Costa Rica

Pros: So much to see, unique experiences,
Cons: San Jose=dump,bad roads,language barrier

Costa Rica is a unique experience, but it's not for everyone. The language barrier is real bad, nobody speaks good English down there. The roads are borderline deadly in some spots. This is a third world country and I think people come here expecting...

Pros: Costa Rica Is Nice
Cons: Costa Rica Is Nice

Costa Rica is nice. It is affordable. The people are pleasant and respectful, unlike the many advisors which make this web site less than it could be.

I have toured all of Costa's Pacific/Western side and much of the East. Costa's roads can...

Pros: Cheap to visit
Cons: Very little english spoken and they encouraged you to speak spanish, takes classes, I did.

I stayed at Barcelo's Playa Tambor (all inclusive) food, drinks, entertainment and plenty of daily excursions/things to do. I went horse back riding from the mountains to the water falls thru the rainforest. This country has it all. Rent ATV's all day and go thru the springs..very deep water. Also, the hotel provides musical plays..daily sport schedule, etc... I loved the evening events as well. The waves are kinda rough though..so don't expect to swim in the ocean, unless you like that kind of stuff. There is a rainforest right next to the hotel and plenty of walkways...be careful because it gets pretty dark from the forest canopies and plenty of monkeys too. Go mountain climbing, but wear good rubber soled shoes..because the rocks get very slippery, especially near the waterfalls. Some of the elders in our group almost fell. The "guide" speaks very little english I noticed. Enjoy, a beautifully preserved country. These reason I chose Coast Rica is because it is 1 US Dollar = 537.530 Costa Rican Colon (so, 537 of their dollars to 1 american dollar)

Pros: Mountain biking on gravel roads surrounded by tropical beauty.
Cons: Narrow roads, drivers and no singletrack.

Costa Rica is great for mountain biking: mountains, a large network of dirt roads, friendly locals, cool tourist destinations, beaches, wildlife and the occasional party town.

Since cycling is Costa Rica's second most popular sport, you are also guaranteed to meet friendly cyclists as you ride around. Make sure to ask them about their most favorite places to ride. I am sure they will invite you along.

There is a new site offering free information on biking Costa Rica: www.bikingcostarica.com.

Pros: Beautiful Country. Osa Peninsula is amazing!
Cons: Jaco is a Criminal Town!

Costa Rica is a beautiful place. Unfortunately, places like Jaco taint that. Locals call it a criminal town. Had our luggage stolen, police were useless, police station was packed with tourists who had stuff stolen. We walked 100 ft to beach for a photo. There was a Lookout person, vendors to distract and thief to break into car, took 4 mins if that. Locals say the town has gotten out of control. Rings of thieves all over. Avoid it. There are plenty of beautiful places to visit in Costa Rica. This is not one. Have fun!

Pros: none
Cons: descrimination, noisy, too expensive for what they give you

Hotel Brazilito in Playa Brazilito

We were forced to reserve a hotel Brazilto in Playa Brazilito because it was the only available hotel in the Tamarindo area. Now we all know why. I highly recommend NOT to rent any hotel at all (camp out) if Hotel Brazilito is your only option.

1. Owners discriminate against certain ethnicity
2. Rooms are sacks and do not have windows. Instead, they covered the window holes with nets against mosquitoes.
3. There is a loud discothèque across the street from the hotel. No window = no noise isolation. Don’t even think about going to sleep before the music stops playing
4. There is a rooster farm behind the hotel. Roosters start blasting at 4 am. If you end up falling asleep at 1 am after the discothèque closes down, 4 am is not the best time to wake up.
5. The beach has a very narrow sand area where one can lay down and get a tan…
6. The drive to Tamarindo is 20 mintes and is 30 US dollars.
7. There are not too many good restaurants around

Pros: The view from the home was beautiful. The wildlife is incredible.
Cons: Ted Tambke will not return calls or e-mails to rectify the situation.

We returned from Costa Rica a month ago. The Country is spectacular. Diverse & beautiful. The Rainforest literally meets the sea in Dominical. The home we rented, though, was a huge disapointment. The shell of the home appears spectacular. The interior was not as described. So many little necessities were not available (water, dependable power, t.v., air-conditioning, clocks, internet, a safe for valuables, etc..)The web-site listed the home with these "amenities", but did not deliver. The pool was cloudy & had moss growing on the over-flow. The chairs were moldy. The home was infested with ants. The bathrooms had not been clean prior to our arrival, and smelled of urine. The tubs & showers were grimy & the counters had not been bothered to be wiped down. The home was not "Ocean Front" as the owner, Ted Tambke, claimed. We would advise anyone looking for a luxury home rental, to rent from a reputable agency, and use a credit card.

Pros: helpful people everywhere, all villages
Cons: not knowing enough Spanish before visiting

I visited just on a impulse..and was I totally surprised. The people are very pleaseant. I walked San Jose, some areas you don't want to go ...but I never felt threatened. I stayed in a small Costa Rican style hotel, Aranjuez. it was a very nice experience. The tours are very cheap and available. I would advise anyone not to rent a vehicle, hire a taxi...they are everywhere and cheap. I have visited two times and it is wonderful. Picture this...relaxing in a bubbling natural hot spring...for hours, watching the Arenal volcano explode with lava at night....sipping a margarita...it don't get any better.

Pros: I had no problems with the vehicle, just the company.
Cons: Economy (aka Advantage) Rent a Car put false charges on my credit card.

Stay away from Economy Rent a Car (aka Advantage) Rent a Car!

When I turned back my vehicle, they said one of the tires was a different brand (not damaged, just a different brand). I provided a written statement that the tires hadn't been changed while I had the car, but when I got my next credit card statement there was a charge for nearly $100. Not only that, I had paid $20/day extra for insurance on all damages and they still placed this charge. What a scam! It was difficult, but my credit card company finally reversed the charges.

Pros: Beautiful scenery and friendly people. The food is to die for.
Cons: Hard to drive. Insects everywhere.

I have traveled to Costa Rica twice in the last year and it is heaven on earth. I love the open-air restaurants and the rain forest hikes.