Car hire at San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport

Car hire at San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport

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San José, Costa Rica - Juan Santamaria Intl
25 Jan — 1 Feb
Same drop-off
San José, Costa Rica - Juan Santamaria Intl
Tue 25/1
Noon
Tue 1/2
Noon
Driver's age:

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for airport car hire deals at San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport (SJO)

San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport car hire reviews and directory

Rated no. 1
Alamo
Best rated
6.7 Good (103 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Alamo
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose Intl Airport+506 2242 7733
Monday00:00 - 23:59
Tuesday00:00 - 23:59
Wednesday00:00 - 23:59
Thursday00:00 - 23:59
Friday00:00 - 23:59
Saturday00:00 - 23:59
Sunday00:00 - 23:59
  • 7.4
  • 6.8
  • 6.5
  • 6.5
  • 6.2
Recent reviews
9.6 Excellent7 Mar. 2020
The staff was friendly and helpful. The car had an unbalanced wheel, causing shudder, but at an Alamo office the car was replaced in less than 30 minutes and the journey continued without technical problems.The light of the back compartment was constantly on due to the faulty door switch, resulting to a dead battery during a one week long parking.
10.0 Excellent12 Feb. 2020
10/10 would reccomend the Alamo in Belen near the San Jose Airport. Customer service was amazing, staff was super friendly and helpful, and facilities and cars are clean and well-maintained. We upgraded for a small extra amount per day and were so thrilled with our vehicle (Toyota Fortuner). Upon returning our car to Alamo at the end of our trip, we had no wait at all before our car was checked out, receipt confirmed, and our friendly driver dropped us off at the airport. Will absolutely be return customers for our next trip.Everything was super!
8.4 Excellent24 Jan. 2020
Nice suvOvercharged me!!!! Over billing!!!
3.2 Mediocre7 Jan. 2020
If you think your reservation is for 7 people and 3 luggage’s! Make sure it is only purses! We rented a car and the trunk space wouldn’t hold a backpack. Such a scam to upgrade to a bigger car and they tried to charge nearly triple the reservation price.
3.6 Mediocre6 Jan. 2020
The staff in Manuel Antonio did their best to address the issue with the trunk not latching.Reserved an intermediate car but was given a compact at the same rate! I had to argue to get the rate changed. Furthermore, the compact was in bad shape, dings and scratches, no hub caps, and the trunk wouldn't latch. And, they didn't fill it up with gas but gave me paperwork to the contrary. I had to return shortly after leaving the lot to point out the gas gauge.
9.6 Excellent2 Jan. 2020
Staff super friendly. HELD the reservation for almost 24 hours once our original flight was cancelled. Can't state enough what a LIFE SAVER this was for our trip. We had 6 passengers and needed a large SUV and I don't think there were any others available during the busy Xmas season. They literally SAVED OUR TRIP by holding that reservation for us...THANK YOU ALAMO!Could have had a bit more room for luggage. It "seats 6" but honestly then there is zero room for luggage. We had to sit 2 in front, 3 in the middle any only 1 in back so that we could put down the seat for luggage in the back.
9.6 Excellent2 Jan. 2020
Staff were hospitable and very helpful, especially Ronny. Offered options but did not push anything. Really went right with the full insurance. Roads around Arenal were challenging and felt relieved to be fully insured.
7.6 Good15 Dec. 2019
Insurance costs are high and unexpected
8.0 Excellent5 Dec. 2019
Staff was superbWe wanted a jeep and got a Nissan we didn't like that much although it was oaky
2.0 Mediocre25 Aug. 2019
Never got to pick up my car. My flight was delayed, they said they couldn't hold my car till the next day, even if i paid for it. And they had no cars available the following day. Sorry, SOL! What kind of rental company "has no cars available"!? Last time i rent from those clowns.
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Rated no. 2
Thrifty
6.3 Good (36 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Thrifty
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Juan Santamaria Intl Apo+506 4052 5210
Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30
  • 7.4
  • 6.9
  • 5.5
  • 6.4
  • 5
Recent reviews
2.0 Mediocre1 Jan. 2022
They added an obligatory insurance that doubled the price!
3.9 Mediocre7 Sep. 2021
I purchased car insurance when I booked the rental and upon arrival I was notified that the Allianz insurance I purchased is not valid in Costa Rica and I had to purchase insurance directly there which added an additional $225 to our rental. Kayak shouldn’t offer car insurance if it’s not accepted in that country.
5.6 Okay12 Mar. 2020
When I arrived at the counter to pick up the car I was told purchasing the rental car's insurance was NOT optional, I had to purchase one of two plans, otherwise they would not rent the car to me. If the insurance was not optional, then it should have been shown in the original price of renting the car. A definite bait & switch which I didn't appreciate. $300 for the car, $250 for the insurance, kind of changes the value of the rental.
6.8 Good10 May 2018
You should give customers a head's up about Costa Rica's insurance polCar was nice, good on gas.If someone is renting from Costa Rica, you should tell them about the mandatory insurance purchase. My rental went from $63 to ~$400, by far my biggest expense this trip.
5.6 Okay15 Feb. 2018
The final cost was 3 times the price I bookedNew car and easy drop offWhen I booked the car and chose Thrifty the price was 175. At the end it cost me 540 with all taxes fees etc. There was no way to get it for 175. I feel I was misled and will not recommend
10.0 Excellent18 Jan. 2018
Thrifty Car RentalVery friendly service. Threw in a GPS for $5
3.2 Mediocre3 Jan. 2018
MisleadingI had already bought insurance but was told it didn't work in Costa Rica and that I had to buy the insurance they provided. Nothing I said could change this. The insurance ended up doubling the price of the rental. I had also asked about the size of the SUV we were renting prior to arriving and was told it would hold 5 adults comfortably. Not hardly! Ended up having to pay an additional amount to have a somewhat larger SUV. Then on top of all that, they put a $950 deposit amount on my credit card making it unusable to me the rest of my trip. I have NEVER had a car rental company put that large of a deposit on my credit card. NEVER!! That pretty much wiped out my spending money as I only brought two credit cards with me for this trip. It really would have been nice to know all this additional expense before I arrived so I could have adequately planned.
