If you are a US citizen the government is entitled to tax your income regardless of where it was earned. If you lived outside of the US all last year and earned income you will probably have to report it. According to IRS guidelines, if you were self-employed, worked as a consultant or contractor and earned more than $400 you will have to file (usually under Schedule C). For more information for filling requirements check out IRS publication 501.

Do you qualify for Foreign Earned Income Tax Exclusion? If you are self-employed in a foreign country you probably do not qualify. A requirement for this exclusion is to have an established foreign tax home. This means you pay income taxes to the country you live in. Do you qualify to file Form 2555-EZ? The IRS has an answer for that too. To see if you qualify for this exclusion, click here.

Do I qualify for the Earned Income Credit? That depends. You must meet age and income requirements. You must have also lived in the US for at least 6 months out of the year. If you did not live in the US at all last year you do not qualify for the EIC. For guidelines check out publication 596.

How to file from a foreign country? You may have any professional tax preparer prepare your taxes for you even if you are not in the US. Many also choose to file using online filing programs like Turbotax, HRBlock online, JacksonHewitt online or other online services. The IRS also has a list of authorized free file preparers.

It’s that time of the year when we either eagerly await our refund or begrudgingly pay up. Make sure you get informed and file by the April 17 deadline. Remember, there are only two things you can’t escape, death and taxes.

Interesting? Interesting isn’t always good but in this case it is. Alma de Hatillo is owned by Sabina, she is actually the main reason this place is so interesting. Sabina is very friendly and takes great care of her guests. She cooks breakfast from scratch every morning. Sabina is like a food magician; she takes a cacao pod and turns it into decadent chocolate for breakfast. She takes fresh fruit and turns it into yummy preserves.

The rooms are cozy, most of them for two or three guests. There is jungle all around so the view from anywhere is amazing. There’s all kinds of birds everywhere, so don’t forget to bring your camera. There is a large pool, and the dining area is warm and relaxing. Sabina even has a yoga studio where she hosts yoga retreats. The rates are very reasonable. During the high season tourists pay $65 and locals pay $55 for a double occupancy room.

This place is really old school in a great way, so don’t expect any air conditioning or a stocked minifridge in your room. Remember this is all about a simple retreat. Go out and have fun in Dominical or the Hacienda nearby. Then come back to a delicious home cooked meal, chat for a while, relax in a hammock until time eventually brings you back to that amazing breakfast.

Know any other great hotels? Let us know in our comments section.

What if a hospital was actually hospitable? This is no longer a dream. For many who can’t afford proper medical care in their home countries, Costa Rica is a medical haven. San Jose is home to many excellent private medical centers that cater to foreign patients, but one star that shines particularly bright is Hospital Hotel La Catolica.

At La Catolica patients can actually enjoy their stay without wondering what that weird stain on the wall is or whether the food is actually safe to eat. The process is pretty simple. Arrive at the airport where La Catolica staff will pick you up. Have your procedure and recuperate at the hotel inside the hospital. Sounds weird right? Well, it’s actually awesome. The hotel wing is called El Convento (the convent) and it is decorated in the colonial style. If you didn’t know any better you’d think you’re in a four star hotel not a hospital. The atmosphere is peaceful and relaxing. Each room comes with all the amenities of a regular hotel room. Cable (with some channels in English), WiFi, and phone service are included with all packages. Some packages even include breakfast. You may also request room service or dine in at Los Helechos , the on-site restaurant.

During your recuperation stay you can head over to the hotel’s physical therapy room, the spa or even the beauty salon.  As soon as you’re feeling better you can even head over to the tourism counter and work some sightseeing into your schedule. What about the language barrier? Many members of the medical and hotel staff speak English and all members of the international insurance claim department are fluent English speakers.

Don’t spend tens of thousands of dollars. Come to Costa Rica and experience medical care the way it should be: comfortable, relaxing and healing.

Enjoyed your stay at Hospital Hotel La Catolica? Tell us about your experiences.

As we sat at the counter looking over the menu, every item kept bringing up the same thought “No way, they have that? I haven’t had that in forever!” However, I had heard a lot about the burgers so I settled on the Bacon Double Cheese Burger. Not a double patty, double cheese. This burger was amazing. After having so many over cooked, dry burgers in Costa Rica I think I had started to forget what real burgers taste like. This was a real burger. The cheese was melty and creamy, the bacon was crispy, and the patty (freshly ground everyday) was just a whole lot of meaty goodness. All of this with fries and a drink for only just over $6. But this isn’t the only angel in burger heaven.

