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Imxploring sounds right.
Reminder – Costa Rica has new phone #s:
ALL 7 digit numbers that started with a 3, 8 or now also 9 are cell numbers (& LOTS more expensive to call locally or international). They ALL now start with an “8” in front of them (or between the country code 506 & the phone #).
All other numbers now start with a “2”.
I agree with Scott on El Novillo Alegre restaurant (though they ain’t cheap)!!
BUTCHERS:
DON FERNANDO el Especialista en Carnes has 4 locations now:
Pozos de Santa Ana – Centro Comerial Vistana Este, Contiguo a Matra (the plaza just South of Auto Mercado) (2-282-0181 / 2-282-0182) – HOURS: Butcher – Mon.-Sat. 7:30am-7:30pm. Sun. 7:30am-4pm (they have the only butcher on Sun.). Restaurant – Mon.-Thurs. 11:30am-4pm. Fri. & Sat. 11:30am-9pm, Sun. 11:30am-4pm. Michael speaks English
Curridabat – Plaza Carpintera – contiguo a Aldesa Valores (2-271-3334). Mon-Sat. 8:30am-7:30pm
Tamarindo – (2-653-2264)
ESCAZU (San Rafael) – Plaza Colonial (2-289-9165). HOURS: Butcher – Mon.-Thurs. 8am-7:30pm. Fri. & Sat. 11:30am-9pm, Sun. 11:30am-4pm (no butcher on Sun.). Restaurant – Mon.-Thurs. 11:30am-4pm. Fri. & Sat. 11:30am-9pm, Sun. 11:30am-4pm (no butcher on Sun.). Christian speaks GREAT English!
Catering – 227-0245PRIVATE STOCK / AZUCAR GRILL & BAKERY – NOW LOCATED in Santa Ana and a full on restaurant – 2 blocks/200 meters before/East of the Red Cross/Cruz Rojo, on the LEFT side of the road heading Westbound (towards Piedades/Ciudad Colon) (2-282-9210 / http://AzucarCR.com / azucarcostarica@yahoo.com) – Whatever meal you have at Azucar, it’s going to be TASTY!!! Their specialities for Dinner are their own – homegrown and naturally fed U.S.-style tender TASTY STEAKS that THEY raise in Costa Rica (albe them MUCHO $$ – $1.50/ounce and they’ll cut it BIG if you don’t watch/be specific!!! I believe the smallest is 9oz.). You can also buy the fresh beef in MANY different cuts to take home. It’s part of their “PRIVATE STOCK” company – http://azucarcr.com/about_private_stock / PrivateStockCR@yahoo.com / 2-289-3543). Lunch offers HUGE SANDWICHES (it’s like they take the loaf of bread & cut it the other way! ) including REAL PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS and range from $3-$8 and they have EXECUTIVE LUNCH SPECIALS!! SALADS include CEASAR. Their BAKERY includes MANY YUMMMMY DESSERTS including pastries from Argentina, PIES, including one that’s merange with a caramel drizzle!!! MEGA YUMMMMM!! They also have a YUMMMM mixed bread that is the BEST BREAD I’ve EVER eaten! They’re famous for their hearty gringo and Tico-style BREAKFASTS include French Toast & Omelets range from $5-$7. Check out FUN FRIDAYS! KIDS MENU. WiFi. HOURS: Mon., Wed. & Thurs. 8am-10pm. Fri. & Sat. 8am-11pm. Sun. 11am-6pm (closed Tues.). Say “Hola from Vicki” to OWNERS Barbara & Dean Jupiter!
Auto Mercado has ARGENTINIAN BLACK ANGUS
GOOD STEAKS AT RESTURANTS:
Another restaurant for REALLY GOOD Steaks is all day on Sun. for their Argentinian Night at The Pub (2-288-3062) in Centro Escazu on Sun. for just 4,500!I second that on Hotel Bula Bula! I’m going for my 4th stay there on the 25th of June!! It’s a boutique hotel so LOTS of cool touches including candles in the bathroom, next to the bed, a sarong for you to use, a nice pool, now WiFi, cool people passing through, easy to get to Tamagringo from via a water taxi on the Estuary but most importantly – GREAT staff and one of the BEST restaurants I’ve found in CR!! QUALITY food!! The BEST flavored fried calamari I’ve EVER tasted (& I lived in San Francisco for 17 years & have a biz in Puerto Vallarta, MX – both KNOWN for world class dining!!). The best Thanksgiving feast I’ve ever had also!!
