Costa Rica

Cost Rica (Rich Coast) is a great place for Gringos. Lots of people speak English and the place has lots to do and can be as expensive and as cheap as you want it to be.

• Make sure to have a ticket out of Costa Rica, a bus ticket will suffice.
• From airport: walk around the parking lot and take a bus to Alajuela for a dollar and another from Alajuela to San Jose for another dollar. Or pay forty for a cab.
• Inside San Jose the bus stations are all over the city so it's good to get a map. Buses go everywhere and cabs are not cheap. I generally took a cab to a place and a bus back as that was always easier.
• San Jose is a huge city so it is worth discovering more than just the downtown.
• At night it becomes a little sketchy and most things close down and there are not too many restaurants so try to have your dinner early.
• Local buses go all over the country for very low fares but most leave at six am.
• Currency: multiply local by two minus two zeros to get dollars. Divide dollars by two and add two zeros to get local.

Mexico

Contrary to popular belief, Mexico is fairly safe, modern and a great place to go. Here are some tips to make your time there easier.

 

• Flying from Tijuana may take more time than worth the hassle.
• Getting around Mexico by car, watch out for topas (speed bumps) as they are never marked.
• Cops will generally not bother you unless you are going far too fast, which rarely happens because of topes.
• Mexico City cab to airport about 150 pesos standard fare.  International departure gates are on second level. 
• Flying to Costa Rica on a one way ticket, buy a bus ticket to Panama before arriving at the airport.
• Metro stops running at midnight and cabs become pricy afterwards.
• Rush hour on metro in center of the city is recommended to be avoided, trains get packed to capacity and leaving the train far from the door may be impossible.