THEFTS IN COSTA RICA
 

Recently returned from a trip to CR and I must say the thefts my group had there were far too common. Don't take any more valuables with you than what you must have and guard them very closely. Better yet, choose a safer destination to vacation in or one that is tourist friendly. CR is not a country I will visit again.

I'm sorry to hear that you had such a negative experience in such a wonderful country. Were you with a tour group or traveling on your own? Personally, I feel that Costa Rica is a safe and tourist friendly destination. However, tourists can be an easy target, not only in CR, but everywhere. As a rule it is advised to leave valuables at home, don't leave things unattended on the beaches, never leave personal belongings in a parked car, use safety deposit boxes, etc.

I'm very sorry to hear of your mis-fortune, Dolores. Something like that can definitely color your view of a place and ruin your vacation.

That's luckily <i>not</i> the experience that most visitors to Costa Rica have, hence it's popularity and devoted following here on this forum. I'm sorry that you weren't able to have the wonderful time that most of us have enjoyed.

I'm sorry for your loss.

However, your post, if meant to be helpful and not alarmist, is lacking info that would be helpful to others. Were you on a tour when the thefts occurred? On a bus? From your hotel? Which hotel, which location? To dismiss an entire country without any details is like saying Florida is unsafe due to crime.

Good questions by Hip and tully. If you shared more information about the circumstances of your unfortunate experience, it would be more helpful to other readers here.

I've never worried about traveling in Costa Rica, but I do always take certain precautions with my money/belongings wherever I travel in the world. I also carefully research the places I plan to visit beforehand so that I'll know if I need to be especially vigilant. I've never felt unsafe in Costa Rica and have found the people there to be particularly kind and helpful. Obviously, there can be exceptions to any rule...

I'm also sorry to hear about what happened, Dolores. Like the others, I'd be interested in hearing more about the circumstances.

The thing is, I completely understand the way you feel. If I went somewhere, and I and other people in my group had things stolen, I wouldn't give the place another chance. Why should I? With all the other destinations in the world, why would I go back to a place where bad things happened?

A couple of years ago, I recommended a trip to Costa Rica to some people I know back home. Their trip went great up until the end, when someone broke into their hotel room WHILE THEY WERE SLEEPING and stole their money, credit cards, passports and cameras. What could they have done differently? I felt awful for them. They can look at their trip objectively and say that most of it was great, but the robbery ruined Costa Rica for them. They'll never go back, and there is no reason they should with all the other places to choose from.

That's exactly the problem for a country like Costa Rica that relies so heavily on tourism. Crime is on the rise. The U.S. embassy in San Jose replaces more stolen passports each year than any other U.S. embassy or consulate in the world, for example. (There's some cocktail party conversation for you.) When bad things happen to tourists, they will never be return visitors.

So sorry that happened, Dolores - can you tell us what was stolen and from where? We've never had any problems like that in CR, but we also don't bring valuables with us. We always leave our passports in the room safe, although I know that's not infallible. I've always heard not to leave anything in your car because car breakins are common. We love CR so much and are always sad to hear that someone didn't have a good experience.

Speaking of hotel safes . . . several years ago I had several hundred dollars stolen from a room safe in Aruba, apparently because there was more than one key and someone on the hotel staff had access to it. In Costa Rica recently, I was very pleased to see that all of the room safes I encountered were the type that allowed guests to set their own codes. (I did wonder, however, what would happen, when programming the combination, if one accidentally committed a "typo" in punching in a different number from the one intended. I can imagine this happening, particularly if one is overly excited or inebriated.)

Any hotel manager can open a room safe, even if you have selected the codes, exactly because of that sort of situation.

Sorry for your negative experience,but

room theft is a problem not just specific to CR

find CR to be one of the safer countries

compared to others in SA CA Mexico...

have no problems as long as I am careful...

leaving money valuables in a hotel room

unattended is an invitation to a crime...

www.insuremytrip.com good idea also so no worries

So that we can prepare accordingly, I'd appreciate any tips and tricks so that we can avoid this experience when we take out trip to Arenal, MA and San Jose next month. Are the hotel safes generally secure? We'll be staying at Orquídeas Inn, AO in Arenal, Costa Verde in MA and Don Carlos in San Jose - has anyone had any problems at these hotels? What about back packs, fanny packs and purses - is crime so bad that we should keep all valuables tucked in as to avoid "snatching"? We'll be sure to take the obvious precautions like refrain from leaving valuables laying around in cars, rooms, at beaches, etc. but is there anything else we should be careful of?

