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Be real careful about putting any money in someone’s private account. This leaves a big door open to F R A U D. If there is a problem, what recourse do you have against this private individual? This is very bad financial management.
Most car rental companies will cut a very good deal at this time of year considering that they make lots of money on the mandatory SLI insurance and the license fee at about $1-$2 per day plus whatever else you take. The rental fee seems to be negotiable but the SLI never is. Here is where you must shop. Thrifty (from memory) charges about $20/day for SLI where Dollar only charges $10. Big difference even for one or two weeks.
Credit card companies in US usually will cover CDW (colision damage waiver) but only for 30 days per transaction. So you must get your car renter to do multiple contracts of 30-31 days each. You must check with YOUR card company. Some like Amex Blue won’t cover you outside of North America. Amex Gold will cover max.30 days and then you need to wait one day before your next contract unless you pay them a fee for waiving this one day wait.
Any way you look at it, renting is very expensive but probably less than buying a car, insuring it, license fee…etc and then finding someone to watch it when you’re not in CR. This calculation must be done and is dependent on how much time you will spend in CR each year.Wait for your next pleasant surprise at the gas pump!!!
[quote=”Scott”] – this is a group of people – many of whom were previously affiliated with Paragon Properties of Costa Rica.
Scott, Where do you get this information? I have had extensive dealings with Costa Developers and know that nobody at CostaDev. was involved with Paragon Properties at least since 2007 or later.
Yes there are some problems but CostaDev. has not disappeared, maintains a real office with real staff in Escazu and has completed Costa Esterillos (some issues remain but more or less complete) where about 15 homes have been built by lot owners.
Costa Reserva is behind schedule but infrastructure is coming along slowly. CostaDev. has been affected by the economic crisis but still continues with new investors involved since November/2010 to give things a boost.
Cannot comment on Dad’s experience at Costa Montana but I do know that many issues present real challenges with the top management at CostaDev. who move to the beat of their own drum. At least they haven’t folded or disappeared like most others in the area and there is somebody to deliver the legal papers to!![quote=”bogino”]I believe I or another poster (or both of us) may have previously mentioned this on another thread but if you have a Schwab account they will reimburse you for all fees whcih other banks charge when you withdraw from their ATM’s, including those in Costa Rica. Other than that my guess is that most other banks probably all charge around the same typical fee $3 – $4 or something like that.[/quote]
This info is 100% correct. Charles Schwab Bank has excellent customer service and your free ATM/debit card attached to your US high yield checking account works everywhere in CR. Never have to stand in line at an exchange place. Schwab charges .0025% (if I remember correctly) over the official daily exchange rate to convert your dollars to Colones. All fees are paid by Schwab when you go to any ATM anywhere.[quote=”Versatile”]”You cannot criticize Israel in this country and survive.”
Helen ThomasDear Versatile, You conveniently forgot this part of the quote:
Thomas, 90, caused an uproar May 27 when she said Israelis should “get the hell out of Palestine” and “go home” to Poland, Germany, America and “everywhere else.”“do we invest that money in some CD that pays us a lousy 4% per annum (if we are lucky) ”
Like to know where you can get 4% on a CD?
FYI, 7% is pretty steep. May be OK rate for CR but crunch the numbers and take a careful look.Have you figured out your carrying costs per year? You have an eager partner in this house (the Bank) that would gladly take over if you have some misfortune or miss a few payments!!My reception is nil in my house. Must walk up the hill to get some bars on the cell. (When the ladrones come, I plan to excuse myself to exit and make a quick phone call.)
So if the transmission is through cell tower, I am out of luck. That is why I was asking if they were using satellite.Could you explain “hit and miss service”. Is it beamed to a satellite or cell tower? Is it better than nothing as that is what I have? I am on the Pacific coast in Esterillos. More specific info would really help.
[quote=”2BNCR”]. Also, I heard the fines do not apply to non-residents. Tourists are not being fined? Is this true?
I really don’t get it. I heard from a friend in Jaco that the poilce are not writting tickets to tourists.
Is this true?
[/quote]
Perhaps your friend in Jaco has a bit of sunstroke. The only way not to get the ticket if stopped is to reach a “settlement” with the transito boys – resident, non resident, tourist – they stop them all!! Usually, they work in pairs with at least one able to speak some Inglese.Try to find out what happened to the folks who put up money at Las Olas before they abruptly shut down the first time. Look up Gary and Meg B. who live in the area (around the corner from Las Olas) and used to work for Los Olas when the development was being pitched the first time. Everyone in the area knows them. Be prudent!!
[quote=”grb1063″] I am fine with BN, especially after I got an on the phone tutorial from Veronica in Cobano on how to use their online system; that would never happen in US.[/quote]
Your statement is totally ridiculous!! Many (probably most) US bank customer service departments will help you with every step on a toll free line.
This constant US bashing gets tiring. Where did all you US bashers earn and save your money so that you could buy houses in CR that ordinary Ticos could never afford??
Open a free checking account at Charles Schwab Bank, [u]a fine US bank[/u]. They will give you an ATM/Debit card FREE which you can use at any ATM worldwide for local or US currency. They pay the transaction fee. I use this card wherever I am in CR and have not found an ATM that didn’t accept my card. Which CR bank will do that for you?Could the contributors be more specific naming the location of the adventure site and some more specific details how to find them. Gracias Amigos.
http://www.riostropicales.com
This white water rafting company provides an unbelievable experience. Santiago, our navigator for our raft was excellent with muscles of steel from doing this everyday. We took the 2 day trip (1/2 the trip each day with a break in the middle) with overnight in their rain forest camp on the Pacuare River where all building materials were brought in by raft (no roads there)
We were 2 adults and one teen. You can “discuss” the price if you book with them directly without a hotel or tour company getting a commission. We are experienced outdoor people and believe me this excursion was a thrill of a lifetime. The Pacuare River is ranked #5 in the world for white water rafting. What a gem for Costa Rica.[quote=”costaricafinca”] He was very upset because he had been denied the opportunity to purchase a gun to protect his family, because he is not yet a Permanent Resident of Costa Rica due to the change in rules.
What are the penalties for having a gun without a license in CR? If one had such a gun and used it during a real house intrusion and the intruder was shot, what would happen when the police came and found that your gun you used was not licensed?
Try:CraigsList in CR: costarica.en.craigslist.org
State what you are looking for in Furniture and Household sections and how far you will travel. Buyer Beware (about prices), however, some great furniture can be had especially from people leaving Costa Rica.Be aware of dealers who are reselling and posing as private people.
