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Ah, so my flight is booked for my first visit to CR! Here’s hoping to falling in love with CR so I can continue with my future plans that put me in CR permanently (still working on this permanent part)!
I am planning on visiting the end of April and would like to explore the Atenas, Grecia, Alajuela areas for the possibility of a future move. Heredia is not out of the question either. These are the areas I’m interested in based on what I’ve found in my research, but here’s what I am thinking and maybe you know of other areas that would be worth researching:
As far as living in CR, I am looking in the Central Valley for an area with a good mix of ticos and expats, but preferably more ticos. I do intend to rent, and will not own a car, so I would have to be within walking distance of bus stops/transportation. I would like to be with walking distance of a market/sodas/park/etc but I do not care to see any KFC’s or any other commercial establshiments within walking distance-however, would like to be accessible to these types of establishments within about 30 mins. I’m looking for a small town feel, but yet, not so remote that there aren’t neighbors for miles. I need to be in an area where I will be able to get internet and hot water (not sure if the remoteness plays into this, but I’m sure it does). I need to be within an hour of San Jose, and within two hours of a nice beach for relaxtion time. 1) What areas would you recommend for me to explore in April? With that being said, 2) what area would be a good central point for me to plant my feet in April to explore the areas I am interested in, or that are recommended? Also, my father and his significant other will be traveling with me and are interested in retiring to CR in the near future (they also have a fact-finding 2 week trip planned in June this year for their retirement research). As far as #2 goes, 3) any accommodation recommendations in these areas? Also, I’m not looking for a top notch resort during my April visit that mostly cater to those on vacation, as we will be on the go the majority of the time researching the areas. Thanks so much for your time and responses!BEST of luck to you Dawn! We won’t be far behind you!
Please check in every now and then once you’re here (If possible) and let us know how it’s going…….
…Till then, hope to see you on the forums some more!
Dan.
[quote=”DawnVA”]Ah, so my flight is booked for my first visit to CR! Here’s hoping to falling in love with CR so I can continue with my future plans that put me in CR permanently (still working on this permanent part)!
I am planning on visiting the end of April and would like to explore the Atenas, Grecia, Alajuela areas for the possibility of a future move. Heredia is not out of the question either. These are the areas I’m interested in based on what I’ve found in my research, but here’s what I am thinking and maybe you know of other areas that would be worth researching:
As far as living in CR, I am looking in the Central Valley for an area with a good mix of ticos and expats, but preferably more ticos. I do intend to rent, and will not own a car, so I would have to be within walking distance of bus stops/transportation. I would like to be with walking distance of a market/sodas/park/etc but I do not care to see any KFC’s or any other commercial establshiments within walking distance-however, would like to be accessible to these types of establishments within about 30 mins. I’m looking for a small town feel, but yet, not so remote that there aren’t neighbors for miles. I need to be in an area where I will be able to get internet and hot water (not sure if the remoteness plays into this, but I’m sure it does). I need to be within an hour of San Jose, and within two hours of a nice beach for relaxtion time. 1) What areas would you recommend for me to explore in April? With that being said, 2) what area would be a good central point for me to plant my feet in April to explore the areas I am interested in, or that are recommended? Also, my father and his significant other will be traveling with me and are interested in retiring to CR in the near future (they also have a fact-finding 2 week trip planned in June this year for their retirement research). As far as #2 goes, 3) any accommodation recommendations in these areas? Also, I’m not looking for a top notch resort during my April visit that mostly cater to those on vacation, as we will be on the go the majority of the time researching the areas. Thanks so much for your time and responses![/quote]David Murray has a pretty nice looking guest house in Grecia, you can find it by searching the site or perhaps he will chime in. This would be ideal as he could also offer you advice and help with your plans:D
(Hope you don’t mind me suggesting this DM?)[quote=”*Lotus”][quote=”DawnVA”]Ah, so my flight is booked for my first visit to CR! Here’s hoping to falling in love with CR so I can continue with my future plans that put me in CR permanently (still working on this permanent part)!
