10 July 2011 • Updated 16 Feb 2022
Testimonials, Feedback and Recommendations
Have you heard great things about Vamos? We bet you have, but sadly, some people haven't yet. 🙁
Vamos Rent-A-Car is highly recommended on TripAdvisor.com and other travel review websites — where there are numerous posters asking for advice on destinations, car rental insurance and the like. We've even been called the best car rental company in Costa Rica, but don't take our word for it...see for yourself how customers describe our services and value!
We invite you to read the good and the not-so-good alike. From social media to survey comments, we keep it real, honest and transparent for everyone.
Since we're all consumers, we truly appreciate all the submitted comments, concerns, and questions during the tweleve years we've been online. These experiences with Vamos have helped countless others make better, informed decisions as well as contributing to building a better rental company (and tourism industry).
We realize that our growth is directly related to our reputation and that is why we've elevated customer service to be one of our cornerstones. Standing out from the crowd is what we do — otherwise, we'd be the same as every other agency...
We're Your Island in the Sea of Franchises
If you have any questions at all, please visit our Live Chat page where our exceptional staff will be happy to assist you. You may also click the green chat box, found at the bottom right of every page — there's even a place to leave a comment if it's outside our regular business hours.
In addition, our Contact Us page has all the info you'll ever need to reach either of our two offices — including Google Map addresses/GPS coordinates, seasonal office hours, phone, and email details.
In June of 2017, we switched software. An unfortunate consequence was that we had to manually rebuild the database...so more of the older reviews will appear over time, but moving forward, it will be far easier to submit a new review online — just submit your comments using the form, located at the bottom of this page.
At the point of swapping applications, Vamos had received an overall rating of 4.795 on a 5-star scale. This was calculated from the 824 car rental reviews — submitted or posted elsewhere online. Our documented reviews go all the way back to July 2011 — if you'd care to scroll down memory lane. 😉
These three eye-catching boxes below show the last 100 reviews collected from the follow-up surveys submitted by confirmed customers. Zendesk is cool enough to provide this widget to display the anonymous data.
We try to keep it all smiles, but every once in awhile...one turns upside down. Although we strive for perfection, our team is merely human after all. We address all frowns with professionalism and honesty. We own up to our shortcomings and ideally, depart as friends. We'd love the opportunity to serve you soon — as a friend of the Vamos family!
We can't be more thankful to have found this rent a car during our last visit to Costa Rica.
No hidden fees, great customer service and the car was more than OK!
They are a local company, and you can really tell they are honest, and willing to help with whatever you need! Totally recommend them!
We’re glad you found us! And thanks to your review, hopefully more people will be able to enjoy their time in Costa Rica as you did. We’re here to help in any way we can. Hope to see you again on your subsequent visit(s) as well. ٩(^‿^)۶
P.S. Thanks for sharing a pix of our staff’s COVID protocols. The dividers and masks are the most visible precautions, but rest assured, we’re still at it cleaning the cars and offices on every rotation.
Thank you Alex for giving us a top rating! 【ツ】
Vamos Rent-A-Car provided my girlfriend and I great service!
We rented a little sedan for two weeks in Jan-Feb 2022 to drive all over the country. There were no hidden fees and no add-on policies that I didn't know about prior to reserving the vehicle.
During our trip, our battery died and we had to be jumped twice. When I called Vamos, they dispatched a mechanic immediately to our location in the mountains around Monte Verde. The mechanic replaced our battery and gave us brand new jumper cables - no questions and no charges. At the end of our trip, Vamos gave us a 10% discount due to this inconvenience.
I'd strongly suggest anyone looking to rent a car in Costa Rica go with Vamos. Great customer service, great price, and no lousy salesman tactics.
Firstly, thank you for your comprehensive review!
We are sorry that you had even the slightest delay in your travel plans, but since vehicles are machines, they do break-down no matter how much preventative maintenance we do. ヽ(ヅ)ノ
We're glad that you were taken care of in an efficient manner. Making a service stop in the mountains isn't like calling AAA from the side of the highway back home...it does take some time to reach you, so we appreciate your understanding.
It was a pleasure to serve you and your gf; we do hope that you'll return again soon. It's been said that Costa Rica offers wonderful locations for a destination wedding. ♥‿♥
Excellent service.
Super friendly and professional staff. There were absolutely no hidden fees.
As a neat bonus, you can ask for a (free) wifi hotspot (cell phone) with your rental.
Our car was in a great condition. We had Suzuki Grand Vitara, just what we needed for our trip.
Our staff certainly loves to read praise like yours!
Shhh on telling our secret. LOL. Even after all the years, our free perks, such as our Wazephone, seem to be a perennial favorite.
Please consider returning...these still plenty to see and do here...and we love seeing more pictures of our cars across the country! (。◕‿◕。)
Definitely the best car rental company in Costa Rica!
Fair prices, no hidden costs and professional support from the staff.
Unfortunately the air conditioning broke down of our car. After reporting this we've received a financial compensation on the total price for our trouble.
Make sure you make a reservation well on time, especially if you want to rent a 4x4 drive, because those are scarce.
Thank you and until next time! :)
Thank you for your praise. We apologize for your inconvenience.
We certainly await your next visit and remember to follow your own advice -- book that 4x4 early! 。^‿^。
Highly recommended for car rental.
I use Vamos regularly and always have a good experience with them.
It’s always a pleasure to hear from our regular renters! Please let us know what we can do the next time you’re in town to encourage a great experience. (b^_^)b
Decent vehicle, nice staff
[...] don't get their phone offer it only worked the first day for us.
Hello Joeylin, Thank you for taking the time to review our services. We'd like to offer our apologies that the phone did not work properly. We can't find your name in our records to reach out to you directly but we'd really like to find out more. Please contact me at alex@vamosrentacar.com to follow up with you. Thank you!
Had a pleasant experience at Vamos car rental in Liberia.
Much better than my last experience in San Jose with another company. The SUV we reserved was great. The workers met our requests. Recommend!
We're delighted to read your review, Cory. Thank you for the positive feedback!
Very kind and professional
Thank you for your five-star review, Gaby :)
My experience with Vamos couldn't of been better.
We used them for our 10 day honeymoon as we travelled to La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio and then back to SJO. They were kind, friendly and professional. I really enjoyed how transparent they were throughout the process and very thorough. If ever I come back to Costa Rica (hopefully that's soon) I will surely be using them again.
We hope that you and your wife can soon return to Costa Rica too! We’re very happy to read that we were able to provide you with a smooth end-to-end rental experience and that you appreciated our clear communication. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, Grant.
We can't be more thankful to have found this rent a car during our last visit to Costa Rica.
No hidden fees, great customer service and the car was more than OK!
They are a local company, and you can really tell they are honest, and willing to help with whatever you need! Totally recommend them!
We’re glad you found us! And thanks to your review, hopefully more people will be able to enjoy their time in Costa Rica as you did. We’re here to help in any way we can. Hope to see you again on your subsequent visit(s) as well. ٩(^‿^)۶
P.S. Thanks for sharing a pix of our staff’s COVID protocols. The dividers and masks are the most visible precautions, but rest assured, we’re still at it cleaning the cars and offices on every rotation.
Thank you Alex for giving us a top rating! 【ツ】
Vamos Rent-A-Car provided my girlfriend and I great service!
We rented a little sedan for two weeks in Jan-Feb 2022 to drive all over the country. There were no hidden fees and no add-on policies that I didn't know about prior to reserving the vehicle.
During our trip, our battery died and we had to be jumped twice. When I called Vamos, they dispatched a mechanic immediately to our location in the mountains around Monte Verde. The mechanic replaced our battery and gave us brand new jumper cables - no questions and no charges. At the end of our trip, Vamos gave us a 10% discount due to this inconvenience.
I'd strongly suggest anyone looking to rent a car in Costa Rica go with Vamos. Great customer service, great price, and no lousy salesman tactics.
Firstly, thank you for your comprehensive review!
We are sorry that you had even the slightest delay in your travel plans, but since vehicles are machines, they do break-down no matter how much preventative maintenance we do. ヽ(ヅ)ノ
We're glad that you were taken care of in an efficient manner. Making a service stop in the mountains isn't like calling AAA from the side of the highway back home...it does take some time to reach you, so we appreciate your understanding.
It was a pleasure to serve you and your gf; we do hope that you'll return again soon. It's been said that Costa Rica offers wonderful locations for a destination wedding. ♥‿♥
Excellent service.
Super friendly and professional staff. There were absolutely no hidden fees.
As a neat bonus, you can ask for a (free) wifi hotspot (cell phone) with your rental.
Our car was in a great condition. We had Suzuki Grand Vitara, just what we needed for our trip.
Our staff certainly loves to read praise like yours!
Shhh on telling our secret. LOL. Even after all the years, our free perks, such as our Wazephone, seem to be a perennial favorite.
Please consider returning...these still plenty to see and do here...and we love seeing more pictures of our cars across the country! (。◕‿◕。)
Definitely the best car rental company in Costa Rica!
Fair prices, no hidden costs and professional support from the staff.
Unfortunately the air conditioning broke down of our car. After reporting this we've received a financial compensation on the total price for our trouble.
Make sure you make a reservation well on time, especially if you want to rent a 4x4 drive, because those are scarce.
Thank you and until next time! :)
Thank you for your praise. We apologize for your inconvenience.
We certainly await your next visit and remember to follow your own advice -- book that 4x4 early! 。^‿^。
Highly recommended for car rental.
I use Vamos regularly and always have a good experience with them.
It’s always a pleasure to hear from our regular renters! Please let us know what we can do the next time you’re in town to encourage a great experience. (b^_^)b
Decent vehicle, nice staff
[...] don't get their phone offer it only worked the first day for us.
Hello Joeylin, Thank you for taking the time to review our services. We'd like to offer our apologies that the phone did not work properly. We can't find your name in our records to reach out to you directly but we'd really like to find out more. Please contact me at alex@vamosrentacar.com to follow up with you. Thank you!
Had a pleasant experience at Vamos car rental in Liberia.
Much better than my last experience in San Jose with another company. The SUV we reserved was great. The workers met our requests. Recommend!
We're delighted to read your review, Cory. Thank you for the positive feedback!
Very kind and professional
Thank you for your five-star review, Gaby :)
My experience with Vamos couldn't of been better.
We used them for our 10 day honeymoon as we travelled to La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio and then back to SJO. They were kind, friendly and professional. I really enjoyed how transparent they were throughout the process and very thorough. If ever I come back to Costa Rica (hopefully that's soon) I will surely be using them again.
We hope that you and your wife can soon return to Costa Rica too! We’re very happy to read that we were able to provide you with a smooth end-to-end rental experience and that you appreciated our clear communication. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, Grant.
Don’t stress about booking a rental car in Costa Rica and just go with Vamos instead.
Their service is top notch!!
I originally had a rental booked in March 2020, but needed to cancel due to border closures and the staff got back to me immediately to cancel free of charge. When I booked my car rental this time around, they didn’t have the original dates that I wanted, but helped me update my booking once it became available. Then my flight got changed by the airline and they were flexible with helping me change my booking a second time.
Their staff has your flight number and will be waiting for you at the airport, and same with dropping you off once your reservation ends. No need to wait for a shuttle bus.
The price they quote you is exactly what you pay with full transparency. TPL is always required, but you can get CDW waived with a letter from your credit card company.
I’ll definitely be booking with you again on my next trip!
Thank you for your detailed feedback on our services, Phyllis. We’ve been ready to adapt to the changes in our clients’ bookings due to the pandemic and we’re delighted that this flexibility worked well for you. We’re looking forward to meeting and greeting you at the airport for your next vacation!
No nonsense.
Full price quoted up front. We used our Chase Card to waive the damage insurance. There are 3 different insurances required in CR. Do your homework up front. Small office with free 6 minute shuttle ride to and from from LIR. The shuttle driver was waiting for us right after baggage claim. Leave the terminal immediately after you pick up your bags. Don't get trapped listening to trip/tour salesmen ganging up on you by the terminal exit. Older 2013 4x4 Daihatsu Terios with a few dings but everything worked and was mechanically sound. Was lent a small cooler with the vehicle. Nice touch. I will use them again next trip to Liberia.
ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪ Your review is music to our ears, Ralph. Thank you for your positive feedback on our transparent pricing, free perks, and “meet and greet” service from the airport. We continue to update the fleet and most of our vehicles are less than three years old although all our rental cars are meticulously maintained by the in-house mechanic team. Your advice on research and insurance options will be very useful to future renters. See you soon!
(Translated by Google) Excellent service, the best
(Original) Excelente servicio, el mejor
¡Gracias, Merci! Nos vemos pronto. 😊
We go to Costa Rica every 3 months (pre pandemic) and we always rent from Vamos.
Excellent service, communication and employees. Their fees are clearly outlined on their website and you will pay exactly what you reserve online (many companies do not and often hide their fees). The vehicles are in great shape and you will get something relatively new. We always do a 4x4 SUV and get a very nice Mitsubishi Outlander. This most recent trip in November, they even installed a surf rack for me at no extra charge! They will reach out to you prior to your trip. They have shuttle service. I have yet to find any other company who can beat their price for the quality of car you get and the service as well!
For my fellow U.S. folks, renting a car in Costa Rica is *very* different. I would *strongly* urge anyone to consider the optional insurance. Ticos drive very aggressively (and I've driven in LA, ATL, and I commute daily in Miami). Also, almost all attractions (waterfalls etc) and Airbnbs are up dirt and rock mountain roads. Just don't even take the chance. And if you choose not to select it, be sure to read the hold that will get placed on your credit card. This is *all* rental companies. Again, very different than the U.S. (I get no form of compensation or consideration for saying any of this) I only mention this because I see people often give poor reviews because they don't read the terms and understand the fees and credit card holds. I wouldn't even dream of renting without getting the insurance and we've been traveling there for years.
This is why we LOVE Vamos and will only rent from them. Seriously, they are amazing! Don't think twice, rent from them! The best!
Wow, Disco Unicorns. Thank you so much for the detailed feedback on our services based on your regular rental experience with us. Your tips for insurance and driving in Costa Rica are sure to be useful to future renters. We're so happy that you’ve become more than renters and part of our Vamos family. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back when the situation improves.
(Translated by Google) Excellent (Original) Excelente
¡Gracias, Ricardo! ¡Nos vemos pronto!
Good experience and no surprises from booking on the website through checking the car back in.
I would book with them again for sure.
Thank you for taking the time to review our services, Chris. We’re delighted that you had a smooth end-to-end experience and we’ll be happy to welcome you back in the future!
Amazingly friendly and accommodating!
Highly recommend, especially if traveling with small children!
Thank you for your recommendation, Christine. We love to welcome families to Costa Rica!
The price quotes on the web site are always accurate.
They stay in contact with you well via email. The employees are always polite and friendly. The cars are reliable and clean. There really isn't a better car rental company in Costa Rica.
Thanks for taking the time to leave us a five-star rating, Keith. We’re delighted that you were so satisfied with your car rental experience from San Jose.
I was charged an extra $400 for a 'broken tail light' that I certainly didn't break.
This is either a scam by vamos employees or someone in costa rica is randomly breaking people's tail lights for fun. I don't have evidence either way, but I think it's important that this data point exists for other potential renters.
I'd say get the cheapest insurance possible because you'll still be hitting your deductible regardless of what you buy.
Hello Nicholas,
It is disappointing when we don’t deliver 100% satisfaction to our customers. As you can see from the reviews we have received, the vast majority of our renters consider our service to be five star. We would never overcharge for damage to one of our vehicles or risk our reputation with something as underhand as deliberately causing damages. I’m sorry if your rental car was damaged without your knowledge and remained unnoticed during your rental period. Unfortunately, this falls under the renter’s responsibility although it would be covered by full insurance coverage.
Thank you for taking the time to review our services and draw the attention of future renters to the importance of parking in secure lots and regularly checking the vehicle’s condition.
I highly recommend Vamos.
Luis the manager is very responsive and professional. He made my trip feel safe in CR. He is extremely knowledgeable about your needs as a visitor and you will be in good hands with him and his team.
I recommend purchasing the full coverage for ease of mind as the roads in certain areas can be a bit hair raising and dicey in the countryside: dirt roads w potholes and windy steep roads that goes on for over an hour.
The car I got was an excellent 4 wheel drive and got my car dropped off at my hotel for a small fee. Just tipped David for the service. They also offer a CR mobile that is at a good rate for unlimited wifi, gps, local calls. I suggest taking up on that.
Just let Luis know ahead of time your queries and he can answer everything in a timely fashion. I would say this was the best service I had in CR. Thank you Luis!
We delighted that we could help you in planning your trip, Orlinda! Our representatives are always willing to answer any questions regarding car rental in Costa Rica and they love to get positive feedback on their efforts. We hope to welcome you back soon!
We’re sorry that you were not completely satisfied with our service. We are unable to find you in our system so please get in touch and let us know how we could have improved.
The Service was excellent
[...] they pick you up at the airport and the Representative Eduardo Morales help us thru the whole process very nice person, the service at the office was fast and professional I really feel like this place is nice and they make my vacation better. I definitely recommend this place if you want to rent in Costa Rica, thanks for the Service would go back again
We’re very happy to have helped contribute towards your vacation success, Gloria. Eduardo was very pleased to have been mentioned in your review of our services. We look forward to welcoming you back to Vamos (and Costa Rica) in the future!
(Translated by Google) They offer very good service, recommended.
(Original) Ofrecen muy buen servicio, recomendado.
¡Gracias, Yamileth! Estamos aquí a servirle.
The person taking care of us was very hospital and accommodating.
The car was in great shape.
Thank you for your positive feedback on your car rental vehicle and the customer service, Katharine. We’re enjoying welcoming our customers back to Costa Rica safely!
Thank you for your five-star review, Ivan!
Just perfect.
Got a compact no-frills, 4WD SUV at a price that made our trip possible. Staff were highly professional.
UPDATE: If I could give 10 stars I would. I had my cellphone stolen while in CR and an amazing employee at Vamos went out of his way to provide supporting information to my travel insurance company. It's hard to find good people like this.
Thanks for the five-star review, Calvin. We’re glad that our commitment to transparent, competitive pricing meant your vacation to Costa Rica was affordable. We’ll look forward to seeing you again in the future!
UPDATE: Although we are truly sorry that you were exposed to crime while visiting our country, we are more than happy to assist in any way possible to correct and make things right.
(Translated by Google) The best 👌🏻
(Original) Los mejores 👌🏻
¡Gracias, Kevin!
Real nice people working there.
Just remember to always get the full insurance.
We appreciate you taking the time to leave a review of your car rental experience, Mr. E. For a stress-free vacation, we recommend full insurance too so thanks for this advice to future customers. The team is always delighted to get such nice feedback on their service :)
We had a great experience with Vamos renting in June 2019 during our week long vacation.
4WD vehicles available at great prices. They were in contact in advance by email to answer questions we had. Airport pick-up and drop-off was smooth. The car itself was clean and worked great the whole trip. The smartphone option (a couple dollars a day, and it has calling capabilities and mobile data) saved us a number of times since our cell plans make using data in other countries expensive. Friendly office staff. Really nothing to complain about. We'll be back when we visit again.
We’re delighted that your end-to-end rental experience was without any hitches and that you found the smartphone so useful during your stay, Andrew. We’ll soon be back to business in a new normal and look forward to your return!
I wanted to thank you for your very helpful guide on car rentals in Costa Rica.
I think I spent more time researching car rentals than on the places to visit. We just came back from our trip and was very happy with renting from Vamos. Very professional and no hidden fees. I obtained the 'Proof of Coverage' email from my Visa credit card prior to my arrival so I could forgo paying the CDW.
We’re delighted that you had a positive experience with us, baytravel. Visitors who carry out some research into car rental before arriving are rarely surprised on arrival and know to bring a letter to waive inhouse CDW. Thank you for sharing for the benefit of future renters. We hope to see you again soon!
[...] We flew into SJO, got our Vamos sedan, and headed out to Turrialba early the next morning.
The Vamos experience was excellent, as always, but the same model we had last year, a Dzire, was on tiny little tires, practically a low-rider. Gonna try to prevent this in the future. [...]
Thank you for returning to Vamos again, mimdaisy! We’d love to make sure that you have the perfect vehicle for your itinerary if you’d like to discuss your trip with us before booking next time. We’d only recommend a sedan rental for the Central Valley and the most accessible beaches like Jaco. An SUV's higher clearance and larger tires make for easier driving in other areas, even if the 4x4 transmission isn't a requirement. We appreciate you taking the time to share comments on our service and we can’t wait to hear from you again!
We rented an SUV from Vamos on our Costa Rican vacation.
Being a salesman covering a large territory I have rented countless vehicles from just about every rent-a-car company. Vamos Rent-a-car was the best rental car experience I have ever had.
Every person I interacted with was extremely friendly, helpful and professional. I had significantly more interaction with Vamos than most of my rentals because I had questions and special requests before our trip and a local Tico backed into our car in a parking lot on our first day. They were exceptionally helpful and patient walking me through everything I had to do in order to meet insurance requirements and returning the damaged vehicle was simple, fast and everything was explained clearly.
Vamos is definitely 5 STARS!!!
Thank you for your informed and kind words, Tom. We’re sorry that you didn’t have the smoothest start to your rental but we’re very happy that we were quickly able to exchange your vehicle. Do consider Costa Rica for your next vacation! We’ll be waiting :)
Great 4wd suv to get up and down the many unpaved roads we encountered.
No unhidden charges, transparent transaction. Friendly, helpful clerk.
Word to the wise: rent the phone for $5/day. You will appreciate having waze and google maps, not to mention phone calling capability, when you are in the remote wilds of Costa Rica.
We’re delighted that our vehicle and the Waze phone gave you the confidence to really explore our beautiful country, Mark!
trip date: late Feb-early March 2020.
We researched many car rental companies near SJO. Decided on Vamos and glad we did.
Yes, it's expensive to rent a car in Costa Rica, because you must, at a minimum, buy the national liability insurance. Suggest everyone read up on auto insurance in Costa Rica, as well as what's required if you have an accident. Do this before you rent the car.
We also rented the Vamos cell phone along with the car. You can use the phone for local calls, but most importantly, the phone acts as your navigation. Waze worked well for us.
I recommend renting from Vamos. They don't play games, the car rental process went as expected with them with no surprises, or extra charges.
We appreciate your recommendation to conduct research as our experience shows that customers who understand the insurance requirement for car rental in Costa Rica are much less likely to experience surprises on arrival. We’re happy that you appreciated our commitment to transparency and the Waze device for accurate navigation, J E. Do remember us when you're booking your next trip!
Thank you for giving us a top rating, Isabelle!
d(⌒ー ⌒) Thank you for the five stars, dv2u2!
At the last moment, we decided not to travel to Costa Rica because of the COVID-19.
We reached out to VAMOS and were told that the cancellation fee was waived. This was very much appreciated and I will be using Vamos in the future.
We look forward to welcoming many of our clients to our beautiful country once the concerns over health issues subside globally, Terence. Although the COVID-19 outbreak will hit the tourism industry in Costa Rica hard, we do not want to penalize any of our clients when they are already so disappointed at having to cancel their well-earned vacations. We’ll be waiting for your rebooking!
Everything you SHOULD get from a rental car company - a clean and trouble free vehicle, courteous staff, prompt service and most importantly, no unexpected surprise charges.
Very convenient to the Costa Rican Liberia airport.
Thank you, Bill. We couldn’t agree more with your comments! A car rental company should provide a reliable vehicle, helpful customer service, and commit to no hidden fees. We’re happy that we've checked all the boxes. ⎝(•‿•)⎠
We ordered a 4x4 SUV, but received a very old and dented Daihatsu ''Terrios''.