4.8 Okay31 Dec. 2017
Insurance ripoffGood pickup location and quick to the counter to pickup the car.We had a letter from Chase credit card as they required from the thrifty Costa Rica website. He wouldn’t accept it- “it doesn’t state amount covered” - it stated up to the entire value of the car. So we were forced to buy the coverage since where else are you going to go. DO NOT TENT FROM THRIFTY AT THE SJO AIRPORT!
6.0 Good25 Dec. 2017
Disappointed!The car was comfortable and easy to drive. They had an efficient check in system. Drop off was immediate upon return of the car.Know that Costa Rica car rentals require purchase of insurance which was an additional $42 a day. This was an unexpected charge and was not budgeted for. Also, we had a flat tire issue that we did not cause, and I know the agency would have no idea of our trustworthiness, but we got no help or guidance with this issue. Our hotel helped us find a tire two hours away where we drove to with the spare tire on.
2.0 Mediocre27 Oct. 2017
Sucks!!Nothing!! Never again!!My mom passed away so I had to leave earlier then planned. They were going to charge me for turning the car in early. So....i left and my wife turned the car in for me and they charged me $50 because I wasn't there to turn it in. If they are the last rental car company with a car.....i will walk.
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Rated no. 3
Budget
6 Good (51 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Budget
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Juan Santa Maria Intl Apo+506 2436 2010
Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30
  • 6.7
  • 6.3
  • 5.9
  • 5.8
  • 5.2
Recent reviews
8.0 Excellent19 Dec. 2021
Had problems with car. Kept jumping out of 4th and 5th gears. Caused delay, missed ferry. Causing further delays. Reported it.
10.0 Excellent30 Nov. 2021
Fantastic and speedy service !
8.0 Excellent10 Nov. 2021
Price was double of what I paid in the past
1.9 Horrible10 Aug. 2021
Horrible! Do not rent from here. I rented a large suv for my family and my elderly parents to ride comfortable 2 months in advance. I checked in on the car and reservation 2 days before travel. The day of immigration was long and flight delay occurred. I called the rental place and told them i would be coming in at 2pm. They said ok. I showed up and no car. They gave it away. Than 4 other families come to get their car and no cars either. You can't be more than 5 minutes late for your reservation or they give it away. I called ahead and made sure it was ok and my reservation was still given away. No cars were available in the airport. Worst experience being stuck in a country with 2 kids and 2 elderly parents and no car and all car rentals didn't have any either. I had to wait 3 hrs after many phone calls and help from my wheel chair person to get a car. Save yourself a headache and rent from another company.
1.9 Horrible9 Aug. 2021
They closed their office early and I was left without a car for my arrival. The car engine was not properly tuned with very little power.
10.0 Excellent3 Jan. 2021
Drop off was excellentWould have liked a better explanation of the insurance coverage and not a hard sell.
2.0 Mediocre26 Apr. 2020
NothingThey refused to give back my deposit despite the trip. Ring cancelled due to Covid-19 A disgrace
4.8 Okay23 Mar. 2020
Don’t use this car rental. A lot of hidden fees. They are crooks.
2.0 Mediocre26 Jan. 2020
Nothing, did not like anything about this experienceStaff was extremely unhelpful. Was the worst experience in Costa Rica. Outrageous price for a beat up old car with 150,000 miles on it, manual transmission, radio had been taken out, fog lights missing, horrible car, took us 3 hours to check in and get car, staff is inept and we stood in line for hours while no one could give us a clear answer on when we would get a car even though we had a reservation.
8.4 Excellent24 Jan. 2020
The staff and car were great.The "insurance" needs to be more clear and affordable. It is not the staff's fault, this is a corporate problem. The cost of insurance is double the cost of the car. It is a scam.
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Rated no. 4
Ace
4.2 Okay (63 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Ace
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Across from Hampton Inn Hotel+506 4036 7431
Monday08:00 - 22:00
Tuesday08:00 - 22:00
Wednesday08:00 - 22:00
Thursday08:00 - 22:00
Friday08:00 - 22:00
Saturday08:00 - 22:00
Sunday08:00 - 22:00
  • 5.2
  • 4.9
  • 3.8
  • 3.8
  • 3.3
Recent reviews
6.0 Good26 Dec. 2021
Although it was relatively inexpensive they did not disclose the mandatory 3rd party insurance requirement you had to pay - I even had the letter from my credit card company saying they covered the collision insurance ( I had that after reading the fine print that letter was needed- full price of the rental should be disclosed at the time of reservation
2.0 Mediocre30 Nov. 2021
Have travelled often but never experienced such a scam. We were told they had no cars when we arrived and there were none available anywhere. After an hour of pleading they somehow got us a car as it was a huge favor and it ended up being the same Toyota Landcruiser Prado which I had reserved 2 months earlier but at twice the cost. Have never been taken advantage of like this.
3.9 Mediocre12 Aug. 2021
We had requested a 4x4 because we were going to drive through the mountains and in dirt roads in Costa Rica. They gave us a car that needed the wheels to be balanced, and when it rained the car would slide through the mud. It was unsafe, and we couldn’t return the car sooner because we were far away. When we went to return the car the staff explained to us that because it was high season that was the only car they had left. Instead of renting us the car, they should’ve been honest so we could find a car to rent elsewhere.
2.0 Mediocre2 Jan. 2020
Nothing to like. I booked a Jeep for 5 people and they told me that they could only offer me a 4 seater with no trunk.Have the car that you booked available.
3.2 Mediocre30 Dec. 2019
Staff was available and responsiveI was told online my price would be $277. I get there and they charge me $530. They initially give me a car that brakes don’t work and my husband wrecks into a car in front of us. They show no remorse although the situation could have ended much worse (I.e wreck on the highway going 70mph). They bring us another car but it’s the exact same brand- we still feel very uncomfortable about the brake situation so we ask for a different type of car and they just give a hard no. Zero remorse. Deceiving prices and little remorse or attempt to make the situation right make this a poor experience.
