Spending money

[SaigonBookie]

Ok so myself and a few friends are looking into finally making our way to CR the week of Thanksgiving. Flight and hotel is pretty cheap about 1,000 per person. What would you say a fair amount would be for frood/spending? My friends don't have much cash...do you think and additional grand for the week would be adiquate for spending? I don't want to have to be lending everyone money. Hows the taxi system? Cheap? or do we need to rent a car? Also, are you guys still down to party that week or will everyone be doing the family thing? Do you even celebrate american thanksgiving?

 

[WildBill]

You can eat on $7 a day if you really want. Go to places called sodas and have the casado at lunch time and you will be out about $3 and won't leave hungry. Most of the people won't speak English, but you can always point or just know a couple of key words and be able to order. Beer is about a $1 in many bars, $2 if it has some atmosphere, $3 if it has a lot of hookers. Taxis will always try to rip you off if you aren't a local, but even then you are out maybe $3 a ride in town. Car rental isn't all that recommended, but if you are just using it to drive out of San Jose it can be a decent deal with a number of passengers. Don't get a car to drive around the city though.

In short its damn hard to spend $1000 in a week in CR unless you are getting a lot of hookers. In fact most trips down there I spend about $300-400 on the flight and then less than that on food and everything else except hotels. Trust me its damn hard to spend that much unless you really get frisky with the ladies.

 

[queposkid]

Mr.Saigon..

THe pilgrims never passed this way..

 

[DNoonan]

Mr.Saigon..

THe pilgrims never passed this way..

LOL....I will never forget many years ago when I was in High School and we had a Chinese exchange teacher living at our house, we brought her to my grandparents for Thanksgiving and my grandma asked her...

"So, how do you celebrate Thanksgiving in China - do you eat Turkey as well?" - you should have seen the look on the Chinese teachers face!!

Great fishing off Quepos no? I think that is where I went fishing for sails when I was in CR...

 

[SaigonBookie]

Mr.Saigon..

THe pilgrims never passed this way..

Haha I know but I just wanted to make sure if anyone was living there but from the great US. then you might still celebrate it. See you in November everyone. You guys better party!

 

[queposkid]

As an American in tico ville the only holidays which are really shared are Easter, Christmas, and New Years..Its strange..Mothers Day and those holidays they have here but they fall on different dates of the year..

On national Holidays here the country closes..I mean no alcohol sold anywhere..Different culture, but I could think of alot worse..

 

[GuinnessGal]

I'm an ex pat, and I miss my Dad's cooking for Thanksgiving. Personally I think Thanksgiving not something to celebrate, but I lovvvveee the food!!! So, here in CR, I buy myself some cranberry sauce (only like it in the can), and some stuffing mix and that's my Thanksgiving dinner.

I have been to the buffet they have at the Marriott twice, and that was pretty yummy.

 

[GuinnessGal]

About spending money - What Wildbill said.

 

[DimeBag]

Yeah the Marriot is good for a "Turkey Day" lunch, but they are seriously lacking in the "cornbread stuffing" and "gibblet gravy" department.

Dime

 

[SaigonBookie]

Is the Marriot in San jose?

 

[queposkid]

SAIGON..Marriott near the airport..There is a courtyard Marriott in Escazu..its small but better location then airport..

Ther InterContinental in Escazu is great for brunches and dinners..Has a nice POOL also..

 

[wavvy1]

If you stay in the Marriott then bring more than a dime. But you can live for about $50 dollars a week if you eat pinto (rice n beans) at the coca cola bus stop.

 

[DimeBag]

Saigon,


Will you be staying in San Jose? How old is your crew? And what type of adventures are you looking for?

Dime

 

[SaigonBookie]

We are 25...looking to try a little of everything...night life..maybe some fishing...hey I want to meet this Venus girl that it seems you guys are all drooling over lol.

 

[SaigonBookie]

Yes thinking of staying in San jose...not sure of anywhere else.

 

[DimeBag]

25 is a good age to be in San Jose. Not sure what you guys are planning on doing but fishing in San Jose is out of the question. If you guys are going to be in San Jose for a week there are lots of things you can do on a $1000 budget.

Do Check out San Pedro, tuesday is a good night to go to "La Villa".
Eat at Balcon De Mariscos, atleast once, the bocas are great.

Also Check out Bar Jettsy's at the Triangle, its near the office where you have your clients, there are not any girls there aside from the waitresses but the food, drinks, and service are spectacular.

Learn something, go to the "Pre-Colombian Gold Museum" and the "Teatro Nacional" in downtown San Jose and get a taste of Tico History.

Eat at " La Casa de Doña Lela" atleast once(or twice).

Also "Tiquicia" in Escazu is a must do, but at night, preferably on a Friday to see the traditional local dances and get a nightime view of the Central Valley in its entirety. Ever have your food served up on a wooden plank and a banana leaf? Thats what I thought....Do It!

Last but no least, spend your remaining cash to go to Tabacon in San Carlos, you wont regret it.


Dime

 

[wavvy1]

good advice dime. Wow, miracle no hookers were mentioned.

 

[DimeBag]

good advice dime. Wow, miracle no hookers were mentioned.

Soy gringo, pero no soy ese gringo


Dime

 

[DimeBag]

Oh yeah and go to "Rosti Pollos" and have "dados de queso"!!!

Dime

 

[AdamSelene]

Taxis have gotten very expensive. The increase in maria is bad enough, but they completely fuck you on inter-province trips. Sabana<->Heredia is only c2200 by the new maria, but taxis want c4500 "tariff rate".

If your hotel is by the airport (Alejuela province) and you travel around, you'll pay a shitload in taxis.

If you stay in San Jose and just travel in-town, tell them to use the maria, it's not so bad.