Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
John
After some thought, there is an excellent restaurant on the south hillside called “La Finisterra”, they serve wonderful food and again reasonably priced. Great view over Hermosa towards the Papagayo peninsula.
There is also the Hotel “Villa Del Sueno”, again they have a terrific French influenced restaurant along with excellent accomodation, albeit the restaurant is a bit pricier.
“Gingers” is an exotic asian style restaurant with a variety of top class dishes to discover and great cocktails!
Finally if you need a Sports bar… there is an Upper Deck sports bar with big screen TV and food on the main road through Hermosa…Hope this helps
Brian
John
I can recommend the El Velero hotel and restaurant in Playa Hermosa. It is right on the beach and it’s very comfortable, the restaurant is excellent, and price is reasonable (about US$80 / night per room double occupancy). This is a friend of mine’s place (he’s a canadian) and very jovial!!! He has a website under the hotel’s name…
As for further south… I’m sure others can help…
I, myself will be there late November (28th) so I might see you there…
Brian
Side note… Scott I hope this doesn’t violate the rules… if so please delete and accept my apologies…
Soldier
I know the Playa Hermosa area reasonably well… There are a few reasonable management companies in the area, Milagro, being one of them. There is a blacksmith/ welder that could make your bars on the main road to Liberia, on the left about a mile from the airport. He’s hard to see, but has several metal “work” pieces outside. There is another one near Sardinal, but I’m not sure exactly where.
If you are in Hermosa now, go see Mike at El Velero, he owns the hotel and knows LOTS of useful people around the area. He’s a Canadian and a good friend of mine. Say Brian gave you his name and tell him I’ll see him at the end of November.
There is another smithy in Panama, just north of Hermosa, but not sure if he still does it… he was getting up there in age when I saw him last 4 years ago.
Anything else you need to know, just ask, either here or you can email me enduro@amtelecom.net
As I mentioned, I’ll be there late November/ early December, let me know where your house is and I can check on it and make sure all is okay. I’ll be right in Hermosa, so it won’t be any difficulty for me to take a look…
Best of luck
Brian
Edited on Sep 29, 2009 01:54
*Lotus et al
I have to agree with you on what could be free and what should be a “paid service”
Scott has been through a lot (another Brit understatement) to provide us with invaluable information. He deserves to be remunerated for putting himself and his family in danger JUST to provide us unknowing “greenhorns” with distinct and valuable information which I’m sure many people have benefitted from, either mentally, physically or financially.
I would like to see something along the lines of what ARCR does… FREE discussion forum, but if you want more pertinent or specific information, then a paid service could provide that (and does for ARCR).
I’m not saying provide the same type of service as ARCR, just something more… like the personal interview videos, in depth articles relating to specific topics and such… ie what Scott does now… This subscription service could go further, but that’s up to Scott.
If ALL of this site was a subscription site… I may not partake… especially as others are free… and have to agree with others that think that it would be detrimental to the site to be ALL subscription.
A footnote… Many new people who start looking for information may be leary of sending money to Costa Rica, and look elsewhere, find the other free sites and return no more to WLCR…
Best of luck Scott, whichever way you decide to go. From one Brit to another… good job mate!