4.4 Okay30 Nov. 2019
They did finally change the car for us after telling us previously there weren’t any other cars.When we were quoted for the price it was $34 total for 6 days. However, when we arrived we were told there was an obligatory insurance we needed to get (in-spite of my credit card having an international plan). The price quickly changes from the quoted $34 dollars (which supposedly included taxes and fees) to $300. We ended up paying an extra $50 more for the full insurance (since we were worried what they would try to charge us for if anything at all happened) so it came to $350. When we asked why it changed so drastically they said that it was because of the extra fees and taxes (which the website had said were included.) I had originally picked a Jeep but the confirmation email was for an SUV instead (So that was strange). When we got the Jeep it had no gps or even a usb charging port . When we asked about this the man told us he should go by Walmart in order to get one for the car. When we complained he said that they didn’t have any other cars and then finally offered us a carport charger that he had that we could borrow. When we left the seatbelt light turned on and wouldn’t stop beeping (even though we had our seatbelts on.) finally we had to turn around and return the car. We also realized there wasn’t even a middle seatbelt in the back of the car. They miraculously had a different car for us then. Overall- not a good experience. Would NOT recommend. We do speak Spanish as well fluently so it wasn’t like anything but was “lost in translation.”
2.0 Mediocre5 Nov. 2019
NothingI have a printed confirmation from you for $110.00. In fairness it does read estimated taxes and fees $57.12. Confirmation # CRF8702737. After paying for a shuttle to the isolated offsite I was told the rental was $450.00 no negotiation and he kept pointing to the estimated taxes and fees. Extremely deceptive business practice. While Adolfo in customer service was very good and resolved my issue I would highly reccomend these deceptive business practices and disclose to your customers what the actual fees will really be.
4.8 Okay18 Jul. 2019
Charged us an extra $420 'compulsory' insurance on our $115 rental. We were not allowed to opt out of it even though we already have rental car insurance. This was a scam and made our rental 4 times more expensive than originally booked!!
2.0 Mediocre3 Jun. 2019
Had to pay a ton of money once I showed up to the counter, as the Allianz insurance recommended on the Kayak website and that I had paid for was deemed invalid by the Ace staff at the pick-up point. I had to pay from $50 I had paid online to $300 at the point of pick-up.Misinformation should be cleaned up from the Kayak website regarding the Ace rental details and charges.
8.8 Excellent23 May 2019
Great car! We took it on some pretty rough roads and it handled them no problem.This rental was not handled directly by Ace, but locally by "Toyota rentals" or something like that. They did not accept my Allianz travel car insurance, purchased in advance, and instead required that I purchase (more expensive) insurance directly through them.
Rated no. 5
National
7.5 Good (9 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
National
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose Intl Airport+506 2242 7878
Monday00:00 - 23:59
Tuesday00:00 - 23:59
Wednesday00:00 - 23:59
Thursday00:00 - 23:59
Friday00:00 - 23:59
Saturday00:00 - 23:59
Sunday00:00 - 23:59
  • 8.6
  • 7.5
  • 6.8
  • 8.2
  • 6.2
Recent reviews
8.0 Excellent9 Aug. 2019
Staff was friendly and helpful.The insurance prices are lower than most otehr companies, but still a rip off.
4.4 Okay16 Mar. 2019
The staff was friendly and the shuttle was efficient.The suv I received was an old model with over 75k. The car I reserved was a “Jeep Wrangler or similar”. Certainly, I understand that the actual SUV will vary but I received was nothing even remotely comparable. A tiny, old Dahaitsu is just plain false advertising. They don’t even have any Jeeps!
7.6 Good15 Feb. 2017
Beware of the InsuranceThe service was great, staff was helpful and prompt.It would have been nice to know the full price I'd be paying for a rental car before landing in this foreign country fully dependent on getting it. I felt very mislead by the pricing I was given in the reservation. In Costa Rica, insurance is required and this was never mentioned in the booking process. Therefore I ended up having to pay over $400 (with an extra $800 held) for the car I expected to rent for $83. I just thought that was very dishonest by the rental car company and the booking company.
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Rated no. 6
Enterprise
7.4 Good (13 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Enterprise
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose Intl Airport+506 2242 7800
Monday00:00 - 23:59
Tuesday00:00 - 23:59
Wednesday00:00 - 23:59
Thursday00:00 - 23:59
Friday00:00 - 23:59
Saturday00:00 - 23:59
Sunday00:00 - 23:59
  • 8.1
  • 7.5
  • 7.2
  • 7.6
  • 6.6
Recent reviews
9.6 Excellent24 Dec. 2019
Staff was very friendly and provided good travel information
10.0 Excellent15 Nov. 2019
The entire process was excellent. I've forgotten his name, but the Enterprise Manager at the San Jose Airport had me on the road in short order. Gabriel Vasquez, the Enterprise Manager in Belen, CR was instrumental in writing an extended contract for for our car and getting us back on the road in very short order. I'M A VERY HAPPY CUSTOMER TO DATE!Nothing.
7.2 Good10 Nov. 2019
The SUV we rented was great.The price we were quoted online was very deceiving. We were quoted a little over $100 online. However when we got to pick our vehicle up, even with the cheapest insurance, we paid well over $1000. The price needs to be more transparent when you book online. Once you arrive in a foreign country and need a car to get around, you really have no choice but to pay. Very disappointed that the amount quoted was so inaccurate.
5.2 Okay16 Mar. 2019
Staff was greatOur car was a total piece of junk. The rental was inexpensive but I had no idea we were signing of for what seemed like a 10 yr old beat up car.
10.0 Excellent12 Mar. 2019
The staff is very kind and the vehicle is in good conditions.
2.4 Mediocre26 Feb. 2019
Nothing, the service was awful.I originally booked a rental 4x4 in late November to pick up in San Jose, Costa Rica. When we arrived we were told that no other 4x4 rentals were available even though another family showed up after us, was helped after us and received a 4x4. Enterprise originally offered nothing except to refund
