Navigating San Jose, Costa Rica Airport ---> Hotel
April 3, 2019 7:09 AM Subscribe
Please take me step-by-step through the process of getting from my plane to my hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica.
We are visiting Costa Rica in a few weeks, landing at the San Jose airport. We've never been there before. I'm nervous about the logistics of getting out of the airport, getting a cab of some kind, and getting to the hotel. From some travel in Mexico, I get somewhat stressed out about the chaotic scene of many many people shouting at you about taxis/ride services, which gets pretty stressful when trying to herd the kids. Is it like that in San Jose? Is there a particular cab company (or companies) that I should aim for? Is there a particular door or place that I should head towards? Is there any thing I should avoid in terms of rips offs or tricks regarding the fare? Should I try to set up a transfer in advance? Uber? I'd like to land with a specific plan in mind. We are going to the Marriott hotel in San Jose for one night, then back to the airport for a flight to the Osa Peninsula.
We are visiting Costa Rica in a few weeks, landing at the San Jose airport. We've never been there before. I'm nervous about the logistics of getting out of the airport, getting a cab of some kind, and getting to the hotel. From some travel in Mexico, I get somewhat stressed out about the chaotic scene of many many people shouting at you about taxis/ride services, which gets pretty stressful when trying to herd the kids. Is it like that in San Jose? Is there a particular cab company (or companies) that I should aim for? Is there a particular door or place that I should head towards? Is there any thing I should avoid in terms of rips offs or tricks regarding the fare? Should I try to set up a transfer in advance? Uber? I'd like to land with a specific plan in mind. We are going to the Marriott hotel in San Jose for one night, then back to the airport for a flight to the Osa Peninsula.
The Marriott has an airport shuttle - it's a big conference location so they're accustomed to shepherding lots of people to and from the airport. Give them a call or email for specific instructions, or if you'd prefer private transport they'd be able to arrange that for you too.
posted by theory at 7:27 AM on April 3, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by theory at 7:27 AM on April 3, 2019 [3 favorites]
There are airport taxis at San Jose (they're orange - specifically for airport rides, normal city taxis in SJ are red), if you do feel up to braving the queue and supporting a local driver. If you do, just insist they turn the meter on and then follow their route on google maps on your phone. They all speak passable enough English that you'll be able to communicate with them if there's an issue.
If the hotel shuttle isn't your jam, I wouldn't bother with trying to get a private car, because there is Uber there and it'll probably be faster, easier, and less expensive.
posted by allkindsoftime at 12:57 PM on April 3, 2019
If the hotel shuttle isn't your jam, I wouldn't bother with trying to get a private car, because there is Uber there and it'll probably be faster, easier, and less expensive.
posted by allkindsoftime at 12:57 PM on April 3, 2019
I’m sad to say that while it is a quite lovely airport otherwise, exiting is indeed a chaotic mess pretty close to what you describe. I’ve gone through it at least 15 times, with students in tow, and I’m still not used to it. To give you a run down...All international arrivals exit the airport through a single gate, after immigration and then an agricultural inspection. You are then funneled into one set of doors and a rather tight space on your way to the pick up zone and parking lot. Half a dozen people will approach you to offer you a ride or to carry your baggage. It helps immensely to have a shuttle or hotel arranged driver to pick you up, so I third or fourth that idea. They will hold a sign for you and run interference once you get to them. Since I stay in the interior of the country, about 2 hours away, I use a tourist shuttle service based near the volcano, otherwise I would provide a recommendation. SJO is really a very nice and friendly airport, and this is really the only pinch point!
posted by Cecilia Rose at 7:28 PM on April 3, 2019
posted by Cecilia Rose at 7:28 PM on April 3, 2019
Response by poster: Thanks, super helpful - I'm going to try to arrange a car.
posted by Mid at 6:58 PM on April 4, 2019
posted by Mid at 6:58 PM on April 4, 2019
Response by poster: In case anyone ever looks at this thread for advice:
1. We used ILT car service for a ride from the San Jose airport to the Marriott Belen. It was $50. The service was great - the driver met us with a sign, helped with luggage, was personable and friendly, etc. We paid by credit card over the web before we got there, so there were no payment hassles. The drive itself was like 10-15 minutes, so it felt like $50 was too much, but it did not seem wildly out of line. (I.e., I figure you are going to overpay for the "luxury" of a pre-arranged driver waiting with your name on a sign, even if the ride is short.) As someone said up-thread, there is a shuttle to the Marriott but this was a nicer stress-free way to arrive.
2. Later in our trip, we wound up taking one of the orange airport taxis for a ride from the airport to downtown San Jose and it was totally great. The driver used a meter and charged us exactly the meter price. I paid by credit card without any problem (the driver had a fancy wireless payment device). I got confused at one point and offered the driver too much U.S. cash to pay for the trip and he refused it - super scrupulous. We paid about $20 for the ride.
3. Then, going back from downtown to the airport, we had a less good experience in one of the red cabs. The driver did not use the meter and seemed to basically make up a price (about $50) when we got to the airport. He claimed he could not take a card and could not make change in any currency, which meant that we could only pay him in U.S. $20s (which is what we had). We wound up paying $60, which I think was at least 2x too much (based on the ride in the opposite direction). The driver said the "red" cabs are more expensive than the "orange" cabs. I'm pretty certain we got ripped off. Moral of the story - at a minimum, have a good amount of smaller denomination bills to better negotiate prices when someone tells you they cannot make any change. If I had it to do over again, I think I would have used Uber to get back to the airport - at least then there would be no confusion over the fare and no issue with making change/paying.
posted by Mid at 11:12 AM on April 28, 2019
1. We used ILT car service for a ride from the San Jose airport to the Marriott Belen. It was $50. The service was great - the driver met us with a sign, helped with luggage, was personable and friendly, etc. We paid by credit card over the web before we got there, so there were no payment hassles. The drive itself was like 10-15 minutes, so it felt like $50 was too much, but it did not seem wildly out of line. (I.e., I figure you are going to overpay for the "luxury" of a pre-arranged driver waiting with your name on a sign, even if the ride is short.) As someone said up-thread, there is a shuttle to the Marriott but this was a nicer stress-free way to arrive.
2. Later in our trip, we wound up taking one of the orange airport taxis for a ride from the airport to downtown San Jose and it was totally great. The driver used a meter and charged us exactly the meter price. I paid by credit card without any problem (the driver had a fancy wireless payment device). I got confused at one point and offered the driver too much U.S. cash to pay for the trip and he refused it - super scrupulous. We paid about $20 for the ride.
3. Then, going back from downtown to the airport, we had a less good experience in one of the red cabs. The driver did not use the meter and seemed to basically make up a price (about $50) when we got to the airport. He claimed he could not take a card and could not make change in any currency, which meant that we could only pay him in U.S. $20s (which is what we had). We wound up paying $60, which I think was at least 2x too much (based on the ride in the opposite direction). The driver said the "red" cabs are more expensive than the "orange" cabs. I'm pretty certain we got ripped off. Moral of the story - at a minimum, have a good amount of smaller denomination bills to better negotiate prices when someone tells you they cannot make any change. If I had it to do over again, I think I would have used Uber to get back to the airport - at least then there would be no confusion over the fare and no issue with making change/paying.
posted by Mid at 11:12 AM on April 28, 2019
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The Marriott will definitely be used to getting this sort of request. It's standard for business travelers especially.
posted by something something at 7:12 AM on April 3, 2019 [4 favorites]