dauber2

Wow! This is a wonderful site. Wish I'd found it sooner. I've been planning a trip for the first 2 weeks of December, and have made most reservations already, but not all. I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone who's been there can help me with. First, about car rental and driving. The best price I've found is from Avanti. Has anyone used them? Dollar is almost as good, and there have been some good comments about them, so I wonder if I'd be better to go with Dollar. Also, the 4WD offered for the best price at Avanti is the Suzuki Ignis, versus the Daihatsu Terios at Dollar, and I know nothing about either. Does anyone have any info. on that topic? I'm also wondering about the warnings on many travel sites about never leaving the car unattended, with or without luggage visible. It's kind of hard to see anything enroute if you take such warnings to heart. We got the same kind of stuff off travel sites before going to Portugal, and felt the "danger" had been greatly exaggerated. What do those of you who have driven there think? And another driving question: is a right turn on red allowed? Seems to me I read somewhere that it is not allowed, but I can't find the info. now. I know about speed limits, but are there any other rules we need to be aware of. Did any of you get stopped and asked to pay money directly to the traffic police? Oh, and one more question: my plan was to drive from El Gavilan River Lodge, return the car, and get a 1:40 pm flight (aiming at getting to the airport by 11 am or so). Is this realistic, or am I crazy? Leaving very early would be the plan.
Another thing I'm wondering about is the water. I plan to drink bottled water, but what about fresh fruits and salads that have been washed in water, and what about ice. I assume that they are probably okay in the touristy areas but maybe not in more remote places. What about in the sodas?
My last question is about Rincon de la Vieja. We are hikers, and want to do hikes from the Las Pailas entrance. As the Rincon de la Vieja Mountain Lodge is the closest place to that entrance (I think), I was hoping to get accommodation there, but I can't find a website. The travel sites that offer bookings don't have the December prices available. When I contact them to ask them to send me information, they offer to plan and book my whole itinerary for me. As soon as they find out I only want what I asked for, I never hear from them again. My other option is Hacienda Guacipelin, which I can book from their website, but I think I might prefer the Mountain Lodge. Any suggestions?

sclubb

We got stopped for speeding & were let off with a warning. I read the same thing happened to another poster on here. The police were on the side of the road with a radar gun. They did say that our fine would have been about $20 or something & we would have had to go to the nearest bank to pay it.

gannetmusic

Regarding Rincon de la Vieja Lodge....try www.rincondelaviejalodge.net for general info.
You could try emailing them but they are not known to answer emails promptly, if at all. I suggest 'googling' them and you should find a phone number. Perhaps a phone reservation with confirming fax might work.
We are booked there for a few days in November but I finally had to get a Tico friend make my reservation for me.
He has visited the place and emailed me some wonderful pictures of the area.

Hope this helps a bit.

cheers

Jerry

shillmac

Dollar is an outstanding company, in our experience. Also, the last two times we have been, we have rented Tricolor simply because their price for the Suzuki Ignus was way below anyone else's--including Dollar. You might give them a try. They are VERY close to the airport. The Ignus and the Terios are very similar as far as interior space. We've had both, and I couldn't recommend one over the other. The warnings regarding theft from vehicles are NOT exaggerated.
Heed them. NEVER leave anything in your car unless your eye is on it at all times.

Follow the speed limits, you'll be fine. Never pay off a cop! No special rules, and I think you can turn right on red, but am not sure. I think we always have!

Water, ice, and everything else fine to drink and eat. We haven't had a problem anywhere in the country, even in some of the more remote areas.

Rincon de la Vieja is wonderful!

Molly2

I had an awful time trying to contact the Rincon de la Vieja Mountain Lodge. The lodge did evenually get back to me, weeks later, but by then I'd given up and booked in Arenal instead. Hacienda Guacipelin did get back to me in a reasonable length of time,, but had no availability. If you do manage to make reservations at the Mountain Lodge, I know that many of us would be greatly interested in your impressions! There are few reviews of the lodges right near the park, as people more often seem to visit in a day trip from the beach. My husband and I also love to hike, and this looks like a great area.

