come by, but never go off and look for one on your own.
- Don’t wear expensive or flashy jewelry. Keep your real passport in the room safe. Keep your money and a copy your passport in your front pocket as it is more difficult for pickpockets to get at.
- Don’t ever change money on the street, always change it at a bank, hotel or a restaurant. You will know that the money is real. Do not ever flash a wad of money.
- If you travel without a guide, always be aware of your surroundings and act like you know what you are doing. Part of your guide’s job is to keep you safe and will watch out for you, but you still need to be alert. Always keep your packages with you on the bus, not in the overhead compartments; where someone can take them as they are leaving the bus.
- Be Aware – Most crimes happen in large cities like San Jose, but can happen almost anywhere and they tend to happen at night.
- Your guide will keep the rift raft away from you, but if someone approaches you JUST SAY:
“NO THANK YOU!”