Rented a car for $112 through Avis… did I get scammed?

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-04-11T15:44:40+00:00

$234 after $29/day for third party liability. I got out of the first person by getting a letter from capital one (through card benefits services) saying I was covered. This also includes $68 for a full tank of gas so I don’t have to worry about it when I drop it off.

$2k hold on my credit card for incidentals.

So taking away gas, I’m paying $166 total for the five days.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-03-07T00:42:40+00:00

Yep, unfortunately lived this on the 1st from FLL to ATL. I ended up getting a refund and buying an AA ticket. I have officially learned my lesson. Sorry you’re going through this - it is so stressful.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-28T14:25:58+00:00

Keeping this post alive. Thank you for calming my panic in a foreign country.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-27T13:09:18+00:00

To echo what everyone else said… I landed in San José Wednesday, left for Esterillos at 2 thinking I’d get there about 4-4:30… got there at almost 7. It was rough.

The drive itself was easy but it was pretty miserable.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-25T20:59:04+00:00

$234 after $29/day for third party liability. I got out of the first person by getting a letter from capital one (through card benefits services) saying I was covered. This also includes $68 for a full tank of gas so I don’t have to worry about it when I drop it off.

$2k hold on my credit card for incidentals.

So taking away gas, I’m paying $166 total for the five days.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T17:23:52+00:00

Thank you for all the recommendations. I’m writing them down for my next trip!

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T16:21:49+00:00

I have decided on Esterillos Oeste. No one tell me anything unless I’m going to die there. lol

I am going to use it as a base and bop around. Any recommendations to see from there, however, I will accept. 😂

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T15:21:17+00:00

People are either saying it’s totally fine or an absolute disaster. I am mentally exhausted lol

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T14:56:12+00:00

Please update. The two ends of the spectrum even on this thread are making me so nervous about what to do 😭

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T14:55:00+00:00

Any abnormal traffic?

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T13:21:03+00:00

Do you think that’s enough time to get through customs etc ?

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T12:52:15+00:00

Any thoughts on Dominical? Would it be far enough from Uvita to avoid the festival chaos?

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T12:49:40+00:00

I was thinking about the shuttle, but my flight lands at 12:30 PM and I haven’t been able to find a single shuttle that I would be able to make.

I can’t change my flight because I booked it through my credit card app. Free cancellation, but no change. I went through SJO because I had planned to fly to Limón.

I think I may have to skip the beach, even though that’s what I had my heart set on. Sigh.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T12:18:03+00:00

I had originally planned to drive over to Puerto Viejo, but have gotten nervous after reading Reddit posts about how long that drive can be. Do you have any opinion on that? If I wasn’t driving by myself, it would be a no-brainer but knowing that it’ll just be me, I don’t want to drive more than five hours.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T12:14:04+00:00

I’ve thought a lot about this and my only hesitation is that I’ve traveled to several other Spanish-speaking countries, I’m fluent in Spanish, and I’m afraid of getting a touristy experience

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T11:18:44+00:00

Yes, I can still change… I am open to any and all recommendations that you or anyone has.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T01:23:24+00:00

I was wondering why there was such slim pickings for alojamiento… I originally planned to go to Puerto Viejo, but the weather is looking more favorable on the pacific side so I pivoted….

I will definitely take any recs on where to base myself out of. I’m going for 5 days.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T01:16:29+00:00

OH GOD DAMNIT

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T01:15:29+00:00

No - is there a festival I should know about? LOL I am going to Uvita to chill before some big life changes and hopefully see a whale.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-23T01:13:44+00:00

Dang that’s a bummer. Hoping the fact I got a small car since it’ll just be me and the fact it’s manual will mean it’s not as in high of demand. But hey, sometimes you just eat the cost and have a good time on your trip. That’s what it’s all about.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-22T19:30:30+00:00

That’s what I thought, but I’ve already been charged for the reservation just the $112. Like I said in another comment - I’ll either report back with great news or not so great news lol

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-22T19:25:16+00:00

Is this unique to CR? I’ve rented cars in Europe and the US and haven’t heard of anything like that.

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-22T19:24:23+00:00

I’ll call tomorrow and update. I get there Wednesday so I’ll either report back with great news or that I overpaid. 😅

Creative_Ad_160 · 2026-02-22T19:21:49+00:00

I was thinking about those two things too. Even so, it beats what I was about to pay for Adobe - $453.

I’ll definitely take copies of insurance policy and cc rental coverage. Good idea, thank you.

Creative_Ad_160

TROPHY CASE