Brian
Edited on Sep 18, 2009 20:27
You can add Playa Hermosa and Coco beach to that list… just up the coast from Flamingo… Good access roads… no 4 x 4 (allroader) needed… and only 25 minutes from Liberia airport. Largest waves I’ve seen at Hermosa maybe 2 ft in the middle of a storm! Usually 6″ is a swell there. Playa Panama is a nice beach too…
There are many affordable residences in and around the area, especially in Playas Del Coco. It’s a nice area and as safe as any other area I’ve been to. There are quite a few Ex-pats living in the area and amenities are quite abundant.Brian
Edited on Sep 12, 2009 01:39
Scott,
I. for one, and many others I’m sure, are VERY grateful for everything that you do to enlighten us on Living and Retiring in Costa Rica. It is very heartening to see lots of articles about what to do or not do re living there. I especially loved the series of articles of the construction of your log cabina… very informative. I don’t always agree with everything on this site… but that’s the luxury of OPEN discussion and FREEDOM of information and expression…Ms Bing… MOST CR RE pages are dated somewhat… prices don’t change… I found a property advertised today that I looked at 2 years ago, still advertised for the same price and on the same website… your search will be fruitless as the information is impossible to corealate! Easiest way to do it is go to CR and look around… I have found several properties that are for sale and NEVER advertised and MUCH cheaper than ANY advertised ones… Another point is that MANY RE companies in CR are either US based or US owned and therefore prices CAN be inflated (not always) but reality is they are just a GUIDE… being in country and getting to know the locals is by far the BEST way to find decent deals IMHO
Enough said!
Brian
Scotiabank is Canadian based (used to be called the Bank of Nova Scotia… a Canadian province…)
They now have affiliated ALL their world offices and you can get information here on Costa Rican Scotiabanks…
Website here is http://www.scotiabank.com
Costa Rica scotiabank is http://www.scotiabankcr.com
I bank with them here in Canada and they are very helpful… worth a look and see if it’s possible… I know they do have several different International accounts… Check out the correspondent Banking section… available at http://www.gtb.scotiabank.com
HTH
Brian
Edited on Sep 11, 2009 01:47
Just a note, to do it now, under the existing law… you will need to show $500 per each month extension, photocopies of your passport, documentation requesting the “overstay”, exact contact address all notorized and in Spanish.
As to the new law… it doesn’t go into this much detail yet… but I can see it being similar… with maybe a larger amount needed… Like I said we will have to wait and see on that one…
Warren
Firstly, this won’t apply until AFTER March 1 2010 and as to how it will work is anyone’s guess at the moment, because the regulations that dictate HOW a law is governed have not been written and published yet.
MY GUESS, would be that prior to the elapse of the first 90 days, you would go to Migracion and apply for the extension. They will probably want proof that you have sufficient funds to do so and then for a payment of $100 they will stamp your passport accordingly.
Whether they allow further extensions will PROBABLY be at their discretion or it will be a one time only per visit. Only time will tell…
This is becoming known as the “SNOWBIRD” clause, as it appears it was put in for people like yourself that want to stay 4 – 5 months per year.
Like I said though… we will have to wait for the regulations…
Brian
mistyna
Here is a quick look at residency…
Pensionado… financially you will need to show $600 per month per couple ($1000 as of March 1 2010), in a guaranteed for life income/pension fund outside of Costa Rica. This will allow you to OWN and MANAGE a business of any type.
Rentista… financially you will need $1000 per month per person and $500 per month per dependant child (under 25). This will be secured by depositing 5 years worth into a Costa Rica bank (Total would be $2500 x 60 = $150,000). Again you will be able to OWN and MANAGE a business. (This amount will be the same – $2500 in March 2010)
There is more paperwork required and enrollment in CAJA – the Costa Rica medical system but these are the easiest forms of residency. After three years you can apply for permanent residency which, once you have it you can do pretty much anything except vote!
Before you move down to Costa Rica, take a couple of trips down to find an area that suits you, hire a residency lawyer and take your time. Many North Americans rush into it and leave within 2 years (about 40%) so take your time and make sure it is right for you. It is easy to build a home, but if it doesn’t work out… it can be hard to sell it and recoup your money…
Edited on Sep 03, 2009 23:49
Edited on Sep 03, 2009 23:51
Once you have a FOLIO number from Migracion meaning they have received ALL of your documentation and have started processing it… then you don’t have to leave after 90 days… It can be six months before you get that number after you have handed in your residency application… in that time you must still leave every 90 days…
Also, everytime you leave… what assurances have you got that they will let you back in especially after the 2nd or maybe 3rd time… you must be able to show you have the resources to support yourself for the time period (90 days) without working… and come March they will be getting stricter (maybe!)