glover

Just a personal underscore to Shillmac's post that warnings about theft from cars are NOT exaggerated and should be heeded. We love CR and will always go back, but we won't ever leave belongings visible in our car again. We took that chance back in May because, as you said when you're travelling you want to stop. We had ALL our luggage stolen from our rental 4x4 (it was locked) in broad day light from a restaurant parking lot on a busy street in Cartago. That would be the Cafe Capuccino. So we took a chance we wouldn't take here in DC and lost.
Just my public service announcement . . . And we met many Americans with similar stories from the beaches and the cities the next day at the American Embassey when we went to replace husband's passport! CR is a great and generally safe place with nice people -- but do watch your stuff , cuz apparently petty theft is on the rise.

glover

Forgot to add that both times we've been to CR we had the Terios and it served us well both times. The first we did the road to Monteverde and back. The second we did MANY more dirt roads and crossed a stream. We rented from Elegante the first time and Adobe the second. Had no problems with either. Though we liked Adobe better.

Jessie_

The drive from El Gavilan should be about 3 hrs. The roads are pretty straight forward through Braullio Carillo. I highly recommend a hike in La Selva (prearranged) as you will only be a few minutes from there. I promised a friend I would check El Gavilan out this year when we were in that area. Do come back and give a trip report. I have passed the road to it many times but it was just one of those places we keep saying we need to check out.... someday.

The dangers are not exaggerated.

Loved Portugal! Lisbon, Estorille (casinos!!), OPorto. My husband learned Portugese while in Brazil but kept mixing up the words with Spanish and some of the mix ups were quite amusing.

dauber2

Thanks to all who have replied so far. I tried the website suggested by gannetmusic, and the photos made me want to stay at Rincon de la Vieja Mountain Lodge even more. Unfortunately, the registration form doesn't submit, so I got nowhere. Googling hasn't worked so far either. If I find a way, I'll let you know. Will have a look at some of your suggestions for car rental, too. You all have me very nervous now about the petty theft thing. It sounds like we will never be able to do anything together until we get to the hotel! Are hotel parking lots even secure? If there is nothing visible in the car, are they still going to break in to check. I noticed Avanti car rental offers vandalism insurance as an optional extra at $5 per day. Do the other agencies have this or is it sometimes included?

sclubb

Definitely pay attention to your surroundings & don't leave things visible in your car. BUT - don't be overly worried about it either - you need to relax & enjoy your vacation! We did stop a few times for lunch on our drives between hotels & left all of our belongings in the car, but we were close enough to keep an eye on it. The first time we did this I was so nervous b/c I had read so many of these horror stories, but we were on this quiet road with few cars & our car was right outside so we were able to keep checking on it. Nothing happened. We always left water bottles, shoes, etc in the car even when we were parked overnight at the hotels & we were fine. I have heard the horror stories of people having their cars broken into even when they had it empty, but we luckily didn't experience any of that. Don't stress too much about it - and just be careful!

shillmac

Hotels are good to provide secure parking. You shouldn't have any worries there. Sclubb's advice is right on. Try to plan your excursions from your hotel rather than "on the way" with all your stuff as much as possible. That's generally how it works out anyway. If not possible, you will need to watch your car. Even at the mall (where we go occasionally) cars are at risk. There are usually signs warning of such. When you park at Tabacon, there are signs or paper fliers about leaving things in your car. Any area that draws tourists also draws those who prey on tourists. We've never had a problem (thank goodness) and have never felt inconvenienced either. But you do need to keep it in mind when making transportation plans. Violent crime is rare in Costa Rica, but petty theft is another matter entirely. That's why most of the houses have bars on the windows, albeit decorative ones!

dauber2

As someone on this thread suggested, I contacted Tricolor regarding a rental car, and their quote was excellent. I'm undecided about getting an Ignis or a Terios, which costs a bit more. Will we need the higher clearance in the first 2 weeks of December for the following route: Alajuela-Manuel Antonio-Playa Grande-Rincon de la Vieja-Monteverde-Arenal-La Selva area-Alajuela?

shillmac

I think as long as you have a 4X4, even a small one, you'll be okay. The good thing about Tri-Color is that when you return your vehicle, they are a little easier to get to! Dollar is off the Interamerican between the airport and San Jose, and you have to know where to exit or you'll finding yourself seeing it (after the exit) as you whiz by, wondering what the heck to do now! We've been very pleased with TriColor, especially the prices. They are hard to beat.