six seniors traveling in Costa Rica need info on cost of meals/drinks/enterainment Our hotels and transportation are paid .Will be in CR for 14days and will see both coasts and Arenal area.Thanks---gerry70

Gerry, the Fodor's family may need more information. The truth is that prices vary considerably regarding meals. Drink are somewhat less than you would pay here. Meals can run anywhere from $3 for a wonderful casado which will fill you up big time (Tico food) to some restaurants that will set you back $20 and more per person. It's whatever you are looking for.

My husband and I don't splurge on the high dollar meals. We splurge on luxury accomadations sometimes, but keep our meals under $10-12 per person. You can eat very well almost every place in the country for $10 and less.

One place you shouldn't miss on the Caribbean coast--if you are down south rather than Tortuguero---is La Pecora Nera between Manzanillo and Puerto Viejo. Splendid Italian cuisine. $15 bucks more or less per person.

I agree w/ shillmac. Generally the Tico-style restaurants are of very good value and price. Fresh fish meals are not expensive and are accompanied by whatever fresh veg. is available in the area and beans/rice also. You can spend anywhere from $1 - $3 for a bottled beer, $2 - $7 for wine, mixed drinks $2 and up (your mixer might be an additional expense).

Lisa

We do like to try the local cuisine wherever we go. I have to say that the typical casado in CR is, at best, nondescript. Doesn't taste bad, but, eh.

You can keep your body fueled inexpensively and without offending your tastebuds, but it's nothing to write home about.

I'm one of those who think those casados are pretty darned good! In case you are wondering, a casado consists of a heaping plate (usually) of gallo pinto (rice & beans), salad, plantains, yucca, meat of choice, and sometimes a fried egg right smack dad on top!

shillmac - I am one of those too! I rather enjoyed all my food in CR, but breakfast was definitely my favourite. I think I rarely spent over $40 a day eating, and all servings were more than enough for 1 person.

Tully, I'm amusing myself this evening reading my own posts. "Right smack dad on top"????? Sometimes I'd like to smack dad (hubby that is), but so far have managed to control myself! I guess that would be "smack dab". . . . .perhaps just an Oklahoma phrase!

No "Smack Dab" is used here in TN also.

And Ditto - We seem to always get great food in CR. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

And $40 a day, will get you some very good eating. But if your breakfast is included then $30 should be plenty for food.

"Smack dab" is also used in MN.

A good substitute for gallo pinto in the USA is the VIGO rice products: Black Bean and Rice Cuban style. Snip a tiny bit of cilantro in it before serving...yum yum.

Spin, thanks for the food prep tip! Sounds very good. Cilantro helps just about everything--it's right up there with lime juice!