I’m my estimation our car was probably about 15 years old; it had over 125,000km on the clock. Although the tyres were in good condition and I believe that it had been recently serviced the suspension was v poor and on the bad dirt roads in Costa Rica it bounced all over the place. It was so tiny that 2 medium bags hardly fitted in the boot and there was nothing to hide the luggage so we couldn’t ever the leave the car with luggage in. The car was so under-powered that it could hardly make it up some of the steeper hills. For nearly 100 $USD / day that it cost (including full insurance), I would have hoped for a MUCH better car. The personnel were friendly but arrived late to pick us up at the airport.
As much as I would like to investigate your comments, I am unable due to the limited information in your review. Please email me at ‘alex@vamosrentacar.com’ with the name that the reservation was under as well as its number. I’ll then be able to gather more facts and if there was an error on our part, I will be the first to apologize and rectify it.
While I am here, allow me to address what sounds to be your three biggest concerns. (1) The rental car was, as you estimated, 15 years old. (2) Not enough trunk space and (3) Ineffective engine size.
(1) I can absolutely confirm that Vamos does not rent 15 year old vehicles as we have a two-year roll-over lease protocol. We still have literally a handful of older vehicles (mainly at Liberia) from our previous ownership, but even if you received one of these (due to high season availability), at most, they are four years old. Wear and tear to our vehicles is more apparent than in other countries due to unpaved roads and potholes.
(2 & 3) Our website has clearly marked icons showing the passenger and baggage recommendations (from the manufacturer) and the engine size for each category. Our staff will also gladly assist in the selection of the right vehicle for each client’s itinerary. That’s a part of our personalized service, but of course, we need to know your plans prior to pick up.
As a side note, one of the most recommended tips about traveling to Costa Rica is to *not* leave valuables in your car. Regardless if the trunk had a cover or not, this is one of the things that’s an absolute no-no.
Use Vamos.
Trustworthy, no issues with insurance waiver.
Short but sweet recommendations are our favorites! Thank you, Ronnerator ٩(^‿^)۶
[...] The best car rental agency in Costa Rica is Vamos.
Read their website and you will understand EVERYTHING about renting a car and driving in Costa Rica. [...]
Thank you for keeping it real for Reddit users, NoBSforGma. We really appreciate your kind comments about our service and website information. Do introduce yourself to us next time you’re back in the country!
Vamos is the best.
We did everything over their website and everything went smoothly in CR, even with our small ''fender bender.'' Read nmitch76 below and take it seriously...we paid for full [CDW] insurance and would never think about renting a car in CR without it.
Sorry to hear that you had a ''fender bender'' issue to deal with, Jeff, but we’re very pleased that it didn’t dampen your enthusiasm for your car rental experience. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the future!
If you're renting a car in Costa Rica, this is the place to rent from.
The prices are more affordable than other places near the airport, and the service was excellent. I also paid exactly what I booked online and not a penny more.
We’re happy that you liked our commitment to competitive and transparent pricing, Tim. We’ll be waiting for your next reservation!
After tons of research and reading about dodgy rental agencies we decided to use Vamos.
The service was awesome. Prices were fair. $930USD for 2 weeks and that included the use of a local cell phone so we could use Waze. Highly recommend!
We find that customers who’ve carried out research know what to expect from car rental in Costa Rica and we’re pleased to have delivered, Karen! Thank you for your kind comments and we hope to see you again soon.
Thank you for your four-star review, David. If there was anything we could have done to have improved your rating, we’d love to know.
Great service they picked us up from the airport on time.
The staff was friendly and professional. The car was very clean and fully functional. Returning the car was a breeze and they brought us right back to the airport.
We’re very pleased to have been able to provide you with a smooth end-to-end car rental experience, Patrick. We’ll be waiting to assist you with your next reservation!
Very quick responses!
Our policy is to respond to every email, text or Facebook message within six working hours so thanks for the positive feedback, Cathryn.
(。◕‿◕。) Thank you, Debora!
I researched before coming to Costa Rica and I heard that a lot of the rental car agencies can add surprise charges at the end and to go with a Local company.
Vamos was very upfront about what you needed to pay and what you could bring to waive certain insurance when booking the car. The car was in great condition and we did not have any problems during our visit. We added on the Mobile Data/Hotspot phone for $5/day, which was definitely worth it. There were no surprise fees when we returned the car. Overall, we had an excellent experience with Vamos and would definitely use them next time we visit Costa Rica!
Our most satisfied customers are those who’ve done their research, Julia, as they appreciate our transparent pricing and clear information. We’re delighted that your end to end car rental experience with us convinced you to return and we’ll look forward to seeing you next time!
Easy and efficient from beginning to end.
Vamos was very responsive throughout the process. They charged me what they quoted with no hidden fees or pressure for any add-ons. We were running late for our flight and phoned ahead before we returned the car. They met us outside and had the paperwork ready for check out. This was the most pleasant rental car experience I've ever had. Thank you!
We were more than happy to step up with the vehicle return procedure so you could make your flight on time, Rossana. Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your rental and we're waiting for you to book your next trip!
Rented with them in January 20.
The car - Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4, manual - was delivered to our hotel in Liberia in perfect conditions. Free second driver and ice box, 5$ a day for a cellphone with unlimited data that you can use as GPS and hotspot. No problems for a late delivery on our last day and super quick shuttle service to the airport, and no hidden costs whatsoever. Jose and Ana made the extra mile by solving an issue with my driving license (totally my fault) so to allow me to drive and not be totally screwed. There may be cheaper ones on the market, but I would 100% recommend VAMOS, as we didn't worry about anything for the whole 2 weeks of the trip. I strongly suggest getting a 4x4 even in the dry season too, as some lovely spots and paths would be inaccessible with a 2WD car. Pura vida!
Your detailed review is really helpful, Michele, so thanks for contributing your experience to Google. A 4x4 vehicle is the best choice to explore more off the beaten track locations and we’re delighted that you discovered hidden corners of the country during your travels. We were happy to help you out with your drivers license and to deliver the vehicle to your hotel -- all part of our personalized service to ensure that our customers have a smooth rental experience and can get on with enjoying their vacation. Do keep Vamos in mind when you’re planning your next trip!
[...] they are good people to deal with [...]
Glad to have the support of such a prolific TripAdvisor poster, roadadvisor! Thank you :)
Vamos car rental; highly recommend!
We rented a car from Vamos at he SJO airport and they were great. 4x4 small suv with a cell phone, 8 days, $503; price quoted was price charged. Not the cheapest, but no additional surprise charges. Staff meets you at the airport and shuttle takes you to the rental center. All the staff are very professional and extremely helpful. Phone worked great.
Thank you for the comprehensive review, Lwethl. We’re pleased that you appreciated our commitment to transparent pricing and customer service. d(⌒-⌒) Recommendations from satisfied customers like yourself make all the difference to our business. Do bear us in mind when you are planning your next trip!
Vamos was great!
Thank you, SHC3535. We hope to see you again soon!
Your rental amount is laughably low.
Go to one of the REPUTABLE rental car agencies in Costa Rica such as Vamos or budget.co.cr or adobecar.com and compare. [...]
We appreciate your recommendation as one of Costa Rica’s reputable car rental agencies, NoBSforGma.
Nous tenons à féliciter la société Vamos rent a car pour la qualité de son accueil, qu'il soit téléphonique ou physique, mais aussi pour la qualité de ses échanges par mail lors de la réservation.
La prise en charge des clients est impeccable et avec le sourire. Merci également pour votre réactivité à répondre à nos besoins (petit problème de fusible défaillant sur la prise de l'allume-cigares servant à charger les téléphones). Nous avons apprécié le geste commercial effectué pour compenser ce désagrément. La fourniture d'un téléphone est également hyper pratique pour circuler et pouvoir utiliser Waze. Encore un très grand merci à toute l'équipe !
Translation: We would like to congratulate Vamos Rent A Car for the quality of its reception, whether it is by phone or physical, but also for the quality of its exchanges by email during the booking process. The customer care is impeccable, and with a smile. Thank you also for your reactivity to meet our needs (small problem of faulty fuse on the cigarette lighter socket used to charge the phones). We appreciated the commercial gesture made to compensate for this inconvenience. The supply of a phone is also very handy to move around and to use Waze. Once again, a very big thank you to the whole team !
[...] I am delighted to read that you were satisfied with our customer service and that you appreciated the commercial gesture regarding the fuse problem. I will pass the word on to our team, who will also be very happy to read your comments. [...]
Very prompt response time
We aim to respond to emails within six working hours so we're pleased that our communication with you has been timely. Thank you again for choosing Vamos.
Vamos, a very reputable company by all accounts [...]
Thank you, JSH99. We are fortunate that so many of our satisfied customers share their experiences on online forums and social media!
Vamos was a fantastic rental car company!
They were friendly, responsive, helpful, and very easy to work with. I fully recommend them!
We’re very happy to read your enthusiastic review. Customer satisfaction is vital to our business, so thanks for the recognition Burk!
Just returned from 12 days in Costa Rica, SJO to Arenal area to Manuel Antonio and back to SJO.
Rented from Vamos, extremely satisfied with their price, clarity, service, and support. They are clear about pricing and insurance requirements. We took advantage of their $5/day cell phone rental that included WAZE (GREAT!), unlimited incoming international calls (our son had an emergency and reached us that way), and hot spot, which we used in remote areas. They answered every question and were very responsive. We'll use them again.
Sorry to hear that your son had an emergency in the middle of your trip, Patti, but we’re delighted that the phone rental allowed you to stay in touch. Thank you for all your feedback on your end-to-end rental experience and we’ll be waiting when you next return! (ᵔᴥᵔ)
Thank you so much for your wonderful customer service from start to finish for our recent trip to Costa Rica.
We ended up getting a flat tire on the morning of our last day - just before leaving for the airport. My husband changed the tire, we drove to drop off the car, and you didn't charge us anything extra after checking the tire out. Thank you very much!
I will definitely rent with Vamos again and have already posted on tripadvisor about how wonderful y’all were. Thank you again!
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your rental experience with us. I'm sorry to hear that you had to deal with a flat tire on your last morning -- the roads here cause a fair bit of wear and tear! However, I'm delighted that you were on time for your flight and our customer service was to your satisfaction. Do think of us when you're planning your next trip. We love to welcome you back!
Thank you for the five-star rating, Bob!
First off I want to thank you for a great rental car experience when we visited Costa Rica in late January and early February.
We really enjoyed the 2 SUVs we rented and everything went smoothly and met expectations. All the Vamos people we met were helpful and great to work with. [...] I told her about our great experience with Vamos and that she should rent from you because we had such a good experience and appreciated the personal touch of Vamos. [...]
Thank you for your kind message and words. We're very glad you had an enjoyable car rental experience with us.
Service was easy and wonderful customer service.
Car is beautiful. We are grateful. 10/10
Thank you for taking the time to complete our satisfaction survey, and for providing feedback. I'm delighted that you rate us so highly and that our customer service and vehicle are to your liking. Do have a wonderful vacation and if you have any further feedback on your return, I'm all ears.
Honest just make sure you read everything and take pictures of your car
We appreciate you taking the time to review our services, Michael. If there was anything that we could have changed about your rental experience to have been awarded the full five stars, we’d love to know.
[...] I chose Vamos based on information here. [...]
Research is key to avoiding surprises, Rosie. We thoroughly recommend that all our clients read up on car rental in Costa Rica and we’re delighted that you found us!
Thank you for your five-star rating and for sharing a photo to Google too, Kyle.
Thank you for taking the time to rate our services, Marie. If there was anything we could have done to have improved your rental experience, we’d love to know!
[...] I have used Vamos Car Rental the last two trips and been very happy with them.
Their online reviews are outstanding. [...] Their staff is extremely friendly and professional. [...]
We love to fit in with our clients’ travel plans wherever we can so we’re pleased that delivering to your rental home was helpful. Thank you for being such a loyal customer, Steven. We can’t wait to see you next time!
