daveandmarcia
American expat in Costa Rica
Forum posts
342
Contacts
4
About me
American
Registration: 03 February 2023
Activity
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
Pan-American Highway by HOMERFROMLAWTON
Has anyone ever driven it from America to Costa Rica. If so what do i need to watch out for. I will be driving a motor home. I do know it is safer to stay on the toll roads coming thru Mexico. Cartels love motor homes because there are a lot ...
I messaged you privately. Please read. Read More
Pan-American Highway by HOMERFROMLAWTON
Has anyone ever driven it from America to Costa Rica. If so what do i need to watch out for. I will be driving a motor home. I do know it is safer to stay on the toll roads coming thru Mexico. Cartels love motor homes because there are a lot ...
Meaning no disrespect, let me second your mention that you need to proofread what you write even at the "cost" of writing a little less. Too, it would be well to revisit the lessons you were taught in school about starting new paragraphs when you ... Read More
Motor Home by HOMERFROMLAWTON
We are definitely moving to Costa Rica but before we decide we want to make a tour of the country in our motor home before we decideto set down roots. I started looking for any rve parks where i can spend a day or a month so i can get electricity, ...
Er . . . ah . . . What else but self defense might one do with pepper spray? Read More
TRANSPORTING GOLD BARS by HOMERFROMLAWTON
I have some gold bars. There is no problem bringing them into country, there is no taxes, but I have a rule I never keep any more money on me that I can can afford to lose. There is no way I trust customs to just ship gold bars, so if there is ...
Some (maybe many) banks offer little or nothing in the way of safety deposit boxes, so finding a good home for your gold bars* may be more difficult than you think. *My opinion on gold, if you wish. Read More