6.0 Good29 Nov. 2018
Invalid InsuranceWe arrived at the airport only to find that the 3rd party insurance offered through Kayak was not accepted and was not usable. We purchased insurance through Enterprise and will be canceling the charges for the 3rd party insurance. Dont offer it to consumers if it is not valid in that country. It effected trip budgeting as the 3rd party was about $65 and at the desk through the company it was about $180
5.2 Okay17 Dec. 2017
So soThe car reservation was for $31 but I needed up paying $40 a day for insurance. It was ridiculous. Not to mention I ended up stopping at a service station and they checked all my fluids just for me to find out that the brake fluid was extremely low (dangerously low). This was concerning considering I was driving through mountains and steep cliffs.
8.0 Excellent30 Jan. 2017
Sticker shockHad the reservation price tripled once the mandatory insurance was added on. It would be nice to see insurance prices listed on your website rather than being surprised first thing on arrival.
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Rated no. 7
Dollar
5.9 Okay (8 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Dollar
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Juan Santamaria Intl Ap+506 2431 4865
Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30
  • 7
  • 6.2
  • 5.7
  • 5.5
  • 5.2
Recent reviews
3.6 Mediocre30 Mar. 2018
They will hit you with extra charges any way they can!We got stuck in traffic because of construction in Monteverde. It was beyond our control. They shut down the only street in or out for hours. We called Dollar Rental to let them know and they told us NOT TO WORRY and that we would NOT BE CHARGED EXTRA for running late as long as we got there before they closed at 11:30 PM. We got there at 10:30 PM and the guy that was checking us back in said, "Don't worry, you won't be charged extra for being a few hours late." However, when we went to pay, the guy at the front desk charged my credit card for an additional $60.51 for the few hours we were late. I told him that both the guy on the phone and the guy who checked us back in told us we would not be charged extra. He gave me a funny look and said, "Oops, they didn't tell me that and I already ran your card, so I can't reverse the charge now. You'll have to email corporate when you get back to the US and they will fix it for you." I emailed corporate over a week ago and never heard back from them. I will never be using Dollar Rental again.
4.8 Okay9 Jan. 2018
Price gougedNo restrictions on where I could go with the car. Air conditioning worked. Offered WiFi device for $5/day, and that worked great.Reserved an automatic, but their computer didn’t show it, so I was forced to upgrade. Paid for insurance via Kayak, but told that was no good and that we were required to get additional insurance that cost more than $100. The shuttle to/from airport is slow, and we waited almost an hour to get to the airport after drop off. Car’s brakes stuck and needs new shocks.
2.0 Mediocre21 Apr. 2017
Dollar is a dishonest company.Dollar lured my family in with a low price listed on the internet. BUT it was only an empty promise as they made us pay nearly twice that amount upon our arrival to pick up our reserved vehicle.My family paid in full online prior to my trip. We received a confirmation of both our payment and reservation. After arriving in our destination (Costa Rica) Dollar made us pay additional insurance and fees to obtain our car. With our young children in tow and after pleading with them for 2 hours we had to pay the additional money to drive away. A formal credit discard dispute has been filed. Stay away from this dishonest company.
7.2 Good29 Oct. 2016
Misrepresented on KayakCustomer service at DollarKayak misrepresented the vehicle. I booked a vehicle that could fit 7 with insurance. When I got there I found out the vehicle only seated 5 and the insurance I paid for through Kayak wasn't even basic insurance for this country. Ended up paying 400 more than originally quoted!! Could have saved almost 200 going directly through Dollar.
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Rated no. 8
Payless
5.7 Okay (15 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Payless
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Juan Santa Maria Intl Apo+506 2430 4647
Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30
  • 6.2
  • 6.1
  • 5.2
  • 6.1
  • 4.8
Recent reviews
4.4 Okay3 Mar. 2019
Car rate with Insurance is a RIP. Spent more on car rental than hotel for a week.
3.2 Mediocre27 Feb. 2019
Knowing that insurance for three weeks would cost $1,500 and that I needed letters from my insurance company and credit card company to verify insurance would have been honest. I was very unhappy to learn this at the counter after a day of traveling. Dishonest practice.
2.0 Mediocre30 Dec. 2018
Had a break failureNothingPaid $800+ for 5 days, but when I stated the riding, the ride was really bad. Still choose to use it for 5 days. During 5th day driving down from Irazu Volcano, the break failed suddenly.. Holding the hand break and pressing break pedal didn't stop the car. To avoid life threatening accident, I had to hit a post to stop the car. Still wife is suffering with pain. When I called Payless to report the incident, amazed to know that no question about if the passengers are ok.. After 2:45 hours got a replacement car, with dirty smell from the rear side. After reaching the payless rental place to return the call, when I explained these incidents, their reaction was the worst, it's almost like who cares if the break failed or the replacement call smelled.. Will find out the options to take action. Don't rent from Payless if you are going to Costa Rica.
6.0 Good7 Dec. 2017
Good customer service.Windshield wipers were useless. Interior light was broken. Had to lock and unlock car with the key ie the key buttons were broken or battery was dead.
6.0 Good27 Jun. 2017
Bait and SwitchAvailability of vehicles on hand and excellent customer service.The cost that was presented during the online booking process did not remotely come close to the actual cost during the car rental pickup. I ended up paying close to $1,000 overall. Also, I paid for full coverage for car insurance online as part of the online booking process so it can be ready upon pickup. But Payless did not honor the online car insurance purchase and therefore in order to finalize the car rental transaction with Payless I had to purchase their car insurance. Although Payless provided great service and had excellent cars for rent I did not appreciate the blatant disparities in cost and having to purchase 2 full coverage car insurances. I don't see myself renting from Payless again.
