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I, like 2bncr, used Accesos Automaticos for our gate (for our own personal home about 6 months ago). It took them coming back 3x to get it right. It seems to work most of the time now, but I did keep the last payment as a hold back until I saw it working for a full week. The cost was around $1,250 to do our gate. This included the motor, 2 remotes, and a keypad on the outside of our gate (in case someone needs entry and does not have a remote). Our community is in the process of installing a motorized gate also and the cost is $2,500 (bigger motor, larger gate). hope this helps.
Just an FYI that there will be a special (NBC) regarding this story of the Panamanian Killers at 9 PM EST on Friday I just found out.
David–YES. What is said on that site (as I suggested) was very general and could be anywhere. I was shocked to see that someone would ‘temporarily’ cancel their two-week vacation because they feared for the safety of their children. Nothing in that alert would make me cancel my vacation out of the country…
Here is what is said that made her ‘cancel’:3. SAFETY AND SECURITY
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.
Crime
Crimes against tourists are particularly common at airports, bus stations, ports, car rental lots, crowded tourist attractions, and resort areas. Thieves target foreigners’ money, credit cards, and passports. Cases of passport theft, including cases involving Canadians, are extremely frequent. Canadians should exercise caution and vigilance with their valuables and travel documents.
Canadians should stay in busy and well-protected hotels, and ensure personal belongings are secure at all times. Valuables should never be left unattended in vehicles, on the beach, in hotel rooms or in bus stations. It is advisable to carry a photocopy of your passport, including the Costa Rican entry stamp, and any other travel document, while keeping your original documents in a secure place, such as the hotel safe.
Travellers should be alert to their surroundings near the ports of Limón and Puntarenas. In San José, high-risk areas for theft include the Coca Cola bus station, the inner downtown area and the public parks. Travellers should also be cautious in Tamarindo, Jaco, Quepos and Manuel Antonio on the pacific coast; and in Puerto Viejo on the Atlantic coast.
Armed robberies and home invasions are on the increase, including in beach areas and on the main highways in the central valley. Thieves often work in teams, in which one thief diverts the victims’ attention while the other snatches their possessions. Beware of “good Samaritans” offering their help to change a flat tire, as they are often the cause of the situation. Carjackings occur, often at gunpoint. Remain vigilant in a stopped car (e.g. at traffic lights) and always drive with the doors locked and windows closed. You should park vehicles in supervised commercial parking lots only and avoid travelling at night.
Sleeping on beaches overnight and camping in Costa Rica are strongly discouraged.
Cases of express kidnapping, where victims are usually picked up from the street and forced to withdraw funds from automated bank machines (ABMs), are becoming increasingly common. Avoid showing signs of affluence, and remain cautious with new acquaintances offering friendship, hospitality, or assistance.
Foreigners have been sexually assaulted at beach resorts as well as by taxi drivers in San José. Travellers should use official taxis only, and avoid taxis that do not have working door handles, locks and meters. Do not ride in the front seat with the driver. As incidents of sexual assault sometimes involve the use of sedative drugs, travellers should also avoid leaving their drinks or food unattended in bars and places of entertainment.
I had received an email from a Canadian client that stated she wanted to cancel her rental reservation with our company because of the information she received at this government website (she feared for the welfare of her two small children): http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=67000
After I told her that this information was grossly exaggerated and didn’t represent the area the property was in (which happens to be where I live!) and is very safe and off the beaten path, she changed her mind. I also reminded her that I have two very small children and I would never live somewhere that was considered unsafe. Lots of information out there that is misleading. You can’t just make a blanket statement that ‘Costa Rica is unsafe.’ Really? What areas? What type of crime? It would have been helpful if this site states that most of the crime happens in larger cities and that violent crime is rare at our area near Playa Conchal. There is no perfect place and David hit the nail on the head with his overview.
CRBill: I am flying the Jet Blue flight to Orlando from SJO for the first time on October 2nd. I am looking forward to that flight, but obviously the 4 hour drive to SJO to take that flight is the negative. We are actually flying to Tampa and taking the easy drive from the Orlando airport to Tampa. I will be sure to email Jet Blue, as I think a flight to LIR would be welcomed and a smart move for them!
There is a golf cart place near the Liberia Airport. I passed it a couple weeks ago. It’s in a commercial plaza on the right before you get to the airport I believe. sorry, I don’t recall the name of the business.
I agree that you should pick the school for your children first, then worry about housing. I think using an attorney is not necessary. Lease law in this country has been and always will be on the side of the renter. Lease terms are for 3 years even if you sign for one year…. Private bilingual schools can be expensive depending on the area. We have a few choices in our area of Guanacaste, but it’s not a 3 hour drive from SJO, but about 3.5 with the new highway. Good luck to you and your family.
I never knew golf to be a sport for those without some funds, but there are ways to make it more affordable. There are $25 ladies day at Hacienda Pinilla and many of the more local golf courses. You don’t have to be rich to play golf. Some courses are cheaper than others….There are plenty of Ticos playing golf and they probably have a membership and/or play local rates.
Try http://www.vrbo.com for rentals. Even if they say short term only, you can always ask if they would consider long term. Good luck.
Hacienda Pinilla also has specials for locals, as well as packages you can buy (yearly passes which cut down the green fees by 50%). There are also specials for later tee times. While Reserva Conchal may be technically private, I’ve never had an issue getting a client or two in there to play. Both are beautiful courses, with Reserva being more challenging. I agree that the article was a good one!
I would suggest taking the ‘monkey trail’ from Potrero and taking part in the Congo Trail canopy tour. Very fun (must have a 4×4). You can also check Rincon de la Vieja volcano. The hacienda guachipelin adventure tour is awesome! My favorite part is the white water tubing. Seeing a rain forest is such a great experience, but you will have to travel at least 3 hours to get over to see one (with Arenal or Monteverde being about the same distance from Tamarindo). The Seabird sailing catamaran out of Flamingo is fun. Avellanas beach is beautiful (just south of Tamarindo)and worth visiting. A tour down the estuary in Las Baulas national park is a great experience too. Have fun! Becky
That figure in my opinion is WAY high. We have a pool and the pump runs 3-4 hours per day and we have A/C in every room and our entire bill is less than $300.
We have an on demand water heater at the beach and it works fine. However, if you are building a big house, you may need more than one. They are not meant to last forever…. Good luck.
I live and work in Playa Conchal. I happen to be Scott’s preferred Realtor in the Conchal area, therefore, if I can be of assistance, feel free to email me at: rebecca@welovecostarica.com
As for the Carribean Coast, it’s completely opposite from Guanacaste in terms of climate (humid vs dry), amenities (many vs. few) and proximity to the international airport (50 minutes vs. 3-3.5 hours). Some of these things may be important to you. Having said all that the east Coast is beautiful–I just prefer to be close to medical, shopping, etc. Good luck, Becky
