srroadwarrior

My wife and I are planning a 7 night trip to Costa Rica in June- we are torn between a self driving tour or using transfer services. We are adventurous, but want to make the right decision. Any advice out there?

Thanks !
Scott

Mama

Scott, I don't think that anyone here is going to make this decission for you. We all can tell you what works for us. Personally for us transfer services work great every time. For others renting a car is the way to go. We enjoy being driven from one destination to the next. The others like their freedom of driving a rental car. You have to chose whatever you and your wife feel comfortable with. Good luck with your decission. We trust whatever you decide it will work for you

lvk

Scott,

I just topped a few posts that discuss that very question. (I originally asked the question for our trip in August). As you will see, there are varying opinions.

Another transfer service that was recommended to me by Neta was Costa Rica Transfers.
www.costaricatransfers.com.

Good Luck

shillmac

As has been mentioned, both are good options--depends on you! We personally enjoy driving ourselves around and having the freedom to do as we please, go where we want when we want. Roads are not horrible--potholed in places, but decent. We like a bit of adventure, are confident drivers, etc. Both of us have driven around Costa Rica alone as well as together. We think it's fun and part of the adventure! We don't mind stopping and asking for directions (with our very limited Spanish), but I know that others just prefer not having to worry about anything to do with a vehicle or driving. I can understand that as well. You are probably not going to regret either way!

RufusTFirefly

I don't care much for driving anywhere, whether on vacation or not. So on our trip to CR in January we used hired drivers. They stopped anytime we wanted to, and they also suggested places to stop and sidetrips to make on the way from place to place.

srroadwarrior

OK-
Thanks everyone for your input- we booked today for 7 nights with a Toyota RAV4! The general itinerary will be:
San Jose to Arenal, then down the Pacific coast to Quepos/Manuel Antonio, back to San Jose. We were planning on some time though Nicoya/Guanacaste, but it may be too much, so we'll play it by ear !!

Thanks again!
Scott

shillmac

Good choices! I know you will have a great time. We'll honk if we see you! We still laugh at the ways in which our "travel mood" has evolved over several trips. My husband tends to be the Type A driver. He follows the rules, is courteous, but expects everyone to drive the same way he does. He was incensed the first time he experienced Costa Rican driving--people, horses, bicycles, ENTIRE FAMILIES on the road, locals hugging or across the center line, the crazy pothole swerving that goes on! He doesn't complain so much these days. . .he's starting driving just like em! Sometimes I have to yell! No, seriously, it's been fun, but you DO have to accept that fact (the earlier, the better) that this is not the kind of driving we are accustomed to here in the states. Why would it be? Just use common sense, drive defensively, you'll have a wonderful experience!