You have to take your original passport when going to Costa Rica, but when you get to hotel have it put away in a safe place and you can keep a copy of the main passport page that has your name and passport number also copy of the entry date to Costa Rica that they stamped at airport Customs.

It is best to have cash and change into Colones at the bank. Scotia Bank is best and located at Multi Plaza. Some debit or credit cards will charge a foreign transaction fee.

I can tell you from first hand experience to keep your phone off and get a local SIM card. That way you don’t get ridiculous charges. SIM cards here are super cheap. $15-$20 a month from Movistar. Hope this helps.

I remember Samsung, and many kiosks

Everything under the sun name brands as well specialty shops

There are several I do not know the individual names.

Hey! its open 10-9 except for sunday its 10-8.

We found good deals on designer handbags.

Auto Mercado is wonderful for groceries and the prices are the same as the Walmart in Escazu and Alajuela. Much more convenient and easy to shop there if that is where you already are as the traffic in and around San Jose is generally horrible! It's located on the first floor on the Intercontinental Real hotel side and they take several different credit cards.