Thanks, Sally! We love to get five stars from our customers :)
We’re so happy that you rated us as a five star rental experience, Kai!
Thank you so much for the five-star rating, Gabby!
Thanks for an excellent rental, Vamos Rent-A-Car!
We rented a 4x4 in San Jose for our time in and around La Fortuna. The Daihatsu 4x4 was in great condition, good tires, cold AC, just what we needed for exploring and feeling safe. The car arrived timely at our hotel, that was an excellent upgrade! There were no surprises, no haggle about our declining their available CDW (make sure to get a coverage letter in advance from your credit card company to present at rental). We felt the price was quite fair, and at the end, when we returned the car, Vamos quickly got us to the airport for our flight home. Thanks Vamos Rent-A-Car!
We really appreciate you taking the time to provide feedback on your rental, David. Our delivery service is a great way to begin your vacation after landing late at night so we’re pleased that this worked well for you. Your advice regarding the letter from your credit card provider is very useful for our future clients and we’re glad that our commitment to no hard sell was to your liking. Please consider us for your next trip! ٩(^‿^)۶
Our experience with Vamos was very good.
The 4x4 we hired was in good condition and was perfect for what we needed. The prices are fair and the service is excellent. We had an issue when we hit a prop shaft that fell off the back of a lorry in front of us. It burst two tires. A big thank you to Carlos who was absolutely superb in helping us get recovered and speaking on the phone to the recovery driver and the tire place. We were back on the road in two hours. Taking out the extra insurance cover even meant I was refunded for the cost of the tires and fit. I would 100% recommend and trust these guys.
Wow! We’re so happy that we could assist you in dealing with this unforeseen event and that it didn’t stop you from enjoying your vacation, Jason. (b^_^)b We’d 100% love to welcome you back!
This company was the most reasonable price, and provided an excellent service!
Very informative, and we could not have asked for better! Highly recommend!
We’re delighted that our competitive pricing and helpful customer service were to your liking, Cheri. 。^‿^。 We’ll be looking forward to seeing you again!
Best rental car experience.
No hidden fees. Really nice group of honest workers and our car was in great shape! We really recommend getting the mobile hotspot!!!
Thanks for the thumbs up, Madeline! d(⌒-⌒) We’re delighted that you appreciated our commitment to transparent pricing and counter staff who don’t hardsell. Hope you will keep us in mind for your next trip!
Thank you for the five-star rating, Ik!
Excellent choice for travelers coming to CR.
My car had some wear (dents and scratches) which is the way I like it. Company reps were fantastic. Knowledgeable, quick, and friendly. Great experience and highly recommend.
Thank you, JB. As you've experienced, Costa Rica's roads are very harsh on vehicles. Our newly-leased cars do get 'dinged up', but like yourself, many actually prefer the 'look'. Our team really appreciates positive feedback like yours! We hope that you’ll keep us in mind for your next trip.
Great experience! Excellent service.
Thanks for the nice review, Mursalin and for adding a photo to our page. We’ll be here waiting for you when you’re ready to return to Costa Rica.
Friendly, quick service!
Your kind words about our customer service are greatly appreciated, Celine! We’re counting on seeing you next time ٩(^‿^)۶
We just came back from CR and rented a 4x2 from Vamos.
Looking back, I really wish we had gotten the 4x4, which was only $50 more.
Waze often recalculated in the mountains and took me the wrong way on our next to last day, about 18km through Quetzal National Park, which had very rough roads and I got a flat tire. A kind Tico helped me change it but it was a pain.
4x4's also have more power. Our 4x2 struggled going up the very steep roads we often found ourselves on in Arenal and Copey de Dota and in the Copey valley.
If we ever go back, I am definitely renting a 4x4.
Sorry to hear that Waze let you down, Olga. It is usually very reliable but like any technology, it has its moments and we would urge customers to allow common sense to override the app. If our team is asked for advice on the type of vehicle to rent, then they are more than happy to suggest the appropriate car to suit group size and itinerary. We hope that we can assist you in being fully prepared for your next visit!
We've rented from both Vamos locations now and have had excellent service at both.
The 4WD car was a real workhorse on our trip to Nicoya and the Pacific coast.
We love to welcome back our loyal customers at either of our locations, Glenn! We’ll make sure we have another workhorse lined up for your next trip.【ツ】
I will admit I was hesitant to go with any other rental car company outside of those that I use for business travel in the States.
However it’s Vamos website that really drew me into and ultimately using them for our 6 day car rental in Costa Rica. Their website is very thorough and some of the points they touched on about the hidden fees and other companies leaving off the country mandated liability insurance, well I was seeing this when getting quote with their competitors and those rental car companies that I normally would use.
I also like their offerings of a phone to use to call anywhere within Costa Rica for a mere $5 dollars a day. With this phone I could call any Costa Rica phone number while I was in the country, which we did to contact excursions and restaurant reservations. At this same time this phone acted as a hotspot in which we can connect our phones too in order to use Wi-Fi calling to call back home to the U.S. for free and make use of our apps at will. Other competitors I found was charging $10-$15 dollars a day for the same service.
The SUV we had was only 2-years old and drove great, it was a automatic but had the ability to manually shift which came in handy with the steep roads around Arenal. I arranged a drop off of the vehicle in Jaco which went very smooth, they were on-time, and had everything in order to just quickly get some additional information from me and 10 mins later the vehicle was mine. The pick-up however did not go as smooth in Tamarindo as I had arrange a 9am pick-up, but it was just about 10:30am before they arrived. I’m pretty sure they forgot about the pick-up when I called to remind them at 9:15am. However when they arrived, again they had everything in order and the final paperwork was signed off on within 5 min of their arrival. Luckily on that pick-up day our excursion/adventure time wasn’t until noon that day, so we had some time to allow for such a delay. However just something to keep in mind if your renting and arrange a pick-up, that you may not want to set your excursion time to close to your rental car pick-up, just in case you have the same issue we did. Don’t get me wrong, mistakes happen and I get that. So we weren’t upset that they were late as we continued to hang out in the hotel pool until we received the phone call that they were on location.
I would definitely rent from Vamos again despite the blunder in the pick-up time as I liked what they had to offer as far as vehicles and amenities, they were completely professional and did not try to upsell me, plus their website was just packed with information like no other rental car company that I’ve seen before. They provided everything about road conditions, scams by crooks to look out for, to in-depth but simple to understand car insurance information.
Last quick note to make, I ended up taking the basic insurance coverage as it was only like $7-8 dollars on top of the mandatory liability insurance coverage. I felt that even though my high-end credit card covers 100% of a car rental as it’s considered “primary” rental car coverage, I still opt’d to go with the $750 max deductible insurance coverage (Basic CDW), cause really what is another $48 bucks for 6-days in the long run to have this great “piece of mind” coverage in a foreign country. Personally I thought it was a steal and a heck of a deal. Thank you Vamos for a Great experience !!!!!
Thank you for your very detailed review of our car rental services which will be so useful for other renters considering a reservation with a local company rather than big name brand. Please allow me to apologize that my coworkers dropped the ball with your Tamarindo pick up and I’m happy that this hiccup did not interfere with your plans for the day. Our teams are trained to provide advice on coverage options as it is so important for people to understand that they are responsible to pay for any damages and then claim for reimbursement through their credit card provider if they decline inhouse options. Many of our clients, like you did, prefer to take CDW from us for peace of mind. We really appreciate your positive feedback on our website, competitive pricing and cellphone rental and look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the future.
Staff was very friendly and was waiting for us at the airport even though we were delayed due to long lines at customs.
No surprise charges and the final bill was to the penny of what we were quoted (This is the only rental car company I've ever had that happen with). Vehicle was clean and in great condition.
We’re delighted that we could meet and greet to transport you to our office, Tyler. Our commitment to transparent pricing is for real so thanks for drawing attention to it. Do remember Vamos when you're booking your next car rental (hopefully in Costa Rica)!
I will admit I was hesitant to go with any other rental car company outside of those that I use for business travel in the States.
However it’s Vamos website that really drew me into and ultimately using them for our 6 day car rental in Costa Rica. Their website is very thorough and some of the points they touched on about the hidden fees and other companies leaving off the country mandated liability insurance, well I was seeing this when getting quote with their competitors and those rental car companies that I normally would use.
I also like their offerings of a phone to use to call anywhere within Costa Rica for a mere $5 dollars a day. With this phone I could call any Costa Rica phone number while I was in the country, which we did to contact excursions and restaurant reservations. At this same time this phone acted as a hotspot in which we can connect our phones too in order to use Wi-Fi calling to call back home to the U.S. for free and make use of our apps at will. Other competitors I found was charging $10-$15 dollars a day for the same service.
The SUV we had was only 2-years old and drove great, it was a automatic but had the ability to manually shift which came in handy with the steep roads around Arenal. I arranged a drop off of the vehicle in Jaco which went very smooth, they were on-time, and had everything in order to just quickly get some additional information from me and 10 mins later the vehicle was mine. The pick-up however did not go as smooth in Tamarindo as I had arrange a 9am pick-up, but it was just about 10:30am before they arrived. I’m pretty sure they forgot about the pick-up when I called to remind them at 9:15am. However when they arrived, again they had everything in order and the final paperwork was signed off on within 5 min of their arrival. Luckily on that pick-up day our excursion/adventure time wasn’t until noon that day, so we had some time to allow for such a delay. However just something to keep in mind if your renting and arrange a pick-up, that you may not want to set your excursion time to close to your rental car pick-up, just in case you have the same issue we did. Don’t get me wrong, mistakes happen and I get that. So we weren’t upset that they were late as we continued to hang out in the hotel pool until we received the phone call that they were on location.
I would definitely rent from Vamos again despite the blunder in the pick-up time as I liked what they had to offer as far as vehicles and amenities, they were completely professional and did not try to upsell me, plus their website was just packed with information like no other rental car company that I’ve seen before. They provided everything about road conditions, scams by crooks to look out for, to in-depth but simple to understand car insurance information.
Last quick note to make, I ended up taking the basic insurance coverage as it was only like $7-8 dollars on top of the mandatory liability insurance coverage. I felt that even though my high-end credit card covers 100% of a car rental as it’s considered “primary” rental car coverage, I still opt’d to go with the $750 max deductible insurance coverage (Basic CDW), cause really what is another $48 bucks for 6-days in the long run to have this great “piece of mind” coverage in a foreign country. Personally I thought it was a steal and a heck of a deal. Thank you Vamos for a Great experience !!!!!
Thank you for your very detailed review of our car rental services which will be so useful for other renters considering a reservation with a local company rather than big name brand. Please allow me to apologize that my coworkers dropped the ball with your Tamarindo pick up and I’m happy that this hiccup did not interfere with your plans for the day. Our teams are trained to provide advice on coverage options as it is so important for people to understand that they are responsible to pay for any damages and then claim for reimbursement through their credit card provider if they decline inhouse options. Many of our clients, like you did, prefer to take CDW from us for peace of mind. We really appreciate your positive feedback on our website, competitive pricing and cellphone rental and look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the future.
I will admit I was hesitant to go with any other rental car company outside of those that I use for business travel in the States.
However it’s Vamos website that really drew me into and ultimately using them for our 6 day car rental in Costa Rica. Their website is very thorough and some of the points they touched on about the hidden fees and other companies leaving off the country mandated liability insurance, well I was seeing this when getting quote with their competitors and those rental car companies that I normally would use.
I also like their offerings of a phone to use to call anywhere within Costa Rica for a mere $5 dollars a day. With this phone I could call any Costa Rica phone number while I was in the country, which we did to contact excursions and restaurant reservations. At this same time this phone acted as a hotspot in which we can connect our phones too in order to use Wi-Fi calling to call back home to the U.S. for free and make use of our apps at will. Other competitors I found was charging $10-$15 dollars a day for the same service.
