What I Wish I Knew Before Our Costa Rica Trip (With Teens)
Costa Rica is an incredible place to travel with teens. It’s beautiful, welcoming, adventurous, and far more doable than I expected. That said, there are a few things I really wish I had known before our first trip, things that would have saved money, stress, and a lot of unnecessary overthinking.
Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post. Using them helps me without costing you any additional money. Thanks for your support!
This isn’t an itinerary. It’s our lived experience that we only knew after the fact.
Check Your Phone Plan Before You Go
We don’t have a great international plan through our regular carrier, so we use a JetPac eSIM every time we travel.
Get $5 Off Jetpac eSIM!
Stay connected globally. Use my referral code at checkout to save on your first purchase.
Apply code JILJ3J2L during checkout.
It was very affordable, didn’t always download perfectly on the first try, but customer service was responsive and helpful. You WILL NEED WHATS APP when you are there. Everyone uses it!
Renting a Car Is Worth It
There is mandatory insurance in Costa Rica and yes, it adds cost. Even so, renting a car was still far cheaper than hiring drivers, especially for a family of four with a flexible itinerary. We have always used Alamo and its been great.
With a car, you will also see and experience a lot more. For example, we now have a FAVORITE pizza spot that we have literally been to five times (see image below). (Yes, it's a chain, and yes, we think this one is superior).
Driving takes longer than distances suggest, road conditions vary, and night driving isn’t ideal unless you are staying closeby. Still, the freedom to stop, pivot, and explore on our own terms was #worth it. WHEN you visit will have a huge impact on cost. Tip: Anyone who travels in Costa Rica will tell you that Waze is a MUST.
 |
| Favorite Road Trip Pizza Stop |
You Don’t Need to Book Every Hotel Night in Advance
You do need to know where you’re sleeping, but you don’t need to lock down every night months ahead. Booking the first few nights helped us settle in, and leaving flexibility later in the trip worked well. We even booked a side hotel for a single night during high season and it was completely fine.
When I booked last minute over direct Whats App with the hotel, I sometimes got a cheaper rate than the on-line price.
Airbnb vs Hotel: Mix It Up
On our first Costa Rica trip, we stayed only in hotels. On our second, we stayed almost entirely in Airbnbs, with one hotel night. Having done both, I’m convinced that a mix of Airbnb and hotels works best, especially when traveling with teens.
Airbnbs in Costa Rica gave us more space, multiple bathrooms (a big plus with teens), and the ability to cook. They also felt more like a tico experience, which mattered to us. Food in Costa Rica is expensive, and cooking some meals at home saves a lot. When shopping, buy local products when possible. If there are American staples you know you’ll want, it’s worth packing them - sunscreen in particular is very expensive to buy locally.
Hotels in Costa Rica were all about ease. Having staff available to answer questions was especially helpful on our first trip. Breakfast included was another major benefit and made mornings simpler.
If you need an airport hotel near San José, I highly recommend the Pura Vida Hotel. The host, Bernie, is wonderful, the breakfast is excellent, and it feels far more personal than a typical airport hotel.
 |
| Pura Vida Breakfast |
For future trips, we’ll continue to mix Airbnbs and hotels. That combination gave us the best balance of space, cost savings, and convenience.
Wildlife Is Everywhere
I assumed seeing wildlife would mean long drives to national parks and structured excursions. In reality, some of the best animal sightings happened casually - crossing the road, hanging in trees along the beach, wandering through towns, or even sifting through trash cans at an adventure park.
National parks are incredible, but you don’t need to organize your entire trip around them to see animals.
ATV Rides Are A Yes
 |
| Gettting Comfy in ATVs at the Congo Trail |
We did ATV riding both trips and would absolutely do it again. It was fun for teens, a great way to see terrain we wouldn’t have otherwise reached, and adventurous without feeling extreme. If you’re debating whether it’s worth it, this was one of our highlights.
Expect to Be Sold Things on the Beach
People will try to sell you things on the beach - massages, bracelets, tours, food (word of warning: maybe even sell you drugs - I have not experienced this personally but it is talked about). It’s not aggressive, but it is constant. Cash is king and they will change prices on you if you pull out a credit card. A polite no thank you works just fine. Knowing to expect it makes it much easier to enjoy your time without feeling annoyed. That said, if you need to rent some beach chairs, or want a very expensive yet delicious pineapple drink, you will likely have that option!
You Will Pay to Park, and You Should
At many tourist spots, locals will ask for payment to “watch your car.” This is normal and expected. The cost is usually small ($4-8) , it supports locals, and it genuinely reduces stress. Just pay it and move on. Trying to outsmart the system isn’t worth it.
Tipping in Costa Rica: What to Know
 |
| Batido (CR Smootie) |
We often asked whether the service charge was already included, and the answers weren’t always consistent. That didn’t feel like a scam so much as uneven communication. You can usually double-check the bill itself as the 10% service charge is often listed there.
For guides, drivers, and hotel staff, tips are appreciated but not required. Having small bills on hand helps, and when in doubt, a modest tip or simply moving on both felt fine. We tried to pay cash tips in colones (the national currency) but most places (including the car watchers) took dollars.
Final Thought
Costa Rica offers more than any one trip can hold. You won’t be able to do it all, and that’s part of what makes it special. Whatever you choose will likely be great. It was a rare trip that worked for our entire family, adults and teens, without constant negotiation. It’s not the cheapest destination, but it’s incredibly rich in experience.
Best 7 Day Itinerary: La Fortuna & Manuel Antonio
Learn About The Best Guanacaste Beaches
How We Scored 5 Free 5 Star Nights
.png)