BEST LUXURY LINK DEAL?

[lhbrown]

Hi Mountie,
Just don't let that last one of the $500 VIP certificates expire while you are looking. That was one of the truly best luxury link deals.....

[bonniejoy03]

hI hiss: I don't think you will have a lot of shopping in San Jose. We typically do not go into the city. There are souvenir shops on some of the main roads. I am aware of one in the Cariari neighborhood. Its a big shop with lots of stuff. San Jose isn't toooooo touristy with souvenir shops in the downtown. If you are the only two in your group, they will probably stop for you if you ask.



Good idea to pay the departure tax early!!

[kyshel]

Omegaet--Thanks for that info on CR. I like the idea of prepaying the departure tax in SJO. In LIR Liberia airport, you have to go to that window first before you queue for checkin, so it's a non-issue.
Hiss--most departure taxes are included in ticket prices, but I've noticed more countries getting it from passengers in cash--almost like a visa on arrival charge in reverse. At least some take credit cards now!

[lhbrown]

Hi,
It seems like departure taxes had been around in the 1960ie and 1970ies. I remember paying cash for departure taxes in Mexico City and also in Brussels way back when. Are you saying they are coming back? I thought departure taxes are already included in the ticket price when you purchase your tickets in the US.

[kyshel]

Good question and valid points. You're right about most cities world-wide. I recently paid over $50 just for airport improvements as well as departure taxes in Dakar but they were charged to our employee account, instead of being added to the price like a regular ticket. Many of these third-world countries cannot support collecting the money any other way, due to political/economic situations--however...we just paid cash in Guatemala in addition to the security fees and other taxes. CR has had this fee payable at the airports for several years. Parts of "tourist" Mexico had it for several years as well, and due to collection "issues" they put it on the tickets a while back.

[lhbrown]

Hi kyshel,
I can see where collection might be a problem. Many, many years ago, in Mexico, traveling alone, I was surprised by the departure tax payable at the gate. I had spent all my money on a 3 week trip all through Mexico and literally had to scrape the few pesos together to get home. I did make it, but barely. I came home with 10 cents in my pocket. I have learned since, not to cut it that close......

[kyshel]

I was thinking the other direction, LHBrown--in regards to who passes the monies on to the appropriate departments and who benefits! Isn't that funny! My concern was the political/corruption practices in so many countries, not so much tourists who had to come up with the right currency etc. I'm not so sure how much actually goes to developing the infrastructure to support a new airport, but I guess we've all wondered where did all that $ we paid go?
There have been some really greatly improved airports like GUA, DKR and such, then you have the ones like OTP Bucharest that seem to get funds from tkts but the roads are far from being completed in a reasonable time and it still looks like a communist project? very interesting... everything about air travel has changed--inside and out!

[lhbrown]

Hi kyshel,
I was definitely not focused on the the collection political/corruption issue. Of course, you would be more focused on those issues since you are more closely related to the airline industry. Yes, I can see where this can be a problem and the people handling the cash, might be the first to benefit from the lose change, rather then the much needed infrastructure and support of airports. I too noticed that countries in Europe that were under former communist rulers still tend to suffer from it in general, new airport or not. It is however too bad that funds from tickets do not seem to find their way to where they belong, that is improving airports and facilities associated with airports. Yes, everything about air travel has changed, you can say that again.....

[Mountie]

Well, so far, my best deal has been the Glenn Hotel in Atlanta. I'm not even going to post what I ended up paying for the trip after cashing in one of my VIP certificates.

[LL_Travelfan]

Hi Mountie,
Good for you that you finally did get the best possible deal ever. However, I am a little bit disappointed that you do not share more of the details with us, after everybody so generously shared theirs on this thread you started. Was it a LL auction package, or just plein hotel deal under LL? What was the property like, why was it such a good? Was it your $500 VIP certificate that made it such a good deal? Could you elaborate a little more? Please share some of the details with us, if you can.