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20 years

High prices at airport restaurant spark numerous consumer complaints

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(TripAdvisor)

(TripAdvisor)

By Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo / La Voz de Guanacaste

December 11th, 2014 (La Voz) To the president of the Guanacaste Chamber of Tourism (Caturgua- Camara de Turismo de Guanacaste), Priscila Solano, there are establishments that “abuse and scare away tourists” due to their high prices and poor customer service.

Such is the case with the Players restaurant, which is located within the Daniel Oduber International Airport facilities in Liberia and against which Caturgua has received complaints from tourists due to the high prices of the products.

“We have received complaints from tourists because at this restaurant a hamburger costs $25, a banana $5 and an apple $4,” Solano said.

For his part, Marco Zani, executive chef for Players, said that a basic hamburger costs $15. “From there, prices vary if you want a double patty or additional ingredients or other sides.”

Zani indicated that the prices of bananas and apples sold there aren’t what Solano mentioned, but on the other hand he did not specify what they are currently.

In addition, the executive chef acknowledged that they have received complaints from some customers about the prices. However, he believes that this is due to several factors, mainly the cost of operating the restaurant inside the terminal.

“It’s well known that the prices of services and operations at any airport are more expensive,” he noted. And although he did not provide the amount to be paid to the terminal’s administration for the location’s concession due to reasons of confidentiality, he affirmed that “it is very expensive.”

However, for most tourists who use TripAdvisor’s international restaurant locator, of the 74 comments posted about this restaurant, 64 evaluated the restaurant as “terrible.”

“I have never in all my life and all my travels around the world paid $75 for two lousy burgers and fries! Sad to say most of the other reviewers are right, you probably won’t read this until it’s too late. What a sad way to end a most fabulous vacation in Costa Rica,” said user Jen Frost, from Florida, USA.

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  • Cmarston

    I have to agree with the article. The food prices are outrageous, even compared with prices for comparable food in airports in the US. It is a shame that this is the last impression that visitors have of Costa Rica. (I can understand the “exit tax” but poor food at high cost is unacceptable.)

  • J. Ross Gould

    Add to that the ridiculous “exit tax!” If you are an average family of four, it could cost just under $200 to leave the country, including a modest snack plus your exit tax. Hum…Stacations are looking better and better…or go somewhere else.

    • Trisha Spinelli

      The exit tax will soon be included in the ticket price as it is for all other airports.

  • Trisha Spinelli

    All airport food constitutes highway robbery. I saw that they were charging $10 for a veggie wrap at SJO. I always travel with my own lunch because I think the prices are absolutely outrageous for usually mediocre food.

    • toolman78

      True it costs more than normal in every airport. But having eaten in airports throughout the US and in several in Europe, I can say none left me feeling as ripped off as those here in Costa Rica.

    • Karen Mata

      I remember the old Juan Santamaria airport a couple of decades ago. They had a cafeteria style restaurant that was quite good, and very inexpensive.

      • toolman78

        Liberia’s old airport was far cheaper than the new one as well if memory serves.

  • Michael C

    For a country that relies so heavily upon tourism, the mantra seems to be “gouge, gouge and gouge”! From TOURIST entry fees at every facility, exit tax, and now this off the charts gouging at the airport! Keep it up CR, and your tourism will plummet!

  • Yeims

    This is good, in a way, because it is a good preview of coming attractions for the tourists. Otherwise, they would never think it possible for someone to be so brazen as to charge $25 for a burger and fries — probably badly prepared and without the traditional lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions.

  • DMOOREX

    I never complain about prices, but a bottle of coke was $6…

    • Rusty

      I was in Downtown SJ. Got one cup of coffee( 1,000 colons) and saw the cookies I asked how much she said 990 colons for one small cookie..!!! She said how many did I want. I said none… Now I make my own freeze the dough bake a few when I have company over. Yeah, How many locals can afford that other than the government workers like diputados. I also saw about 12 of our diputados over at P.F. Chang’s as pointed out to me by another customer. He said isn’t it nice that we pay for their lunch and wine.. My bill just for me came to 12,485 plus tip.. GEEZ!

      • Karen Mata

        I play at a nice private tennis club in Panama. Covered courts, valet parking. They have a great daily luncheon buffet, (and not something slovenly as you’d find at the CRTC) for under 8 bucks.

  • Ginger Morris

    Costa Ricas HOTEL Prices are also ABSURD. I believe a company has to make a profit. I don’t know if it is the Obsessive taxes but Hotels are more expensive that the USA for a lot better food, service and amenities.
    I just spent a week in Guanacaste at the JW Marriott and the Ocean Azul.
    Each over $225 a day… Food expensive and service so so. I go to Europe and get just about the same and better food. Costa Rica wake up. You are not the USA and you pay $2-$3 for most of you labor? Why the high prices. I would think Fair Prices, MORE Business. Gouging the Tourism is Death to your Business. Dead, Dead is on its way for Tourism. I had a lady in Guanacaste in the Grocery store ask me if this was the price for the cream she wanted to buy? $5.00. I say yes, She said, How do you afford to live here with double the price than the USA. She said,” I want be coming back here”. I said, Yes it is a problem for all of us and especially the Ticos that depend on the tourism.

    • Susan

      We tend to stay in CR at the coast a couple times a year. We look for reduced rates at the top hotels and we never fail to find some excellent deals. We stayed in July for a couple days at the Occidental which is all inclusive for just over $100 per day for the two of us. We had a great time while there.

  • Susan

    We were gouged there on food when the airport first opened. Since then, we bring sandwiches with us and buy only water (which is still expensive) but at least we’re only buying water and not paying crazy prices for food.

  • Rebecca

    We come down at least a few times a year (we just bought our own condo). The food prices do make me wonder how the locals do it as we don’t eat extravagant. We have learned to adjust ourselves a bit by buying local brands, hitting up local fruit stands for fresh and cheap produce). We also bring a few things from home). The LIR airport is the only thing we can say disappoints and frustrates us every time.

  • Sharon Smith

    $7.00 for a chocolate bar. I avoid the food in that airport at all costs.

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