Do we realy need 4 W drive?
 

Coming to CR first 2 weeks at June.We will drive from SJO to Arenal Observatory lodge-Dominical-Bosque del Cabo and back o SJO.
It is 6 adults and one 7 years old.I don't think,that we all can fit to any 4W drive available.The only option is Van,which it is not 4W drive.Can we drive these roads with out 4 W drive.Any help would be great.Thank you

I personally wouldn't attempt driving to Bosque del Cabo without a 4x4, and a big one at that with a LOT of clearance. You do ford a couple of streams -- well, they were "streams" in February but might be "rivers" in June! I would probably run your car choice by Bosque and see what they say. (Nobody rents a Durango or a Montero with a third-row seat and a roof rack?)

Just occurred to me as well that Toyotas are pretty common rentals in CR and a Landcruiser would work really well.

Jilkovina,
I've been researching this for our family of 8 for July. If money is no object, I saw a 12-passenger land cruiser on either Mapache or Toyota website, but it's about 200/day, out of our price range. There are a lot of 7-pass Prado's but I suspect that wouldn't leave you much room for bags.
Unlike your group mine may get by w/out the 4wd since we're not at AOL or BdC.
I've got emails in to a few of the rental co's asking what they've got in auto trans for 8 ppl, if I hear anything that may help you I'll post back.
Other option I'm considering is use drivers for the long distances and if we feel we need car to get around at each destination maybe rent a couple of smaller ones for a few days at a time.
Lisa

Oops, I just realized I had already replied in your other thread a few days ago - sorry to repeat myself!

I can get Mitsubishi Montero 4W for $770 for 2 weeks with my credit card pay for CDW and I would pay for another SLI insurance.They said that roof rack is there too.The price is very good,I just hope that we will not strugle through our stay because we surely will do lot of driving.

That price IS very good. Who did you check with? Be sure and have them send you an e-mail giving you the FINAL price, stating that the price quoted is all-inclusive.

As for the credit card CDW insurance, we have used that before and have collected with it. That said, it was quite a hassle involving many phone calls (from Costa Rica and from home) and numerous forms to fill out by mail, all of which was extremely frustrating and time consuming. These days, our choice is just to pay the $2 per day and not have to hassle with the aftermath ourselves should a little damage to the vehicle occur.

You'll need to 4X4 for the road between MA and Dominical as well, and certainly for the drive between Puerto Jimenez and Bosque del Cabo. Also, as someone mentioned the AOL road is bumpy, but is the least troublesome of the 3.

Good luck! And have tons of fun!

I have e-mail from Dollar conforming and detail the price .Dollar is actualy beating Tricolor by $130.Cdw insurance from Dollar is $15 a day so it is better to use credit card for CDW and use Dollar insurance for SLI which is only $15 a day.