The Chili Cheese Burger with Chili Cheese Fries was out of this world and the beef stroganoff sandwich…Wow. You can also get classics like chicken parm, Philly cheese steak sandwiches and most importantly Pizza (only $10-$14 per pie). John makes his own fresh pizza dough from scratch so if you want pizza you need to give him a head’s up. These guys take their baking pretty seriously, and not just their pizza. You might not see any desserts or baked goods on the menu, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have them. They bake fresh cinnamon rolls, pineapple upside down cake, chocolate fudge cake and my personal favorite, cheesecake. My favorite cheesecake ever is the cake at Junior’s in New York City but John’s cheesecake is a mighty close second. And that says a lot. For $3 per giant slice, it is simply perfect.

This Jersey native along with his wife and kids are serving up a storm. We live 3 hours away from here and still I can’t wait to get back to New York Grill and Pizza just to have one of those delicious burgers and a giant slice of cheesecake. Watch out John and Priscilla, we’ll be back there soon and we’re bringing company.

Head over to New York Grill and Pizza across from El Colono, it’s so worth the trip!

Apparently this new store will be opened in downtown San Jose. It’s hard to imagine that this novelty will be anything but warmly welcomed by Costa Ricans and those of us who miss our Venti White Chocolate Latte or Peppermint Mocha Latte. Starbucks already buys coffee from Costa Rica so it’s only natural that they would open a store here eventually.

When is the much awaited date? May 2012. Starbucks has close to 11, 000 stores in the US and over 6, 000 international locations. In my opinion, this coffee industry giant will continue to grow and probably continue to add locations in the future. As exciting as this is, I don’t think I’ll visit this new shop more than once. Why? Mostly because I live four hours away but also, unlike the United States, you can find good coffee anywhere in Costa Rica and you don’t have to pay $5 bucks to get it.  One of my favorite places to get coffee in San Jose is actually El Tostador. This place has really good quality hot and iced coffee. So if you’re not a Starbucks fan you still have plenty of options in San Jose and all around the country to get a great cup of coffee.

On a positive note, since the opening of their first international store in Tokyo 16 years ago, Starbucks has prided themselves on adapting to and honoring the culture of each place that they expand to. It won’t be long before you can get your Grande, skinny caramel macchiato, just the way you like it. Get ready Costa Rica! It’s time to start learning Starbucks lingo!

Excited about Starbucks? Let us know. Know of another great coffee house? Please tell us.

Juan Santamaria Aiport (SJO) is commonly known as the San Jose airport even though it’s actually located in Alajuela. Traffic through this airport is not bad and getting from the plane, through immigration, baggage claim and customs hardly ever takes more than a half an hour.

The airport is not small but not large by any means either. There are many duty free shops and restaurants like Burger King, Schotlkys, Papa John’s and Cinnabon. Café Britt also has souvenir shops at the airport which often offer discounts for bulk purchases. If you need to rent a vehicle you can do that too and exchange currency also. Usually I recommend you only change about $20 here and change the rest in the bank where you’ll get a better rate. The truth is that SJO is your typical airport.

Once you make your way out you come to this lobby with a large glass window. On either side are doors that lead outside. Large crowds of people wait pressed up against the large window, waiting to catch a glimpse of their expected guest. Outside orange cabs belong to the airport. These are super expensive but safe. Still further outside red cabs will offer a slightly cheaper ride, also safe.

Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia (LIR), Guanacaste is completely different and like nothing I’ve ever seen. This airport is small. Usually one flight lands or departs at a time. Driving past it I never realized how small it truly is. There is a modern-looking structure that deceives you into thinking this isn’t a tiny airport. Upon a closer look you’ll notice the modern part of this airport is not yet open, even though it appears completely finished. Next to this modern structure is what appears to be the hangar where the wright brothers must’ve kept their first prototype. There are never a whole lot of people there and it doesn’t take long to get through security and on the plane. Here you actually have to walk on the runway up to the plane and board via steps, just like the president boards Air Force One in all the movies.

Once you’ve been through immigration, baggage claim and customs you step out into the crowd and find your way to your host, a red cab or a local bus that pulls right up to the exit.

Usually SJO is cheaper due to more airlines flying there but Jet Blue started offering direct flights from JFK to LIR at a cheap price back in November. Even from January 22 to 31 you can still fly one-way from JFK to LIR or vice versa for $139. In February you can find flights for as little as $155 one-way and as much as $710 one –way.

Share your experiences at Costa Rican airports in our comments section.