Hi Mom

Your hotels are good you should have no problems

Usually put money passports in a money belt

worn to the front under clothing.

Leave electronics at home or insure them

Read your US State Department consular advisories

for a heads up on the latest scams touts..

being careful have never had a problem in CR...

Mom, most people don't have any problems when they go to CR. Just take normal precautions - no flashy jewelry, don't leave anything in your car unattended, etc. Unfortunately crime can happen anywhere, but it's not all that pervasive. We did meet people who had all their luggage stolen out of their car - that seems to be the most common problem. For a while, there was a scam in San Jose where they would puncture your car tire and then offer to help you but really steal your luggage. Just be aware. Like I said, we've never felt unsafe or had anything taken in several trips.

Hi Mom,

As already stated, you've made some good hotel choices which is one step in the right direction.

I always use a money belt (for pretty much anywhere I travel these days), and I make 2 photocopies of my passport. I take one with me and keep it separate from my original (i.e. hotel safe), and I leave the other copy at home where someone can get to it if needed.

I make use of the room safes for any extra money, electronics, or other valuables that I'm not going to haul around with me for the day.

I generally also split up the money I carry on my person; some goes in the money wallet, some in a front pocket or zippered compartment.

I use a daypack to haul around my camera, binoculars, rain jacket, etc, and have never had any issues, but I do always keep a good eye on my stuff. I think using common sense and being aware of your surroundings goes a long way towards avoiding mishaps.

Trip insurance is always a good idea too!

Two notes about rental cars:

1. As VG mentions, stolen luggage is one of the more common issues you hear about in CR. Don't leave your stuff unattended, even it it's locked in the trunk! If you need to make a pit stop along the road, always have someone stay with the car, or keep it in plain sight at all times. Once you've reached your hotel destination and unloaded your luggage, you can relax your vigilance; just don't leave valuables in the car while you're at a restaurant or enjoying the sights.

2. The flat tire scam does unfortunately happen. When you rent a car, you'll typically be handed a flyer that warns about this. It's a bit disconcerting, but don't let it freak you out. I think the main problem areas for this are around the airport and in San Jose (Jeff probably has better than I do...). I've driven on 2 trips to CR and have had no issues.

It's always a little worrying to visit a new place where you don't know the lay of the land, but CR is not scary or unfriendly. Quite the contrary (which is why so many of us return again and again)!

I am also curious what exactly was stolen, Delores. And under what situations. You mention "your group", were you on a tour? What type of "valuables"? Again I ask because I never travel with anything worth stealing.

Kind of unfair to blame an entire country, don't you think?

For this post to be taken seriously, or be of any help to anyone else, we need more details about what went on.

Dolores, how about giving us a trip report? We'd love to hear details.

I'm not sure we're going to get an answer, though it'd be nice. I think it's unfair to make an accusation without any details.

Anyway, mom, lol....2 of the things I can think of off the top of my head which will go a huge distance to keeping you and your stuff safe - absolutely nothing in your rental car left alone, as discussed here. Even for a moment, even if it "looks really safe".... there was a trip report a while back and someone lost their luggage to theft even though they weren't gone long. (I believe they continued on though and had a great time). The other thing that comes to mind is the beach, don't leave stuff all by itself, I've heard of nice flip-flops being swiped.

I've done several trips, all solo save one, and never felt all that nervous about it, just mostly common sense stuff - that would apply whether in CR or Paris.

I've stayed at Orquideas Inn & Costa Verde and know they both have safes, sure the others do too. At Don Carlos, leave your stuff in the safe when going out to dinner and take a taxi - my dad stayed there last May and they advised taking a taxi.

I agree, I think common sense is the key. Crime IS everywhere (even in our hometowns) and staying alert is imperative. Thanks for the additional suggestions - I've picked up a few good tips that we'll put to use. It's unfortunate that one vague post can cause a CR newbie to get nervous but all you CR experts have done a wonderful job of restoring my faith! Thanks! We will set forth for CR in a couple weeks with great enthusiasm AND our cameras - well secured.

We've been to Costa Rica twice and Argentina three times (along with many other places in our lives), I've been pickpocketed in Paris and NY (where I live), so now I am thinking of moving to Argentina to be safe :)

You've received great advice, just follow it and you'll be fine.

Too bad Dolores won't come back to give us the specifics about these thefts. If her objective was to be helpful, she missed the opportunity. Hard to believe that with all that is beautiful to see in Costa Rica, this is the one thing she has to say. I find that, in cases like this, it says more about the poster than the country. I've been to Costa Rica twice (about to go for my third time) and never had a problem.