The SUV we had was only 2-years old and drove great, it was a automatic but had the ability to manually shift which came in handy with the steep roads around Arenal. I arranged a drop off of the vehicle in Jaco which went very smooth, they were on-time, and had everything in order to just quickly get some additional information from me and 10 mins later the vehicle was mine. The pick-up however did not go as smooth in Tamarindo as I had arrange a 9am pick-up, but it was just about 10:30am before they arrived. I’m pretty sure they forgot about the pick-up when I called to remind them at 9:15am. However when they arrived, again they had everything in order and the final paperwork was signed off on within 5 min of their arrival. Luckily on that pick-up day our excursion/adventure time wasn’t until noon that day, so we had some time to allow for such a delay. However just something to keep in mind if your renting and arrange a pick-up, that you may not want to set your excursion time to close to your rental car pick-up, just in case you have the same issue we did. Don’t get me wrong, mistakes happen and I get that. So we weren’t upset that they were late as we continued to hang out in the hotel pool until we received the phone call that they were on location.
I would definitely rent from Vamos again despite the blunder in the pick-up time as I liked what they had to offer as far as vehicles and amenities, they were completely professional and did not try to upsell me, plus their website was just packed with information like no other rental car company that I’ve seen before. They provided everything about road conditions, scams by crooks to look out for, to in-depth but simple to understand car insurance information.
Last quick note to make, I ended up taking the basic insurance coverage as it was only like $7-8 dollars on top of the mandatory liability insurance coverage. I felt that even though my high-end credit card covers 100% of a car rental as it’s considered “primary” rental car coverage, I still opt’d to go with the $750 max deductible insurance coverage (Basic CDW), cause really what is another $48 bucks for 6-days in the long run to have this great “piece of mind” coverage in a foreign country. Personally I thought it was a steal and a heck of a deal. Thank you Vamos for a Great experience !!!!!
Thank you for your very detailed review of our car rental services which will be so useful for other renters considering a reservation with a local company rather than big name brand. Please allow me to apologize that my coworkers dropped the ball with your Tamarindo pick up and I’m happy that this hiccup did not interfere with your plans for the day. Our teams are trained to provide advice on coverage options as it is so important for people to understand that they are responsible to pay for any damages and then claim for reimbursement through their credit card provider if they decline inhouse options. Many of our clients, like you did, prefer to take CDW from us for peace of mind. We really appreciate your positive feedback on our website, competitive pricing and cellphone rental and look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the future.
Staff was very friendly and was waiting for us at the airport even though we were delayed due to long lines at customs.
No surprise charges and the final bill was to the penny of what we were quoted (This is the only rental car company I've ever had that happen with). Vehicle was clean and in great condition.
We’re delighted that we could meet and greet to transport you to our office, Jennifer. Our commitment to transparent pricing is for real, so thanks for drawing attention to it. Do remember Vamos when you're booking your next car rental (hopefully in Costa Rica)!
I've used Vamos 3 times now, and I've never been disappointed or had any problems.
If only you had an office in Uvita!
Welcome back, Diana. We’re always happy to greet old friends. If we reopen in Dominical, we’ll let you know!
Excellent support from David!
Thank you for taking the time to complete our satisfaction survey, and for providing feedback. David is a valued member of our team and will be delighted that he was mentioned by name. We hope you'll be in touch for your next vacation to Costa Rica!
We rented from Vamos this past summer.
It wasn’t stressful at all. They looked the car over with a fine tooth comb when picking it up, walking around the car with me, noting any imperfections in their documents. They did the same when we returned it, but even more so. I thought for sure they might find some reason to tack on a fee, but I was wrong. You can also rent a cell phone from them. It was only like $5/day with unlimited data and calling within the country; it’s quite the deal. [...] You’ll be very happy with Vamos. I would rent from them again without hesitation.
Your detailed review will be a huge help to future travelers, projectx. We like to thoroughly inspect the vehicle with our customers prior to rental so there can be no confusion if damage occurs during the rental period. We’ll be here waiting for you next time!
Used Vamos twice in CR for car rental without incident.
That’s how car rental should be! Thank you, Loyd【ツ】
Based on reviews on travel forums, we made a reservation with Vamos Rent-A-Car.
The thing that convinced me is that this company displays all the insurance fees and deposits online when you reserve the car so that there are no surprises. You can easily choose the required insurance and then select that you’ll use your credit card or travel insurance for the additional insurance. The site tells you exactly what your deposit will be. No surprises.
We look forward to providing you with an outstanding end-to-end rental experience, Nancy. See you in March!
Your five stars are much appreciated! ٩(^‿^)۶
Thank you for your five-star rating, Ken. We’re looking forward to your arrival!
Happy to see that your car rental experience was five star, Adi!
Great service and honest people
Thanks, Phyllis. Your words mean a lot to us.
This is our third or fourth time renting with Vamos and we always love renting with them when visiting Costa Rica.
The cars are always extremely clean, reliable, and not overpriced like the US chains. The additional options such as a cell phone is always in good condition and also affordable. Imer who helped us initially book the rental was extremely helpful as was all of the staff at the San Jose office. If only more rental companies had the honestly, communication, and reliability as Vamos. We wish they had offices in the U.S. and will continue to rent from them when we return to Costa Rica.
Wow, Alex. Reviews like yours make our whole team smile as we love it when loyal customers become part of the Vamos family. (。◕‿◕。) Although we have no U.S. expansion plans, we’ll be eagerly waiting to greet you for your next rental.
.חברה מצויינת, אפשר לסמוך עליהם
.הם מהבודדים שלא ירמו אתכם
.מפרטים מראש בדיוק כמה תצטרכו לשלם בלי אותיות קטנות
.היה לנו אחלה SUV חדש
Translation by Google: Great company, you can count on them. They are the loners who will not deceive you. Precise specifications exactly how much you will need to pay without lowercase letters. We had a new SUV.
We’re delighted that our commitment to transparent pricing and vehicle quality were to your liking, Noam. Please think of us when planning your next vacay.
The price was competitive, the car was clean and decent, airport shuttle was waiting for us when we arrived.
We are happy to meet and greet customers from the airport, Reinhard, so they have a smooth start to their Costa Rican trip. Thank you for your positive comments on our pricing and your rental vehicle. Do get in touch when you’re planning your next visit!
I have travelled across the world from the UK and hired cars from loads of countries in Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, America, Canada, Barbados and many others.
Vamos in Costa Rica is up there with the best. We knew it would be difficulty owing to the challenges of the roads and the fact we needed a 7 seater with 4 x 4.
Right from the off, communication was great, the car was great, the communications through the 3 week trip was great and the return was great, No issues.
We saw 4 very bad accidents in CR, definitely deaths in these cars and that is down to bad driving. I experienced the toughest driving conditions ever driving back to SanJose from Limon through a national park after a 4 hour delay in pitch black with fog, no road markings and crazy idiots trying to overtake at crazy speeds. I am a competent UK police driver with substantial additional training but even for me this was a challenge. Vamos was great. I took basic insurance and added extra from the UK to cover the excess. Luckily it wasn't needed.
Driving in CR is crazy from bikes with no lights in pitch black to truck drivers with no risk assessment processes. It's no wonder car hire companies charge more. We avoided a few crashes just by polite and moving over.
Anyway Vamos was great from start to finish and I would recommend them every time. DO NOT TRY TO DO THIS ON THE CHEAP. I paid $2350 for A 7 seater 4 x 4 (£1720) for 3 weeks and it was worth it. Depending where you are going is whether you need a 4 x 4. We went to Monteverde, Arenal, San Jose, Limon, Manxanillo, San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Uvita and back to San Jose and needed a 4x4. If we didnt have the 4x4 we would be screwed.
VAMOS was exceptional from start to finish and I absolutely recommend them.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review of your rental experience with so many useful tips for future drivers, nmitch. As an experienced traveler and highly-trained driver, your insights are particularly valuable. We’re glad to see that your end-to-end experience with Vamos was positive and that you’d recommend us to others. We hope that you’ll be in touch when you are planning your next trip!
Initial service was outstanding.
This place is right across from the airport. Something to keep in mind when choosing a place to stay.
Thank you, Sterling. We’re delighted that you found our service and location to your liking. We’ll be here waiting for you. d(⌒ー ⌒)
Decent price with no hidden charges.
Vehicle was in good shape and made it up all the hills. Ice chest and additional driver were included. I will definitely use them again when I return to Costa Rica.
Your review is ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪ Myron. We’re happy that you appreciated our free additional services, competitive pricing and commitment to transparent quotes. We await your next arrival.
We had a very positive experience with this company.
I felt like they were genuinely interested in making the car rental experience easy and convenient. There were no hidden surprises. Everything was done right.
We do want all our customers to have a smooth end-to-end car rental experience, Kelly and we’re very happy to have delivered. Please think of us when planning your next vacay.
Good prices, good service and the vehicle is good enough.
Quick shuttle service to airport. Second driver and ice chest at no extra cost. No hidden expenses. Vehicle provided was clean, in excellent mechanical condition and made it up all the hills.
Your review is ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪ Myron. We’re happy that you appreciated our free additional services, competitive pricing and commitment to transparent quotes. We hope to see you again soon!
Great service.
Everything was perfect.
Oh wow! Thank you so much for your short but ever so sweet review, George ♥‿♥
Best car rental experience I've had.
So honest and trustworthy. They took extra time to explain all the details and made sure we were comfortable with our choices. The vehicle was in excellent condition and we never had to worry about it. Highly recommend using Vamos and they will be my go to car rental service now.
We are (•‿•) that you have rated our services so highly, Jacqueline. Your recommendation to others is the best type of publicity we could ask for! We’ll be delighted to welcome you back as one of our loyal customers!
Everyone at Vamos was so helpful.
Our flight was delayed and they were waiting for us at the airport way beyond our expected arrival time. Yes, renting a car in CR is expensive but Vamos is clear on all charges, no surprises and the best thing we did is rent the android cell phone for directions - very, very valuable! They were all kind and courteous and I would definitely rent from them again, no question.
We always ask for our clients’ flight information so we can track arrivals and ensure that we meet and greet our customers at the airport even if they are delayed. Your review on our transparent pricing, phone rental and customer service is music to our ears. ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪ We hope to see you soon!
Friendly, courteous, professional!
No hustle, just the facts.
Thank you for the nice review, Irad. We’re so happy that you had a smooth rental experience with us. See you next time!
This place might be great but if you walk in and want to reserve for the next day they say everything is reserved.
You have to book in advance.
You’re so right, Peter! During high season, our fleet is usually fully booked so we advise booking a few months in advance; ditto with accommodations. We hope we will get the opportunity to serve you next time ( '‿' )
Vamos is one of the best car rental agencies I have dealt with Globally.
They are transparent and they waited for me at the airport late at night even thought my flight got delayed. They gave me useful tips and guidance upon my arrival and I felt safe dealing with them. We also took advantage of their cell phone rental plan which is very helpful and they gave us cooler for free.
I would recommend their agency to any traveler and I would definitely use their service again. I would give them more than 5 stars if I could! Thank you so much for making our trip to your country unforgettable! Mucho Gracias!
We’re delighted that we were able to adapt to your changing travel itinerary and that your end-to-end rental experience is worthy of more than five stars! Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review, Mohamed. See you next time for another unforgettable trip!
Great service.
Thank you, frenkibox1. We’ll see you next time! (b^_^)b
Our Vamos Rent-A-Car experience was amazing.
Alex Villalobos and Miguel Morales were very pleasant and knowledgeable. Renting a car in a different country can be scary, but these gentlemen made it an incredible experience. Thank you! We will definitely return when back in Costa Rica again.
Thank you for the wow review, Shelley. We’re always delighted to welcome new visitors to our beautiful country and to provide a smooth car rental experience. See you next time!
We absolutely LOVED Vamos!!
This was our first visit to CR and we were a little bit nervous. They picked us up from the airport in San Jose and treated us like VIP from pick up to drop off. Very professional team, excellent customer service.