7.2 Good4 Jun. 2017
The Costa Rican mandatory insurance was not included in part of the cost. Also, the brakes were very spongy, forcing me to use the emergency brakes down steep hills.
2.0 Mediocre15 Apr. 2017
Didn't rentOffice was closed when we arrived late because of plane delay. No message sent to our email. Luckily, Dollar rental was still open and had a car for us - excellent experience with them.
4.8 Okay9 Jan. 2017
Drop off location was fine.Pickup location "insurance" requirement - see my previous post.
3.6 Mediocre8 Sep. 2016
A Big ScamThey made me purchase insurance even though I already had pay it ahead of time thru a third party company. They said that the minimum amount I had to pay per day was $40 dollars otherwise I couldn't rent the car.
Rated no. 9
Avis
5.6 Okay (14 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Avis
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Juan Santamaria Intl Apo+506 2293 2222
Monday05:00 - 22:30
Tuesday05:00 - 22:30
Wednesday05:00 - 22:30
Thursday05:00 - 22:30
Friday05:00 - 22:30
Saturday05:00 - 22:30
Sunday05:00 - 22:30
  • 7
  • 6.1
  • 5.4
  • 5.2
  • 4.5
Recent reviews
2.0 Mediocre7 Jan. 2022
Big queue at the rental office. I had booked as automatic and they had none. Only manual shift. The salespeople were harried and didn’t explain the contract. On the return the office was extremely difficult to find. The shuttle driver was friendly though.
8.0 Excellent3 Jan. 2022
Surprise insurance charges were huge. This should be informed during reservation. Last time I rent with Avis
4.0 Okay2 Jan. 2022
Efficient office and pleasant staff however the policy is to only grant a one hour grace period to pick your car even if your flight is delayed/cancelled and even if your rental is prepaid(!). After that time basically your car is not available and you can only accept whatever is left at whatever price Avis decides to charge. During holiday periods it feels like a true bait and switch scam as you have no choice but accept whatever they decide to offer - all other agencies are equally sold out of the most popular models.
10.0 Excellent1 Jan. 2022
They have a fairly big facility, lots of cars, pickup and dropoff were quick. Service was curteous. I have been renting cars for a decade now, this was among the best experiences.
2.0 Mediocre27 Dec. 2021
This place is a SCAM. I, for the life of me, cannot understand how these folks continue to hold their jobs... we made reservations many days in advance, when arrived to the facility, these guys told us that, because we were not on time, they gave our car away cuz they **thought** we were "no shows". I mean, it's a FREAKING AIRPORT CAR RENTAL, so I guess they do this to anyone with a delayed flight? They ruined a FULL DAY of our short vacation. After reading some of the online reviews, I really wonder how these people can continue to scam people like this. Awful!
6.0 Good5 Dec. 2021
They didn't have the car I reserved ready, they struggled to find me a pick up truck but it was in bad shape. ( mostly very worned out bald tires ) It could have been better. No grudges with staff. Probably next time I will rent with other company. It could just be a bad day that day don't think is like that or they would be out of business
2.0 Mediocre1 Dec. 2021
They gave away our car since customs took over 2 hours. Since we didn't prepay they only hold for 15 minutes. Used Avis for years and will not be using them again, wish they told this to you ahead of time as we confirmed our pick up and all.
9.2 Excellent5 Jan. 2020
Check in and check out were fastCar could be in better condition ( probably it suffered a small crash in the previous rentals)
4.0 Okay6 Jan. 2019
Forced us to subscribe their expensive insurance despite having paid one online
4.8 Okay9 Jan. 2017
Good car. Bad serviceCar was high quality. Comfortable.Extra charges. Bad service. Simply a ripoff
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Rated no. 10
Europcar
5.2 Okay (12 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Europcar
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Carretera Aeropuerto Internacional
  • 6.3
  • 5.6
  • 4.6
  • 5.6
  • 4.4
Recent reviews
1.9 Horrible1 Aug. 2021
I was quoted $150 total at pick up. Ended up paying $350 total because of required fees. Bait and switch. Would not recommend.
1.9 Horrible19 Jul. 2021
Bait and switch at the last minute. Made the reservation well in advance and then was told that no cars we available. Almost 4 hours to get the car. Brakes were non-existent.
10.0 Excellent10 Jan. 2021
Staff was super friendly!The advertised price is not what you end up paying when the mandatory insurance is added on. BEWARE!
4.0 Okay5 Jan. 2021
The car was fine, but I left feeling like I was scammed. I had to pay for Liability insurance, which I was prepared for, but Europcar’s cost for this was twice as much as other rental places for no reason. And they wouldn’t accept my credit card’s CDW coverage (a first) and made me pay for that as well. Overall, it more than doubled the cost of the rental de me. A nasty surprise at the counter, but at that point, they know they’ve got you. Wouldn’t recommend to anyone.
7.6 Good16 Feb. 2020
The staff is very nice and helpful. Taking the shuttle to the car rental was pretty easy.The insurance the is quoted by kayak versus what they charge at the car rental is much higher. We rented a car for one week for about 50 USD, which is very cheap, but the medium level for the insurance ran 450 USD.
5.2 Okay6 Jan. 2020
The car.Transparency. I did everything possible to waive the insurance and I couldn’t. Even when I had a credit card with my own insurance this was not possible because I did not had the 30,000 usd limit in my credit card (it was not possible to understand this limitation through the webpage terms). Additionally the people form europcar put all the possible obstacles so that I could not waive the insurance. Finally I had to pay it. I felt scammed. It is sad the way you manage this business. I spend nearly 2.5 hours at your office to resolve the issue and finally I had to pay the insurance either way. I feel very disappointed.
4.4 Okay24 Sep. 2019
Easy pick up and drop offGetting quotes $43 for 9 days and getting to Europcar and being told that it will be $560 instead. Customer service rep also tried to trick us by including fuel service charge in our rental price by saying we get a free tank of fuel by paying full coverage. Bunch of worms really.
2.0 Mediocre26 Feb. 2018
