2. Your to do list:
Make 3 copies of your passport (picture page
& any valid visas), credit/bank cards (front &
back), and travel itinerary
Call your bank/credit card companies with
the dates you will be abroad and the locations
Get official prescriptions for ANY medications
you plan on taking with you and keep them in
the original containers
Bring the insurance card that was e-mailed to
you by the CISI (travel health insurance
company)
Pre-Departure
3. Baggage Allowance
Each person gets…
1 carry-on bag
Dimension: 45 inches (including wheels &handles)
1 personal item (purse, briefcase, laptop bag or
normal sized backpack)
1 free checked bag
Dimension: 62 inches (outside dimensions=
l+w+h)
Weight: Max 50 lbs
You may check up to 5 additional pieces of
baggage at an extra cost.
Luggage
5. Prohibited Items for Carry-On
Sharp Objects
Razors, Pockets knives, scissors
Sporting Goods
Guns & Firearms
Tools
Martial Arts & Self Defense Items
Explosive & Flammable Materials, Disabling
Chemicals & Other Dangerous Items
Other Items
Gel shoe inserts, aerosol
Luggage
6. What to pack in your carry-on?
Things to keep in easy reach
Airline ticket
itinerary
Passport
Wallet
Recommended Items
Jacket/sweatshirt
Valuables (camera, laptops, ipods, phones, etc.)
Any form of entertainment you plan to use during the
flight
A day’s worth of clothing
Luggage
7. What to pack?
A GOOD PAIR OF WALKING SHOES
Travel sized toiletries (put in separate
sandwich bags)
Bug spray
Water proof jacket/ rain poncho
Empty water bottle
A MEDICINE KIT
PACK LIGHT
Luggage
8. What to Pack- Medicine Kit
Any prescription medications you need, including
the official prescription from the doctor
Leave medicine in prescription bottle
Antiseptic, bandaids, etc.
Luggage
9. What to bring
Costa Rica
operates on the
same voltage and
plug types as in the
US
Only bring the
electronics that you
will absolutely need
on the trip
Electronics
10. Arrival in San Jose
When you arrive in San Jose you will go
through Passport Control and Customs and
Immigration
You will need to show your passport and
landing documents (given to you on the
airplane)
In-country
11. Changing Money
IMPORTANT: Contact your bank and/or credit card company
with the dates of travel and locations.
Find out the fees associated with international usage and cash
withdrawls
You do not need to change your dollars into colones BEFORE
you leave for Costa Rica
The arrival airport will have ATMs/cash machines for you to use
your debit card to get money in the currency of the country
DO NOT BRING or BUY Traveler’s Checks
You can bring some money in dollars in case of emergency.
Check exchange rates before you change money and fees of
where your are exchanging money
Try and change larger bills for smaller bills
Money
13. Language
National Language of Costa Rica is
Spanish
Very, clear & very few slang terms
May meet a good number of people who
are English speakers
Good Rule of Thumb: greet in Spanish
and then ask if they speak in English
In-country
14. Time
Costa Rica is one hour behind Austin
If it is noon in Austin, then it’s 11 am
in San Jose
In-country
15. Staying in touch
Please, be sure to work out a way to
contact your loved ones at home,
when you arrive
Recommended: E-mail,
Facetime/Skype
Mobile phones w/o international plans
will not work
In-country
16. Weather
In San Jose, sunrise can happen between 5:26 am
and 5:28 am. Sunset can be occur between 5:46 pm
and 5:59 pm.
Average Temperature in Costa Rica:
Average Low- 78 F
Average High- 81F
84% Chance of Cloud Cover with a 75% chance of rain
In-Country
17. Safety
Go out in groups
Carry business card of the hotel with the address
and write down the contact of on site coordinators
Make sure people know where you are going
Be aware of your surroundings
Tell coaches/ other SEU staff if you are having
problems or need help, especially if it has to do
with you health
In-country
18. Important tips & information
You must be at airport 3 hours before your departure
time.
Be sure that ALL of your bags have ID tags on them,
including carry-on.
Food/Snacks: You may be at the airport a long time. You
can bring your own snacks (non-liquid) to eat while
you’re at the airport or on the flight. Bring an empty water
bottle to fill up after you get passed security.
Departure Day
19. Customs & Immigration in the
US
When you return to the US you will have to pass
through passport control in Austin
After passport control you must collect your luggage
and pass through customs
Customs officers have the right to search you at any
time
DO NOT USE YOUR CELL PHONE
Anything that happens between you and homeland
security is between you and homeland security- not
the program
Upon Return