Prices have JUMPED UP DRASTICALLY EVERYWHERE in the world in the past 15 years so be prepared!! Like others have said, $30-$40 is definitely in the low end and ya get what you pay for (so peeps – don’t complain in that range!).
As for flying by the seat of your pants with not having reservations. I USUALLY travel that way though I tend to get a place at least my first night and last night close enough to the airport. I would especially NOT NOT NOT do that anywhere near the beach especially just before New Years and Easter and I wouldn’t think of doing it between Xmas and Easter in general. I did it during U.S. Thanksgiving 3 years ago with no problem and it can be tighter between when the kiddies get out of school in the States and mid-Aug. That’s just my observation/experience.
I have known quite a few people that have used Manuel Chacon (I believe he is the Manuel Chacon QUIROS [vs. his dad that he partners with] (www.ChaconClinic.com / 506-2-290-2526 / ChaconQuiros@plastic-surgery-cr.com) in San Jose – Sabana Sur and were VERY VERY pleased (to say nothing about him being quite pleasing to the eye!!)! (don’t judge them by their website!)
I have heard there is a surcharge for using your Visa card but does anyone have exactly how much that is?
I know a few people that have used Oscar with Import Xiux (8-844-6151 / OscarDiaz@gmail.com) in San Jose (Bario Cuba) and were VERY pleased!! Tell him Vicki referred you!
I think I have found the CHEAPEST place to RENT cell phones in CR:
Tutto’s Celular (2-289-4036 / 8-391-0604)
Jorge only charges $25 (US$) a WEEK (vs. $8-$10/day [$56-$70/wk] that most charge) and with just a $100 deposit!!! To make international calls it’s $1.10/min. & calls within CR are 25¢/min. The value is more if you’re using it to receive calls or in case of emergency!!
Jorge and his son speak a fair amount of English and are REALLY HELPFUL (he can fix most cells himself also!!).
He has some of the cheapest Cell Phones for sale that I have found so far.
WHERE TO FIND THE OLD FASHIONED/TDMA CELL PHONES:
He also has the old fashioned TDMA cell phones (for rent or sale) which I find BY FAR WAYYYY better than the GSM phones (CR still does not have enough GSM towers to support all the GSM phones out there so I’d say 60% of the time I call someone with a GSM phone I have to redial it a couple/few times before it connects and/or I call someone and they’re “out of range”. Nokias withOUT vibration start at 25,000-c to buy.LOCATION: They are located ON Calle Vieja in Escazu (San Rafael) – 1 1/2 blocks West of the ICE office and 1 block East of Calle Country Club (and on my corner if you’re in the area & have any donations for charities you’d like to drop off [my home is a Donation Drop-off Point for MANY charities throughout CR]. E- me at TheFountainsGuesthouseEscazu@gmail.com) on the Santa Ana/Calle Veija bus line that leaves SJ from the CocaCola Building (215-c) and depending on traffic, an EASY ride (car or taxi) from San Jose).
LOOKING FOR A SIM CARD (to use with your International Cell Phone)?
Some people’s U.S. cell phones work in CR but I believe you are usually in Roam mode which can be $2+++ per MINUTE and be iffy.
I have had quite a few guests with UNlocked GSM Quad Band and with the correct frequencies cell phones purchase a SIM card that works in CR (and many places around the world).
It is a Pre-Paid plan that gives you a U.S. phone number for your friends, family and business associates to call you at. So if your number is in their area or they have a cell, their call to you is free.
For you to RECEIVE calls in CR it is 19¢/minute. When you MAKE calls to the States it is 29¢.
This works within CR but you will NOT have a local/CR phone number for people to call you at and you will have to pay their CR rate which I believe is 39¢/minute.
They have a GREAT local rep who usually can come to you in the Central Valley – Christine Shea (8-877-6767 / Christine@CelTrek. com) or she can help you order it before you come. If you do not have that type of phone, she also has these special phones for sale here for MUCH cheaper than retail & what you’d pay in the States.
Celtrek is one of the few companies that has a special roaming agreement with ICE.
(FYI – I have NO financial gain from this post. Just sharing FULL DETAILS/description [as a non-techno type of person myself]/information)
crhomebuilder, how much were each of these taxi’s/parking? How much did you tip him to help you at the border or is that included in the parking price? Did you pay him up front for the parking or …?