Firstly, have you applied for residency? If not, you will not be able to “LEGALLY” work. You can own a business, but without residency, you would be a perpetual tourist and THAT is not recommended. You don’t say what status you are in this way… so answering any question on financing could be irrelevant.
I agree with David on this, contact an attorney re residence.
As for your 21 yeard old daughter, she will probably have to try for residency on her own, as a rentista, that said, she will be able to own and manage a business under the current legislation, as to the new legislation, only the articles of law have been passed, it will be some time before the regulations equated with each article (all 268 of them) are put in place. The new legislation requires a whole new body to control it, which will take time to set up, then they will discuss the finer points and determine what is what. As to work as a pensionado or rentista, it does state that they can work for personal gain, but as David pointed out, wages are rediculously low by US standards.
My own personal belief is that the law will come into effect (March 1 2010) before they have all the required regulations, so they will operate under existing regulations until they have determined what they need to do…
Even the lawyers are still going through this legislation, so be sure to pick one that is recommended by someone you trust.
The grey areas are still there and some will use this to their benefit… not necessarily yours…I’ve just been reading the new legislation, and as rentistas, the new amount ($2500) covers the family unit, husband, wife and children under 25 and older disabled children. It’s in article 82
Edited on Sep 03, 2009 12:07
David
You seem to have answered your own question, but let me expand…
When you leave the country, an exit stamp is placed in your passport, when you return this is what they look for. If you are bringing in 200 cigarettes and a bottle of 12 year old rum, they will probably turn a blind eye as this is a “touristy” type of thing to do. As for your 6 month duty exemption, well this brings up other issues for tourists and as you stated it is the TOTAL cost for the item including any shipping costs and insurance cannot exceed $500, as you found out.
As for the tourist, let’s say someone on a tourist visa, goes to San Juan del Sur for 4 days for their “leave” from Costa Rica and buys a hand crafted dining table and chairs for $400. They have a receipt to show the value and a vehicle to carry it, eliminating other costs. When they get to the border they attempt to bring it across “duty free”, sure they are eligible to do so as they haven’t used the once per 6 month claim prior to this, but how many red flags do you think this raises…
Immigration, may, think why is a tourist doing this? And then deny entry and you are stuck in Nicaragua. On the other hand, if it is a resident, with a cedula, then they will look at the pieces and the receipt and IF they believe the value is equal to the receipt, it will pass duty free, however as you pointed out, sales tax will be required and who knows where they get some of those figures! (Check their black book on vehicle values for examples!!!)
The other unfathomable in the equation is the border guard and what does he know? Does he understand the rules, which many of us are struggling to understand, is he going to apply them correctly? Has he had a rough day? It goes on and on…
Finally, I would say if leaving the country as a tourist to re-enter later to renew your visa, follow the 72 hour rule and act and look like a tourist. As for residents… forget about a duty exemption… too much stress… just pay the bill…
Brian
As an addendum… the new law was published today and although I haven’t read it all… perpetual tourists are not covered, but the laws are tightened up and given more teeth. BE Very careful if considering the PT course… think long and hard because once they find you you are gone…
Edited on Sep 01, 2009 10:45
David
The 72 hour rule is regarding customs exemptions… ie if you are out of the country for 72 hours or more you can return with certain items duty free… ie cigarettes, booze perfume etc… as far as renewing your tourist visa, you could leave for a couple of hours and return to Costa Rica and stay another 90 days. However, it is up to immigration officials at the border whether they a.) let you back in and b.) for how long… they could stamp your passport with a thirty day visa.That is why it is more widely accepted to leave for 72 hours and then come back. The officials at the border, may not know all the intricacies of the actual law and could refuse you re-entry at any time. Basically it is up to them what they do, but following the 72 hour guideline is probably the best bet.
Brian
