7 Days in Costa Rica - The Cost Breakdown!!

I recently spent 7 magical days in Costa Rica and had the most wonderful experience. I'll have several planned blog posts dedicated to my trip within the next week, but I wanted to share a cost break down of my trip first. Money can be a touchy subject for some, but I wanted to share my trip costs because I know that interested travelers are curious. This will give you an idea on how much these types of trips can cost. I hope this helps someone to see that a trip they're dreaming of may actually be within their budget, especially if you save up for it and do your research. 

Before planning this trip, I researched the average cost of accommodations, food, and activities so that I could plan accordingly. This trip could have been significantly more expensive if I made different choices or it could have been quite a bit less. Costs can vary greatly depending on what activities you choose, where you choose to eat, your flight cost and/or where you choose to stay. Please keep this in mind!

I've stayed in hostels before and I knew I'd be spending hardly any time in a room, so I opted for the cheapest options available. One night I "splurged" on a tree-top accommodation because I knew it'd be such a unique experience and that was definitely worth every penny(blog post coming soon). I ate at local 'sodas' for cheap yet delicious food! I skipped out on ziplining & other activities that I've already done and I took the local bus across the country for $6. Everyone's interests, priorities, and budgets are different. You just have to decide what exactly is worth paying for to you. The best thing about traveling is that inexpensive options like taking the public bus and eating locally usually offer you the most authentic cultural experience & best value for your money.  I hope this breakdown gives you an idea on how much a trip to a place like Costa Rica can cost you! It's such a beautiful place with even more beautiful people. I definitely recommend visiting if you have a love for nature's beauty, true adventure, beautiful beaches, animals, and a pure life(PURAVIDA)!

---

Flight | Total: $189

Houston to San Jose Roundtrip - $189.00

(I would have only paid $76 if I purchased my ticket a week prior! Procrastination kills!)

---

Accommodations | Total: $139

Airbnb in San Jose - $25.00

TIP: 

STAY IN HOSTELS(SHARED ROOMS) FOR THE CHEAPEST ACCOMODATION. CHECK OUT HOSTELWORLD.COM

Hostel in Arenal - $34.00($17/night)

Hostel in Puerto Viejo - $28.00($14/night)

Treetop Airbnb in Puerto Viejo Limon -  $69.00

---

Transportation | Total: $63.55

Ubers in San Jose to & From Airport - $19.30

Uber to & From the farmers market - $6.67

TIP(S): 

• ubers can be 1/2 price of taxis.

• Public buses between cities are dirt cheap as opposed to private transport.

Uber to the bus station - $5.28

Public Bus from San Jose - $7.00

24hr Bike Rental in Puerto Viejo - $5.00

Bike Rental Arenal - $10.00

Bus from Puerto Viejo center to Cahuita - $6.30

Gas Money for ride from Puerto Viejo to San Jose - $4.00

---

Activities | Total $287.20

Puerto Viejo Surf Lessons  - $57.20

Thai Massage on Beach(LOL) - $55.00

Entry to La Fortuna waterfall - $8.00

Whitewater rafting + Transport from Arenal to Puerto Viejo + Lunch - $79.00

Two Volcanoes Tour(Volcano Hikes + Waterfall + Hot Springs + Volcanic Mud Mask + Hanging Bridges + Lunch + Local Drink + Transport) - $88.00

---

Food & Drinks | Total: $131.00

Day 1 Total - $10.00

Day 2 Total - $12.00

Day 3 Total - $20.00

TIP(s): 

• Eat at 'Sodas'- small, Authentic local RESTAURANTS. $4-$6 a meal!

• Buy cheap, yummy fruit at local markets & stalls! 

Day 4 Total - $10.00

Day 5 Total - $ 16.00

Day 6 Total - $14.00

Day 7 Total - $12.00

Water Bottles - $10.00

Airport food - $12.00

+  ATM Fees - $15.00

---

Grand Total - $809.75

Overall, I was pleased with the amount that I spent. I didn't exactly set a budget but I tried to opt for the most inexpensive options. I could have budgeted a bit more, but there were some things that I didn't want to pass up on.  It's all about figuring out what's of value to you! I researched similar trips with popular tour groups like EF College Break(who I traveled to Europe with) and my trip was less than 1/3rd of their cost so I feel like I did a pretty good job of saving in the areas that I could without missing out on fun. The experiences I had were worth every penny! 

