Costa Rica
Costa Rica is definitely a very exciting place to travel to. However, it would be absolutely vital to protect your belongings and stay safe while you are traveling abroad. So, instead of bringing a wallet or a purse with you, it would be highly recommended to bring a money belt or a fanny pack instead, which will fit around your waist in a secure manner. This way, you can prevent pickpockets from stealing any of your important documents and your money.
Remember: if you want to enjoy your Costa Rican trip to the fullest, then you should prevent the nightmares of bureaucracy and delays as much as possible by ensuring that your purse or wallet never gets stolen. The Costa Rican black market happens to shell out lots of money for stolen passports and identification papers, most of all from American citizens, so make sure you keep yours safe at all times.
Ideally, you should leave all of your precious jewelry and other valuables at home, as well, or keep them locked in a hotel safe if you really need to bring them with you. Don’t leave any valuables or money in your room after you go out, though.
Other common safety precautions would include thinking about crime. Although Costa Rica isn’t exactly known to have lots of violent crimes, in general, these activities can still happen in any country – remember that. So, make sure you only use well-lit ATM machines and parking lots while you are there and avoid exchanging currency or dealing with money where everybody can see you. Ideally, you shouldn’t carry more money than you actually need for the day, either.
Another good travel tip for Costa Rica would be to be on the lookout for teamwork when it comes to thieves. Sometimes, one person may bump into you, so somebody else can steal your valuables and money after catching you off-guard.
Now, when it comes to traveling, make sure you only use red taxis with red license plate numbers. Fortunately, these taxis are very easy to find. You do need to keep in mind that there are several illegal taxis on Costa Rican streets, though, and these are usually the ones that aren’t red in color or have red numbers.
Once you are in a taxi, make sure you check that the meter is set to zero, as well. If you want, you can negotiate your trip’s price beforehand, too. That way, you will know exactly how much you have to pay by the time you reach your final destination.
Make sure you also keep all of your windows rolled up and your doors locked when traveling, as well, and don’t roll your windows down even if somebody is trying to talk to your or catch your attention from the streets.
When eating out or shopping, make sure you know exactly which taxes are supposed to be imposed. While shopping, it would be vital to remember that every purchase comes with a 13% sales tax, for example, and this won’t be calculated until the time of payment. So, before buying anything, think about the sales tax and then negotiate the price if you have to. As for bars and restaurants, they usually charge a 10% tax and tipping is also appreciated, although not necessarily required.
Lastly, make sure you pack properly for your trip in Costa Rica. Natural fabric and light clothing would be ideal, but a sweater or a light jacket would also be recommended for cooler nights and rainy days. If you plan on exploring forests, then long-sleeved shirts, boots and jeans would be good to have, too.
Hannah Parker is an adventurous vacationer. She once shared her travel experiences through blogging. Hannah writes on behalf of calling cards to India from Germany and online calling card for international travelers.
Safety Travel in Costa Rica