I am planning on visiting the end of April and would like to explore the Atenas, Grecia, Alajuela areas for the possibility of a future move. Heredia is not out of the question either. These are the areas I’m interested in based on what I’ve found in my research, but here’s what I am thinking and maybe you know of other areas that would be worth researching:
As far as living in CR, I am looking in the Central Valley for an area with a good mix of ticos and expats, but preferably more ticos. I do intend to rent, and will not own a car, so I would have to be within walking distance of bus stops/transportation. I would like to be with walking distance of a market/sodas/park/etc but I do not care to see any KFC’s or any other commercial establshiments within walking distance-however, would like to be accessible to these types of establishments within about 30 mins. I’m looking for a small town feel, but yet, not so remote that there aren’t neighbors for miles. I need to be in an area where I will be able to get internet and hot water (not sure if the remoteness plays into this, but I’m sure it does). I need to be within an hour of San Jose, and within two hours of a nice beach for relaxtion time. 1) What areas would you recommend for me to explore in April? With that being said, 2) what area would be a good central point for me to plant my feet in April to explore the areas I am interested in, or that are recommended? Also, my father and his significant other will be traveling with me and are interested in retiring to CR in the near future (they also have a fact-finding 2 week trip planned in June this year for their retirement research). As far as #2 goes, 3) any accommodation recommendations in these areas? Also, I’m not looking for a top notch resort during my April visit that mostly cater to those on vacation, as we will be on the go the majority of the time researching the areas. Thanks so much for your time and responses![/quote]David Murray has a pretty nice looking guest house in Grecia, you can find it by searching the site or perhaps he will chime in. This would be ideal as he could also offer you advice and help with your plans:D
(Hope you don’t mind me suggesting this DM?)[/quote]EXCELLENT advice….we are probably going to do just that ourselves once we know our exact date of travel…….Sounds like a real nice couple!
san ramon wasn’t on your list but it should be. check out La Posada in San Ramon or angel valley B and B just up the hill.
Lotus, sincere thanks for the plug for our guest house. Unfortunately, it is in constant demand and we wouldn’t be able to accommodate Dawn and her companions. Likewise, Rodericks’ house, also listed under Rentals, here, is committed. Wish we could help.
There is a listing for “apartments” in Grecia. The owners are friends and the accommodations are very nice. Take a look!
Dave
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Lotus, sincere thanks for the plug for our guest house. Unfortunately, it is in constant demand and we wouldn’t be able to accommodate Dawn and her companions. Likewise, Rodericks’ house, also listed under Rentals, here, is committed. Wish we could help.
There is a listing for “apartments” in Grecia. The owners are friends and the accommodations are very nice. Take a look!
Dave[/quote]
David…How far out are you booked up? We might not get down until early may, end of April at the latest, and would travel with your opening in mind if possible.
Dan.
Hi Dawn, how did you come to choose the central valley? Have you been there before? I have an extensive history with Costa Rica and am curious about your research. What research resources were most helpful? Most people choose the beach first.
Dan, we’re booked through June of 2011 (yup, 2011).
Don, we also looked first at the coasts but, considering the consistently hot and humid weather, opted to join the other three-quarters of the population and live in the Central Valley.
Fifty million frenchmen can’t be wrong . . .
[quote=”maravilla”]san ramon wasn’t on your list but it should be. check out La Posada in San Ramon or angel valley B and B just up the hill.[/quote]
Our friends Tom & Susan have a beautiful new B&B in San Ramon on a mountain with central valley and pacific views. I believe they call it Vista Val Verde. check them out, very reasonable. http://www.vistavalverde.comThanks everyone, and keep it coming! I am adding San Ramon to my list!
Don – not interested in the beach…always ready to go home after a week/two of all the surf/sun/sand so that tells me I’m not cut out for beach living. I am more interested in a constant temp, little to no humidity, and greenery! In regards to research, there’s no way to include all the research on here…I like to research, so I just poured myself into it, from books to online books to websites to the CR newspapers (online) to blogs to discussion threads to emailing people and the list goes on. I’ve got a little something out of every piece of research, so it’s hard to pinpoint what I got the most from. As most research goes, you get the best picture from the more research you do, so that’s what I’ve done. I will say I started with the book “Living Abroad in Costa Rica” and “Frommer’s Costa Rica” and various websites which helped me narrow down to the Central Valley. Once I decided on the Central Valley, then I focused on the various provinces in the Central Valley, then narrowed down to the specific areas that interested me the most (as I mentioned in my original post). The Central Valley just seems to fit me, so now it’s time to visit and see if my research proved me right…Oh, and how I choose Costa Rica in the first place? Well…that was just a wild hair..
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