If you are on a budget and do not want to pay for a cab you can take a public bus just for 550 colones (as of may 18), more or less $1. The last stop in town is a little seedy but you can take a cab to your hotel from there for more or less $3. For the same price you can spend the first night to Alajuela which is few miles away. If you have to get some local currency at the airport change the minimum, the rate is bad.
