Suggested Hotel
The Project Office has finalized arrangements for a block of hotel rooms with the Meliá Cariari Conference Center. Our room block runs from June 25th to August 5th. The reservation block expires Friday, May 27th, remember to say you are part of the NASA-TCSP room block.
The Cariari (http://www.meliacariari.solmelia.com)

• Located on the Pan-American Highway, the main highway from San Jose to the airport, about 5 miles from the airport.
• Shuttle service to and from Airport provided
• nice quality facility, 222 rooms
• 134 acres landscaped grounds
• Buffet breakfast included
• Internet access is available in most rooms; must be requested at time of reservation. Costs: an additional $8.50 daily charge added to the daily room (Internet access also is available through the business center.)
• Cost for each room will be $90.00/night plus 3% tax ($92.70) plus the internet access fee of $8.50 for a total of $101.20/night, single or double occupancy.
• Amenities
  • 18-hole golf course (with reduced fees for guests)
  • ATM
  • health club with Olympic-size pool
  • casino
  • shops
  • 2 on-site two restaurants (one is open from 5 am to 11 pm )
  • Avis rental-car counter and 2 travel agencies on site
  • Real Cariari shopping center across the street.

Make reservations by phone, fax or email:
Phone: Call the reservation manager at (506)-232-8122 x162 or (506) 239-0022 x 3140
Fax: (506)-239-0285 or (506) 231-5698
Email: The Reservations Manager; ereservas@melia.co.cr and CC to rodrigo.castro@solmelia.com
Cancellations must be received no later than 72 hours prior to arrival!
*** Click here for the Credit Card Authorization Guest Form (PDF) ***

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Marriott Costa Rica
Campos de Golf
Herredura
Hampton Inn
Hotel Aeropuerto
Best Western Irazu
Corobici

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• in la Ribera de Velen, aprtotle Don Luis
• ~ 3 min from Mariott
• Contact (506) 293-1963 or apartoteldonluis@yahoo.com.

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The U.S. Embassy is located in Pavas, San Jose, about 10 miles from the airport. The main phone number is 506-519-2000.

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Country Arrival & Departure
Visas. Visas are not required for U.S. citizens traveling to Costa Rica. Visas may be required for citizens of other countries.

Departure tax. Departure tax is currently $28 to be paid on entry to the departure terminal prior to check-in. U.S. government personnel with official passports do not need to pay, but need to have their exit form stamped by the immigration office in the terminal.

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Use the following address when shipping to Dryden.

(PI / Team Name) c/o
UPC-Kevin Kraft: TCSP
NASA DFRC
4876 Lilly Dr., Whse 6
Edwards, CA 93523
Phone (661) 276-7599

Please make sure to put your name, or the name of your team and Kevin Kraft on every shipment. This will ensure that your equipment arrives at the proper location and will help avoid any delays.

It is possible to receive shipments in Costa Rica, but this should only be used if absolutely necessary, to avoid costly taxes and import fees. Please contact Quincy Allison if you know that you will need to send any items that will not be on the C-5.

Information Request
Quincy Allison needs to know what each group plans to send to Costa Rica. This includes any dangerous goods, i.e. compressed gas cylinders, solvents, or chemicals. Please provide as much information about the particular dangerous goods as you can.

For other equipment, a brief description of the items, a box count and approximate size and weight is all that is needed.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Quincy: Phone: (650)604-3493, email qallison@mail.arc.nasa.gov

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Most U.S. carriers have non-stop flights to San Jose through their hubs, e.g., American through Dallas and Miami, Delta through Atlanta, Continental through Houston, or USAir through Charlotte. United has a daily non-stop to San Jose from Dulles.

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There is also a Rosti Pollo’s chicken chain next door to the Hampton Inn. Other nearby restaurants in Escazu and San Antonio de Belen: La Luz, La Cascada (steak), El Rodeo (nice patio), Taras. In Savannah Park, look for Chiote (steak) or Piazeta, Italian. Additional restaurant information will be provided upon arrival.

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• Conversion rate as of 5-4-05 is approximately 470 colones to the dollar.

• Taxes. In general, 16.4% on rooms, 22% on food and beverage, and 10% services added to all bills.

• Time. Costa Rica stays on U.S. Central Standard Time year round.

• Cell phones. U.S. cell phones do not operate in Costa Rica. Local cell phone rentals are available.

• Street names. In general, there are no road or street names in Costa Rica. Directions are given in terms of location with respect to local landmarks or known points (i.e., the hotel is 2 km west of the factory, south of airport). If you need to go somewhere in a car, get a map and detailed directions….getting lost is very easy.

• Newspapers. Costa Rican English language Tico Times, published every Friday. Miami Herald Latin American edition also available.

• Personal safety. Petty theft is bad and getting worse. Never leave any valuable articles unattended, especially visible inside a car. Use available in-room safes. Avoid going out alone at night.

• Parking. Parking “attendants” are on the street nearly everywhere you go. It is customary to give these attendants 100 colones or so (when you return) for watching your car. It’s money well spent.

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Arrangements have been made with two Rental Car Agencies (Hertz and Alamo/National) to accept reservations from “TCSP"participants. We have selected two agencies because rental cars can be scarce during July in Costa Rica. Please refer to the email sent from Sue Tolley on June 2 for details and contact information.

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Cell Phone Rental

Cell phones can be rented from car rental agencies.

For those who are NOT renting cars, information on local cell phone rental shops will be available at the on-site Orientation.

Cell phone rental in Costa Rica can be VERY expensive! There will be phones in the hangar for local calls and, of course, your own phone in your hotel room.

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Also, The Project Office will be setting up a Shuttle Bus to run from the Hotel Cariari to the airport and back several times per day, possibly to make lunch and/or dinner runs. We will have this information in the Orientation material.

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Click here for a diagram of the hanger lab layout in Costa Rica. This is subject to change. Science
teams should check with the Project Office upon arrival to confirm assigned space and other logistics.

Click for full scale diagram.