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Hi Bill:
Here is a link: http://www.bancocuscatlan.com/costarica/index.html
However, you have to sign in first where it says “Seleccione un sitio” , which would be either a personal or business account (Personas o empresarial) from the drop down menu. After you are signed in, you are then able to choose whether you want the menu to be in English or Spanish.Bogus: You get the international health certificate from your vet in the U.S. If he/she doesn’t know what one is, I would switch vets. You can either mail or take the international health certificate once filled out to the USDA in your state. When we moved here with our dogs and cats, we took it in person to Gainesville to get notarized due to time constraints.
As for Skype, we have an account and a US skype in number, but live here in Costa Rica. The great thing about having a SKYPE in number is that anyone in the US can call you from a regular phone and it reaches you anywhere in the world (in this case here in Costa Rica). We have a Tampa phone number that we pay $6.00 per month for and anyone in the USA can call us for free (of course, they may have long distance charges, but most people have long distance included in their rates these days). There is no charge for incoming calls on the skype in number other than the flat fee you pay per month ($6.00). You can also forward your skype in number to a cell phone or land line in Costa Rica and you are only charged the regular skype in rates (6.4 cents per minute US to Costa Rica OR 2.1 cents per minute Costa Rica to US). Of course, if you talk to other skype members when they are online, it’s free, which is great. I just got into Skype about 2 months ago. I have no idea why my husband and I didn’t get with Skype a long time ago! We would have saved tons. Of course, as with everything, there are drawbacks. Skype is not perfect. Or should I say the VoIP technology depending on your internet connection. We have satellite internet and it works well usually, but some 10% of the time there are large delays or the connection cuts out. However, for the overall cost and quality, I don’t know of anything better than Skype. Rest assured you will be able to use your account here in CR.
Becky
Edited on Nov 28, 2007 06:03
No one at the banks ever mentioned that to me either. It’s actually my attorney that informed me! To make things easier, you can always scan and email a copy to your CR attorney and have him or her send it to you via DHL or similar or you can pick it up at their office (which is what I did). I don’t see an expiration date on the notarized copy either. I assume it’s good for as long as your passport is good. Buena suerte.
Edited on Nov 09, 2007 05:46
My husband and I have been with Banco Cuscatlan (recently bought by Citibank)for about a year now. We have been very happy with them. Their website is both in English/Spanish and it takes seconds to transfer funds internationally with a click of your mouise and you can pay your bills online (although not as easily as BN I will say). We go to the branch in Tamarindo and there are hardly ever any lines and everyone is friendly and knows you by first name. Even at the branches in San Jose, the lines are minimal compared to what we experience at BN or other government banks. I feel safe having the money we do with them, even though they are a private bank. We also have an account at BN, but I keep very little money in there. It’s more just for convenience purposes.
Maravilla and Rebargon: Before I got my CR Cedula, I used to use a Notarized copy of the passport. That was accepted at BN and Banco Cuscatlan. You have to have your attorney notarize the copy and put some timbres (stamps) on it. That is official and acceptable at banks and government offices. I still keep this handy in my wallet just in case. It is easy to get a copy notarized and gives you peace of mind.
dkharlan: That is great. Best of luck to you. CEPIA is a great group and you’ll enjoy working with them and the children.
Dernocom: What part of Costa Rica will you be staying at that you’ll need a room/apartment ,etc. It would help if you give a geographical location and I would be able to help point you in the right direction. No matter where you end up going you’ll have a great time. There is so much to see and do in a country the size of W. Virginia! Buena suerte.
Edited on Nov 02, 2007 03:54
Hi dkharlan:
That is great that you found a great property in Ocotal. That is a great area up there. I live near Conchal and volunteer with a non-profit group called CEPIA. Here is their website: http://www.cepiacostarica.org
Even though I believe CEPIA is in our area, I know if you call and speak with Letitia or Max (the directors, who both speak English) they will be able to let you know of their affiliations OR other groups in your area that need help. The number at CEPIA is: 653-8533. I am sure you’ll be able to get involved in one way or another.
I teach English to a group of boys and girls ages 11-13. I find it to be very fun and the kids really like coming and learning a new language. I try and make it fun for them.
I am sure volunteering will really make your stay that much more fulfilling. Best of luck.
Take care, Becky
Hi Sprite: I live in Guanacaste, and it is somewhat like California (southern). We are very green from May to December and ‘dry’ from January to April. We don’t see a drop of rain from December to April typically. As for fires, I don’t experience that in my particular area (although Guanacaste is a very large province). There have been some isolated fires and even controlled fires on large fincas in our area. The controlled fires I assume help with issues of ‘wild fires’ and arson is not a big issue in these parts. I hope it continues this way. Through dry season there were not any fires such as those that are going on in California in the areas of Potrero south to Tamarindo that I know of. Also, there are many estuaries in the area, which keep the area around them green year round. The area near my house has two estuaries which keep it looking nice like the ‘green’ season year round.
Hi Billw888. I can understand why you have been flying into the SJO airport, as fares are almost always better there to make the drive well worth the saved $$$. Currently, in our area, the only bridge that is out on the way to the Tamarindo/Flamingo/Conchal area is the bridge near Belen. (Between Santa Cruz and Belen). So you either have to take the road west in Santa Cruz towards 27 de Abril (not a great road, as there is about 10 miles of unpaved rutted road) or go to Liberia first then head southwest to the beaches. The shorter is going to be the bad road via 27 de abril, by about 30 minutes, but the extra drive may be worth it to you to have all paved road. The bridge that is out is estimated to be repaired in 3 months last I heard (which would put it repaired in January).
Hi Alfred:
No, I wasn’t directing my comments towards you. No worries. Of course, this is an open forum, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, I wanted anyone out there who has read that article to understand that it was NOT my home I was speaking of, nor clients of mine. If it was my place, I would have said so. If you saw, the house in question is in the area of Naranjo. I work the area of northern Guanacaste. That’s all. I couldn’t agree with you more. I look forward to writing a follow up when the time comes. I am all for posting a true good story of a couple who was able to correct all the wrong done with the wrong builder. Pura vida!
Guru: With all due respect, you assumed a lot of things about my article, and you know what they say about that!
I can assure you, that this story is not about my house. How would you know one way or another? I don’t think we’ve met, but Scott Oliver has and he can attest it’s not MY house we’re speaking of. Not that it’s any of your business, but my husband and I bought a house that was existing a few years back. Let’s get that straight. I have not had the joy of having to construct my own house YET, but I will be doing that next year. The couple I spoke of were NOT clients of mine either. Scott suggested changes of the names, and I agreed, to protect the identity of all involved. I can say, there is some good news: The couple called me to let me know that the construction has commenced and so far so good. I will be happy to write a follow-up article once their construction is complete. If ONE person gets the bulk of what I implied and learn from the couple’s experience, that is the goal. Anyone would be naive to think that they are immune from these things happening to them. Anything can happen to anyone, theft, bad building experience, the list goes on. However, if you take all the precautions possible to avoid these situations, the likelihood of this happening to YOU decreases significantly. Also, yes, check the builder, by all means. Obviously he didn’t know what he was doing. That was one of the points of my article. Sorry you did not agree with the solution. That was my opinion, and I am entitled to that.
Warm Regards,
Becky Clower
Edited on Oct 24, 2007 14:44
Thanks for the clarification. Yes, my husband and I are married, have the same last name, so he’ll be the same last name twice. 🙂
It is understandable that each government would do different things. I just didn’t know if what CR does dictates what the US does, but now I know it doesn’t. Thanks again.
Becky
