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No pavement yet. There is still a lot of work going on clearing the actual road and building several new bridges. The road is not going to be just the old road paved over. Some of it goes out through the palm orchards and on different paths here and there.
As far as condition; from Quepos to Matapalo is not too bad; the grading has been kept up on most of the road. From Matapalo to Dominical it is really bad, probably the worst I’ve seen it. Depending on how much of a maniac you are the drive should take about two hours.
I had the exact opposite happen. I’ve had hay fever/allergies all my life living in California, to the point of getting the shots and everything. Since moving to CR I have had none which really surprised me. I think it’s going to be an individual experience depending on what you’re allergic to.
I assume we’re talking about the bridge in Parrita? Believe or not they have started building a new bridge there and have even installed sidewalks. Won’t help in the short term though.
There is a mechanic in San Jose that I’m told does checks on cars for condition and problems that need repair. Web site http://www.tallercardoc.com.
I have not used this service but heard they were good and charge about $100.As far as bringing your car down, do look at duty costs and shipping and then look at sites with cars for sale (am costa rica, tico times, la nacion, craigs list). Try to get a feel for what it would cost you to replace it down here; cars are not cheap. Most people recommend not bringing a car because of the hassle, duty, and paperwork. I had an opposite experience where it was very easy with the right shipper handling it (Barry @ shipcostarica.com).
We moved an assortment of furniture, clothes, books, appliances, electronics, and household items along with the car. Shipment of the car and delivery to our house in CR was included in the $5900. The customs on your car will of course depend on what kind of car it is. Barry can look that up for you and then you can decide if you want to ship it. A typical container costs about $1000 – $1200 in customs taxes; we paid about $1500. Customs could have easily soaked us for 4-5,000 for the appliances.
Barry doesn’t do packing services so we hired a local firm to come do that and help us load. This part was the biggest nightmare. They assured me they had experience with international shipments and they didn’t have a clue. They bitched when I insisted that all the boxes and contents be labeled. They were late and took twice as long to pack as they said they would. I had told them they would need a ramp because the container sits 4 ft. off the ground. They forgot the ramp. Long story short, if you hire a packing service, MAKE SURE they have experience packing this sort of load. Paying a little more for knowledge is well worth it, in my opinion. Barry will give you detailed packing instructions; if you follow them I think it makes getting everything through customs much easier.
On the other end, the container showed up on time but since it was so large would not make it up our hill. So, we had a smaller truck standing by to shuttle it all up to the house which worked fine.
We moved from the California central coast and it was about $5900 for a 40ft. container. I should mention also that we brought down 2 sets of appliances for the houses we were building. We thought it might be a large chunk of money in customs but somehow he got them through for maybe a couple hundred dollars.
I used him last August to ship a container and a car. He did a great job and I would recommend him. Everyone says how difficult it is to ship a car down here but he made it very easy; we didn’t have to do anything but drive it to the shipper.
No problema! I think some airlines provide kennels at certain locations like Delta; you would have to check with the specific airline. Since you will going back and forth it may be a better idea to invest in some kennels so you can get the dogs used to them before the flights. Put a favorite blanket and toy in there to get them comfortable. There are plenty of drivers around that have large vans that could take you where you need to go. As I understand it, you don’t have property yet, so you might want to wait until you do to bring the dogs. There are a few places in San Jose that will let you have dogs in the rooms like Vida Tropical and the Adventure Inn.
We have been here since last August; moved from the central coast of California to the southern/central pacific coast of CR. Everything is going great for us; we just finished our construction project and are finally starting to feel at home. It is a large transition; spend as much time as posssible down here before you make the move and make sure it is for you. We’re glad we made the move!
One thing to be careful of, I assume your dog will be going air cargo, and not in the cabin. When I brought my cat through who fit under the seat it was very easy getting through customs. When I went to pick up my dog who flew air cargo it was a different story. If you do not speak Spanish take someone with you who does to air cargo customs. They had me going back and forth between buildings for two hours and finally someone offered to “help me” for a price. Since I just wanted to get my poor dog out of there, I paid it. I met another women with a Bichon that they had been holding for two days because she would not pay them for “help”. That would be the only reason I would say to have a vet meet you if you have a relationship with one.
I didn’t have the entire amount of money this man wanted and said I would return the next day with it (never intending too). He had the nerve to call me twice about it. We had a friend call him and say he was our attorney and wanted documentation of all the paperwork and suddenly I was all paid up!
Sounds to me like you dodged a bullet! There are so many red flags in this. You don’t need a lawyer? I would recommend getting two lawyers to look at it and research it. Money into her personal account instead of an escrow account? Refund all your monies + 5%? LOL. And finally, “she has other buyers and you are wasting her time.” Translation: “I need to go find another fool.” Don’t be discouraged, there are lots of legitimate people doing business here; just take your time and do a lot of research.
What is interesting to me is if this property was in the states, most of these people would think a real estate agent is crazy for asking them for a sizeable amout of money and then saying that the agent will pick the property for them. Then, when they got around to seeing it, maybe they could pick something else if they didn’t like it. Most people would run the other way. I just don’t get it, maybe it is greed and fear.
Scott, I know this type of post must make you nuts by now, but if it keeps a few people from making a big mistake, I would think it is worth it. Costa Rica is a small country but there is plenty of land left! Come see the country, talk with some of Scott’s recommended agents, get a feel for where you want to live and/or invest.
Another reason they might keep this deposit for months is so they have use of the money and/or collect the interest on it. I know this company is actively out buying more property and that usually takes cash.
A couple more things. Always ask for a discount, I received 20-30% off just for asking and buying more than a few pieces in one place. They are more willing to do this if you do a wire transfer or direct transfer to their account and don’t use a credit card. Also, if you buy from more than one place try to consolidate the shipping if you are out of the San Jose area; it adds up quick!
Cindy
No Scott, not a commercial posting. I’m not in the decorating business! Just wanted a little more personal info on what she was looking for. I’ve done a lot of looking to furnish my own house. I’ll share some of what I told her. Some web sites to start:
http://www.atocha.net
http://www.grupoakiro.com
http://www.laartistica.net
http://www.octubre54.com
http://www.acuarium.com (outdoor furnishings)
http://www.pacifichomefurnishing.comThere are also some others in the Escazu area that don’t have web sites. Tamarindo Pacifico (Very nice but very expensive), Penichet, and Urgelles. It really depends on the style and price range you are looking for. Akiro has nice furniture for a pretty reasonable price; things kind of go up from there. I started with an interior designer and have a word of warning; not only will they charge you for their time, but will also take you to places that they get “kickbacks” from. So, they won’t take you necessarily to places of good value or to your particular taste. If you find a good one, then by all means let us all know!
Cindy
Edited on Apr 30, 2007 05:12