If you’re not driving, I SERIOUSLY welcome people to take the Changuinola bus that first stops at the CR Immigration office (Note, when I went to get my passport stamped on the CR side a couple weeks ago, I don’t recall paying anything to leave (via airplane it’s $26) takes DRIVES you OVER this horrible rickety bridge (with wood slats in between where you can look down to the water below. NOT recommended for people with luggage with wheels!! [I swear I must have died off a bridge as I have little fears in life other than rickety bridges!!]. When I arrived on the Panama side, I would normally pay $13 Entrance tax at the Bocas del Toro airport but I only had to pay $5 when walking in) and into Changanola. It’s only a few dollars more (from San Jose I believe it was just $3 and the taxi is from the border to Changanola is about that if memory serves me).
I’m going to be doing a MUCH more detailed report of the various ways to enter into Panama soon on my new Bocas del Toro blog I’m creating but in the meantime, let me say I do NOT NOT NOT see myself taking the bus/boat combo any time soon from SJ to Bocas as it can be a 8-11 hour L-O-N-G excursion (all depending on boat connections/boat showing up). I am glad I did it once to be able to say I did it but NEVER AGAIN!!! Been there, done that!!
For me, from now on, no matter how fiscally challenged I may be at the time, I’m FLYING to/from Bocas (55 beautiful, comfortable minutes!!) on http://www.NatureAir.com from Pavas Airport!!!
Here’s a perfect example of what dixon was originally talking about. I do believe that those banditos that stole the laptops from people in the Bagelmen’s did so at NIGHT! Every time I’ve been in that Bagelman’s at night it was practically dead. So would I bring my laptop into any biz that didn’t have much traffic at night – NOT!!! That’s just logical to me!!!
Just like I wouldn’t walk out of a bank showing my cash without potentionally creating a situation where someone may be tempted. Or as much as I trust my housekeeper, I STILL wouldn’t leave jewelry or money out as we don’t know where a person is at that moment, how desperate they may be so why tempt them! I would act the same whether I was in the States, CR or Italia!! To me it’s called consciousness and consideration.
ecotonecons comment about rubbing our money – also right on! Sadly that’s just human condition in most parts of the world – especially when people see the gringos flashing all their material things and then paying them $2/hour, working them like a dog and often not treating them well.
My jewelry is all safely locked up in a safety deposit box at the bank since I would SOOOOOOO rarely wear it here (don’t want to tempt anyone).
If I’m remembering 1/2 well (I have my good & bad days with that!), aren’t MANY of the cops in Panama military? Going back to the concept of consequences and how we create our own reality, when cops are making under $400/month, sadly again, how are they supposed to stay honest?
I SOOOOO am not trying to justify anyone stealing but I also own that I DO create my own reality so I hope that by treating people well, paying them 1/2 decent (with perks), taking precautions, staying aware, etc. I won’t be creating situations in my life like soflodoug experienced (I’m not saying it can’t happen because I believe to my core that if I’m not “grounded” – stuff happens!!).
Our fears/issues follow us where ever we go (or have been) so I hope for soflodoug’s sake, he can release the “victim” mentality/intense anger before he creates it again.
Martha Barnard works with a well known/respected & conscious law firm in CR & she can help you do ALL & LOTS MORE of that BEFORE you arrive. CostaRicaYall@yahoo.com / (506) 357-9264
Opening a bank account for someone without residency CAN be challenging for MOST people (especially without a “Letter of Introduction”) but I’ve found Walter or Veronica at Banco Cuscatlan in Escazu WILL help you out (while you’re IN CR though) if you have 3 months worth of bank statements, an original phone, power, water, cable type bill (not necessary to be in your name) with what will be the address you’re giving them (to my knowledge, they don’t mail anything to you), your original passport & some sort of intro from someone (tell them all Vicki referred you) (506) 228-5806 / vjimenez@CuscatlanCR.com
Let me know if you need any help – TheFountainsGuesthouseEscazu@ gmail. com (all run together)
I believe it doesn’t get into the part you can choose English till you’ve signed in & if my memory is serving me, it’s towards the top right section.