Of course, Costa Rica is inexpensive in comparison to America and many other travel destinations. However, it's known to be an expensive Central American country to travel in. So you can look into visiting other countries in the region like Nicaragua and Guatemala at nearly a portion of the cost for similar experiences. If you're interested in traveling, don't shy away because you assume that you'll need to spend thousands of dollars. Be sure to research so that you can see what's possible for your budget. You might be surprised! 

What You Should Know Before Flying Spirit Airlines

Since the beginning of 2016, I'd been on Google Flights daily looking at the prices for trips to Phoenix, AZ. It was one of the many places I really wanted to visit this year, so I wanted to make sure that I didn't miss out on any flight deals. Low & behold, I was online searching one day and found flights starting at $79 roundtrip. At this point, I just knew I was going. What could stop me? I'd never purchased a flight ticket for lower than $150, let alone $79. I selected this price option and realized that this flight would be with Spirit Airlines. This made me hesitate a bit. Honestly, I'd heard plenty of terrible things about Spirit. At the end of the day, I was willing to give it a try for $79. I hadn't heard of any plane crashes, so at the least I knew I'd most likely make it to my destination alive. Ha!

Before I booked my flight, I read several reviews and  headed to Spirit's website to read the fine print. If you don't know much about Spirit, these flights can appear to be much lower in cost due to add-on services. The flight is priced and then you have the option to add-on services that other airlines may include in the original ticket price such as carry-on bags, checked bags, seat selections, water, etc. While the flight alone may be cheaper, you may end up paying the same amount or more after you have purchased the necessary add-ons.

This Guide will tell you everything you need to know about their 'Bare Fare'.

“I didn’t want to be that salty person person at the airport because I’d ended paying $300 in total for this flight when I expected to only pay $79. Even though this was the biggest complaint that I saw, it seemed fairly simple to avoid after doing bit of research.”

---

How you can avoid additional costs:

Read

Its honestly that simple. Before you finalize your flight options, Spirit's website tells you up front that each service will cost you extra if you choose to add it on in the airport instead of online. THE WEBSITE TELLS YOU THIS UPFRONT. They will charge you just as they promised. Know exactly what you're purchasing or not purchasing when you buy your tickets online.

Purchase Everything Online

As stated above, If you read the pop-ups on the website, you will know that you need to choose all of your add-on's online to avoid extra costs. If you choose to pay for your checked bag at the airport instead of paying for it when you purchase the ticket online, you will pay an additional cost. Know what you'll need when you purchase your ticket to avoid paying those fees.

Know what you WON'T be Getting

You won't be getting a snack. I saw so many complaints about this before purchasing my ticket which was weird, because this didn't seem like a big deal at all to me. Buy your own snacks & water ahead of time to bring on the flight or eat in the airport. Problem solved! Also the seats don't recline. They are naturally a bit more reclined than your average airplanes but you cannot recline them any further. Bring a neck pillow so that you can at least rest your head comfortably. You won't be getting free water so you can either bring an empty water bottle & fill it up when you pass security or purchase a water before you get on your flight.

At the end of the day, you will get exactly what you pay for & nothing more.

Its best to know this ahead of time!

So when would I recommend flying Spirit?

Short Trips

Leisure Trips(incase of delays or cancellations)

Short Flight Times

Trips Where You don't Need Much Luggage(to avoid baggage costs)

Significant Price Differences

---

How did our flight go? 

As I said, we didn't end up paying any additional fees. Our first flight was delayed by an hour and they didn't provide much information as to why it was delayed. Thankfully, we didn't have any obligations so this wasn't a huge deal. I've had terrible experiences with every other airline such as 4+ hour delays, lost luggage, horrible customer service, etc. so I can't say that this only happens with Spirit. Our second flight was on time and they were much better about communication on that flight. Overall, everything went as expected and I'd say the experience was totally worth what we paid. Especially since the price was $200+ less than any other comparable flight with a different airline.

If you can find comparable flights prices for other airlines(United, American, Delta, Southwest) that don't charge additional fees, then I would choose to fly with those. However, if you've added up your potential fees beforehand and Spirit's prices are still hundreds of dollars less, I'd say to give it a try. Be sure that to know exactly what to expect before booking.