AIRLINE-TRAVEL INFO + What Should I Wear in Costa Rica? What to Bring?


NEW WEBSITE FOR OUR MAIN AIRPORT, SJO,

(Juan Santamaria Int'l Airport)

www.sanjose-costaricaairport.cr

 

NEW FLIGHTS TO COSTA RICA ANNOUNCED!

United Announces New Flights to Costa Rica
Apr 12, 2013
Starting Saturday, United airlines will begin routes from Washington DC to San Jose and Guatemala City, and from Chicago to San Jose. The new flights are nonstop, and will be operated by Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a capacity of 154 passengers.  

 

KEEP IN MIND THERE ARE 2 MAJOR CLIMATE ZONES
(but lots of micro climates)

1. Costa Rica's Central Valley is famous for having some of the best weather in the world, due to its' mountainous location yet only 9 degrees from the equator. The temperatures during the day can be around 70 F.; or 3-8 degrees cooler than the beaches, but at night the difference can be as high as 20 degrees.  So its not uncommon to have daytime temperatures of 75 F. that dip to 55 F. at night.
There are lots of micro-climates: so you could experience 95 F. degree afternoons in Santa Ana, and 10 minutes away, at night, be freezing in the mountains of Escazu. Arenal can have similar temperature fluctuations.

Rainy season in San Jose is pretty similar to the beaches, from May till November with the worst month being October.

2.  The beaches can be divided between north, central and south, Atlantic and Pacific.  Here in Jaco, our temperatures are the best of any beach area south of Mexico, because of how the bay is shaped and the cooling breezes we receive. During the day, Central Pacific temperatures can average between 76-90 F.; while either north in Guanacaste, or south in the Osa peninsula, temperatures can average 85-95 F.
In the Jaco area, the nights comfortably cool down, while the other regions
things can still seem warm.  The Caribbean side seems muggier more often than anywhere else, and they do have almost the opposite schedule of the rainy season as the Pacific. Check the weather on google before you come!!!
Remember what happens in San Jose sometimes stays in San Jose, so if you want the weather for the Pacific, check Puntarenas as an indicator.

Easy way to remember the difference between Celcius & Fahrenheit:
82 F. is 28 C.

IN GENERAL:

Pack light: Bring comfortable, hand-washable clothing. T-shirts and shorts are acceptable in San José though frowned upon in Government offices.
AT night it can get chilly, so bring long pants, and a light weight jacket.

In San Jose, if planning to go out in the evening, slacks are highly recommended as some restaurants won't admit you in shorts or sandals.
Yes jeans are popular, especially with a sport coat.

Loose-fitting long-sleeve shirts and pants are recommended if you take any day trips out to smaller towns, where immodest attire is frowned upon.
IN general, Costa Ricans' take pride in their clothing, especially in the San Jose suburbs, either Escazu or Curridibat.

Bring a large hat to block the sun from your face and neck.
Pack a light sweater, sweatshirt or lightweight jacket for San José's cool nights for trips up volcanoes.  Sturdy sneakers or hiking boots are essential if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing and hiking.
Waterproof hiking sandals or other footwear that lets your feet breathe are good for strolling about town, and also for beach walking, fording streams, and navigating the myriad mudholes you'll find on rain and cloud forest trails.
 

If going to the beach, obviously you'll want light, cool, clothing, swimwear, shades, etc. and the standard fare is shirts, shorts, sandals;
but there is a 10,000 colones fine for wearing shorts and dark socks with either tennis shoes or sandals during the day!
 

In Jacó Beach, you can purchase just about anything you may have forgotten, from sexy bikinis to digital cameras...we've got it all!

Bring the CR Beach language tips found on our page, "Learn these Words" or stop by our office and pickup one of our famous bookmarks with the tips on one side. Costa Rica is not a "3rd world" country, where getting supplies is difficult.
If you forget your camera battery pack or the computer recharge-cord, you can most likely get them at a Radio Shack for twice the U.S. price, or at Walmart-for only 50% more than the U.S.  Yes there are tons of places to buy mosquito repellent or suntan lotion, but probably double the U.S. price.
All in all, our temperatures are similar to summers in San Diego, California, with a little Miami mixed in.....
Jeff's super tip: bring good sandals with you, (prefavorably with a back strap), because the sidewalks here, (where they exist) can tear up the most expensive pair of flipflops in a second, (and possibly with your face kissing our famous black ants.)
Remember in Costa Rica,  if you trip and fall, it's your fault-there are no personal injury lawsuits here......

