daveandmarcia
American expat in Costa Rica
Forum posts
346
Contacts
4
About me
American
Registration: 03 February 2023
Activity
Relocating and business opportunities. by egatewood
Moving, Cost of living, business opportunities
The cost of living in Costa Rica depends on your needs and wants. If you can be satisfied with what's locally available, there are plenty of affordable options. If you need or want a higher lifestyle, it'll cost you more. The point is that there ... Read More
Expat banking in CR by CR Jeanne
Afternnon all:What can ya'll tell me about banking in CR? I'll be a Pensionada temp resident when I arrive in June of next year. Im thinking I'll just transfer auto-transfer my monthly Social Security direct deposit from my US credit union into ...
edwinamora, above you wrote ". . Just getting residency for foreigners in Costa Rica is a scam . . .". In what sense of the term is getting residency in Costa Rica a "scam"? Are you saying that there are people who say they can and will move your ... Read More
Visiting CR at end of March 2025 by bpwald
Hi, my husband and I live in the Washington DC area and are considering retirement locations. We're looking at not-too-hot and humid places like the central valley in CR. Anyone with suggestions of towns to consider, places to go during our visit, ...
Many, many interesting insights and observations. Allow me to add one more . . .When we landed in Costa Rica, we resolved to use the local currency (colones, that is) to the greatest extent possible. That has worked very well for us and we'll ... Read More
Autovalor for honda? by Gabardis
There is no honda brand in the list of brands! How do I estimate what is autovalor cost of honda accord?
Help me understand . . . Just what information are you seeking, and why? If you're trying to estimate import duty, that's one thing. If you're trying to resell the vehicle and need to know how much to ask, that's another. Or maybe you're trying to ... Read More
Translate feature on my phone by HOMERFROMLAWTON
i was trying to use lens feature on my phone and found out i has a translate feature. Going to be my crutch until i learn Spanish. i speak in English and it repeats in Spanish, you speak in Spanish and i hear English. Too little too late. i had ...
Apple's translation app serves us well as does Google Translate when we're online. I'm sure the Android app store will have similar offerings. I don't see a need for a separate translator.Waze is a location/direction finder which some users use to ... Read More
Managing mailboxes or PO boxes in Costa Rica by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Something as simple as receiving mail can become a whole new experience when you settle in Costa Rica as an expat. Mailing management can indeed be different from what you are used to. In order to help other expats and soon-to-be ...
We have used AeroPost for 20 years. They'll give you an address in Florida and deliver your mail and packages to their store nearest your home in Costa Rica. see www.aeropost.com There are other similar services including at least JetBox and ... Read More
Proper Prior Planning ... by DancingLions
Well, after *a lot* of research, planning, questioning, more research, and more planning, we're here. We have a beautiful home in the mountains outside of Atenas. We're renting for two years or more before making any further decisions about housing. ...
Above, you wrote, " . . if you buy a car there {in Costa Rica, that is} you don't have any import cost". That's not true. In the "normal" environment (excluding special treatment for aspiring expat newcomers) everyone pays the import tax and other ... Read More
Proper Prior Planning ... by DancingLions
Well, after *a lot* of research, planning, questioning, more research, and more planning, we're here. We have a beautiful home in the mountains outside of Atenas. We're renting for two years or more before making any further decisions about housing. ...
Above, you wrote, "We were thinking a Honda CR-V AWD."You see plenty of Honda CR-Vs here, but no or very few hybrids. That's a whole 'nother level of complication that the local support system is unlikely to be familiar with. Dunno if the one Honda ... Read More
Proper Prior Planning ... by DancingLions
Well, after *a lot* of research, planning, questioning, more research, and more planning, we're here. We have a beautiful home in the mountains outside of Atenas. We're renting for two years or more before making any further decisions about housing. ...
DancingLions, above I should have added that importing a vehicle of a brand and model that's commonly seen here will avoid some headaches. Many mechanics here are fully competent, but their familiarity has its limits. Too, parts are always an issue. ... Read More
Advice on Costa Rica reconnaissance trip by knackstedt374
Hello,My husband and I are retired and planning a trip to Costa Rica this winter to stay a month or two to scope it out and get some sun. We would like to find a base in a cooler area (some altitude), in a typical not too touristy community and ...
@knackstedt374, your plan sounds pretty good. A note of caution, however. Public transportation tends to be one-way only. So if you wish to go from town to town, you may be faced with having to take the bus from wherever you're staying to San Jose, ... Read More
Proper Prior Planning ... by DancingLions
Well, after *a lot* of research, planning, questioning, more research, and more planning, we're here. We have a beautiful home in the mountains outside of Atenas. We're renting for two years or more before making any further decisions about housing. ...
DancingLions, if you had a good experience with a Costa Rica-based shipper, I would suggest that you go back to him or her to manage shipping a vehicle here from the States. If you give the shipper the Vehicle Identification Number of the vehicle ... Read More
La Paz School vs CRIA/Living in CR with kids by Christinebala
Hello, We are going to be moving to the Guanacaste area and would love some input on the two private international schools we are considering(La Paz and CRIA). My son will be 9 this summer and going into the 4th grade. He does well in school and is ...
Yes, and still no concrete answer to what you assert is true. Read More
La Paz School vs CRIA/Living in CR with kids by Christinebala
Hello, We are going to be moving to the Guanacaste area and would love some input on the two private international schools we are considering(La Paz and CRIA). My son will be 9 this summer and going into the 4th grade. He does well in school and is ...
How many people was that? What's the exact number? And what's your source? Read More
Starlink Internet Access by daveandmarcia
Has anyone living here in Costa Rica bought and installed Starlink for Internet access? If yes, please share details. Where did you buy the system? Who installed it? And, most important, how satisfied are you with it?
Lucky you, lasertrk. When we came to Costa Rica in 2005, the only access to the Internet was via RACSA's dial-up service. On a good day, I could get 47kb until the telephone connection was dropped -- a virtual guarantee, and it didn't take long. ... Read More
Starlink Internet Access by daveandmarcia
Has anyone living here in Costa Rica bought and installed Starlink for Internet access? If yes, please share details. Where did you buy the system? Who installed it? And, most important, how satisfied are you with it?
UPDATE: We've now had Starlink installed for almost a year. The service has been almost totally acceptable. In the living room where the main Starlink router is located, I consistently get over 300mbs down and often just over 400mbs. Because ours is ... Read More