Horrible experienceFree shuttle from airportHorrible experience, car was not as described. We didn’t receive the Kia Sportage as advertised but rather a beat up 15 year old Tesoro which had no air conditioning and shocks. On top of that we were forced to purchase insurance which was almost as expensive as the car rental. We were not even allowed to purchase the insurance offered by kayak. They only accepted the insurance direct from their company. Absolutely horrible.
2.0 Mediocre7 May 2017
Charged for extra insurance even though I already purchased supplental insurance for the rental through the site. Car was old and struggled to go uphill.
8.4 Excellent30 Apr. 2017
Friendly servicePoor service from internet portable device
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Rated no. 11
NU Car
4.7 Okay (5 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
NU Car
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
1.4km E. Of Holidayinn Express+506 2442 6000
Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
Recent reviews
2.0 Mediocre29 Nov. 2021
Nu had no confirmation of our booking, even though I received a confirmation the day before we left for our trip.
2.0 Mediocre28 Nov. 2021
I did not like the whole experience and think KAYAK and NU are both a joke of a company ! I sure I will never use this service again and would highly recommend no ones uses either of these companies ever. Traveled to Costa Rica and got out of customs at midnight and this company gave away my rental car ! The person behind the counter couldn't be found initially and other companies had to call him. Thankfully AVIS, Hertz and Budget were all there working but not NU. When he finally showed up 15 minutes later, he couldn't speak English. I went to get the AVIS employee and then I asked where my car was for our party of 7 people, he said he misunderstood the order and told me he gave away my car earlier that evening ! Then offered me a smaller car for twice as much ! Explain this level of service to me ? We had to take a private taxi van to our hotel. When we got to our resort, rented a car there and everything worked out well without KAYAK or NU. Terrible companies = KAYAK and NU rental cars
7.9 Good10 Oct. 2021
Don’t book through NU use Solid if you go that route. Same company minus the fees they pay to Expedia
10.0 Excellent4 Aug. 2021
Service was excellent
Rated no. 12
Economy Rent a Car
3.9 Mediocre (22 reviews)
5 locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Economy Rent a Car
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Alajuela Airport Boulevard+506 2299 2000
Downtown San Jose+506 2299 2000
Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport+506 2299 2000
Main Street Jaco+506 2299 2000
San Pedro+506 2299 2000
  • 5.5
  • 4.7
  • 3.4
  • 3.6
  • 2.5
Recent reviews
9.2 Excellent25 Jul. 2018
It adds up quickly!Staff was great, car was great, pick up and drop was great!The added fees and taxes adds up quickly!
2.0 Mediocre14 May 2018
$65 price with a $450 surchargeI paid $65 for a reservation. When I got to their office, they informed me there's a $450 insurance surcharge on top. On top of that, they didn't cancel my reservation when I asked - the charge still shows up on my card.
2.0 Mediocre4 Apr. 2018
TERRIBLEnothingrenting a car through kayak was a complete fraud. online they give you one very economic price and then the final price was more than 3 times as much. kayak offered an insurance policy which I purchased and then the rental company told me that the policy there did not suffice and I had to get their own policy which was required by the government. Also, when they gave me the car it had less than half the gas tank. when i returned it on the same level they complained and charged me for gas which was double the price i payed for filling up the whole tank once. totally disappointed by the company and by kayak.
4.0 Okay21 Feb. 2018
Costa Rica charges 3x the contract priceNice new Hyundai Tuscan. Spacious and good economy.Agency does not even pretend to honor prebooking price. Charged more than 3x the daily rate, then added mandatory insurance which doubled the total price. No benefit to prebooking. Very disappointed. I’d give the overall rating zero stars, but that is not an option.
6.8 Good20 Feb. 2018
They dont tell you about the insurance when booking online. Once you get there they tell you to buy some mandatory insurance and on top of that give you a different car. Also when booking a car, you pick one car but it books a different car. Rip off.
6.4 Good16 Feb. 2018
Hidden Insurance is a HUGE money maker for themWe received a fairly new hon Day Tucson, the car drove well aside from a few sounds we heard coming from underneath the car and from the tire. Air-conditioning blue ice cold which is great in the hot Costa Rican weather we were supposed to receive a manual transmission but received an automatic transmission so that was kind of a plus .What I didn’t like is that I paid online $50 for the rental which I thought was an amazing deal, where economy gets you is they tell you the insurance that you bye is not enough to cover what you need in Costa Rica, so you’re required to pay minimum $600 for insurance, which 200 gets returned to you because it was a deposit. We usually rent cars every vacation we go on. The insurance included is normally enough. In Italy we spent the same amount of money as we did in Costa Rica but we were able to keep the car for three weeks versus three days
2.0 Mediocre21 Jan. 2018
Do not rent from economy! Scam!!They're a scam. The price you pay online is not the final price. The final price will be at least 5 times what's listed online. Do not rent from them. Shame on Kayak for allowing them to be listed in the search engine!
2.0 Mediocre20 Jan. 2018
Thay say my insurance I buy no good they charge 562 us dollars for wNothingHwy robbery.when we are arrivin 6 pm whit 3 kids and I have to drive 200km we do not have choses to accept very bad company
5.6 Okay15 Jan. 2018
The vehicle.. only.. it served us well as we traveled thru the countryThe crazy price for insurance that they don’t tell you about up front. Paid a little over 120.00 for car and 500.00 for insurance. They try to scare you into buying it, and tell you how crazy the Ticos drive. Not true.. not crazier then many countries i have traveled.
6.0 Good12 Jan. 2018
Easy to return carOpen 24 hrs and very close to airport. Very easy to return car late in evening w/ no issues.
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Rated no. 13
Hertz
3.3 Mediocre (10 reviews)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Hertz
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Juan Santamaria Intl Apto.+506 2221 1818
Monday05:00 - 22:30
Tuesday05:00 - 22:30
Wednesday05:00 - 22:30
Thursday05:00 - 22:30
Friday05:00 - 22:30
Saturday05:00 - 22:30
Sunday05:00 - 22:30
