Costa Rica : travel advice/questions?

Question

On a scale of 1-10, how much Spanish do I need to know?

Are hostels a good place to stay and are they safe?

Do any of the casinos have fixed limit Texas Holdem poker?

Would two weeks be an adequate duration for my visit to explore the whole country (or to get a reasonable feel for all the different areas)?

As an American, if I hang out in clubs/casinos/etc. at night, can I have a good time without getting hassled/propositioned by prostitutes (I hear it's legal there).

Can I still have a reasonably good time and be safe as a solo traveller?

Are there liquor stores in Costa Rica and if so, are North American brand name liquors sold at comparable prices to the U.S., or are they more expensive?

Is it terribly hot and humid in Costa Rica around late April/early May, is this "the rainy season?"

What ethnic cuisine is most similar to Costa Rican food?

Where are the best places other than San Jose to visit?

Any other info you can supply would be very helpful too. Thanks!

Answer 1

If you want to travel, you'll at least want some basic phrases.  Most ordinary less-educated folks don't speak English, except maybe at resorts and stuff.

Hostels are probably fine, but decent ordinary hotels are so cheap that hostels aren't necessary really.

Two weeks will let you see a lot, although there's enough to stay longer.

You'll be perfectly safe so long as you take the usual common sense precautions.  Like anywhere there are some dodgy areas. Mainly watch out in some areas of San Jose, and in Limon.

I remember booze being not a  bargain, but not too pricey- 75 cents/bottle for a good local beer, a buck for Heineken. $6 for really nice Nicaraguan aged rum...

April/May is the early rainy season, there will be some rain, but it will last 2 or 3 hours and leave the rest of the day clear.  San Jose is never very hot, 65-80 year round. The lowlands can be hot though.

San Jose has the nightlife but otherwise its nothing special, I would definitely get a guidebook and see as much of the rest of the country as possible.

The Costa Rican dialect is different from Spain's.  The more educated ticos shouldn't be a problem, although the rural or working class people have a weird accent and are hard even for me to understand sometimes.

Answer 2

1. You don't need to know spanish if you're staying at one hotel the whole and you know where it is, but you'll need to know some spanish if you're gonna be driving around the country looking for hotels, beaches (etc.) It's easy to get lost in Costa Rica. I needed to ask for directions in almost every town. (learn how to ask where is something)

2. Hotels are safe. But If you're not convinced you can just stay at American Company Hotels & resorts like Best Western and the Hilton. I personally think the little hotels are better. I stayed at a little street motel/hotel for $12 a night and it had a jaccuzzi outside, tv, breakfast, and all that other stuff.

3. I don't know about the poker rule.

4.Two Weeks is a great amount of time to see the country. I stayed for 12 days and saw most of the country, (but I didn't see the Caribbean/East Coast of the Country) You should buy a guide that shows you the roads to find your way quicker.

5. If you want nightlife you should be in san jose, the capital. The rest of the country doesn't have to many casinos and clubs. Also prostitution is legal, it's like a profession over there, you'll see them on the street but they won't give you trouble.

6. As a solo traveller, it'll be safe. Just don't hang out in the slums and the dirty areas of san jose by yourself and you'll have a good time. There are plenty of things to do. Whether it's relaxing or adventuring through the rainforests.

7. There are plenty of liquor stores everywhere. But I'm not sure about the booze pricing, and most stores carry american liquor (at least the big ones do)

8. I went to Costa Rica In the Spring(mid-april), and the weather was decent. it was in the low 80's and a bit humid in most area, but in the coastal city weather was perfect, like manuel antonio. I didn't much, if it does it will probebly be a little sprinkle.

9. Costa Rican food is a bit diverse depending where you are in the country. Like when you're near the sea you'll eat alot of seafood. When you're inland you'll eat alot of chicken. But All over the country, the most popular thing to eat is Rice and Beans, almost every meal i ate came with Rice and Beans. It's like the National Dish. But Most of the food is similar to mexican food.

10. Some good places to visit other than san jose are:

Playa Jaco(nice beach town, it has a nice street you can walk up and down that has a few clubs and restraunts)

Manuel Antonio National Park(nice Beach and Rain forest town)

Monte Verde(rainforest in the mountains) nice walking place

But what wasted a day of my time was a city called puntarenas, a little pennisula that was crappy.(dont go there

11. I recommend buying a guide from a bookstore to take along

Answer 3

BEWARE---BEWARE---BEWARE. I just returned from 2 weeks in Costa Rica.  The country is great and most of the people are very nice and helpful---BUT there is a new thing going on in and around San Jose. When I picked up my rental car I was warned that the theives were waiting until you stopped you car, and then they would cut one of your tires with a box cutter and then offer to help fix it while others steal you belongings. It happend to me after only 10 minutes from the airport. They were not who you might think--A pregnant woman was the first to offer to help. I could not find the jack, but she told me it was under the front   seat. Odd how a woman would know that. Then 2 older men---40-50 years old almost forced me to let them change my tire. While they were changing it -the right rear- somehow someone was able to get in my car and take about $200. worth of things.I was very careful and watched them but they were very quick. I went back to the car rental place and they said there was nothing anyone could do about it--not even the police unless they see them take something. Stay away from San Jose. Most of the time you can get along with just a little Spanish. I like to go to  San Isidro or Jaco beach but make sure you lock yor car. If you stay at the Garden Court motel across the street from the airport --San Jose there is very nice casino--  Fiesta--next to the motel. Go on the weekend and you will have a good and safe time. Great bands and good looking girls. Have fun but be aware.

Answer 4

You need to know your basics, but in CR a lot of people are bilingual, so you'll have no problem.

Depending on their location I think hostels are safe.

I don't have the info on casinos, sorry.

Two weeks will be just fine to explore the most important places in CR. (beach, volcano, rain forest, city, etc)

If you go to the clubs or casinos at downtown San José, you'll probably encounter many prostitutes, so try to avoid the downtown.

Yes you can have a good time solo, but be very careful while traveling.

There are many liquor stores, and you will find the same at any supermarket, you can buy there as long as you have some ID.  The info on prices i'm not sure but I guess they are more expensive.

April and may are the hotter months of the year, but not as rainy, on those months the rainy season is just beginning.

Costa Rican food is similar to other Latin American countries: rice, beans, meat, tortillas, etc.

You´ll have no problem with your spanish, you can say boligrafo here too! :)