Okay, I know this one of those Costa Rica 101 questions, but I do need some help in making a decision.

It's the ol' "should I fly back to San Jose the day before or take my chances the day of" question.

We're scheduled to leave CR from SJO at 12:30 PM on a Sunday. Right now, I have tickets on Sansa leaving from Quepos at 8:23 AM, scheduled to arrive at SJO at 8:53 AM on that same day. If all goes well, that's way more than plenty of time to check in, get through security, etc.

But, of course, I'm starting to think about the possibility that the plane doesn't take off and there's not enough room on the next flight; we somehow oversleep (though I don't think that's possible in CR!); etc.

Should I chance it, or just change our tickets to Saturday? Of course I hate to cut our time in MA short, but we will have four full days there, plus the three days at BdC before. We've been to MA before, so maybe I can deal with it? This time in MA, we're just planning on going to the beach every day, taking a nighttime Damas tour, relaxing, that's about it.

We can stay at Casa 69 in San Jose that last night (if they have room) -- which looks cool -- or anywhere else and maybe get to see a bit of the city. That could make it interesting for me.

I guess I don't want to leave MA the day before just to go stay in some other hotel to be close to the airport -- I'm stingy with my time. I know there are some interesting ones, but if we do that, I'd want to stay somewhere in San Jose just to have that experience.

I guess I know the answer to this question already, but I'd still like to hear from anyone. Last time we drove to and from MA, so I didn't have this dilemma.

Thanks!

Assuming your Sansa flight is on time, you are well within a reasonable time to check in, pay the airport tax, and go through security for your international flight.

The question is: are you prepared to deal with the worst case scenario? If your Sansa flight is too late/cancelled, the international airline could regard you as a no-show and cancel your reservation, depending on the terms of your fare. You'd then have to pay a change fee and pay for a new, last-minute one-way ticket home. That would be very expensive.

Just for me personally, I'd keep it the way it is. You've allowed plenty of time since you're flying back instead of driving, and it sounds like you really don't want to give up a night in MA. I'd feel about 98% comfortable that everything will come off without a hitch, but are you going to be okay if it doesn't? It would be worth the risk to me, but only you can judge for yourself.

Carry with you the local Costa Rican reservations number for your airline so that you can call if it looks like you're running into trouble that last morning.

Thanks for the advice -- and thanks for the idea of having the local number for the airline with me (I guess I didn't know there was one -- it's Continental).

I think I'll just have to figure out what I feel comfortable with, obviously. Other than the extra money we might have to put out, I guess I wouldn't mind having to stay an extra day -- could be a little adventure.

According to Continental's website, the local number in Costa Rica is:

0800-044-0005

Thanks, Jeff!

plumboy, I'm taking the chance in March. Will be in the Osa and don't want to waste the day on Friday in San Jose when I can be down there with all the beauty and nature. I've booked Nature Air for Saturday morning 7am flight back to Pavones and then we'll taxi over to the airport for our flight back to NJ at 12:30. If we miss it, then we have the extra day cushion and hopefully, we'll be able to fly back to the states on Sunday. Besides, I even managed to get a locos fare on Nature Air.

That should have been Pavas, not Pavones...

Knock on wood I have never had trouble flying out of Quepos on Sansa.

I have also never had trouble with lines at SJO, even traveling during Christmas and New Years.

You don't want to have to spend too much time at SJO anyway. The restaurant selection is bad and very expensive.

I try to never spend the night in San Jose is I can help it.

I would definitely stay another night in Manuel Antonio

Just an update, but we've decided to leave Quepos a day early. Not too early -- I'm still going to get another beach trip in there that morning first, but I just decided I don't have nerves of steel any longer!

We're spending the last night IN San Jose. I thought it would be good to have that experience, at least once. I know people either hate San Jose or appreciate it -- I'll see which one I am. This will be the more adventurous part of our trip.

Thanks for letting me talk it out. I feel good about the decision though I'm sure I would've been fine leaving that same morning. Mixter, you'll be okay -- and, hey, it's adventure, right?

Mixter, that sounds good, but look at the terms of the fare on your international flight. You should have ample time to make that flight, but if you miss it, know what your financial obligation will be to get a new last-minute ticket home. It always sounds great to say that you get an extra day in Costa Rica, but depending on the terms of your fare, that can turn out to be really expensive. You also have to assume there will be space on the next flight out.

Hi Jeff, thanks for the info. Yep, I'm well aware of the financial burden but I just wanted to try it once. I know I'm taking a risk but hopefully, it will work out.

I also did some research regarding the weather in the Osa area in March and I was a little more encouraged because it's not rainy season, etc. Let's hope I don't regret this.

I guess I'm the only one here that's going to say don't chance it. ;-) I've been through missing Int'l flights and I've had cancellation on Sansa during dry season...so to make life easier on myself I stay somewhere near SJO the night before I leave.

Chances are though you'll be fine! Have a great time!

The two domestic airlines both specifically say: do not connect international to domestic or domestic to international in the same day. Obviously, they want to cover their you-know-whats. They have no arrangements with any of the international airlines for joint ticketing or baggage transfer or protecing schedules in case of cancelled or delayed flights.

Usually, you'll be fine, but like hipvirgochick, I never take this chance.