  • 4.4
  • 3.8
  • 2.6
  • 3
  • 2.8
Recent reviews
6.0 Good14 Jan. 2018
Car was in good shapeThe reservation price didn't include a $30/day mandatory insurance fee that is required I'm Costa Rica. So, my quote was for $7xx, and total cost was actually $1100. AND, the guy at the ciunter was a total dick and kept trying to sell us on the optional insurance to make us pay EVEN MORE. UGH.
5.2 Okay9 Jun. 2017
Bait and Switch with Hertz in San Jose Costa RicaWe were given a very good rate when we booked but when we showed up we not given an option of taking out additional insurance. We discussed at length- the entire process of renting the car took a very long time. They tried to charge me over $500. After much discussion they wouldn't let us take the car for an amount that was over 3x the quoted rate. We really needed to get going and the Hertz facility is away from the airport so reluctantly signed. The front desk employee was rude and found VERY small print to justify the increase in the rate. I will not use Hertz again at this location.
3.2 Mediocre10 Mar. 2017
DissapointingNot muchThe internet booking site was COMPLETELY mis-leading. It made no mention of the exorbitant insurance fees. It felt like fraud. I'm not sure I'll ever use Hertz again, especially in Costa Rica.
2.0 Mediocre26 Feb. 2017
Never againNothingCar had over 100,000 miles no power and was charged almost triple my quoted rate because no one at booking says you will be asked to get Costa Rican insurance. So my $80 car was $230. Don't buy the third party insurance it's useless here in CR. More money lost. Not happy at all
2.0 Mediocre20 Feb. 2017
Didn't have my car available despite reservationnothingThey gave my car away. They literally had no automatic cars available the day I arrived at their location. I had to find another rental car company on the spot that day.
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Rated no. 14
E-Z Rent-A-Car
2 Mediocre (1 review)
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
E-Z Rent-A-Car
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose International Airport - Europcar+506 2440 9990
Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
Recent reviews
Sunnycars
2 locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Sunnycars
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Mango Plaza 111, 1km North Of Juan
Station is on Airport grounds
Recent reviews
ADOBE
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
ADOBE
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose International Airport
Recent reviews
Amigo Rent A Car
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Amigo Rent A Car
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose Airport+506 2442 8585
Monday04:30 - 23:59
Tuesday04:30 - 23:59
Wednesday04:30 - 23:59
Thursday04:30 - 23:59
Friday04:30 - 23:59
Saturday04:30 - 23:59
Sunday04:30 - 23:59
Recent reviews
Apex
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Apex
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Juan Santa Maria Intl Apo
Recent reviews
Discount Service Car Rental
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Discount Service Car Rental
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
La Uruca 5 Blocks West From Hospital Mexico5-062-294-2354
Recent reviews
easyCar
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
easyCar
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose Intl Airport+506 2442 2422
Recent reviews
EC Rent a Car
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
EC Rent a Car
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Provincia de Alajuela, Rio Segundo, , Costa Rica+506 7004 0090
Recent reviews
Firefly
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Firefly
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Rio Segundo+506 2443 4645
Monday05:00 - 22:30
Tuesday05:00 - 22:30
Wednesday05:00 - 22:30
Thursday05:00 - 22:30
Friday05:00 - 22:30
Saturday05:00 - 22:30
Sunday05:00 - 22:30
Recent reviews
FlexWays
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
FlexWays
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Juan Santamaría International Airport+54 11 6009 3539
Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30
Recent reviews
GREEN MOTION
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
GREEN MOTION
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
ALAJUELA AIRPORT Office is located across from Hampton Inn Hotel+506 2441 1411
Recent reviews
keddy by Europcar
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
keddy by Europcar
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose Airport
Recent reviews
MEXRENTACAR
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
MEXRENTACAR
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Route 3 Rio Segundo
Recent reviews
Mirage Car Rental
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Mirage Car Rental
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose Airport
Recent reviews
Move Mee
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Move Mee
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Alajuela International Airport
Recent reviews
NextCar
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
NextCar
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
600 meters East of the Airport+506 7004 0090
Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30
Recent reviews
Right Cars
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Right Cars
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose Airport
Recent reviews
Routes Car & Truck Rentals
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Routes Car & Truck Rentals
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
500 Mts East+506 2430 0629
Recent reviews
Sixt
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Sixt
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Oficentro Plaza aeropuerto C3+506 2431 3803
Monday06:00 - 23:30
Tuesday06:00 - 23:30
Wednesday06:00 - 23:30
Thursday06:00 - 23:30
Friday06:00 - 23:30
Saturday06:00 - 23:30
Sunday06:00 - 23:30
Recent reviews
Sovoy
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Sovoy
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose Airport Juan Santamaria SJO+506 2436 2070
Recent reviews
Target Car Rental
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Target Car Rental
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
San Jose Airport
Recent reviews
U-Save
1 location in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
U-Save
Locations in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport
Rio Segundo+506 2430 4648
Recent reviews
362 travellers who hired a car in San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport gave the car agency they used an average rating of 5.7

