Job Discussion Forums

[corr888]

I'm coming in to CR on a one-way ticket and I'm worried. I want to buy a cheap bus ticket to Panama (or any other country really) to hopefully make things go smoothly through immigration. Does anyone know how to do this online or by phone so I can have my ticket in hand before I leave. Has anyone done this before?
Thanks

[CostaRicaOH]

Hey Corr,

If it helps, I just got here and was never asked to show a return ticket by customs or anyone else. From what I�ve read in other posts it�s the airlines responsibility to make sure you have a return, I flew with Spiritair and I booked a return ticket which might be why I had no problems. Maybe try calling your airline and ask them if you�ll need to show a return ticket?

Best of luck!

[OleLarssen]

http://www.ticabus.com/


The two times I've landed in Juan Santamaria I've never been asked to show a return ticket.

[corr888]

Thanks for the advice-
I called the airline and they said yes, indeed I need an outbound ticket, so I made a reservation for a cheap bus ticket to Nicaragua that I will never use.
Hopefully all will be well.

[teachwrite]

[corr888]

Teachwrite- I went to www.ticabus.com and made the reservation.
I was hoping I would receive an email from them with some sort of ticket I could print out, but all I recieved was an email addressed to "Kathryn" (not my name) thanking me for the reservation. I wrote them back pointing out I wasn't Kathryn and asked them for some sort of proof of my reservation. So now I'm waiting.....
Any advice?

[pojohnny]

Don't worry about. Nobody's gonna ask you for a return ticket.

You'll see.

[nineisone]

I hate to chime in on something that has been said by the board regulars before and even in this thread, but I wanted to emphasize that it is the airline and not immigration that you will need to dodge the issue of flying one-way with. It is usually the airline that will bring this issue at the time of your checking in before your departure. As mentioned, this is real hit or miss and the airlines will often just sell you a return ticket if they do catch that you are on a one-way.

Unless you are suspicious or there is some other problem with your conduct, luggage, passport, etc... Immigration will rarely if ever ask to see proof of a return ticket. With Costa Rica in particular and C.A. specifically, I think they realize that many tourists will jaunt off to other nearby nations on their journey and C.R. is an affordable starting point to hop on the gringo trail that I wouldn't be surprised to know that many enter on a 1-way and make arrangements to get home at another time and often another place.

I am happy to know that the bus option exists and may look into that if I end up coming here. I know that it is difficult to make this arrangement in Peru, where few international bus companies exist and they often require documentation in person to secure a ticket.

[teachwrite]

[corr888]

Yep, sounds like I'm worried for no reason.
I guess I'm just anxious about traveling alone and want to control as many of the variables as possible.
Thanks all for the advice.

[teachwrite]

[corr888]

Teachwrite-- I emailed ticabus back and was like hey my name is wrong and I don't think this is going to cut it at customs..and they sent me back a more offical looking ticket that I can print out and use.
I'm not super worried anymore. Good luck to you.
When do you arrive?

[OleLarssen]

[teachwrite]

[corr888]

Teachwrite-- yeah they sent me a "ticket" on letter head, looks pretty offical.