I'm checking airline rates from Chicago, and it looks like I can save about $300 per ticket in late November if I fly TACA instead of AA or Delta.

However, we would have a layover in either Guatemala City, Guatemala or San Salvador, El Salvador. Never been through either airport, and don't know anything about them (or those countries, really)...will it be a difficult layover in either place...neither one of us speaks any foriegn languange with any fluency.

The layover at either airport is about 2 hours, will that give us enough time? I'm assuming we'll have to pass through customs at either place.

Thanks for your help.

El Salvador has the largest airport in Central America, but connections are very easy there. If it's international to international, you don't go through customs and immigration. You just go to your connecting gate. Two hours is more than enough time. Signs are in Spanish and English, and TACA's boarding announcements are in both languages too.

I've flown in and out of Guatemala City several times, but never done a connection there. I assume it's the same, not needing to pass through immigration and customs. It's a much smaller airport, but I'd still do El Salvador if I had the choice.

Yep, it will be international to international. So Chicago to San Salvador and then on to San Jose seems like the way to go.

Thanks Jeff!

FYI - For anyone else wondering the same thing: Upon checking, the flight from Chicago to El Salvador stops off in Guatemala first, so we might as well get off there I suppose!

Now I'm off to the Guatemala boards to see about customs!

In my experience, continuing passengers will usually stay on the plane on these flights. Only once did we get off in Guat City for some reason but you don't have to check through customs until you arrive home. Go ahead and save the $$$, you won't be disappointed. In LAX TACA can seem a little disorganized on the ground but once you get going its fine.
Good luck and have fun!