Car rental locations at San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport

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Good to know

Most popular agency

U-Save

Most popular car type

Mini

Average price

$35/day

Good deal

$28/day

Top tips for hiring a car at San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport

  • Getting a car hire at San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport means starting your trip to Costa Rica with total flexibility. Public transport in Costa Rica requires significant planning ahead due to most buses being privately owned with different routes and fees that can be difficult to research. Thus, it is quite easy to get on the wrong bus. Many don't have air conditioning so your own vehicle is the best way to stay cool in hot weather. Having your vehicle waiting at the terminal or a nearby depot means you won't need to worry about planning every detail and can experience Costa Rica at your own pace right from the start of your trip.
  • Alamo offers an accelerated check-in which allows you to upload documentation such as your driving licence and passport which would usually be processed at the service desk. It can then be verified ahead of time to expedite the process when you get to the service desk. So you can simply present your booking confirmation and payment information and be on your way. Alamo and Economy Rent-A-Car are both open 24h a day. National offers one-way hire at no extra cost.
  • You may wish to take your San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport hired car out of Costa Rica and into neighbouring countries. Bear in mind that cross border hires must be arranged at least 3 days in advance so we recommend organising this when you process your booking at the terminal, if possible. Most companies will not allow you to take the same vehicle over the border, however, companies like Alamo and National will allow you to travel to another depot at the border and exchange your vehicle for an extra fee.
  • Make sure you know the returns process when you pick up your vehicle and note down the deadline or time slot you are expected to return the vehicle by to avoid late fees. If you are transferred via shuttle to a different depot to pick up your vehicle, this is likely where you will be asked to return it, after which you will be provided with a shuttle to the terminal. Take note of whether you need to refuel your vehicle before returning it. You may wish to consider prepaid fuel, offered by companies such as Alamo and Enterprise where you pay ahead of time for the full petrol tank and can return it empty at a discount to the local fuel prices.
  • 25% of our users found a car hire at San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport for $26 or less
  • Book your car hire at San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price

FAQs about hiring a car at San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport