Costa Rica → Home: Return Flight Options

For Shane & Eliza to review together

Trip Timeline (Fixed)

Apr 25 Shane Flies to Costa Rica
Apr 26–May 1 Shane Company trip
May 1 Eliza + Lyon Fly to Costa Rica
May 2 All 3 Drive to Santa Teresa
May 4–15 All 3 Free stay in Santa Teresa
May 16 Shane Surf trip — fly out of LAX
Option A Cheapest ~$975 total

Leave Santa Teresa: May 14  ·  Costa Rica days: 12

✈️ All 3 together Liberia → LAX · 11:20am–4:27pm nonstop $325 × 3
✈️ Eliza + Lyon LAX → San Jose (SJC) · Shane's mom picks up ~$100–150 × 2
Shane stays in LA area May 14–16, flies out for surf trip May 16
Eliza + Lyon connect through LAX same day or next morning to SJC
Everyone on same flight out of Costa Rica — easier logistics

Pros

  • Cheapest flight out of CR ($325/person nonstop)
  • Family travels together to LAX
  • Shane is already at LAX for surf trip
  • Nonstop flight — easy with Lyon

Cons

  • Eliza + Lyon need a connecting flight LAX → SJC (extra cost + travel)
  • Long travel day for Eliza + Lyon if connecting same day
  • Need to figure out where Shane stays May 14–16 in LA
Option B Cleanest Split ~$1,133 total

Leave Santa Teresa: May 14  ·  Costa Rica days: 12

✈️ Shane Liberia → LAX · 11:20am–4:27pm nonstop $325
✈️ Eliza + Lyon Liberia → San Francisco · 11:20am departure $404 × 2
Everyone flies out of Liberia at the same time — one airport drop-off
Shane goes straight to LA for surf trip staging
Eliza + Lyon go straight home to Santa Cruz area — your mom can pick up from SFO

Pros

  • Everyone ends up exactly where they need to be
  • No connecting flights or extra legs
  • Same departure time — one ride to airport
  • Eliza + Lyon go straight home

Cons

  • ~$160 more than Option A
  • Family splits up at the airport
  • Shane still needs a place in LA May 14–16
Option C Max Family Time ~$1,758 total

Leave Santa Teresa: May 12  ·  Costa Rica days: 10

✈️ All 3 together Liberia → San Francisco · 11:20am–8:19pm $586 × 3
Everyone flies home to Santa Cruz together on May 12
Shane has 2 full days at home (May 13–14) to get settled before heading to LA
Shane drives to LA on May 15 with his dad — father-son road trip

Pros

  • Whole family travels together door to door
  • Shane gets 2 days at home before surf trip
  • No splitting up, no connecting flights
  • Road trip with dad to LA

Cons

  • Most expensive option (~$780 more than Option A)
  • Lose 2 days in Santa Teresa (leave May 12 instead of 14)
  • Has a connection (not nonstop to SFO)
  • Shane has a ~5–6 hr drive to LA on the 15th
Option D Earlier + Cheaper C ~$1,449 total

Leave Santa Teresa: May 12  ·  Costa Rica days: 10

✈️ All 3 together San Jose (SJO) → San Francisco $483 × 3
Need to drive from Santa Teresa to San Jose airport (~4–5 hrs) instead of Liberia (~3 hrs)
Same plan as C: get settled at home, Shane drives to LA on May 15 with dad

Pros

  • $309 cheaper than Option C (same plan otherwise)
  • Whole family together
  • Shane gets home time before surf trip

Cons

  • Longer drive to San Jose airport from Santa Teresa
  • Still lose 2 days in Costa Rica
  • Still ~$475 more than Option A
  • Shane still drives to LA on 15th
Option Leave CR CR Days Est. Total Cost Travel Together? Extra Logistics
A May 14 12 ~$975 + E+L connector To LAX, then split E+L flight LAX→SJC
B May 14 12 ~$1,133 Split at Liberia None — clean
C May 12 10 ~$1,758 All the way home Shane drives to LA
D May 12 10 ~$1,449 All the way home Longer drive to SJO + Shane drives to LA
Things to talk through:

• Lyon's ticket: Costs above assume Lyon needs a seat. If he's a lap infant, subtract one fare from each option.

• Options A & B: Where does Shane stay in LA from May 14–16? Friend's place? Hotel? His dad could also come down.

• Options C & D: Are 2 extra days in Santa Teresa worth ~$300–780? That's the real trade-off — more beach time vs. getting home and settled.

• Option B feels like the sweet spot if you're optimizing for simplicity: one airport, everyone lands where they need to be, reasonable cost. But if family time on the way home matters more, D saves money over C with the same plan.