The traffic is dangerous. Cars don't stop for pedestrians, and they generally drive very fast. The area around the Coca Cola Bus Terminal is not safe either during the day or at night. You should watch your belongings and stay with a group at all times in the city.
Most Ticos Costa Rican natives are friendly and honest. However, if you have a flat tire on the main highway to the airport, don't accept help except from an established service station, and never accept help from a person who offers to help on the highway. It may become a car-jacking. Petty theft is high risk, including from valet parking staff and housekeepers in hotels. Carry a cell phone and know the number of the local "policia".
If you travel by bus, never! put your luggage into the storage space, even if the driver wants you to at the beginning of the travel.The bus usually stops every 5 minutes and picks up people from the street. But there are also people who open the space while you are up in the bus, pull out a rucksack backpack and disappear.If you put your rucksack between your knees, nothing will happen. Car theft is common so if you drive as you can from the US, or wherever else, bring a club steering wheel lock or park in locked fence areas. Most houses inside San Jose have bars on the windows and large gates in which to put vehicles. Despite the numerous pot holes and other bumps in the street, the drivers have a tendency to speed while the luggage and passengers are getting thrown around so please wear your seat belt just in case. Going off of the scenarios of dangerous drivers, the taxi cabs, as well as any vehicle for that matter, that you choose to travel in MUST have a yellow triangle sticker on the front doors with the plate number. This demonstrates that that particular vehicle and the driver are legitimate. If anything were to happen you as a tourist would know who to file a complaint etc with. Just be advised: Please do not enter any vehicle that does not have this larger triangle sticker on it usually on the door because the driver is most likely an illegal taxi or someone trying to con you. The airport is a frequent "hot-spot" for these sort of incidents to occur quickly, because someone can come up to you knowing that you are a tourist, not aware of their customs or regulations, and will exploit that, grab your luggage, and start loading it into their car - but be sure to check the vehicle for the yellow triangle as well as wrestling your luggage back out of the car. The orange taxis at the airport are the official airport taxis.
Crime is a serious problem so be constantly alert and aware of your surroundings and use your common sense. Be particularly careful with your passport. Also, police may stop you and take you to jail for not carrying your passport, or a photocopy of the main page and the entry stamp very reccomendable instead of carrying the passport with you. A tour bus was stopped in Limon in January 2006 and several US citizens were taken to jail for not having their passports on them, but this is not common.
San Jose, as the largest city in C.R. has the largest hospitals, both public and private. Tourists can use the private hospitals, and pay with cash or credit card. The wait is significantly shorter than at public hospitals. Also note the bigger private hospitals in the country are considerably more expensive than the many, smaller private hospitals throughout the city. Most doctors can speak medical English, and they provide translator services. Most private doctors and hospitals do take foreign insurance plans. Ask before. If you are unlucky enough to have your child get really sick he or she will be transferred to the only children's hospital in the country in San Jose, which is public.
Generally speaking if you stick to the tourist spots in the city you will be safe, just try to avoid showing off valuables more than necessary, if you're taking a picture put your camera away as soon as its taken, never show big amounts of cash, exercise caution. Avoid at all costs walking at night, either right downtown or in the suburbs, cabs and buses are too cheap, so walking at night is a very unnecesary risk. As with any big city, use common sense and keep your belongings in front or beside you - never on your back. San Jose is known for its abundance and skill of pickpocketers.
tv
Cable TV channels have many American English language channels. Fox News, CNN, CNBC, TNT, HBO, ESPN, ABC, NBC, and CBS stations are broadcast from New York City.
On Amnet in San Jose ABC, CBS, and NBC are broadcast on channels 69-71 respectively. The feeds are from Denver, CO.