The car was good and the price was the same as quote online. We rented the mobile device with internet/hotspot. (THIS IS A MUST).
We will only use VAMOS from now on when visiting CR. Thank you guys for the excellent service and professionalism. They even beat National on price and service (we are long time National platinum clients). GO VAMOS!!
We absolutely love your review, Nayse. ♥‿♥ It is always an honor to welcome guests to our beautiful country for the first time and we’ll be delighted to see you back here soon!
We rented a car with Vamos when we went to Costa Rica for our 10th anniversary.
We are planning a trip back with our kids and we absolutely plan to rent with Vamos again. I don't think there is a higher compliment than becoming a repeat customer! They made the whole process so easy. Highly recommend!
You’re right, Anita, there is no higher compliment than being a repeat customer! Thank you so much for trusting us to provide your rental vehicle for a trip with your children. We’ll be waiting for you to get in touch as soon as things get back to normal. (ᵔᴥᵔ)
Excellent customer service.
They promptly picked us up from SJO airport. Prices were as advertised, there were no hidden costs. The additional cellphone at $5/day with unlimited internet was worth every penny.
We dropped off our car the day before our return flight, they even dropped us off back at our hotel. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Shalini. d(⌒ー⌒) We’re so pleased that the cell phone came in handy and that you appreciated our customer service and commitment to transparent pricing. We hope to see you again soon!
They were great!
Super easy to deal with, affordable. We had a great car and a great experience.
We really appreciate your feedback, Chass! (b^_^)b We're happy that you had such a positive car rental experience and we’ll see you soon!
Vamos is a fantastic option for rental in Costa Rica!
The pricing is extremely transparent unlike some other international rental agencies, which is very nice. They offer a no charge cooler and a cheap CR cell phone with data which also helps IMMENSELY.
On top of the car being in good shape, Allen Vega was very, very helpful communicating with us by email promptly when our flight arrived late to San Jose and we had to move the car pick-up back a day.
On return, Eduardo Morales was so incredibly friendly and helpful storing our bags in the Vamos office after we dropped off the car. It let us go to the next door Denny's and kill some time before we got a free ride to the airport from Eduardo.
Absolutely would rent from Vamos again, it was a great experience.
Thank you for the detailed feedback on your rental experience with Vamos, Graham. We’re delighted that our staff members were able to provide clear communication and help to accommodate your travel arrangements. We hope to see you soon!
Super friendly
We appreciate the high rating for our services, Isaac.
Wonderful customer service, very professional!
We’re delighted that our customer service was to your satisfaction, Amy. See you soon!
I've rented from Vamos for two years in a row.
The first year was great and I rented two cars (under two different names). The vehicles were small, but that was expected. No complaints and the service was excellent. TLDR; Ask for the car remote or go elsewhere! Check to make sure that there is an alternative means to unlock the car!
However, this year, I upgraded and rented a Toyota Fortuner (4Runner) The problem was that this car only had one keyhole which to the regular user of a car would indicate that it is meant to be operated in conjunction with the remote. I was specifically told, when I asked, that they did not have a remote. 5 days into the rental at 7pm and 3.5 hours away from the capital, parked on a beach in Dominical, I realized that the car's lock had been tampered with because our only key would not work.
I called Vamos roadside assistance (waiting on hold for a very long time) and they told me it would be 150$ + 3xx to fix the lock. They would send someone down. Not in the position to argue this, I said 'okay'. They first told me to go home and then called back and said I had to remain with the vehicle because I'm responsible for it.
All of the businesses were closed or were closing, a storm approached, and the only place we could go was a table left out by the bartenders who took pity on us at Tortilla Flats. We spent three hours trying to escape the attention of a drunk homeless man. Eventually and with high anxiety, we went out on the beach and rekindled a fire. The homeless man followed and harassed us relentlessly.
Around 11:20pm, Eduardo shows up in a small sedan and demands that I pay the money upfront. Didn't I give a deposit? He wanted the card I used when I picked up the car before he would give me the key, but I'm smart enough to not carry all cards with me. He reluctantly took another card from me. 4 or 5 hours later, I finally got to go home.
Now the good part: Eduardo gave me THE REMOTE TO THE CAR. The same remote that I was specifically told they didn't have. Seeing this, I told him that charging me $150 for him to come down could have been avoided had they provided the remote in the first place or at least had the foresight to realize there is only one keyhole. I was also a littler perturbed by the fact that i was charged to fix the key lock when it actually hadn't being fixed or even diagnosed as an attempted break in. I told myself I'm cold and wet and will address this when I return the vehicle.
Upon Return, I explained how we were set up for failure and then made to pay $150 for an error that was not of our own making. I accepted responsibility for the lock but was adamant that I shouldn't have to pay $150 to deliver a solution that I originally asked for. Further, after the remote was given to me, I did not feel comfortable locking the car since the lock is still broken and what if the battery died? I was told that remotes cost thousands of dollars in Costa Rica and that is why they don't give them out. I was waiting to hear when that was my responsibility. They offered me $25 for my troubles...
I want to say that I rarely complain about anything because I worked in customer service for over ten years and I know what it is like. However, the response I received from Vamos for this was not a service to the customer. In fact, their policy of not providing the remote compromised my safety, and even upon receiving the remote compromised the security of my belongings as I could not rationalize locking the car. I rented a whole car, not part of it. If you can't run the liability of giving the manufacturers keys to the customer, then choose a less expensive car - or one with the secondary keyhole.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who spoke with me. I was upset and you did your best to placate me. I would NOT thank the manager who hid behind the wall and authorized a $25 credit via the guy who checked me out. I would also like to state that this is not about the money, but the principle behind the $150 charge and Vamos' response to me.
Thank you for acknowledging that the team did their utmost to support you through this process.
I understand your frustration with the situation, James. As you’ve said, the staff tried to ease your burden while working through this unfortunate issue and it was kind of you to note their efforts.
I am sorry that you feel you did not receive the service that you deserved.
Accidents (and theft) happen everywhere, even Costa Rica, and that is why we post recommendations on our website and our office monitor as well as through conversations with the staff to warn of and avoid any inconveniences such as this. Parking in a secure lot and ensuring that valuables are not left in an unattended vehicle are two key points we make and these are repeated in travel websites for the country. We do the best we can to respond to these quickly and with empathy even at the far corners of the country.
Diving deeper, there seems to be two points of contention. The first being that the lock was damaged prior to you taking possession of the vehicle. Per your remark, ''I was also a littler perturbed by the fact that I was charged to fix the key lock when it actually hadn't being fixed or even diagnosed as an attempted break in.'' To address this, let’s refer to the inspection sheet that all renters sign before taking possession of a car. Having reviewed your rental agreement and the prior one, there are no indications that there was a mechanical issue. If this had been the case, you would not have been able to drive off the lot without noticing it. Further into your review, you state, ''I accepted responsibility for the lock''. I am sorry that your rental was the target of an attempted theft. Moreover, a credit card program for the Collision Damage Waiver has no theft coverage whereas the full in-house CDW provides customers with zero deduction for such an occurrence, including the key delivery. We have a policy against pushing sales of in-house coverage options but there are great advantages to them.
The second point surrounds your feeling of being lied to when you asked about receiving the remote fob. Quite frankly, when we lease these vehicles, and if the car comes with a remote, we receive one fob — period. The decision to keep the original car remote at our main office is due to the $1,000 replacement cost which customers do not appreciate paying for the loss of this fob as you can imagine. Seeing as that vehicle can be rented 100 times or more over the course of our two year lease, there would be significant inconveniences to us and our customers if the only remote was lost — which is almost inevitable given the high demand for our vehicles. Until the time when technology advances to produce an easier and cheaper method of opening a car door, this is an unpleasant fact of life in Costa Rica. Likewise, being able to dictate which cars are imported (with more than one door key lock or with cheaper fobs) is simply a dream. These are just some of the things that are beyond our control, but for the most part, this works out for the multitudes of tourists every year.
Now I certainly realize that this does not help your situation, but perhaps some of your anger is misdirected towards us. Vamos is very sympathetic to your situation and we woke up an employee who was off duty to make a six hour round trip to deliver a new key. I understand that you will not be happy with this resolution; however, we will provide all records, receipts, and documentation promptly to facilitate the reimbursement from your credit card company.
Thank you for your five-star review, Christina!
Just came back from Liberia.
We rented a 4x4 and I just want to say ''thank you'' to the staff at the airport. They are excellent, honest and efficient. The young man who drove us from the airport to your location was polite, friendly and professional. Salesman was also very efficient and professional.
So thank you again for the excellent experience and I will recommend your company anytime.
Muchas gratias,
Patrick from Montréal, Canada
Con mucho gusto, Patrick! Our team loves to hear positive feedback from customers and kind words like yours encourage us to work even harder!
We just came back from C-R and rented a 4x4 with Vamos in Liberia.
We had an excellent service, prompt, efficient and stress free. I can say this after travelling and renting cars for many years. I always use to book with the high brands location companies and this time I decided to try Vamos.
It's the best customer experience I had for years. They don't try to rip you off, on the return of the car, it's effective and efficient.
Would recommend these folks any time, thanks and excellent work.
We’re delighted to read that you’ll be recommending us after your positive end to end car rental experience, Mermoz66. As you are an experienced car renter, your opinion is very valuable and we do hope to see you again soon!
Car rental in Costa Rica is difficult and expensive and they often are not completely honest.
I wouldn't rent from anyone else. Easy, no hidden fees, helpful and honest.
We’re sorry if you’ve had less than positive experiences renting vehicles in the past, Lynette but we’re so happy that we’ve won your loyalty. We’ll look forward to seeing you soon!
You can easily avoid all the horror car-rental-in-Costa-Rica stories by going directly to Vamos.
An excellent rental with a hassle-free process and no hidden fees made the experience a pleasure. I’ll be using them again.
Thank you so much for the positive endorsement, Izzy. We can’t wait to welcome you back!
No hidden fees or shenanigans.
Excellent vehicles and amazing service. Thank you!
We’re happy that you appreciated our commitment to transparent pricing, Israel. See you next time!
Professional service, excellent prices, and vehicles in excellent shape.
Thank you, Vamos, for making my car rental experience in Costa Rica a pleasant one.
And thank you for your fantastic five-star review, Izzy! We can’t wait to see you again :)
[....] there are some legitimate local companies with long histories of great service.
We recommend and have used Vamos Rent-a-Car [...]
Thank you for your continued support and recommendation, Ray and Sue. As knowledgeable and well-traveled honorary Ticos, your words mean a lot to us!
Depuis que nous allons régulièrement au Costa Rica (Punta Leona) nous avons majoritairement loué chez Vamos et nous avons jusqu'à présent que des opinions positives cad service en Français pour la location et à l'aéroport par un personnel qui parle Français.
Upgrade proposé en plus.
Translation: Since we are going regularly to Costa Rica (Punta Leona) we have mostly rented from Vamos and we have had, so far, only positive things to say about them : Service in French for the booking and the staff that speak French at the airport. They offer upgrades in addition.
Merci beaucoup pour votre avis Philippe, ainsi que pour votre fidélité ! Nous sommes ravis de lire que vous appréciez notre sens du service et nos efforts pour parler français. :) Nous espérons vous revoir très bientôt au Costa Rica !
Translation: Thank you very much for your opinion Philippe, as well as for your loyalty! We are delighted to read that you appreciate our sense of service and our efforts to speak French. :) We hope to see you again very soon in Costa Rica!
After looking at several car rental places, Vamos Rent-A-Car had the best prices.
They were upfront with the cost many places had hidden fees. Vamos will pick you up at the airport. The whole process was easy. They even had fresh brewed coffee in the lobby.
We strongly recommend shopping around before deciding on a car rental agency just as you did, Diana. Thank you for providing feedback on our competitive and transparent pricing as well as our great coffee! (b^_^)b
Easy, hassle-free experience.
Had a 4x4 Mitsubishi Outlander which was perfect for our moderately off-road drive into Guanacaste and Arenal. Car was in good condition, shuttle from/to airport was quick, and we paid only for what we needed (same as online quote).
