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David
I shared the information you wrote with about 150 people already. Great information needs to be shared. You do such a wonderful job explaining all the small details. My clients, I am sure appreciated it.I dont think Scott minds because he will pick up a few more members. That is what helps to draw new members. That helps stimulate business.
Thanks
Hey Folks,
I’d like to get in on that information. We have a spot in our back 40 that I would love to build a bamboo house. Boy, any information that could be shared would be great. The area we want to build is a park like area with fruit trees and a wonderful river. Bamboo would be great, my husband thought I was crazy when I mentioned it to him.
Please publish the web site information for the US and any information about experienced builders in CR.
Nasser
I am Jenny, thanks for thinking of me. As Scott said, I can not give you legal advice but I can share some of the things we have experienced. So if you would like to ask me some questions about our experiences and the things we have discovered about owning a B&B in Costa Rica, just write me. Owning a business in Costa Rica has no similarity to owning and running a business in the USA. Today, I had customers that packed a lot of air fresheners for me.
They get them at the dollar store and they only cost $1.00 the cost almost $4.00 here. Rooms that are closed need air fresheners, no matter how clean you keep them. Preparing breakfast if you do it like we do, it can be expensive also, a 1lb 1/2 bacon cost about $8.00. You don’t have much of a choice, eggs are sold by the kilo, making them more expensive. Good quality cheese is very expensive, you don’t have product choices. Rice and Pinto beans are very cheap.
Nasser, I can sure share our experiences with you. We have been in business over 4 years. Our business is doing great now, and we have had two successful years. This year we will end in the red by a margin and next year we will start seeing a profit. If you can not hold on for five years, funding it yourself, then please don’t even consider it.
Of course you may not be as selective as we are, we do not accept any walk up business. All guest have to make prior reservations. We also have a no smoking policy, we don’t advertise on the street. You will not be able to come to Grecia and see our business sign. That is our choice, more then likely if we were more open we would have had more guest. Our guest are repeat customers, and we have built our marketing around repeat business.
Such a treat you wanting to contact me. Thanks for the honor Nasser
David, your comments are so informative. I am going to put your statement in the news letter we send our customers.
Some excellent information, It should help.
The one thing a person should get an understanding about is when someone tells them how cheap it is. You need to ask that person how they live. You may not want to make those type of sacrifices. A lot of people go home because they are unable to live on the budget they planned
rfcr, it is funny when someone is coming to stay and you have been living here, that person says get real. I owned a business in the US and one in Costa Rica and their is NO comparison. Now some people are doing business illegally here. There is no comparison, staying in Costa Rica does not really compare. Now if you can tell me that it is possible to start a business in the US and you can not get a telephone, then there is a comparison. What Gringotico is saying is true, but if you like it here you can survive. Some people come and they make it for a period of time, then they get to a point that it is not fun anymore.
Those are the people that leave. It took us two years to get a telephone, now I dont know of anywhere in the US that it would take you two years to get a telephone. You can not leave your house empty, we lived in California and had a house in Washington, it was empty for two years. We had no guards and no problems. Ive never taken a vacation in the US and then worried about someone breaking in my house. You have a great concern in Costa Rica.
For my husband and I even through all of the concerns we love Costa Rica and we are enjoying our stay. We do business here and it is difficult, but we accept the fact that we are in another country. Some people can get along with that condition for a period of time and then they decide one day that regardless to the cheaper lifestyle, regardless to the nice weather, regardless to the wonderful people, regardless to the full time maid and gardener, I am going to return to the US.
That is not because Costa Rica is bad, you just get to a point where you’ve decided that you are moving on and you would like to move on in the 21st century.
That is why many people leave, plus divorces, death of spouse, children feel deprived and perhaps unfulfilled dreams. Sudden need to start building a retirement income, loss of investments, you name it the list goes on.
When my husband and I were renters and just living here, no responsibility, things were different. They were more of a honeymoon style, but the day we purchased our property things took on a different meaning. You can come here visit for years and if you do not have to manage property, repair, pay taxes, apply for telephones, then you think nothing a problem this is simple.
That is the interesting part about questions, people want the answer they want. If you talk about the downside you are being negative and if you talk about the upside you are dreaming. So, many times it is hard to answer a question which is asked but the person wants you to give the answer they like or agree with.
So things are problems, miserable appliances, low quality tools, no variety of brands to choose from.
