Honeymoon in CR in October
May 13th, 2004, 09:50 AM
#23
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If you stick to Arenal, La Paz and Manuel Antonio, you will not have to worry about any river crossings so a car should be fine.
Don't get me wrong, there will be rivers, but they will all have bridges over them!
I''ve always used Adobe with no problems at all and good rates. Many give Dollar good reviews too.
Don't get me wrong, there will be rivers, but they will all have bridges over them!
I''ve always used Adobe with no problems at all and good rates. Many give Dollar good reviews too.
May 13th, 2004, 01:21 PM
#24
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Ally is giving you great advice. Her suggestions will help you make the very best of your vacation. The driving and the rain won't be a problem for you. We have driven so much there, and the only problem we have EVER had was in March (dry season) in Guanacaste (driest area) when it rained so darned hard, I couldn't even see the road. Couldn't pull over because no shoulder! Main highway, trucks, I was terrified! It wasn't supposed to do that in March near Liberia! Chances are, you'll get rained on very little--probably never when doing morning drives.
May 14th, 2004, 03:25 AM
#25
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Thanks for the advice - More questions though...sorry! I have read the other post about pre-paying for hotels or not to for the green season - Do they ever close down for the green season that you have had experience with? Since I am staying at Villas Caletas, Hotel Paraiso and the peace lodge - should i be worried about that? Or should i just arrive and then haggle with the prices with them? Secondly - since I am staying at Villas Caletas, Most of the good activities are in Manuel Antonio? Or i guess what I am asking - What is the "TO DO" list for that area. Thanks again! It looks like renting a car would be the best option - I checked with Adobe and a small compact car for the week is only 200 bucks. Is it required to take the insurance? Should i do that since Costa rica is prone to Accidents or is it not worth it?
May 14th, 2004, 03:30 AM
#26
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Woops i forgot one more thing! Can anyone point me to where i can get specific directions (since i am renting a car) to the areas I am going to? La Paz Waterfalls, Arenal and then to Manuel Antonio (villas Caletas). I saw a couple of maps but it seems like I would be driving in dense jungle and I want to make sure I dont miss a turn somewhere. Thanks.
May 14th, 2004, 04:24 AM
#27
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If you have your heart set on specific hotels I would not be so sure about just showing up without reservation. Although October should be really slow, so you may be OK. If a hotel is closing down for the green season, their website would say so. Also check the websites for specials. Villa Caletas, for example, used to have a special for $99 per night in the green season.
As to car rental, certain insurance would be required but if you are using a platinum credit card, you may be able to rely on the insurance provided by the cc company (call them first to confirm that they do provide that insurance). We rented from Dollar on a couple of occassions, and they allow you to waive certain insurance if you use a platinum card.
As to directions, you will not be driving in dense jungle, so don't worry about it. The rental company should give you a good map and directions to most of your destinations. From SJ to Arenal you should take the PanAmerican Hwy to San Ramon then follow the signs for La Tigra and then Arenal. If you feel lost, stop and ask for directions (even if you don't speak Spanish, it is easy enough to ask about your final destination and people will waive you in the right direction). Roads are not numbered, so you need to follow signs for towns and hotels that are on your way (look at a map and a guide book before you set off to familiarize yourself with the names).
As to car rental, certain insurance would be required but if you are using a platinum credit card, you may be able to rely on the insurance provided by the cc company (call them first to confirm that they do provide that insurance). We rented from Dollar on a couple of occassions, and they allow you to waive certain insurance if you use a platinum card.
As to directions, you will not be driving in dense jungle, so don't worry about it. The rental company should give you a good map and directions to most of your destinations. From SJ to Arenal you should take the PanAmerican Hwy to San Ramon then follow the signs for La Tigra and then Arenal. If you feel lost, stop and ask for directions (even if you don't speak Spanish, it is easy enough to ask about your final destination and people will waive you in the right direction). Roads are not numbered, so you need to follow signs for towns and hotels that are on your way (look at a map and a guide book before you set off to familiarize yourself with the names).
May 14th, 2004, 09:15 AM
#28
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About the insurance, you will have to pay for some of it. We always use our card (as mentioned) for a small portion of it. Dollar, for example, always calls the card company and confirms this before you sign your papers.
As for a map, I have a suggestion. Go to a Barnes & Noble (or similar) and buy the Berndston & Berndston laminated map. It is excellent, and will get you wherever you need to go! We have used our for years--don't know what we'd do without it! Sometimes the maps you get down there aren't as accurate as one would like!
As for a map, I have a suggestion. Go to a Barnes & Noble (or similar) and buy the Berndston & Berndston laminated map. It is excellent, and will get you wherever you need to go! We have used our for years--don't know what we'd do without it! Sometimes the maps you get down there aren't as accurate as one would like!
May 14th, 2004, 09:17 AM
#29
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Also! While at Villas Caletas, you should check out the Carara Reserve. I hear it is excellent for scarlet macaw viewing among other things. Also nearby is the new Turubari Reserve. These would be great options for you. Rio Tarcoles River (nearby) has good crocodile viewing! Hint: Watch your belongings in the car. One of you should stay put while the other one looks at the crocs.