Be sure to bring third party insurance proof if using that, the credit card company can email it to you or send directly to them.
Courteous staff!
We’re pleased that we could provide a smooth end-to-end car rental experience, Amanada, and that you appreciated our commitment to transparent pricing. Thank you for reminding our future customers that proof of credit card Collision Damage Waiver is needed to decline this coverage. See you next time!
Thank you for your five-star review, Jesus. We’re very happy that you consider us to be the best. (•‿•)
Vamos had top notch service.
Highly recommend.
We really appreciate your kind words and five star review, Mark. Thank you!
Highly recommend - great quality of service, friendly staff (particularly Juan but applies to all) and much better value for money compared to the other rental agencies, particularly the large international ones.
Would certainly rent from Vamos again on another trip to Costa Rica.
Thank you for your recommendation, Tim. We appreciate your kind comments and especially the feedback on customer service. We’ll be waiting for you to plan your next trip!
Rentamos un vehiculo por una semanan a muy buen precio sin cargos escondidos excelente servicio al cliente y muy facil el tramite.
Si nesecita rentar un vehiculo este es el lugar los recomiendo. Son muy amables.
Translation: We rented a vehicle for a week at a very good price without hidden charges, excellent customer service and the process to rent the vehicle was very easy. This is a place we recommend. They are very friendly.
Nos complace que guste de nuestro compromiso por precios competitivos y transparentes. Esperamos atenderle nuevamente pronto Jaime.
Translation: We’re pleased that you like our commitment to transparent and competitive pricing, Jaime. We’ll hope to welcome you back soon!
These guys were awesome and I would use them again in a heartbeat.
Wow, Jeffrey. (b^_^)b We’re very happy to read your positive review of our services. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Costa Rica!
Great car great service, best and cheapest car rental for under 25.
We’re so pleased that we were able to meet your needs as a younger driver, Richard. We’ll look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the future! ˙ ͜ʟ˙
Awesome service and the SUV we had was great even on the dirt roads.
The cell phone with hotspot was a life saver when WiFi was not reliable. I highly recommend Vamos for car rentals in Costa Rica! Thank you
Thank you, Joel! d(⌒ー⌒) We really appreciate your kind words and are delighted to learn that the cell phone was such a bonus for navigation. We look forward to seeing you next time!
Excelente servicio, buen mantenimiento a sus vehículos, el mejor rent a car.
Realmente lo recomiendo muy bien.
Translation: Excellent service, well-maintained vehicles, the best car rental. I highly recommend it.
Muchas gracias por su comentario, nos complace que haya disfrutado de nuestros servicios. Esperamos atenderle nuevamente.
Translation: Thank you for your comment Merci, we're pleased that you enjoyed our services. We hope to assist you again.
We rented [a car] and it wasn't as expensive as we thought it would be.
You do have to pay for a mandatory insurance though. One of the insurance options should be covered by your credit card. We used Vamos and they were great to work with. [...] Vamos provided us with a cell phone so we could use Waze to navigate.
No issues with driving and we were so happy to have a car and would rent one again if we go back.
We’d be happy to welcome you back on your next trip, Katey. Thank you for your detailed review on insurance and pricing.
Why I like Vamos car rental
When I called about what I needed to bring to NOT pay the insurance that my credit card company covers me for, I got a response within hours – and it was clear what I needed to bring.
I got a cell phone with unlimited GPS and internet, and it worked in our units in Samara when the sell [sic] phone my companion had did not. (he was with a smaller carrier, Vamos’ phone was one of the biggest providers)
I got a free cooler to put my pop (beer, whatever) in to take around to the beach (well, don’t take beer to the beach). It’s a small thing – but really: it is one of the best add-on’s you can get, you can’t really bring a cooler in your suitcase, and you don’t want to buy one and throw it out at the end of your trip.
The staff was friendly and fast. Gave me instructions that were clear when coming out of the San Jose airport, and they were waiting for me when my flight arrived (they asked for my flight info so they could meet me and pick me up.)
Basically everything about them was wonderful, the best experience I’ve had, and I’ve rented dozens of cars in over 17 countries in my lifetime.
Thank you for your detailed feedback on your rental experience, Peter. We’re delighted that you appreciated free perks like the cooler and our meet and greet service at the airport. (。◕‿◕。) It is always wonderful to get such high praise from a seasoned traveler like yourself and we’ll look forward to welcoming you and your guests to Costa Rica!
As always your service is fantastic.
David has helped me many times in the past and he is very attentive to my needs. [...] Your service in Costa Rica is awesome and I always recommend your company to anyone who I know is visiting.
We’re happy to read your kind comments regarding our service. ♥‿♥ David is a valued team member and felt very pleased to have received such positive comments on his interaction with you. As a small, local company, your recommendation by word of mouth or on social media, is invaluable to us, so thank you very much for spreading the word about Vamos. We’ll look forward to seeing you soon!
David Campos is amazing to work with.
Honest, direct, and takes his time.
We’re always happy to read positive reviews of our customer service and comments like yours are a great motivator for us all, so your kind words are much appreciated. 。^‿^。 David is a very valued member of the team and was delighted that you mentioned him in your review. We hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future!
We're delighted by your five-star review, Roberto. We look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the future!
Randall, muchas gracias por evaluar nuestros servicios. Si hay algo mas que podamos mejorar para alcanzar 5 estrellas, nos gustaria saber.
Thank you for taking the time to rate our services, Randall. If there was anything we could have improved for the five stars, we'd love to know.
[...] We booked with Vamos who were great, the phone they gave was invaluable for Sat Nav [..]
Thank you for taking the time to post about your rental experience, pequenitaLondon. The smartphone is proving to be a huge help for our clients, so we’re glad it worked well for you too. We hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future!
We rented a car through Vamos back in July and had no issue using the CDW from our credit card.
We called our credit card company to get a letter stating that they would cover us in Costa Rica (it has to be specified). I think the hold on our credit card was US$2,000. Save yourself a lot of money on CDW if your credit card offers you coverage.
Thank you for providing feedback on your July rental, KW. We’re happy that gaining proof of coverage through your credit card was so simple. While this does save the cost of purchasing CDW, many of our clients prefer to use one of two CDW options for peace of mind or to free up more credit on their cards. See you next time!
Very easy to work with, and speak excellent English.
I very much enjoyed working with Juan. Best deal for rental car in Costa Rica. I highly recommend this company.
(b^_^)b Thank you for your kind words, Ron. We’re delighted that you found our customer service helpful; Juan is a valued member of the Vamos team and was very pleased to be mentioned in your review. We appreciate your recommendation as this makes a huge difference to us as a small, local company. We hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future!
Had a good experience renting from them.
No issues. We rented a 4x4 for 10 days driving around CR. (You'll need it for rural areas.) Make sure to take pics and identify all dents and dings on the form.
Friendly staff. They offered us a cooler at no charge. Free shuttle from the airport and they will wait for you with a sign if you have reservation.
We’re delighted that you had such a positive experience with us, Phu. If there is anything that we could have done to add that missing star in your review, we’d love to know. ヽ(ヅ)ノ
Friendly service, quality 4x4's!
Reliable! You can't go wrong with a Vamos rental.
Contracts are very understandable, rates are incredibly reasonable! Have used professionally for over ten years!
Thank you for becoming part of our Vamos family, Zene, and for trusting us to serve your guests. We look forward to seeing you next time! (。◕‿◕。)
Great service and will rent a cell phone for gps and in country calls.
We’re delighted that you appreciated our service and that you found the cell phone useful in your travels, JoM. ˙ ͜ʟ˙ We look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the future!
Great company.
Gave us a good car; charged what was agreed from the beginning. Prompt and accommodating as other reviews stated on TripAdvisor. Shuttled us back to the airport for free with our luggage.
Will definitely use them again!
We’re so pleased to see that you appreciated our vehicle quality and commitment to transparent pricing, Gabriella. We will look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica! (~˘▾˘)~
Our flight was delayed but the people at Vamos were really good and reassured us that we could still pick up our car that night.
Everything was easy and effective both when we collected and dropped off the car.
We’re pleased that we could accommodate last minute changes to your travel plans, Christopher and that the car rental was otherwise smooth. We hope to see you back in Costa Rica soon!
We’re super happy that you have rated our services as five star, Uwais. Thank you! (¬‿¬)
From the beginning of the car rental, everything has been up front and honest, charges were disclosed, the CDW waiver was discussed.
They gave me numerous options including viewing my car, adding GPS with Waze, and 4wd. All was reserved and although I didn't get the same car all the options I wanted were given.
They were flexible when I asked for exceptions such as dropping the car off at the hotel and picking it up prior to flight, which I really appreciated.
The roads in Costa Rica are terrible but even worse without GPS incl Waze.
Vamos was professional and cared about my experience. I couldnt ask for anything else! Thank you guys!
We’re so pleased to read your detailed review, Pam. (。◕‿◕。) We’re happy to see that our commitment to transparent pricing and prompt communication were appreciated. Our vehicle categories do include different car makes and models so we cannot guarantee a certain car although we will do our best if the client has a preference. The roads can be challenging but as you’ve noted; Waze is a huge help. We look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the future!
I cannot tell you the strength of the customer service, friendliness and honesty of Luis and the crew at Vamos.
Without question, I would rent from them again and they are the only company in which I would do so.
Your kind words make us all very (ᵔᴥᵔ) so thanks for taking the time to leave feedback, Kip. We’re delighted to be your chosen Costa Rican car rental company and can’t wait to welcome you back!
We went to Costa Rica last December.
We rented a 4 x 4 from Vamos in San Jose. I would not hesitate to rent from them again. Their rate was by far the lowest rate we were able to find on a 4 x 4 for the week and their service was great.
We were met promptly at the airport when we arrived and were shuttled to the rental office. There was no one else there and the paperwork went quickly. Once back in San Jose for our return, we were again alone in the rental office and the paperwork was promptly processed and we were then shuttled to the airport.
Our 4 x 4 was not brand new but it was certainly more than functional for our needs for the week. All the agents we dealt with at Vamos were friendly and efficient and I would recommend them highly.
As for getting the GPS package, I would skip it and just use Waze. We had no trouble. The vehicle was quite a little workhorse getting us up and down hills and gullies we weren't sure about navigating.
Your detailed description of your rental experience with Vamos is greatly appreciated, Katherine. (ᵔᴥᵔ) We’d pleased that you were satisfied with our competitive rates, customer service and speedy pick up and drop off. We are updating our fleet continuously but all of our vehicles are meticulously maintained. We’ll see you back in Costa Rica next time!
We used Vamos online website to reserve the vehicle we wanted for our trip.
The process was simple and very well explained, and the pricing for the vehicle was awesome.
When we arrived in Costa Rica and went to the company to pick up our vehicle it was as ordered, clean and full of gas. Everyone at Vamos was very kind and helpful. The paperwork process was very simple and the quoted price was exactly what we received when we got there. No hidden charges or add-ons.
The entire experience was great there was nothing to worry about and we had a reliable and very comfortable vehicle to use during our stay. The return process was just a simple and again it was a very delightful group of individuals to work with. I would recommend this company to those needing a vehicle in Costa Rica. Superior service and friendly staff and a very reliable and great vehicle.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review of your car rental experience with Vamos, Daniel. We’re delighted that you appreciated our commitment to transparent pricing and personalized customer service. We are always grateful when our efforts are recognized and we hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica very soon!
Thank you for your five-star review, Mujerdvna! (~˘▾˘)~
Buen precio, buena atención y buenos vehículos...!!!
Gracias, Johnny. Muy amable. Ojala nos veamos pronto! ˙ ͜ʟ˙
I booked my car through Vamos.
I went ahead and paid for the insurance as it gave me peace of mind and did not hold thousands of dollars on a credit card.
This story is interesting as this trip was a nightmare. I […] lost my glasses, so […] decided to cut the trip short a day. What I did not realize is that I picked a day where there was a strike.
