SJacobs509

Help please....I am arriving with my family for a 10 day CR vacation on Thursday night, March 25, 2005....but our plane from Miami does not land until 9:30pm, and we need to rent a car for the week. I see that most car rental places close at 9 or 10pm, and it will likely be somewhat later by the time we get luggage, clear customs, etc.

Any advice?

TAGriffin

I assume that you will be spending your first night at a hotel not too far from the airport. (It would not be wise to drive to your first destination after dark.) I always catch a taxi or shuttle to my hotel and have the car rental company drop the vehicle off at my hotel bright and early the next morning. I know Europcar and Toyota RentaCar will do this if your hotel is near the airport or San Jose.

TurtleWoman

I, too, assume you will be spending your first night at a hotel in San Jose. The Hampton Inn is a stone's throw from the airport. Their shuttle will pick you up, or you can catch a taxi. There are several car rental companies right by the Hampton. Personally, we like to use Poas.

Ally

I'll just repeat what others have said. Don't try to leave the general San Jose/Alejuela area your first night. Pick a hotel and then take a taxi or use a hotel shuttle to get there. Most ALL rental companies will drop of a car to your hotel early the next morning. Last time I was in the area, Adobe Rent A Car had my car brought to Orquideas Inn by 7:45am.

shillmac

I'd second the Tricolor option. We have had very good luck with them (as well as Dollar). I haven't heard of an agency that can beat Tricolor's prices. Although Humberto is not really able to plug his hotel (Villa Bonita) on the forum, I can tell you that its location is VERY near the airport, and I can vouch for the hospitality he and Carmen will provide you. We stayed with them when they had Vida Tropical (also good, but a tiny bit further from the airport). Why don't you check out the website he offered? You can stay at the Hampton Inn here in the states! Try un hotel costaricense! Villa Bonita is about 5 minutes further down the road. It is in Alajuela as opposed to the Hampton Inn being just off the Interamerican Highway.

Don't go into San Jose unless you want to spend a couple of hours on a walking tour the morning after you arrive before you pick up your car and take off. The airport is actually located in Alajuela. San Jose is about 15-20 minutes east of the airport. If you DO wish to take some time walking downtown San Jose, you can take a taxi to your San Jose hotel from the airport for $15. When ready for your car, they can deliver as others have said, or you can hire a taxi to take you to their office. Most rental agencies have offices both in SJ and near the airport.

ponyboy

Are you really sure you "need" a car? Private transfers and flights are so cheap we come out ahead using cabs and planes (family of 2). I have watched more than a few rental cars sit unused in hotel parking lots while we take $5 cabs driven by someone who knows where they are going.