Improvements beyond the primitive approximation in the path integral Monte Carlo method are explored both in a model problem and in real systems. Two different strategies are studied: The Richardson extrapolation on top of the path integral Monte Carlo data and the Takahashi-Imada action. The Richardson extrapolation, mainly combined with the primitive action, always reduces the number-of-beads dependence, helps in determining the approach to the dominant power law behavior, and all without additional computational cost. The Takahashi-Imada action has been tested in two hard-core interacting quantum liquids at low temperature. The results obtained show that the fourth-order behavior near the asymptote is conserved, and that the use of this improved action reduces the computing time with respect to the primitive approximation. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.