Pros and cons of using Uber over renting a car

Hello John and Geri Ann,

Welcome to Expat.com 😀

Please note that I have created a new thread with your post for more visibility on the Costa Rica forum.

All the best,

Cheryl

Expat.com team

@johnnyglocks63

Welcome! Five weeks around Tilaran is long enough that the answer is probably "a bit of both". Some things to weigh:

1. Uber's coverage thins out quickly outside the Central Valley and the big tourist towns. In small Arenal-area towns there can be only a handful of drivers, so it may work for a hop across town but not for getting home from a trailhead or a restaurant out of town. Open the app once you arrive and see how many cars show on the map around your place before you decide.

2. Liberia airport to the Tilaran area is a long ride, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by road. An airport transfer or a taxi booked ahead through your lodging is often easier than hoping an Uber is nearby.

3. If you rent, ask for the all-in price in writing. In Costa Rica the basic third-party liability insurance is compulsory, and the cheap price shown on a booking site often leaves it out, so the counter price jumps. Credit card cover can usually replace the collision part, not the compulsory liability part, so check what your card actually covers.

4. A middle route: rent only for the weeks you want to explore (many people take a car for a week or two for day trips) and use walking, taxis or a driver your host recommends for the rest. Rental companies near the airport and in the larger towns will often do shorter rentals.

5. Whatever you choose, download offline maps for the region before you leave home. Mobile signal in the hills is patchy and a ride-hailing app or navigation app that needs data will fail at the wrong moment.

It would help to know whether you plan to live in one spot and make day trips, or move around every few days. For one base with day trips, a rental for part of the stay is usually the more flexible option.

can you recommend anyone for driving a group of 6 from Joco to Arenal and back to San Jose ?

Mike

@Joel Potts

Thanks for your insights. We are staying in the same apartment for the 5 weeks. I think that we'll rent and see how things work out.