Taxis: if you take a taxi, make sure that the counter is working. There is a minimum amount of 250 Colones, when you beginn your trip. For far distance, it can be smart to make an agreement with the driver. Make sure, that the price you get, is not higher than the price you would pay using the counter. Always ask for the price before you start, especially for short ways, if the meter does not work. Unfortunately, many taxi drivers try cheating foreigners. You have to pay about 150 Colones per kilometer, which is about 300 Colones per mile. Do not take pirate taxis, because their prices are often higher than the regular taxis and they do not have insurance!
Attention: If you arrive at the airport and want to make a short trip, for example to Alajuela, make sure not to take one of the light orange airport taxis, because they have a minimum fee of 800 Colones. With a different taxi, you pay about half of this amount.

Shopping: Always try to deal, if you go shopping. Most shops give you a discount of 5 to 15 %, if you pay cash, but only if you ask. Highest discounts are possible when you buy souveniers. Get souveniers in the city. La Casona is the best place. It is a building with many souvenier dealers inside, where you can compare and deal. Try not to buy them at the beach of Puntarenas, in Quepos and in the other tourist centers, because prices are much higher.

Hotels: If you are looking for a hotel while traveling through the country and ask for the price, make sure that they tell you the price including taxes. If not, you will be surprised and have to pay about 17 % taxes extra. If you want to pay with credit card, watch that the hotels do not try to charge you 6 % more. Many hotels try this with the argument, the bank would charge them this fee. This is true, but no reason to get this fee back from the tourist. We (and the law) have the oppinion, that the hotels have to pay this fee, because they are the ones who want to use the service from the credit card company. If it comes to a fight, you can hardly not do anything except pay (most hotel owners are hardheaded). However, you can ask before, if you know about this and try to prevent that they charge you the fee.

Restaurants: If you go to small local restaurants (Sodas), you pay only the advertised price without extra. In all the better places, they add a 10% service fee and 13% sales tax, which will change your bill dramatically. Read the menu, it has to be written there. You can get a rich CASADO with beans, rice, backed platanos, salad and at your choice chicken, gulasch, steak or fish for only $2. Often, there is even a fruit juice included. However, you can get the same dish for $8, if you go to the wrong place, so watch out! Our hint: Only visit better restaurants, if you want to eat something international.

Constructing: You did buy a house and want to add on? New law requires plans for all kind of buildings with the signature of a registered architect, what can be expensive. If you can prove that you are poor and only want to add a room, there should be no problem to do it without a plan. Just talk to the municipality. If you need workers, get offers from at least three different. Ask for references and ask your neighbors if they can recommend someone or you can get very disappointed. Every person who owns a trowel, calls himself a constructor. It is a pity that the real good constructors are often booked out for many month in advance. Never pay the whole price in front, try to always owe them something or it can happen, that your workers just do not show up anymore. Furthermore: Be friendly to the workers but not like to a friend.