Transportation

University of California, Education Abroad Program

Student Guide for Costa Rica

Transportation

Even if you are on full financial aid, you are responsible for reserving and purchasing your ticket. Your financial aid office will not do it for you.

You are required to buy a round-trip airline ticket. Two requirements for entering Costa Rica are a valid passport and a return airline ticket Since your return ticket will have an "OPEN" return, it is important to make a confirmed reservation as early as possible in order to ensure a confirmed seat.

Luggage restrictions vary from airline to airline, and carriers may have rigid weight restrictions. Check with your airline.

Identify each item of your luggage on the outside with your name, home address, and destination abroad. For extra protection, identify your luggage on the inside as well. You may wish to protect your luggage with personal property or luggage insurance. To avoid theft, never leave your luggage unattended while traveling.

Transportation to the Study Center

EAP has made arrangements through a travel agency for travel to your Study Center. The flight, described in the materials prepared by the travel agency and sent m your EAP packet, has been selected by EAP as the best flight option for your group. EAP assumes that you will participate in the group transportation unless there are extenuating circumstances which make participation impractical.

Make your reservation directly with the travel agency by using the Student Flight Information and Transportation Reservation Form m your packet, and pay the agency directly for your ticket. The Study Center Director and/or staff will meet your EAP group upon arrival and take you to the specified location for the start of the program. All students must arrive in San Jose by January 10.

Changes in Flight Plans

Any request for a change in EAP-arranged flight plans after the date noted on your Student Flight Information and Transportation Reservation Form must be sent to the travel agency in writing. If you withdraw from a flight after this date, you will be liable for all non-recoverable transportation charges. A late request to be added to the flight is subject to flight availability and possible increased flight costs. Requests for changes in flight plans will be considered up to 30 days prior to the group departure date.

Independent Travel to Host Country

If you don't participate in the EAP-arranged transportation, you will not be met at the airport and you will need to arrive independently in Costa Pica for orientation by January 10. Orientation is in Coronado at La Posada. A taxi costs $20.00 from the airport or downtown to La Posada. As stated in your Student Agreement, if you fail to appear on this date, you are subject to dismissal from the Program. (See the Student Agreement, Appendix I, Section 4.) More detailed arrival information may be found on the green Information Sheet in your EAP packet.

The starting date of the program can change due to unforeseen circumstances, if you're traveling to your host country independently, it is your responsibility to make modifications in your travel itinerary to accommodate such changes. EAP is not responsible for any non-recoverable transportation charges you may incur for independent travel arrangements. So that you can be kept informed of any program changes, notify the Universitywide Office of EAP of any changes in your address and telephone number. You must provide a copy of your itinerary--including any subsequent changes--to the Universitywide Office of EAP no less than 30 days prior to the group departure date.

In general, you will pay much less for an airline ticket if you make the reservation through a student travel agency on your UC campus, instead of through a regular travel agency or directly with the airline. In some cases, the savings may be up to 50 percent and/or there may be fewer restrictions.