Here’s a FABULOUS NEW SOURCES for my list!! Possibly better than ALL the rest (at least for new appliances!!):
David Cohen (361-0408 / DavidCohenCR@yahoo.com)
I’ve heard he literally has the BEST PRICES on new appliances in CR!!! He says he can bring you just about anything that has a plug!EXAMPLES: NEW!! Plazma TV (regularly around $3,700 in CR that he can get for around $2,500), LCD 32” Panasonic ($1,180 – reg. $1600). Dishwasher (GE stainless steel $660/$440), Washer/Dryers, GE Microwave Stainless Steel ($175 – reg. $230), GE Profile Stove ($1150 installed – reg. $1700). Toshiba 29” ($350 – reg. $450), 21” $195, 30” GE Profile stainless steel range hood for $260 (someone found the SAME model in the STATES for $260-$290 + shipping). I’ve heard he can also get mattresses?!?!
David tends to sell higher quality appliances than those I see at PriceMart.
David know which brands have the best service centers in Costa Rica (though he swears by GE products for reliability & ease of repairs) & will assist you when you are entitled to repair services under warranty. He’s a REALLY NICE & helpful person!!
Delivery FREE within the San Jose area. It’s a 1-2 day turnaround on average & ALL prices INCLUDE tax!I was in the area & just stopped in to say “hola” to Dr. Kim tonight & he has a new email address: Dr.KimOkgwan@gmail.com & his new website (in the process of being created & it will have some VALUABLE info on it) is: http://www.DrKimCostaRica.net
Dr. Kim Ok Gwan, Ph.D, OMD – Rohrmoser (231-6361 / 4health@racsa.co.cr) – 10,000 a visit. He does MANY clients at one time. They also sell some special natural potions like for mosquitos, women’s issues, high blood pressure, etc. He speaks good English & often entertains people with his flute in between sessions!
Eugene McDonald – Escazu (Centro) (352-0661 / acutherapy0@hotmail.com) – Gene does traditional accupuncture but he usually uses this little hand held gizmo that gives off an electric stimulation. It’s called AuriculoTherapy. It’s like acupuncture but withOUT needles – an electric stim type gizmo that goes around the acupressure points inside your ears which then goes to various organs, etc. (Chinese medicine going back THOUSANDS of years!!) & he usually has AMAZING results!!!!
I had a guest get off the plane – barely able to walk from sciatica – a problem she’s had for years & in 1 visit & 2 months later – STILL NO sciatica (I hear he has like 98+% success rate with sciatica!!). She even got to go on the Canopy Tour which she didn’t think she should originally!!!
I had a guest that was treated by Gene for 30 days for Alcohol withdrawal & after just 3 days & still – 2 months later – the thought of alcohol literally sickens her (of course she MUST now deal with the emotional issues behind it for it to really work).
I THINK this gizmo does something to help with the chemical imbalance (ahhh – the lay persons version but don’t quote me on it!!).
I went to Gene for MEGA Stress the day before a Bocas run (not much sleeping or eating & on MEGA overdrive) – I walked away about 80% better! I had one friend that was literally on “the edge” & after seeing Gene for a couple of weeks – she was back in balance! Period cramps & PMS – WOW results!
His card says he can assist with Sports Injuries, Neck & Back, shoulder, elbow, whiplash, carpal tunnel, sciatica, sacro illiac, stress, tension, headache, migraine, depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, epilepsy, flu-cold, sinusitis, hemorrhoids, tmj, facial paralysis, appetite, vomiting, arthritis, kidney stones, hemiplegia, one side paralysis, addictions, constipations, diarrhea++
MY belief is NOTHING can work if you don’t believe it will!! (I’ve had people tell me they were “healers” & that tweeked me as I believe that Spirit can’t even “heal me” if I’m not wanting to receive!!
Ruth Lopez at HARMONY CENTER – Escazu (San Rafael) (288-4658 / http://www.HarmonyCenters.com / info@HarmonyCenters.com) – ON Calle Vieja near Calle Country Club – next door to the House of Self Empowerment & The Fountains Guesthouse – Accupuncture – She spends one-on-one time with you & utilizes other techniques like color therepy. I hear REALLY POSITIVE things about her!! 20,000/session. They also do Massages – Therapeutic – 30 min. $30. Anti-Stress –$65/60 min., Andian Head Massage – 45 min. $40, Complete Massage & Facial – 1 1/2 hours $100, Foot Reflexology – 15 min. $25. Also – facials from $30-$60. Wraps $50. Scrubs $50.
Daniel Frankson – Los Yoses – near the Subaru Dealer (225-8765) – He speaks both English and Spanish – Besides being a certified acupuncturist he is also a chiropractor. I have yet to hear of a single complaint- only praise.
LOTS of SUCCESS healing!!
Vicki
The Fountains Guesthouse-Escazu
