Just curious HOW people generally rent a car in CR? Do you go through a website (such as expedia?), contact the company directly, or go through a tour operator, etc??

Thanks!

I reserve with the rental company via their CR internet site. Be sure to specify if you need automatic. I've tried having the rental dropped off at my hotel but I ran into some problems with that approach,ie. two tires with balding edges but no time to exchange vehicles and then on return pick up at my hotel I got an AOK from the pick up guy but then was charged $8 later for 1/8 tank of gas on CC and another $8 in error. I've been using Toyota who has an office across the street from the Hampton Inn. They are more expensive than some others but besides the problems mentioned I've liked their service through the years. This year upon drop off they gave us a free ride to our hotel Orquideas Inn. We usually rent a Carolla and find that to be sufficient for the bad roads and climbing steep grades on rocky drives, etc. I prefer to have a trunk to hide my luggage. The Rav 4 is a nice alternative if you want 4wd.

We use these websites:

www.dollarcostarica.com

www.tricolorcarrentals.com

Oops. .perhaps you need to leave the "s" off at the end!

www.tricolorcarrental.com

In our case (back in the end of December) Toyota rent a car was the next to the least expensive (the cheapest was Advantage aka Economy but we heard to many stories about their way of doing business that we went with Toyota).
Now to the details: by reserving through Ace car rent (Ace is affiliated with toyota rent a car) it was cheaper for the same vehicle, like ~$250 or so less for 2 weeks. I have no idea why.
And no matter where do you rent make sure to check the tires since putting bold or repaired (wall repaired) tires is common.

I would recommend the rental of a small SUV rather than a sedan. The higher ground clearance and the AWD is needed on the mostly horrid roads. There were a few times when I thought to myself that if I had a small car, I would never make it on the road I was travelling. Once, when avoiding a pothole that went almost rite across the road, I went over too far and slid into the wet gravel on the side. Put the Dahatshui Terios in low range and after a few back and forth attempts got out. I would have been hung up and stuck if I was in a Corrolla or Accent.
I used Solid Rent a Car in San Jose. I was told the $350US weekly charge includes unlimited mileage and 'insurance'. Which was a half truth. I wasn't told insurance has a $1000US deductible for damages and $1500US deductible for theft. Full coverage is $15US a day for no deductible. I found all this out when the agent was driving me back to my apartment, as he talked to someone on his cell phone. Now I know.
I just walked into the office at Hostel Torouma and rented the vehicle.
Also, automatics are really rare, even in an upscale vehicle like a Hyundia Terracan. You're looking at renting a very expensive Pathfinder or Land Cruiser to get an automatic. Some Hyundai Tuscon's are automatic, but most aren't. Even the large city buses down there are manual transmissions.

WE rented directly through the tricolor car rental web-site. They kept every promise. WE were very satisfied. Somebody posted the web-site above. They can pick you up from your hotel, and when you drop off your car at the end of your trip, they will give you a ride to your last hotel, or to the airport. Their office was in Alajela.

Rent with your Platinum MasterCard, that way you will pay a lot less insurance.

The vehicles in Costa Rica are a bit smaller than comparable vehicles in the USA. Keep this in mind if you are from the USA.

Reserve directly with the car rental company. If you need automatic transmission, make sure you get confirmation. Good options are Dollar Rent a Car www.dollarcostarica.com or Avanti Rent a Car

I posted the websites for Dollar and Tricolor. We switched to Tricolor a few trips back becaused they have consistently proven to be the least expensive and at the same time offering quality service, as Melissa has said.

Using your platinum card will help with some of the insurance, but only about $5 or $7 per day. Still, you might as well use it. They will have you initial a waiver declining that portion of their insurance. We love their location. It is extremely convenient. They've upgraded for us a time or two at no extra cost. . .we've been very pleased. Good luck!