Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Not all mini-splits are created equal. I just had to do a bunch of research with my electrician about mini-splits. We just installed a Mitsubishi in the downstairs area of our home. It’s not the cheapest, but it is very energy efficient and super quiet. It also has a 5 year warranty. I can tell you that the A/C warranties are important here. It’s inevitable that you’ll have an issue with a mini-split in the first year or two. Air Pro and G-Air both have only 1 year warranties and are not as energy efficient. Mitsubishi, LG, Westinghouse & Carrier are all good brands with good warranties. You have to know that often times the A/C units are cheap for a reason. Best to spend more now to save later. I would not personally recommend the Frigidaire (which I’ve seen at Pricesmart on the cheap). Good luck.
This is a good lesson to show those with children born abroad to US citizens to get a passport as soon as you can. I found the process very easy for my son. However, I did it right away when he was a few months old. I had the opposite happen to me–my mother who is Tica never applied for me as a ‘citizen born abroad’. The age cutoff to apply for CR citizenship/residency via a parent who is a CR citizen is 25 years old. I moved to CR when I was 28 so I had to go about residency via the Rentista route first. I will be applying for CR citizenship in a few years when I am eligible, all because my mom never thought we’d move back to CR. Even if you don’t think you’ll visit the US or Vice Versa, always try and apply right away for the birth abroad of your child. You never know. My son has both his passports and I am sure both will be used in his lifetime. Becky
Hi donbuc. I paid online for this new token with the points I had accumulated. You then print up the ‘receipt’ after paying for the token. However, you have to show up in person with that receipt (at selected branches) to pick up the token and sign some paperwork. I guess this would pose a problem if you are outside the country. I picked up mine (it was quick) at the customer service area at La Sabana. Good luck.
Edited on Oct 26, 2009 14:28
Hi Orcas. Had you been able to make an appointment, your experience would have been completely different (obviously). I should have mentioned that at first I did NOT appear in their system either (and have had my residency for years). After calling Migracion and having them send me back to BCR we finally got it resolved over the phone. I didn’t have to make a trip to Migracion (thankfully!). After that issue (which took over an hour to resolve on the phone) the rest was smooth sailing. I would like to think that now that I am recognized in the system, I will never have this problem again. Remember my post was ‘renewing at BCR is efficient’. It is. I never said Migracion was!!! I wish you luck and hope your issues are resolved quickly. Becky
Hi Maravilla: At BCR they charged me to renew my permanent residency cedula for two years (34,000 colones) and the charge to send the cedula to the nearest post office (in my case Villareal/Tamarindo). The charge to do that was 2,600 colones and was paid for also at the bank. They give you a receipt showing paid, a document showing your cedula information and pickup information. I had it sent to me last time and never had an issue.
bgg, we use a company by the name of Pacific Tours. They are the only ones we use in/around Liberia and the beach towns to transport our clients. They are GREAT and have never let us down. The rate depends on how many people and the areas travelled to. I am happy to help, but would need a more exact itinerary. Feel free to email me at rebecca@welovecostarica.com Becky 🙂
Soldier: We have a German Shepherd and at first it is hard for them to adjust to heat–esecially those with thicker/longer hair. Our other dog is a Tico mix (long hair) we adopted and we shave him once every two months or so. He seemed to like swimming in our pool until we shaved him. We have fans on our porch, leave plenty of water and do run the A/C part of the day–all of which help with the heat. The humidity is only bothersome part of the year.
Hi Soldier: If you want some information on the different beach areas from Tamarindo north, feel free to contact me privately. My name is Becky and I am Scott’s preferred Realtor in the Tamarindo area north to Hermosa, rebecca@welovecostarica.com
I have to second Harvcarp’s recommendation. Tico Shuttle has been one of the companies we use for our clients. I have never had anything but positive experiences with Johnathan and his company. He is bilingual and goes above and beyond where the client is concerned. Buena suerte!
Hi Trish: I actually purchased my car in the central Valley near Grecia. There are cars in Liberia too, but the selection at the time I purchased was better in the San Jose area.
Trish, I live south of Cocos/Hermosa and find that an SUV is the way to go. It’s much more comfortable to have a larger SUV (If you have the budget) on the roads at the beach. Suspension is key–especially on the dirt roads. Hermosa and Cocos is paved, but if you ever go on the monkey trail, you’ll be glad you have a large SUV with good suspension. Toyota Prado, Rav 4, 4 Runner, Mitsubishi Montero/Montero Sport, etc, are great cars for this area. They can all be serviced nearby. Good luck.
I had very bad luck bring down a Nissan Xterra. While Nissan is all over the place here, the Nissans made here are different. My parents have a Ford and have had good luck with their car and bringing it down. The Nissan Agency is Sabana would not even look at my old car because it was not from Costa Rica. Be aware of this. Also, the major issue is getting parts for the cars that are shipped here. Every time I had an issue with the Xterra, I had to get parts from Florida. Not very convenient.
David, the CC companies will need an actual US address. (At least ours request this). We obtained a virtual mail box through Aerocasillas (www.aeropost.com). The actual address is like this:
SJO 12345
PO BOX 25331
Miami, FL 33102If you live in the Central Valley you can get delivery to your home. If not (like me) we pick it up at the nearest Tralapa station. We’ve had this service for 3 years and have been happy overall. You can receive regular mail and packages through this service.
The two largest resort communities in Guanacaste are Reserva Conchal (2300 acres with golf course, $12 Million Beach Club and all-inclusive resort, fronting Playa Conchal) or Hacienda Pinilla, which features 4500 acres, the new JW Marriott, beach club under construction and championship 18 hole golf course. Los Suenos is nice too just north of Jaco. There are some great deals on rentals this season and we manage some resort properties as well.
Family-friendly, off the beaten bath–Playa Minas, Pirate’s Bay and south end of Playa Conchal. Away from the big resorts, and among my favorite beaches for children, as I have one myself. Located in the northwest region of Guanacaste on the Pacific Coast. These are not surfing beaches either and have typically calm waters with plenty to see. Reminds me of Costa Rica 20 years ago.