 

 


Costa Rica Flight Information: Updated March 14, 2013


 

SPECIAL AIRLINE ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Delta airlines announces new daily L.A.-San José flight
Posted: Wednesday, March 06, 2013 - By L. Arias
The new nonstop flight is already available for booking at the company’s website.
Delta Air Lines will offer a new daily nonstop flight between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Costa Rica’s capital starting July 1, the company said in a press release.
 The route will be operated by a Boeing 757-200 with capacity for 180 passengers, including 24 first class seats and 21 seats in economy comfort class.
The flight from San José will depart at 6:55 a.m. and is expected to arrive in Los Angeles at 2:20 p.m., while the flight from LAX will depart at 11 p.m. and will arrive in San José at 5:45 a.m.
The new service is already available for booking through the airline’s website.
Delta offers service to 32 countries and 49 destinations in the region, with more than 1,000 weekly flights between Latin America and the United States. By summer, the company will operate 118 peak-day departures to 40 nonstop destinations.
 
Canadian airline announces new flights to Costa Rica
December 20th, 2012 (InsideCostaRica.com) Air Canada announced the launch of its new, inexpensive leisure travel airline brand, “Rouge,” which will begin service in July 2013 and will provide service to both the San Jose and Liberia airports in Costa Rica, departing from Toronto, Canada.
“With the introduction of Air Canada Rouge, the company enters the growing leisure travel market,” Ben Smith, executive vice president of the airline, said in a statement.
As part of a special introductory rate, flights to Costa Rica will begin at just $389, according to the statement.Air Canada currently operates one non-stop flight per week to Costa Rica.
 
The New Law 
Costa Rica’s new immigration law, Ley de Migración y Extranjería Nº 8764, went into effect March, 2010. It has changed several times since then. While parts of the law are not yet enforced and interpretations vary, it is important to know that it is the traveler who is held accountable for having the proper documents to enter and exit the country.  See the information below for what you need to enter, exit and re-enter Costa Rica as of January, 2012:

  • Passport: A passport must be in good condition, and, depending upon your country of origin, it must be valid for three to six months. Many U.S. airlines require 6 months!
    • The Letter of the Law: Pasaporte en buen estado (la vigencia mínima del pasaportes corresponderá a tres meses para las personas nacionales de los países ubicados en el primer y segundo grupo de las Directrices de Ingreso a Costa Rica y seis meses para aquellas del tercer y cuarto grupo).

  • Onward (Exit) Ticket: Before being allowed to board a flight or enter the country, tourists must have documented, verifiable proof that they will be exiting the country (continuing their journey or returning from where they arrived, “Tiquete de continuidad de viaje o retorno al país de procedencia”) before their visa expires.
    • Proof can be in the form of a round trip ticket, a pre-purchased airline or bus ticket to another country or documentation verifying passage by sea. The ICT states that “All visitors must have an entry and exit ticket, whether it is by air or by land (bus), as the case may be, as a requirement to entre (sic) the country.”

  • A one way ticket: Please note that the definition of a one way ticket includes not only a one way ticket into the country but also
    • a ticket into Costa Rica with departure booked from another country
    • a roundtrip ticket with a departure date scheduled after one’s visa expires, typically 90 days after entry.
  • Visas: Most travelers are automatically issued a visa (stamped on their passport) when they enter the country and not before. Visitors from the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are allowed to stay in the country for up to 90 days. Those from other countries should check with their nearest consulate.
  • Economic Resources: Tourists must be able to show that they have $100 for every month they will be in the country.
  • Departure Tax: Travelers are required to pay an exit tax before leaving the country via the airport and at most borders. $28 USD is currently charged those exiting at the airport and those leaving at a border crossing pay less.
  • Exit: Tourists are required to exit the county before their visa expires.
  • Overstaying Visa: The law states that “persons who overstay the time allowed on their visa may have to pay $100 and cannot return for three times as many days as they exceeded the time allotted.”
  • Re-entry: Tourists can exit and re-enter Costa Rica if they have the documents required to enter the country, including a valid passport and an onward/outbound ticket. The law does not state that tourists need to stay out of the country for 72 hours before re-entry, as is often stated by travel sites.
  •  
 

BASIC AIRLINE INFO:

Airlines traveling regularly to Costa Rica: Offering non-stop flights from various locations, United Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Mexicana de Aviación, Copa Airlines, Aviateca, Martinair, American West, US Airways.  TACA and LACSA are Costa Rican carriers, and some of the others also offer nonstops.
Yes, there is a departure tax for all foreigners, $28 accepted in U.S. dollars, colones, Euros, credit cards ....

