Liberia Airport Shuttle Booking Guide

Liberia Airport Shuttle Booking Guide

Booking a Liberia Airport Shuttle is pretty straightforward. However, many companies, local and foreign, offer these services. We hope the following information will help you when booking your airport shuttle. And if you have questions about transportation services from Liberia Guanacaste Airport, we are always happy to answer them.

#1 advice: Book Your Liberia Airport Shuttle in Advance

We strongly encourage visitors to book transportation services at least seven days before arrival. Booking in advance will ensure you are met at the airport after landing. It will also help you avoid overpriced transportation and unauthorized services inside and outside the airport. In addition, you will quickly get to your hotel, home, vacation rental, or Airbnb property.

#2 Choosing a Liberia Airport Shuttle Company

The airport shuttle transportation industry is very competitive, and the Liberia Guanacaste Airport is no exception. To narrow your options, focus on companies offering genuine traveler reviews. TripAdvisor reviews are a great source, but keep in mind that many companies pay for positive reviews. As an alternative, we recommend Google Reviews. They offer a better insight into the legitimacy and reputation of a company.

Another aspect to take into consideration is communication with airport shuttle companies. Prompt, properly redacted emails usually mean better customer support and a credible operation behind the website. This is the most crucial factor when choosing who to hire for your transportation.

#3 Compare prices

Airport transportation prices vary a lot. Doing a little research, we found differences in costs of up to $200 for the same service!!

Company A (see image below) charges $283 for a round-trip shuttle between Liberia Airport and the Tamarindo Diria Hotel. After some quick research, we discovered that Company B charges $160 round-trip for the same service – that is almost half the price! However, LIR Shuttle’s price for this same service is $178 round-trip.

But the cheapest is not necessarily the way to go, either. Try to balance customer service and price to find the best company for your Liberia Airport Transportation. 

#4 When to book

Most Liberia Airport Shuttle companies will accept bookings up to 2 hours in advance (sometimes even less notice). So it is up to you to decide when to make your reservation. But we highly recommend planning with enough time. Book your Liberia Airport shuttle at least one week before arriving in Costa Rica.

#5 What information do I need to book A Liberia Airport Shuttle?

Online booking is not yet the standard when booking transportation from/to the Liberia Airport. Most companies (including us) still do bookings the old-fashioned way through email. Whichever booking process makes you most comfortable, always ensure you have your correct arrival and departure flight information when booking.

We have had clients either make a reservation for a different date or confuse their flight numbers and arrival/departure times. Such mistakes cost travelers expensive re-booking fees after missing a departure flight or, at best, hours of waiting at the Liberia Airport because no one was expecting them when they arrived.

When making your reservation, you must ensure you are familiar with your flight dates, flight numbers, and arrival/departure times into and out of Liberia Airport (LIR). 

#6 Payment methods

Most transportation companies working out of Liberia Airport will accept US cash and major credit cards. A few will only accept cash payments. Ask ahead of time what kind of payment is preferred.

We do not recommend exchanging money to pay for your Liberia Airport transportation with the local currency (Costa Rican colones). You will get a disadvantageous exchange rate if you exchange before getting to Costa Rica or at the airport. So, bring US currency with you if you plan to pay in cash.

#7 Avoid double bookings!

Double bookings for airport shuttles are more common than you think. And we have identified the two most common reasons for this to happen:

• Confusing the name of a company: Since there is a lot of competition between Liberia Airport shuttle companies, most will look for an edge by using closely related keywords as their business name. To avoid very uncomfortable situations at the airport, always make sure you have only one reservation. You can always cancel one of the services if you find a double booking. Most companies do not have penalties for doing so and will appreciate the advanced notice of cancellation. 
• Lack of communication between passengers when booking: Read this as one person makes a reservation without telling the other about it. Yes, it sounds simple, but it often happens in large groups. To avoid this, designate one person in your group who will book your Liberia Airport shuttle.

#8 Private vs. Shared Liberia Airport Shuttles

You’ve probably come across many sites offering either shared or private transportation. Let’s look at what you can expect for either service to determine which is best for you:

Pricing

The majority of Liberia Airport shuttle services are private. That means you hire a vehicle where you, or your party, will be the only passengers and will be taken directly to your destination as soon as you exit the airport. This service’s most apparent disadvantage is that it is more expensive than shared shuttle services. However, if your party consists of 3 or more passengers, the private shuttle might be cheaper than the shared shuttle.

Let’s look, for example, at the shared shuttle between LIR Airport and La Fortuna. The rate per person for this service is $59 and departs daily at 8 AM. For a group of 2, the total rate will be $118, about $40 less than what comparable private services will cost. If three or more passengers are in your party, the shared shuttle becomes more expensive than a private one.

Convenience

Pricing aside, the private shuttle is convenient because it will go directly to your destination, with no additional stops or waiting for other passengers. Remember, not everybody is as punctual as they should be, which could cause delays with shared services. If time is not an issue, and you are traveling solo or in a group of two people, then the shared shuttle could be your best option. At the very least, it is a great way to meet other travelers going to the same destination.

Book shared shuttles at least seven days before arrival. Also, consider that shared shuttle fares are not refundable in case of flight delays. If you miss your shuttle, you pay in full – plus any alternative transportation you arrange. Private shuttles, on the other hand, offer more booking and cancellation flexibility. You can book most within hours of arrival, and cancellation policies are much more relaxed.

We hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you need assistance booking Liberia Airport Shuttle transportation. We will be happy to assist you.

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