[…] With nightfall coming, I talked to Vamos, and was concerned about my flight the next morning.
What they did was nothing less than shocking. I was talking to Charlie and he arranged for them to come to Jaco to pick up the car, and then I took a shuttle to the hotel by the airport.
I mean who does that? Talk about service and a great experience. […]
We’re very sorry to hear that your trip did not unfold as you expected, KT, but we’re delighted to read that our team member Charlie could help you out by collecting your vehicle from Jaco. We look forward to welcoming you back to our beautiful country on your next trip so that you can really experience Pura Vida!
Excellent customer support!
My wife left her Amazon Kindle in the Liberia office 2 yrs ago. Last year we rented from San Jose and she was presented with her Kindle the moment we entered the office. Very impressive service.
Thank you for your feedback, Mike. We are relieved to know that your wife could catch up on her reading during her vacation. ヽ(ヅ)ノ See you next time!
All staff was very professional, helpful, friendly and honest via emails and in person.
Responded quickly to emails. Super convenient to have them drop a car at our hotel the am after we arrived. They arrived at exact scheduled time with everything as it had been requested through the online forms. Highly recommend Vamos!
We’re glad that your end-to-end car rental experience was to your satisfaction, Rachel, and that we could help out with a hotel delivery. As a small local company, your recommendation makes a real difference to our business so thank you! We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the future.
Been traveling to Costa Rica for over 40 years and since rental cars became available I used several different companies.
Vamos is by far the best I’ve used. So far what they promise they deliver. I highly recommended Vamos rent a car.
We’re very flattered that you rate us so highly after decades of car rental experiences, Keith. (。◕‿◕。) Thank you so much and we hope to see you soon!
No hidden fees!
Fair prices and very friendly staff. I would highly recommend Vamos Rent-A-Car to anyone traveling to Costa Rica.
Thank you, Michele. We’re delighted to receive your enthusiastic review of our services. Your recommendation is invaluable to us as a small, local company. We hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the near future!
¡Gracias, Mayra!
Everything is always perfect!
Friendly fast service with a smile ;)
We couldn't ask for a more perfect review, Heather. Thank you so much for your kind words and we’ll look forward to seeing you next time! (づ ̄ ³ ̄)づ
My wife and I have enjoyed all of our experiences with Vamos for many years now.
We always recommend you to our friends!
Thank you so much for your loyalty to our company, Michael. As you know, our frequent customers are considered family and we love to welcome you back! ヽ(ヅ)ノ
We’re delighted to receive your five-star review, Jason. Thanks! ˙ ͜ʟ˙
I'd give these guys 10 stars if I could.
While we were in Costa Rica, my friend got into an accident with our rental, and the guys at Vamos were so kind and helpful when we brought it back. They stayed late on the day we returned the car to help us contact the necessary authorities while in-country, and were responsive and helpful via email when we were back home, working our way through the claims process. Really wonderful customer service in what was a stressful experience.
Thank you so much for your higher than allowed rating, Amanda. (¬‿¬) We’re sorry that you were involved in an accident during your vacation but delighted that we could help make your claim processes easier. We’d love to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future!
If you ever need to rent a car in Costa Rica, this is the company you should go through.
No hidden fees or surprises. Great prices and good selection. Not far from the airport and they offer free shuttle to and from the airport.
ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪ Your review is music to our ears, Adam! Thank you for your recommendation which is priceless for a small local company like Vamos. See you next time!
Atienden espectacularmente
Gracais, Julio. Era un placer sirverle.
Thanks, Julio. It was a pleasure to serve you. (~˘▾˘)~
Exceptional service!
Thank you for everything.
Thank you for choosing Vamos and providing feedback, Alice. We hope to see you again soon!
Excelente atención
Thank you for your positive note, Karen. We’re pleased that our service-first approach was appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
Friendly staff and hassle free :)
Thank you for your positive comment, France. We’re happy that you’re happy. Next time you’re in CR, stop in and say, 'Hi.' (~˘▾˘)~
Good fair prices no hidden fees
Clean dependable cars, courteous staff, convenient location near Liberia airport.
We’re grateful that you have so many positive things to say about our team in Liberia, Julie Ann. Your recommendation is a great boost for a small, local firm. Thank you!
We used Vamos Rent-A-Car for our two week vacation.
We had a great experience with this company. We asked for the car to be delivered to our hotel and the person that showed up was on time and professional. We paid a small fee for a cell phone that had Waze loaded and it was extremely useful during our trip. The quoted price was exactly what we ended up paying and there were no surprises. We will use them again.
We’re delighted to see such positive feedback on our services, Bob, and that we could help make the start of your vacation smoother with a hotel delivery. ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ We look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the near future!
Great rates.
Thank you for your review, David. We’re delighted that you like our pricing but if there is anything we could have done to improve your car rental experience; we would love to know!
Always great service and competitive pricing.
Thank you for your positive note, Loreta. We look forward to seeing you again in the future!
Long time customer
I have always used this company while in Costa Rica new vehicles, straight forward contract no hidden fees! What you sign is what you pay..best rental company only $100 deposit if you choose full coverage! No hidden fees honest company..has all my trust. love using this rental company! Thank you Luis and all your team at Vamos! Sincerely from [privacy] See in you in 2 years!
Thank you so much for your detailed review, E Avalos. We’re so pleased to read that you appreciate our commitment to transparent pricing and our customer service. We’ll look forward to seeing you again in two years’ time!
Wonderful customer service and very reasonable prices.
I think it goes to say that supporting local businesses goes a long way and Vamos is a great example of that. Highly recommend using their services when visiting this lovely country.
Thank you for your feedback on your car rental services, Chris. As a local business, we greatly appreciate your support and we’re delighted that you appreciated our customer service and competitive pricing. We look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the near future!
Very good experience.
Excellent service. Would rent again from Vamos
We’re delighted that you have provided such a positive review of our services, Bill. We look forward to seeing you again!
[...] Vamos was awesome and I would definitely recommend them.
[...] No issues on the drive back, or returning the rental car. Vamos charged me exactly what they said they would. [...]
Thank you for giving us feedback on your car rental experience, Michael. As a small, local company, your recommendation by word of mouth or on social media, is invaluable to us, so thank you very much for spreading the message about Vamos.
Thank you for your five-star rating, Denis. We hope to see you back at Vamos soon!
Most of us here recommend Vamos where you won't find any b***s*** or "madness."
It's the best agency in the country.
We’re delighted that you and other Reddit posters recognize Vamos as the best car rental agency in Costa Rica, NoBSforGma [We now see how you got your name ;)]. Thank you for your recommendation of our company as madness-free!
Great service!
Thank you for the review, Eric. We’re pleased that our customer service was to your satisfaction.
Great staff, good prices, and nice car!
😀
Thank you for your kind words, Amy. We're delighted to read that our customer service, vehicle quality and pricing were to your liking. We hope we can welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future!
Great people to work with.
Reasonable rates. Good vehicles, well maintained. Rented from them every year since 2010. Two months each time.
Thank you for your review, Jim. You know how we love to welcome our loyal customers back to Vamos and we're delighted that you are one of the family! See you next time. :)
Had a great experience with this rental company--rented for 3 weeks.
They were kind, gave us a great car and made sure everything was good on our end. Highly recommend.
Thank you for taking time to leave feedback, Grace. We’re delighted that your three-week rental went smoothly and you’d recommend us to others. We hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the future!
[...] We used Vamos both times we traveled, and it was flawless.
˙ ͜ʟ˙ Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on your two rentals with Vamos, jillmstanfrog. We hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica for a third rental experience in the near future!
I heard many horror stories so I did my homework on car rentals in CR.
When I compared real rates with *all* of the fees and mandatory insurance from each agency, Vamos was least expensive for my holiday. Hint: those $9/day online rates aren’t what you’re going to pay, not even close.
Thank you, granboca. Your careful research and feedback here will be sure to help future visitors to Costa Rica understand why our commitment to transparent pricing is so important. See you next time!
I wanted to rate David and Juan as well but saw no way to do multiple surveys.
Susan and I traveled to Costa Rica to find a place to live. Luis, David and Juan did a superior job of customer service!! Great job team. Pura Vida!!
We hope that you and Susan were successful in finding a home in Costa Rica, Michael. Thank you for letting us know that you wanted to give more than one of the team a rating; all three of them were (。◕‿◕。) to be mentioned in your feedback. Looking forward to seeing you again in the near future!
Vamos is awesome, [removed confusing insurance phrase].
We've had two very easy, very good rentals from Vamos, would not hesitate to use them again.
Thank you for giving feedback on both your Vamos rentals, debug_yourself. We look forward to providing you with a smooth end-to-end experience on your next visit too!
Thanks for the great service and the awesome car out of the San Jose office 3May-13May.
See you guys next year (or hopefully sooner!)
We will be waiting to welcome you back to Costa Rica -- see you soon!
Currently renting a 4x4 from Vamos.
Vehicle is fantastic and the customer service is excellent. I highly recommend them.
We’re delighted that you are so satisfied with our vehicle quality and customer service, fajitamaster! Your recommendation is greatly appreciated as reviews from happy customers make a huge difference to our business. Enjoy the rest of your vacation in our beautiful country!
The reason you have seen Vamos in many threads is because they are really good.
Thank you! We are fortunate that our satisfied customers love to share their experiences with others.
Thank you so much for your five-star review of our services, Seasons of Hope Alaska!
Check with Vamos.
Best agency in the country and even if you don't book with them, their website has a ton of great information about renting a car and driving in Costa Rica.
Thank you, NoBSforGma. We’re delighted if our website can provide travelers with the information they need to make the right decisions for their car rental -- even if they don’t rent with us in the end. We really appreciate your description of our agency as the best in the country!
😀
We rented a mid size automatic SUV from Vamos in Liberia from April 24th to 30th, 2019. The booking was easy from California. As promised their agent picked us up from the nearby Hilton hotel.
The whole experience with this car rental company was excellent. Their price is reasonable and there is no hidden cost. The vehicle was in very good condition and we didn't face any problem.
I will use this company again in my next visit to Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
Thank you for your detailed feedback on your rental experience, Matthew. We're happy to see that your end-to-end rental experience went smoothly and that you appriecated our vehicle quality and transparent pricing. We'll look forward to welcoming you back to Costa Rica in the near future!
Great service and good pricing (even including full coverage insurance).
Their vehicles are in good shape and mine did everything I needed it to. These are honest folks. Special shout out to Luis for his excellent service!
We’re happy that you found our customer service, vehicle and pricing to your liking, Mike. Thank you for your kind words on Luis, he is a valued member of our team and was delighted to be mentioned.
Thank you for your four-star rating, Csaba. If we could've improved your rental experience in any way, we'd love to know!
Thank you for your five-star review, Tara!
I always use Vamos Rent-A-Car.
Check with your credit card company. My Alaska Air card offers collision insurance so I could take the collision damage waiver. That saved about $30 a day I think. No other agency I have found in Costa Rica allow this. The Costa Rica insurance is mandatory.
I had an accident in my rental car. Vamos did 100% of the paperwork for me. I submitted what they gave me and my credit card company fully reimbursed me. I can not recommend them highly enough.
Bottom line they are least expensive, I've never had a problem with their cars, and when I needed their help filing a claim they could not have been better. I feel completely comfortable recommending them.
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback and confident support of our services, Bob. While we obviously would have prefered that your car rental experience was stress free, we’re very happy that we could assist you with the necessary documentation for full reimbursement from your credit card company. We hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica in the near future!
We rented a car from their Liberia location.
Excellent service, excellent pricing, no hidden fees. Their vehicles are in great condition. I will definitely rent from them again. Thank you Imer Salazar for providing excellent customer service.
Thank you for your kind words, Paula. Imer is a valued team member and will be thrilled to have been mentioned by name. We're delighted that you were so satisfied with your rental experience and we'll be looking forward to welcoming you back in the near future!