May 14th, 2004, 10:26 AM
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I have the same map that Shillmac has and it's great, although my particular Barnes & Nobles didn't carry it so I ordered it on-line. However, Iza has a very good point about 'directions' by just knowing what towns are on your route. Even the rental car maps will have the most towns on it, so just follow the signs to the towns that are along your route. You don't have to try and get all your directions from the rental car guys, you can ask your hotels for directions. I'm sure they will be happy to help!
In my experience I have found that yes, you can get better deals if you are just a walk up to hotels. However, some are small, such as Peace Lodge, and it's very popular, so just to be safe, I'd make a reservation there. As for the others, as has been mentioned, if you have your heart SET on something, get it in advance....if not, have a second choice in mind just in case.
In my experience I have found that yes, you can get better deals if you are just a walk up to hotels. However, some are small, such as Peace Lodge, and it's very popular, so just to be safe, I'd make a reservation there. As for the others, as has been mentioned, if you have your heart SET on something, get it in advance....if not, have a second choice in mind just in case.
May 14th, 2004, 11:08 AM
#31
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any backups in Manuel Antonio that you suggest? Good for a honeymoon but on the cheaper side - that deal is still good for villas celates with 99 bucks per night for the green season.
May 14th, 2004, 12:02 PM
#32
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You might want to look at the Studios Plus at Costa Verde in MA. About the same price as Villas Caletas, but IN Manuel Antonio so much closer to nice beaches and more restaurants. And it's more convenient to most of the attractions.
I had a friend who got married at Villa Caletas and she loved it, but as it does have it's down sides. It is a bit out of the way, 10-15 minutes by car to Jaco, which is a young, hippee, surfer town that is not very pretty. One on-site restaurtant, The Amphitheatre, is about the same cost as a 'Chili's' or 'Applebys' in the states, but the other is quite expensive. Gettin out of the hotel is tricky if you don't have a car. You have decided to rent, right? If not, a shuttle to Jaco is $25 which is okay if you can share with other people, but expensive if not. Taxi's are not allowed without passengers, so if you want a taxi, you have to walk about twenty minutes downhill to the highway. They can bring you all the back up for the return. Don't get me wrong, Villa Caletas is a lovely place and it's great for a honeymoon, but more of a place that you want to hang around for a couple days as opposed to trying to get out everynight, in my opinion.
I had a friend who got married at Villa Caletas and she loved it, but as it does have it's down sides. It is a bit out of the way, 10-15 minutes by car to Jaco, which is a young, hippee, surfer town that is not very pretty. One on-site restaurtant, The Amphitheatre, is about the same cost as a 'Chili's' or 'Applebys' in the states, but the other is quite expensive. Gettin out of the hotel is tricky if you don't have a car. You have decided to rent, right? If not, a shuttle to Jaco is $25 which is okay if you can share with other people, but expensive if not. Taxi's are not allowed without passengers, so if you want a taxi, you have to walk about twenty minutes downhill to the highway. They can bring you all the back up for the return. Don't get me wrong, Villa Caletas is a lovely place and it's great for a honeymoon, but more of a place that you want to hang around for a couple days as opposed to trying to get out everynight, in my opinion.
May 17th, 2004, 07:10 AM
#33
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I just got a reply back from Adobe rentacar - And am a little confused - it shows on their website that the weekly rate for the little Yaris car is $264 weekly plus $13 for the mandatory insurance - However when i dealt with them via email they said the rate would be WITH insurance is $245. Given that they gave me this lower number should i wait until i get there or closer to the time I go in october for an even lower number? Does anyone have suggestions?
Jun 25th, 2004, 03:44 AM
#35
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Ok folks - I have come up with a new Intenerary - Any comments?
Arriving in San Jose on Oct 4th 2004
Rent a car and drive to Villas Caletas
Villas Caletas from Oct 4th through Oct9th
Drive to Arenal and Stay at Hotel Paraiso from Oct 9th to Oct 12th
drive to Peace Lodge and stay from Oct 12th to the 14th
Fly out of San Jose on the 14th.
Thanks to everybody on this board - I found a deal on LuxuryLink and Got a Junior suite for 5 nights for a good price. Hotel Paraiso is already relatively cheap. And Peace Lodge, well...Did not get a deal from them. Thanks again.
Arriving in San Jose on Oct 4th 2004
Rent a car and drive to Villas Caletas
Villas Caletas from Oct 4th through Oct9th
Drive to Arenal and Stay at Hotel Paraiso from Oct 9th to Oct 12th
drive to Peace Lodge and stay from Oct 12th to the 14th
Fly out of San Jose on the 14th.
Thanks to everybody on this board - I found a deal on LuxuryLink and Got a Junior suite for 5 nights for a good price. Hotel Paraiso is already relatively cheap. And Peace Lodge, well...Did not get a deal from them. Thanks again.
