Please take the advice !
 

To all who post here:

Every big city in the world has its good places and its bad places. In New York, Chicago, Miami and I imagine Paris, there are places you just "don't go!"

The same is true in San Jose. There are modern areas, awesome malls, museums and gift shops ...... and places we just don't go!

Please be careful when booking inexpensive or special deals on the Internet. If you have never been to San Jose or do not know the country people like myself and others on the message boards are here to help you have the best vacation possible.

Of course, everyone has their own opinion, their favorite hotels and their favorite tours. So.... keep asking until you get several opinions and ideas and read the posts of others.

We want your vacation to be wonderful, safe and one that fits your individual budget.

Should you have questions about a special hotel or package deal with the airlines, post it here. If we can not answer you on the message boards, many provide their e-mail address for more personal responses.

Hopabout

Great advice Hopabout! Thank you, from a future traveler to CR.

I am going to go to Heredia in a couple of weeks for school. I plan to drift into SJO during some of the afternoons for shopping or sightseeing. Are there some places you suggest I visit in downtown SJO or stay out of?

Any shortcut to learning the bus system?

Hi,
Sorry, I did not see your post until tonight. My computer was very sick!

The Central Market area, while interesting, is a thefty area for sure.

The area called Coca Cola is not far from there and also is thefty. It is the terminal for the buses going to many places in Costa Rica away from the Central Valley. (though there are other terminals.)

Downtown San Jose has a boulevard.... a walking street where no cars run. It is nice to visit the city on the Boulevard. Be sure and see the National Theatre and the Post Office for interesting buildings. The National Museum is nice, too and not expensive to enter. I think closed on Mondays.

Wherever you are in Costa Rica think about pick pockets and that many around you just might think you are rich and take your belongings. Don't be crazy over it, just be street wise.

Keep money, documents, etc. in a safe place and not open in your hotel rooms...that goes for any country!

Women, if you must carry a purse, be sure it has a long strap and can be held tightly and over your neck for extra safety.

Many wear inside money belts here. I always tuck a little here and there to be sure I have good places!

Back packs can be targets so be careful. Watch out for little groups who ask for the time, or directions while the others take your things. Especially at bus terminals.

Hey, this works for New York city, too!

Just be street wise and not careless and you will have a great time!

hopabout

In the same area as the Teatro Nacional is the Museo de Oro, the Jade Museum, the Plaza de la Cultura (great for people watching). All of these places, in addition to the pedestrian avenue and the mercado central are within a short walk of each other. Hopabout has given you some very good streetwise advice! We have walked this area many times with purses, with backpacks, but have been always vigilant and wary, and using the precautions he mentions with purse straps, etc. If my husband is carrying our backpack, I walk behind him and up against it fairly close. Just stuff like that. The city is definitely good for at least one visit! Go into the Teatro--it's just beautiful!

Hopabout, thanks for posting some good tips. I am planning our first family trip to Costa Rica for June. We fly into San Jose and I thought we would spend 2 nights in San Jose, and go together to try some salsa dancing, or at least to watch some salsa dancing! I'll be travelling with my husband and 23-year-old son, and 2 daughters, 18 and 19.

Do you think San Jose can be safe, if well-planned, or are we better off skipping San Jose and staying near the airport (at someplace like Vista del Valle or Orquideas or Hotel Bougainvillea)?

We travelled in Italy last June and so we are all aware of taking precautions in city-travel to prevent pick-pocketing, etc. But I won't enjoy the trip if I feel we are in an unsafe area.

I thought we'd stay at Hotel Le Bergerac, and visit a bar or night-club that has music in either the El Pueblo area, or else in the San Pedro district. We would have to get a taxi back to the hotel at night. Actually we have 5 people so we might end up taking 2 taxis!

In the daytime we would visit the gold museum, the Jade museum, etc.

What do you think? Is San Jose safe for visiting families? Or should we avoid staying in San Jose?

Gracias!

thanks for the tips. Always helps to be reminded about the distractions that pickpockets use. very easy to catch you off guard. I appreciate the suggested places to visit.