I love it here but when someone ask a question I need to be real. That is our problem, we dont want to hear any negatives. Dont worry, if you move here you will find some things . Usually the one that shouts the loudest is the first one back in the boat headed home.
Costa Rica is a major adjustment and you have to be willing to adjust. Many people read that things are cheaper, yes some things are but many things are not. Chicken cost more here then in the US, bar of soap cost more, cheese, cost more, fish cost more, toilet paper cost more. What is less is this, we dont go any where, there is no where to go. At home we go everywhere, theatre, resturants, video stores (latest movies)sking trips, camping, dance groups. You name it, it is available in the US. I like it here.
If that small pueblo has street lights that is very unusual. There is really no comparison. If you want to take your car to Canada, you dont have to get permission to leave the country with it.
Most of us who respond with information, our interest is to help and not to argue. That guy has over 20 years experience in this area, he has raised a family, run a business and purchased or built a house. You are going to tell him to get real.
Come on over, it is people like you that go back home. Their bubble busted. In the US we have what they call citizen rights, sure they frisk us at the airport, and we get telemarketing calls. You can purchase a 1994 Suzuki for about $1500. and it cost $7,000. here. Insurance on it cost about $300. per year, you only need liability because no one is going to steal it. Here in Costa Rica you need full coverage, you can almost be assured if possible some one will steal it. Guess what they, have no lemon law. Everything you ship into this country over $500.00 cost within a 6 month period, cost you as much as 49% tax on the value. Airwick air freshner cost $5.00 and it cost $1.00 at home.
This is not negative it is a fact. I love it here and dont intend to every move back but, Ive accepted all these things and made a decision that the reward far out weighs the punishment.
So this answer is not for the dreamer it is for the person that really is insterested in the truth about living and working in Costa Rica.
You have to travel Escazu to get collard greens, swiss chard. The cabbage is dry, the beef is terrible, cheese here chews like bubble gum and has no flavor, the sausage has no taste, it is wrapped in plastice. If you want some products we are used to you have to drive to San Jose or the surrounding area. Well that can be a problem if you are in Liberia. These are facts, for some people it has made life interesting. They like a real challenge and then for some it is just to much of a drastic change. People find just as many reasons to leave as they do to come and make this there home.
Hello, just to add a little hope. My grandson came to stay with us here in Grecia and we talked to some people in the community who advised us to send him to a private school. The school taught English as a second language, their curriculum was about the same as in the US the only difference it was in Spanish, which made it nice. What I enjoyed about our grandsons education was the opportunity to learn another language and also afforded him the opportunity to learn other customs. We were advised that sometimes it was difficult for the foreign student to adjust but they would try to do what they could to accommodate him.
He did great, went back home and he was right in step with his class, with the acception of reading. He was getting the majority of his reading lessons in Spanish. That was just brief, parents working with children over come any problems. The school only cost us about $150.00 per month, they started classes around the 1st week of February. You have to pay for uniforms, books, pencils, paper and a few other things. There are many private schools here in Costa Rica, many of the Costa Rican families are very much interested in their children learning to speak English and the private schools usually offer a more intense program.
Of course the age of the children does make a difference. After returning home and being involved in roller hockey, baseball, gymnastics and the availability of so many activities we, plus all you can eat buffets, it is hard for us to get him to visit.
If they are children ages 8 and above you may have a difficult time during their adjustment period, unless you enroll them in the European or North American type private schools.
You are just to funny. Thanks Gringo Tico. I love reading things you write, I may not agree but I love reading the stories, the statements and now the jokes.
Scott, if this is a religious war as you said, then we need to bow out and let God handle it. We have proved through our History that war does not solve anything. Ten years from now you and I will be taking leisure trips to Iraq Just as we are taking trips to Vietnam. So if it is a war of religion that makes it worse then if it was a war for oil. Why didnt we just flood their skies with bibles and a bunch of missionaries and ministers. Why did we send soldiers, young men that are dying to salvage something only God himself could do. Well we wont discuss views on faith. The God I serve is all power and He needs our prayers of petition to operate in this earth. Maybe we are to busy getting guns ready and doing it our way and not His way then proclaiming we are doing something for God. Please don’t blame this war on our Father, and claim that it supports His cause.
He said pray Thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Believe me the creator of the Universe only requires that we pray and have faith that He will perform what we request. Man screws up every time he gets righteous in his eyes and attempts to be a helper for the Almighty. My bible says that we are to be a light of the world it does not say we are to fight the world..
