Airfare to San Jose, Costa Rica

The capital and largest city in Costa Rica, San Jose is a transit city worth spending a few days in, thanks to a number of museums, tours and tourist services. Noteworthy are the Gold, Jade and Children's Museums and nearby adventure activities.

Airfare to San Jose will be the cheapest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday. Mondays are popular with business travellers and weekends are key dates for holidaymakers wanting the longest trips possible - avoid these dates.

Also consider flights into Panama City. To get between the cities, you can grab a spot on a train, bus or flight. Look for cheap flights on no frills airlines. Although it will take longer to reach your destination, a bus or train could save you enough cash to make it worth your while.

Another possible money-saving tip is to look for flights that go through Mexico City, Mexico, or another major gateway city instead of flying direct. Because there are more flights - and competition - from these cities on low budget airlines, you can save some cash over flying non-stop to your destination. It is very common to layover in one of these main cities.

Finally, consider traveling on a lesser-known carrier. Lacsa is the national airline. However, Sansa, Delta Air Lines, Copa Airlines and other airlines also stop in San Jose.

The most expensive air tickets to San Jose are found during peak holiday travel times, such as the New Year. Also be aware of national events or festivals, which can also cause ticket prices to rise.

Summary of Money Saving Tips:

• Fly mid-week
• Book your holiday during the off-peak season
• Consider flying into Panama City and traveling overland to San Jose via train or bus
• Look for flights that go through large cities, with many flights
• Check out carriers besides the national airline - they may undercut the monopolistic competition

For more information on San Jose, check out BootsnAll's San Jose Travel Guide.