 Costa Rica has always been a popular spot for North American travelers, and with airline and hotel specials overflowing the web, it has reached another level of accessibility.
Costa Rica's proximity to major hubs in the United States and the multitude of flight options makes it easy for travelers to vacation there. It is a two and half hour flight from Miami, a five-hour flight from New York, a four-hour flight from Dallas and a six-hour flight from Los Angeles.
(http://news.cheapflights.com)


 

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE INFO:
www.alterra.co.cr/FIWS/index.aspx 

FLIGHT AND AIRLINE INFORMATION:
AUTOMATED FLIGHT INFO: 2437-2626 - English-9 Arrival-1 Departures-2 

GENERAL AIRPORT INFO - Client Services: 2443-1737 / 2443-1244-fax (5am-10pm)  (they speak GOOD English & are REALLY helpful with ANY questions you have!!)

AIRPORT TAXI: www.TaxiAeroPuerto.
com

 Domestic airlines that travel within the country
Contact SANSA at
www.flysansa.com (506)2221-9414 or Nature Air at www.natureair.net (506) 2220-3054.

AIRPORT PARKING (at terminal): $11/day / 890 colones/hour (2440-6700 /2437-2400)

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES  at SJO JuanSantamaria Int'l
Air Canada - 2441-8025-English-
9 8am-1pm Mon.-Sat. / 0800-052-1988  / www.AirCanada.ca
Air Comet - 2291-0684 / www.AirComet.
com
Air France - 2220-4119 / www.AirFrance.
com/cr
Air Madrid - 2296-4559 / www.AirMadrid.
com
Air Panama / Air Costa Rica - 2296-8592 / www.FlyAirPanama.
com
Air Transat - 2441-9444 / www.AirTransat.
com
America West - 2430-6690 / 0800-0110888 / www.AmericaWest.
com American - 2442-8800 / 257-1266 / www.AA.com
Continental - 2442-1904 / 0800 044 0005 / www.Continental.
com
Condor - 2430-4787 (air panama) / 2441-9444 /
www.Condor.com
Copa - 2441-4742 / 2223-2672 / www.CopaAir.com
Cubana - 2430-4787 / 2221-6918 / www.Cubana.cu
Delta - 2440-4805 / 0800-056-2002 / www.Delta.com
Iberia - 2441-5635 / 2257-8266 / www.Iberia.com
KLM - 2220-4111 / www.KLM.com
LACSA - 2443-3555 / www.TACA.com
MartinAir - 2440-8848 / 2232-3246 / www.MartinAir.
com
Mexicana - 2441-9377 / 2295-6969 / www.Mexicana.
com
Nature Air - Pavas Airport-2299-
6070 / Res-2299-6000 / www.NatureAir.com
SANSA - 2221-9414 /
www.Flysansa.com
Spirit Airlines - 800-756-7117 / www.SpiritAir.com
TACA - 2443-3555 / 2296-9533 / www.TACA.com
United - 0-8000-521-243 / www.United.co.
cr
USAir - 2430-6690 / 2520-0593 / www.USAirways.
com
West Carribean - 2291-0580 / www.WCA.com.
co
www.alterra.
co.cr/FIWS/contactAerolinea.aspx 

 

 


COSTA RICA TRAVEL TIPS & CUSTOMS updated March 14, 2013


 

 WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARRIVE TO COSTA RICA:
Jeff writes: I finally took my first trip out of Costa Rica in 4.5 years and got to experience the newly remodeled airport first hand.  I was impressed.  Nice, clean, efficient with Banco BAC offering the best priced money exchange  ever at the airport.

When I arrived back in Costa Rica I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the Customs process was, I handed them my in-flight written customs declaration and I was allowed to pass thru very quickly without inspection. I was burdened with one suitcase, one carry-on, and one giant 5 foot tube carrying my sister's artwork.
Of course, I cannot guarantee this was the norm, but after a "red eye" flight, it was fantastic not to have to open up all of my luggage.
The taxi cab drivers that will immediately greet you after you leave the customs area are now under strict regulation, and the fares are "metered" so there is no sense in worrying nor arguing about the price. It was higher pricing than I had expected to my destination, but it was clearly posted on the meter.  I went about 4 miles from the airport and it cost $17.

However, when departing from Costa Rica, immediately upon entering the airport you will be asked if you have already purchased your $26 departure tax. I had pre-payed mine at the TACA branch in Escazu, as well as getting my seat assignment. That definitely made life easier. 
I noticed that the pricing in the airline shops and food court are now insane.  The newly remodeled airport has fewer shopping opportunities, and pricing is significantly higher than the "good old days."  Even the former great pricing of the "duty free" liquor had increased dramatically.  Unlike LAX, at least there is an indoor ugly segregated area for those nicotine addicted individuals, plus now there is a newly designated luxury lounge that supposedly is for frequent flyers. The truth is that you can get into the lounge by agreeing to purchase at least $30 per person worth of food and alcohol.
Definitely I advise to buy your Costa Rican tourist souvenirs and packaged coffee BEFORE going to the airport. If you don't want to pay $6 for a cinnamon roll, bring your munchies to the airport.
Amazingly it seemed that the online baggage inspection was tougher in Costa Rica than in Los Angeles, at least on TACA airlines, but TACA was are far more permissive in size of bags than American carriers. TACA-Lacsa also served free tasteless food and free alcohol on board, (very cool!).
The final touches are being done to the renovations of the main Costa Rican international airport, Juan Santamaria in Alajuela (SJO), and it is a pleasure to experience this.
All in all, I was very impressed, and if its your first time flying to Costa Rica, it should be quite easy for you to exit the airport and head towards your final destination, hopefully Jaco, where you will be treated like royalty by our staff at CR Beach.......

  

 

Customs 

There are no customs duties charged on personal luggage, which includes items for personal and professional use, as long as they do not appear in such quantities that suggest commercial intent. Costa Rican law requires ALL baggage to be examined thoroughly and that travelers submit to customs regulations listing all articles entering Costa Rica including fruit, vegetables, meat, meat products, biological products such as vaccinations, serums, etc. In the case of ones family, one declaration may be filled out by the head of household.
 

Tighter Security Controls At Costa Rica's Airports For US Bound Flights
Jan 7, 2010 Inside Costa Rica
At the request of the United States the Dirección General de Aviación Civil (DGAC) has tightened its security protocols at the Juan Santamaría (San José) and Daniel Oduber (Libera) international airports on flights to the US. The measure follows the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas day on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan.

Among the changes are that passengers will not be able to carry on their carry on any powdered substance. Items like cacao or powdered milk are a no no (sometimes), unless they are purchased within the terminal's retail stores.

Jorge Fernández, director of Aviación Civil, is emphatic that passengers travelling to the
US should buy items like coffee only from stores in the airport terminal - these are the stores beyond the security checks, near the boarding gates.
The only exception to the rule, according to Fernández are prescribed medical items and infant formula and milk. However, these items will be closely inspected by the Policía Aeroportuaria (airport police) before boarding.
The restrictions on liquids, like gels, creams, toothpaste, etc, continues if they are in packaging over 100ml.
Also xray machines and metal detectors will continue to inspect carry on luggage.
Fernández said that in addition to all of this, passengers on US bound flights will have to submit to a final boarding inspection, this being done by the airlines, independent of the security checks and controsl of the DGAC.
Although the tightened security measures are geared towards US bound flights, Copa airlines,  Continental airlines, said it would be adhering to the
US security measures though Copa has no direct flights to the US from Costa Rica
.
The director of the Policía de Vigilancia Aérea stationed at the Santamaría and Oduber airports, Glen Pacheco, said that passengers can expect more exhaustive checks to impede passengers from boarding with any dangerous substance or material.


What kind of inoculations do I have to take to Costa Rica?


No vaccines are required to enter Costa Rica.

One of the great things about Costa Rica are the many pharmacies, that do not require a prescription for most medicines.  And they will sell you a couple of pills instead of having to buy an entire box.  Some pharmacies will even give you shots. The idea is that the pharmacists are very well trained and this helps to take pressure off the overextended socialized Costa Rican medical system.

Yes you can buy those little blue pills without a prescription, ahem,

I've been told!


How do I bring my pet to Costa Rica?


Pets

Import  health requirements for dogs and cats 

Dogs and cats entering Costa Rica must have a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian, and endorsed by a Veterinary Service (VS) veterinarian. The examination for the certificate must be conducted within the two weeks prior to travel to Costa Rica.

Health Certificate Statements

  1. The dog/cat was examined and found to be healthy and free of any clinical signs of infectious disease.
  2. The animals were vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus.

Vaccination Requirements

  1. distemper
  2. hepatitis
  3. leptospirosis
  4. parvovirus.
  5. rabies – for animals 4 months or older

Requirement

 

  1. The examination for the certificate must be conducted within the two weeks prior to travel to Costa Rica.

  2. Please use a State of Federal  US Interstate and International Certificate for Small Animals.

  3. Enclose rabies vaccination certificate.

Note

  • The Health Certificate does NOT need to be signed by a Notary Public, nor does it have to be authenticated by the Consulate of Costa Rica.

  • Animals exported in commercial lot numbers must be accompanied by an import permit.

  • Goldfish are not required to have health certificates.

 

 

 

 

 

AIRFARE 101: How Do I Get the Best Airfare?

Cheapest Airfares Might Be on Airlines' Own Websites  By The Associated Press  09/12/12

By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ, NEW YORK -- Some airlines are making travelers work harder to land the best deal. Carriers are offering more deals to passengers who book flights directly on their websites. It's an effort to steer people away from online travel agencies such as Expedia (EXPE), Orbitz (OWW) and Travelocity, which charge the airlines commissions of roughly $10 to $25 a ticket.So while travelers can save money, they must do without the convenience of one-stop shopping.
Frontier Airlines (RJET) is the latest carrier to jump into the fight, announcing Wednesday that it will penalize passengers who don't book directly with the airline. Those fliers won't be able to get seat assignments until check-in. And they'll pay more in fees while earning half as many frequent flier miles. "Particularly for families, it provides an incentive to book directly," said Daniel Shurz, Frontier's senior vice president, commercial. "There is no logical reason for our customers to want to book anywhere else."  
Contracts with the online travel agencies prohibit airlines from offering lower fares on their sites. Instead, airlines such as JetBlue (JBLU), Spirit Airlines (SAVE) and Virgin America often provide discount codes in emails to their frequent fliers or through Facebook and Twitter.The savings for booking directly can be significant.

Toronto-based Porter Airlines frequently offers codes that save travelers up to 50%. A recent search of flights from Chicago to Toronto for November produced an airfare of $249.61 using a code at flyporter.com. The same flights would have cost $404.38 through Travelocity.

The airlines face a delicate balance. Online travel agencies account for the lion's share of ticket sales. But the airlines want to trim the fees that eat into their profit margins.

Besides the discounts, the airlines say their sites offer passengers a better experience, providing up-to-date seat maps, details about in-flight entertainment and more seamless booking.

Henry Harteveldt, co-founder of Atmosphere Research Group, said the airlines and travel sites have "a very, very dysfunctional business relationship." The travel sites treat all flights equally. Price is the only differentiator.

"The online travel agencies either won't or can't talk about how an airline might have WiFi on a plane or extra legroom seats available," he said.

The online agencies say they provide travelers with several advantages, including comparison shopping and the ability to mix and match airlines for a single trip.

"That's something you can't do on an airline's site," said Dara Khosrowshahi, president and CEO of Expedia.

Simon Bramely, vice president of transportation and lodging for Travelocity, part of Sabre Holdings, noted that "the flight is one element of the trip."He said online travel agencies can save travelers hassle and money by creating packages that include hotel rooms and car rentals.

The battle is not new. Southwest Airlines (LUV) was a pioneer in cutting out the middleman. The airline does not list its fares on third-party sites. That means travelers have to search both southwest.com and then elsewhere to compare fares. Southwest hopes fliers will never make it to another site.Most of the big carriers have remained quiet. American Airlines, part of AMR Corp., (AAMRQ) was the exception. In December 2010, American cut off Orbitz from displaying its fares and selling its tickets to protest the commissions and the failure to displays extras like seat upgrades. The site had been selling about 3% of the airline's overall tickets. Expedia joined the fight by making American's fares harder to find. All sides eventually settled their disputes.

Frontier, part of Republic Airways Holdings, is making its changes specifically to cut the commissions. A four-segment itinerary -- say a round-trip flight from Sioux Falls, S.D., to Phoenix connecting in Denver each way -- booked directly through Frontier costs the airline $1.60 to process. That same itinerary booked through an online travel agent costs Frontier $20 to $26, depending on which website the ticket is booked on, according to Shurz.

Those commissions add up: Shurz said Frontier spends about $55 million to $60 million annually on distribution fees. In the first half of 2012, 42% of Frontier's $713 million in revenue came through tickets sold directly with the airline. Shurz hopes to increase that figure to 65 percent in a few years, cutting expenses in the process.Frontier's customers have a big incentive to book directly.

Only those going through the airline's website will get to pick their seats in advance. Travelers booking through third-party websites will only get half the frequent flier miles. Fees for changing itineraries, going standby, traveling as an unaccompanied minor or bringing a pet onboard will be $50 higher for those booking elsewhere.
Frontier is a low-cost carrier based in Denver. It flies to 80 destinations in the United States, many smaller cities, as well as leisure destinations such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Through August, it carried 9.1 million passengers. In that same period, United Continental Holdings (UAL) carried 96.1 million passengers. In a related move to increase loyalty, Frontier is lowering the amount of frequent flier miles needed for a free flight by 5,000. The airline also changed its website URL to flyfrontier.com.About the only thing not changing are baggage fees: They will remain $20 for each of the first two checked bags regardless of where you buy a ticket.AP Airlines Writer Samantha Bomkamp contributed to this report.

 

When to Fly—Season
Presumably, not all of you decide the time of year to travel based on travel costs, but many do. And unlike day-to-day price changes, airfare seasonality is fairly predictable.
Within North America—domestic U.S.Canada, and the nearby Caribbean/Mexico/Costa  Rican areas—your main objective is to avoid times when fares peak.
And those times are about what you'd expect:

  • Airfares from northern areas to sun-sand-surf destinations generally peak from January through March, with lowest available levels at somewhere around 50% higher than at other times. You find good deals just about any other times.
  • Lowest available fares on these and most other routes show a somewhat less pronounced summer-season peak in June-July-August. 
  • Lowest fares to "family" destinations are generally when schools are in session.  
  • Available fares just about everywhere peak sharply—often around double—surrounding the Christmas-New Year-Hanukkah holiday season. You find similar peaking on many routes around Thanksgiving.
    Lowest available fares are generally good for travel on the days of major holidays and for intermediate days of three-day weekends and week-long holiday periods. Of course, there's a reason: Not many of you want to fly the Friday after Thanksgiving or on Christmas Day.

At other times, fares seem to fluctuate more randomly, although fares in the fourth quarter—Labor Day through mid-December, except for the Thanksgiving peak—are usually the year's lowest.
 To the Southern hemisphere, Southern South America the summer and year-end holiday peak periods coincide, so fares are generally lower during the May-August period—somewhat lower to South America,  

 Researching seasonal fare variations has never been easier. Checkout www.smartertravel.com or Hotwire's TripStarter feature displays a day-by-day graph of lowest generally available airfares on hundreds of popular domestic and international routes (actual prices travelers paid through Hotwire) for the entire calendar year 2009 plus 2010 up to the current date. If you can't find the route you're considering, look at nearby major airports.
Hotwire's data are unique and uniquely valuable. Lots of government and trade sources track average airfares, but as noted above, those data are of limited use, if any. Hotwire is the only source I know for historical lowest-generally-available fare data: Some of my industry analyst friends would kill for a 10- or 20-year tabulation of these series.

Hotwire also tabulates average hotel prices for major destination cities in a similar way, and the site allows you to determine the best (or at least lowest-cost) times to visit. For example, from New York to Orlando, TripStarter says the lowest airfares are in January, September, and October; the lowest hotel rates in Orlando are in August, September, and November, so a visit in September gives you the best of both worlds.
Keep in mind that destination costs do not always parallel airfare costs.
Don't schedule a vacation for minimum airfare if that means paying top dollar when you arrive.

When to Fly—Day of Week; Hour of Day
The consensus among travel writers and self-appointed mavens seems to be that the best days for domestic travel are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Similarly, the conventional wisdom about times to fly says that you find the lowest fares on early morning, overnight red-eye, late evening, and mid-day flights.

But day-of-week and time-of-day decisions needn't be a guessing game. Many big online sites display lowest available fares for as much as plus or minus a full month around the dates you initially specify, and you can sometimes knock hundreds of dollars off by switching travel a day or two. Similarly, most sites display all the fares for all feasible itineraries during a day, so you can easily spot those that combine low fares cost with reasonable schedules.

Long Term
Just about everybody in the industry agrees that airfares almost everywhere are in a period of sustained increase. The big "legacy" airlines, say the mavens, are finally achieving discipline on "excess capacity," which means they will stop overproducing seat-miles and thus face less pressure to sell off that excess at below-cost prices.

I tend to agree with that conclusion, although competition from low-cost lines and the inevitable new startups will keep a lid on what might otherwise be a major overall price increase. And, discipline or no, you'll continue to see short-term sales at unpredictable times. (Editor's Note: SmarterTravel is a member of the TripAdvisor Media Network, an operating company of Expedia, Inc. Expedia, Inc. also owns Hotwire.)  

 

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2013 COSTA RICA


PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
Costa Rica is a Catholic country and its holidays are mostly church-related.
Most businesses, including banks, close on official holidays.
The country closes down entirely during the biggest holiday time,
Easter Holy Week, but only during Holy Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
by Holy Sunday, some services might be available, but don't count on it
in remote parts of the country.
Buses stop running on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
Banks and offices are closed. And hotels and car rentals are booked
solid weeks in advance as everyone seems to head for the beach.
Avoid the popular beaches during Easter week.
Most Ticos now take the whole Christmas holiday week through
New Years as an unofficial holiday
.
 
Date                Day       Holiday Name
January 1, 2013 Tuesday New Years Day
March 19, 2013 Tuesday Saint Josephs Day
March 20, 2013 Wednesday March equinox
March 28, 2013 Thursday Maundy Thursday
March 29, 2013 Friday Good Friday
April 11, 2013 Thursday Battle of Rivas
May 1, 2013     Wednesday Labor Day / May Day
June 16, 2013 Sunday Fathers Day
June 21, 2013 Friday June Solstice
July 25, 2013 Thursday Annexation of Guanacaste
August 2, 2013 Friday Our Lady of Los Angeles
August 15, 2013 Thursday Mothers Day
August 24, 2013 Saturday National Parks Day
September 9, 2013 Monday Childrens Day
September 15, 2013 Sunday Independence Day
September 22, 2013 Sunday September equinox
October 12, 2013 Saturday Columbus Day
November 2, 2013 Saturday All Souls Day
November 22, 2013 Friday Teachers Day
December 8, 2013 Sunday Feast of Immaculate Conception
December 21, 2013 Saturday December Solstice
December 25, 2013 Wednesday Christmas Day
December 31, 2013 Tuesday New Years Day
 

 


Costa Rica Business Hours and more tips!


 

 Miscellaneous Tips:

These days most banks are open from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. (ALTHOUGH  in some tourist areas banks will stay open till 6:00 pm like Banco BAC.
Some are open on saturdays 9-1. 
Government offices are open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Most commercial businesses open from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Stores and other businesses at commercial centers from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Most restaurants open from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm but closed between 3-5. However most Costa Ricans eat dinner after 7:00.   Hotels and some restaurants are open 24 hours. There is a 13% sales tax at hotels, restaurants and most service industries.
 
WARNING: CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR RESTAURANT CHECK ALREADY HAS THE 13% TAX PLUS THE 10% TIP (SERVICE CHARGE) ADDED (99.9% OF THEM WILL). 

MANY NEW CREDIT CARD CHARGES HAVE A LINE CALLED "PROPINA" BEFORE THE SIGNATURE SPACE.  THIS IS A SNEAKY WAY TO GET FOREIGNERS TO DOUBLE TIP!  I HATE THIS, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SERVICE IS USUALLY TERRIBLE, NO MATTER HOW EXPENSIVE THE RESTAURANT.

I ALSO URGE YOU TO BE GENEROUS IN TIPPING BECAUSE MOST WORKERS ONLY EARN $1 AN HOUR, $400 A MONTH WITH TIPS.  IN THE RARE CASE THAT YOU GET A GREAT WAITER/WAITRESS-
TIP WELL AND TELL THEM THAT THEIR EXCELLENT SERVICE IS THE REASON.




 


What are some of the top reasons people are visiting Costa Rica today?


The majority of visitors to Costa Rica come seeking the beaches and water related sports as demonstrated by the fact that 76.6% of exiting respondents have listed that as activities they participated in during their stay.
67.3% participated in the observation of the flora and
fauna, of which we assume a majority visited one or several
national parks or reserves.
49.2% went on hikes (guided or self-guided)
47.2% listed birdwatching and or girlwatching
15.1% went rafting or kayaking
12.6% surfed
and 7.0% listed special interests.

(72.5%  Declined to state the real reason!)


Can I drink the water?


Yes, you can drink the water in most areas of Costa Rica,  and wash your produce with it, however, ITS ALWAYS A BETTER  IDEA TO BUY BOTTLED WATER.
PLEASE NOTE: Jaco's municipal water is excellent, and is continually tested,
by scientists, and by yours truly, monthly.
Bottled water has similar prices to the U.S. but many people do drink the
ice-tea and the fruit concentrate "naturales" they serve without problems. 
 
Final thoughts:
 Pure and suitable water for drinking does exist throughout 
Costa Rica, but don't be a cheapskate and jeopardize your vacation.
Buy the bottles!


What is the climate like and when is the best time to visit?


Almost ideal year-round, the climate is a moderate 72 degrees in the highlands, while the lowlands and coastal areas range from the low 70's to the high 90's. Evenings in San Jose are free of humid heat, and beaches are cooled by ocean breezes. Rainy season occurs from the end of May to November, with the heaviest rainfall in October. The Atlantic or Caribbean side is driest from February thru April, with a short "summer" in June and July, and the wettest months from November thru January. However, you should be prepared for rain at any time during the year in this part of the country. The Pacific side and central parts of the country are driest from January through March.

A lot of people have a misconception of our "rainy season", imagining that it's "monsoon like" and that it never stops raining. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can normally be assured of sunny mornings followed by some rain in the afternoons or evenings, and even plenty of days without rain. The Caribbean experiences a "short summer" during this time, and their weather can be quite pleasant. Avg. highs are between 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit and avg. lows between 72-75 degrees.


What is the currency in Costa Rica?


The Costa Rican currency is called Colon,
however the plural (colones) is usually used
and pronounced "co-LO-ness"
.
One thousand colones equals about $2.

 

 

 

Central Bank
Reference Rate

Jan. 21. 2012
BUY
494
SELL
505

 

This means to buy  1000 equals $2.02
To buy 1 dollar costs (₡505) $1.98
                  

YOU WILL ALWAYS NEED TO BRING YOUR PASSPORT
TO CONVERT U.S. DOLLARS into
Colones, even $10.
Don't even bother trying to argue, it won't do any good.

US dollars are accepted in most tourist places only
and $100 bills are not easy to cash,  thanks to counterfeiting.

Major credit cards are widely accepted,  VISA the most, then Mastercard, occasionally American Express.  Alternatively, many simply use their bank debit cards. If your card says "PLUS" or "CIRRUS" on the back, your card should work fine with many of the automatic tellers in the country.
Major banks such as Scotiabank, Interfin, Banco Uno and others have tellers available. Also, the country is dotted with "ATH" cash machines
(stands for: A Toda Hora or "at all hours").
These tellers accept international credit cards.

Some persons bring travelers checks as a protection against theft. DON'T!
Be aware, some small establishments do not accept travelers checks and it would be wise to change the checks at your hotel or at a bank before you go to remote places in Costa Rica.
They will charge you 1-3% for cashing your travelers checks.