We need to love women into no abortions, we need to love people in gay life styles, we need to love people that are Muslim, love people that are atheist , we need to love people that are coming across our borders, we need to love people that don’t love us. That is the only religious war we have, all the rest is a smoke screen. The reality is that we are not putting into practice what is written and then we add what we want to benefit what we can control. Faith is giving God control and trusting Him to do the right thing. Rulers often times reflect the heart of the people, it seems Saddam was a reflection, he was killing and now they are killing each other..
Ripple33, thanks your statements were so clear. We need to talk, that is what we have not been doing. For some reason in the last 30 years we citizens have just kept our mouths shut.
Our military men and women can not voice their opinion opposite to their leadership. You just can not do it, so we have to defend them while they are believing in their hearts that they are defending us.
Dedication to the Military Code of Honor is something you swore to do.
Even in voicing our opinion, we need to be respectful of each other. Great dialogue with exchanges of valuable information, without getting angry with each other. To much finger pointing has gone on between parties. Each party has it’s responsibility, we as voters are responsible.
I am wondering how we allowed ourselves to be duped. We are the most educated generation in the history of our country. Was it because we focused on our success individually and just turned our heads about other things.
Lower gas prices just in time for Senate and congressional elections.
There is going to be trouble for the powers that be in the next few years. Those successful baby boomers are now retiring, they have been occupied with making money and making a good living. Now they are stopping to smell the roses, that can cause some ripple in the waters.
The topic was unhappy Americans in Costa Rica. I’ve learned a lot and sure hope we all keep talking. We have to keep talking and possibly we will bring on a change. We do not have to agree.
We are a great country, with a great heritage. No other country has had such a great responsibility. Just pray for our Nation
Scott, I lovingly say this I am still married to and was married to a Vietnam vet during the war. He said the same things, they tell you that and you are young enough to believe it. When the reality hits is when you are spending those dark nights alive home in your room suffering from things that can not be described. Then you see that the very people you fought against for what you did not know are now our friends.
I can say this as a military wife who has suffered and also who has seen my husband suffer from the consequences of a war that should have never happened. I’ve been in the hospitals, praying with and talking to the troops. My history with the military spands three wars. You are in it you have not lived with it yet.
We have a right as US citizens to make a complaint, you do not have that right as a soldier. You gave up your citizenship when you were sworn in to service. You are obligated to have the same opinion as your leaders. Having any other opinion is in direct rebellion.
Thanks for your dedication and I appreciate your service, but I do not agree with your leadership. Some others that served and are no longer in service do not agree. With age wisdom is increased and knowledge abounds.
To speak against something does not mean we do not honor or appreciate all you are doing. You are actually giving us the best part of your life.
Thanks JReily, Things you have said we dont want to hear them or believe them but then again we know that perhaps you may be telling the truth. We just dont want to believe it, but talking helps. Communication is the key to change and we need to communicate. We have been dooped into dividing our country into different groups and all of us fighting each other. Having our eyes on things that are not important. Things that keep us angry with each other.
Thanks Maravilla, it is nice to be back. I was blessed to be very busy with our business and now things have slowed some.
Scott, it is unfortunate that people lump every one into the same category. Many people say they are Christian, today it has political advantage. It helps you to fit into a popular group of people. It is something that opens a conversation, it helps you to chose a side. It is not because of their life but it is supposedly a label of respect, when a lot of us are not displaying a life of respect.
So, please forgive and maintain a compassionate heart it is healthier for us. Most of us make mistakes just because we are ignorant, not about everything, but about some things.
Over 3,000 young men and women have died on the battle field and many more have died in hospitals or on the way home from this war. We are upset about it and we feel helpless it is as if our voice is not being heard, but lets keep talking and bring our troops home.
Someone has succeeded in confusing the issues, it is not conservative or liberal, it is not Gay or Lesbian, it is not white or black, it is not illegal residents. The issue are that we have some of the best health care, but most of our citizens can not afford it, the issue is that our education system sucks, the issue is that we still have old people that can not afford the house they are living in because of higher taxes, the issue is gas companies gauging us, the issue isour children, they are angry and why . The issue is we need to pay people an income they can support their family with. We need to give people an incentive to work, we need to develop path ways of success for our poor areas. We need to find a way to live democratically, we need to stop all the outrageous spending of our tax money. We need a solution to problems. We need to stop focusing on things that mean absolutely nothing.
