Costa Rica Car Rental? Costs, Scams, Dangers & Joys

[@leejeffries9796]

We visit Costa Rica frequently, and this one of the best driving in Costa Rica videos that I have seen.

[@SwankGuide]

Glad to hear it!

[@danieladelberg7274]

amazing video. Very informative and beautifully filmed! will be watching more of your vids for sure!

[@SwankGuide]

Thanks for watching... hope you enjoy the rest of my vids!

[@Victoria-wg8ow]

I just came back from Costa Rica. The biggest issue with a rental car was parking rules violation. We were told not to park near yellow line. Where we parked was no yellow line. And signs that we could understand. So, we broke the rules. Police took our plate number. We needed to pay for it 700$ to a car rental company (150$ fee for the wrong parking and other - cost of plate return). Just for parking! Crazy completely anti touristic thing! The worst what happened with us in Costa Rica.

[@SwankGuide]

wow that is crazy... thanks for letting the community know.

[@BlessedLife291]

Very informative. I’m traveling there in May

[@SwankGuide]

Enjoy your trip!

[@terrellmiller7361]

Great info, thanks! Two Q: * how available are automatic trans during high season? I've never driven a stick shift * is there any advantage to renting a car in a smaller town or at least not from the airports? Pura vida!

[@SwankGuide]

Hi I think most cars are automatics... I dont remember being offered a stick option

[@bethanybunnell8735]

Great insights! Thank you

[@SwankGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jgoegl]

Great video - thank you very much. We are planning to go to CR in January next year. Concerning Alamo rentals - I read in their T&C that it is not allowed to drive on unpaved roads unless explicitly agreed. Did you get similar T&C or is this maybe only here with German agents bookings?

[@SwankGuide]

I dont recall such a T+C but I probably didn't read he fine print. All the car rental companies are explicit about not driving through rivers, but I dont recall anything about unpaved roads. That's a ridiculous requirement, it would effectively bar you from going to the Osa or Nicoya peninsula. Even in other pats of CR you will likley encounter an unpaved road hading into a resort or restaurant. Not sure what to tell you. Good luck

[@davidnelson4783]

Your comments about what rental car company to use - what are you basing this on? Is this just that you, and maybe a couple of other people you talked to in/near the airport had trouble with Hertz not having the vehicle that you wanted? At which airport(s) - Liberia, San Jose, or both?

[@SwankGuide]

I dont love the tone of the Q... I'm trying to be helpful here. Anyway, I rented w Alamo out of SJO and they were great... supported by reviews.. I used Hertz/Budget out of Liberia.. bad experience... and I spoke w others in the rental hall. Is this peer reviewed science? No

[@davidnelson4783]

@@SwankGuide Thank you for replying. I didn't mean any disrespect. I was just genuinely trying to gauge how seriously I should take your comments about which car rental company to use, whether it was based on just your personal experience or something broader. Best of luck to you and thanks for the video!

[@SwankGuide]

@@davidnelson4783 No worries... hope I answered your Q. At Hertz there was another guy in same situation as me.. was jetting jerked around. I relaize this is a small sample size

[@markdurmilon6755]

I just priced a rental car price price for a month rental simple sedan…..and it works out to $115 a day with the insurance and gps……is that just what it costs to rent a car in Costa Rica this coming January ( high season)

[@SwankGuide]

good luck

[@jessi330]

whoa that is too high per day.

[@markdurmilon6755]

Well I am currently in Costa Rica for one month and at the end of the day my rental car sedan automatic transmission unlimited mileage a Kia four door two wheel drive. $2030 for the month. So far this first week I have driven it 510 km osa peninsula

[@JaimeBlackBird]

Forging the river like in Oregon Trail 🤣 Hilarious!

[@gilbert2303]

I'm 39 single male traveller. Which area would you recommend ? Or is the whole country worth it ?

[@SwankGuide]

check out my Costa Rica playlist, I have a video showing highs and lows or CR's differnt areas and an itinerary.

[@gilbert2303]

So 4x4 in nicoya and OSA ?

[@SwankGuide]

Yes!

[@JaimeBlackBird]

AHAHAHAHA!

[@markdurmilon6755]

I just priced a rental car price price for a month rental simple sedan…..and it works out to $115 a day with the insurance and gps……is that just what it costs to rent a car in Costa Rica this coming January ( high season)

[@SwankGuide]

As I'm sure you've figured out, algorithms are good at surge pricing. Thta's not what it costs me but I was there in November then March/April... January is high high season. Wish I had a better answer for you

[@markdurmilon6755]

I did my homework and just reserved a sedan 28 days $2000 everything included including that darn insurance . Pilot rent a car….. That price I can deal with

[@donbunnell488]

Great! Good luck and have fun