I have a bit under a month and thinking it would be cool to rent a car for some of that time.

I am looking for the cheapest way to do that.

How are the roads there?

Tricolor was a great value for us, and we had zero complaints about their service.

Roads are not as good as what you'd find in the least developed part of the US, but whether that means they're just a little run down or a nightmare depends on where and when you'll be there.

The roads really vary - around Arenal they are in great shape, around Monteverde they are rough and unpaved.

Please forgive me for cheating a little. Here is something I posted back in February. It will give you a good idea of what to expect when you rent a car in CR. The person who originated this thread had an impossibly cheap rate.

Hope this helps!

Author: Pat_Hewitt ([email protected])
Date: 02/20/2008, 11:04 am
In all my years packaging Costa Rica, the single greatest challenge has always been rental cars. Companies come and go. Less reputable companies run damage scams. Some overbook. Others do not have replacement vehicles if there is a problem, or offer proper support.

You get what you pay for. The insurance for a 4WD starts at $20.00 a day, and that is if you have credit card liability coverage. So even assuming this, you are only paying $15.00 per day for these vehicles. Even less, if they do not allow the credit card coverage. You get what you pay for.

I am not familiar with this particular company, but my questions would have to be as follows.

How new are these vehicles? The roads can be tough on rental cars to begin with, and customers tend to drive them harder than they would a vehicle they actually own. Rental cars have a short shelf life.

How many offices? If you break down in the boonies, is there support close by? What if you break down at night, will someone answer the phone?

Are you going to have a problem with false damage claims? Other than the company's own testimonials, what kind of references do they have? It is difficult to challenge a foreign credit card charge. What recourse do you have if there is a problem?

A fairly new Daihatsu Terios, from a well known reputable company, with credit card liability coverage works out to about $380.00 per week. This $35.00 dollar per day rental will cost you $245.00 per week. So you save $135.00, and have to pay the big deductible if you have an incident that your credit card would have covered.

A good rental car is essential for a positive travel experience. Look at it this way; If a couple spends $1200.00 on airfare. Say you spend another $2500.00 on hotels and tours. This means you are paying well over $500.00 a day to be there. When you factor in what you pay for hotels and airfare, $135.00 in a week is not much.

It is something to think about when your rental car is broken down in Northern Guanacaste. A large national company will get you a replacement from Liberia in an hour or two. I have seen one of the companies that I deal with bring a replacement car on a flatbed truck up the mountain to Monteverde, AFTER DARK. That's worth $135.00. Anyone who has driven that road in the daylight will agree!

Hope this helps! Let me know if I can offer more advice.

Warm Regards,
Pat Hewitt
(Travel professional)

www.carrentals.com

In July rented a Sentra 2WD drove

every where no problem

Main roads paved others hardpack

not too bad going slow...

Base price $100/wk

used my cc for CDW

mandatory $12/day LDW

so $200 for the week

Kept everything locked in trunk

had no theft problems...

Have fun shop around

To Pat H

To be honest, we've never been disappointed in the majority of the roads and have only happened across 3-4 isolated sections in various parts of the country that I would call truly bad. There are a few that are outstanding. IMHO, the roads get way more bad publicity that they deserve.

to Pat H . Are you saying that it is not a good idea to decline the cdw offered by rental company (ECONOMY)because your Visa card says they have you covered? I don't understand what you are saying about not trying to save the $135. Please explain. And when do they inform you of how much the liability is for that car? I'm confused.

Tricolor allows the coverage by your chagre card company. In fact, they said that because I used a Capital One Credit Card, it would be a waste for me to purchase any additional insurance.

I never had a rental agent be that honest before. In the US, they are always trying to get extra money.

Keith