The first in The Wall Street Journal recanted the experiences of two retirees as they planned and consequently moved to Costa Rica. Some interesting points were made here. An important point is the need for planning before moving here. However, I think one of the most important steps in planning may have been overlooked by the writer, Vicki Berrong. The process of applying for residency can be started before you even step foot on Costa Rica. If you start before you move this can actually make the process easier. For more information on permanent residency read “How to attain legal status in Costa Rica”

Though initially the article claimed that gas cost near $14 was completely inaccurate (and since corrected), the section on the cost of food I find to be very accurate. The thing is, when it comes to cost of food or living it really comes down to what you want and how you want to live. Certain things we may be used to, like cheddar cheese, are ridiculously expensive but the local cheese at $4.50 per kilo may be enough to satisfy your cheese needs. It really comes down to this: Costa Rica is as expensive as you let it be.

The New York Times article takes a different sort of approach. This is centered on a family who settles down in good ole Guanacaste and builds a home. Most of the article is about the actual building of the home and its architecture. There are great pointers for those who want to build a home here. The area where this family settled is considered prime real estate which is why the land was so expensive but if you look you can definitely find a better fit for your budget. For suggestions on buying land in Costa Rica read “Costa Rica Land: The rules of Engagement”.

Costa Rica is getting a lot of buzz and attention. Have you been thinking about moving? Well move fast before someone else beats you to the punch.

Operated by Judy Arroyo for nearly twenty years, Sloth Sanctuary has saved many a sloth baby. The first baby, who started this whole thing, was little Buttercup. She was brought to Judy as a baby over twenty years ago and has now grown to be the longest living sloth that has successfully been raised in captivity.

Babies and other injured sloths are cared for at the Slothspital. There is a nursery, examination room, laundry rooms and a restaurant quality kitchen. The staff prepare nutritious meals for the sloths and give them physical therapy, potty training, and a weekly bath. Volunteers can assist with the many chores around the sanctuary and vet students may volunteer and assist the resident vet with any examination or procedure.  Volunteers stay a minimum of 14 nights up to four weeks at the sanctuary lodging facility. Meals and hours of funtime with the sloths are all included in the $350 per week.

What if you can’t volunteer? Visit! A day trip to the sanctuary is packed with fun and learning. A tour includes a tour of the facilities and a canoe trip down the Estrella River. Take pictures and memories to last you a life time after a visit to the Sloth Sanctuary. If you fall in love with Buttercup, Millie or a little baby sloth you can adopt a sloth and provide for a year’s worth of sloth care.

Have Judy Arroyo’s efforts gone unnoticed? Not by a long shot. The Aviarios Sloth Sanctuary was featured in Animal Planet’s Too Cute! Baby Sloths. Your heart will melt at the sight of their cute little faces.

Love Sloths? Tell us all about it in our comments section

Living in Guanacaste I’m used to the hot weather and I never need a sweater. Seasons are pretty much the same everywhere. It’s hot and dry from December to May and it’s rainy and humid from June to November but temperatures vary by region. Costa Rica may be small but the weather changes quite a bit from one area to the other.

The Central Valley

This area includes Alajuela, San Jose, Heredia and Cartago. For the most part the Central Valley stays around high 70s and low 80s Fahrenheit. The highlands and most of Cartago in the central valley can get very cold, especially at night sometimes going down into the high 50s.

Zona Sur and Caribbean

The Zona Sur has a varied landscape. There are highlands and valleys so the weather changes a little. This area is mostly warm but it is not an intense heat like Guanacaste or Limon. Many people feel like the heat in zona sur is easily bearable usually staying in the 80s.

Limon is very humid and hot. Personally I dislike this weather completely. My hair gets frizzy and I’m constantly thirsty. Some people like it though. Usually in the high 80s and low 90s this is good beach weather all year round.

Guanacaste

The weather here is mostly hot. Some areas like Hojancha and Tilaran are cool and windy. Most of Guanacaste, especially the coast, stays around the low 90s. The heat is mostly dry and it’s very bearable.

All over Costa Rica, December is the coolest month of the year. Even though it’s the start of the dry season or summer, December is very windy and feels like perfect weather.

Want to check today’s weather? Click here.

Not sure what to pack? Ask questions or make suggestions in our comments section.

Established by Quakers in the early 50’s, the Monteverde factory is where all the creamy lactose goodness comes from. In 1954, Monteverde factory was the first to produce pasteurized cheese in Costa Rica thus setting the tone for the quality and originality that continue to characterize Monteverde products.

If you plan a visit to Monteverde, a tour of the cheese factory is a must. We watched from the other side of a large glass window as the cream and milk were churned and slowly turned into wonderful cheese. After a quick look we headed over to the store attached to the factory. At the store we saw the widest variety of cheese we’ve ever seen in one place since we moved here and the ice cream parlor in the store is the best we’ve been to here. My personal favorite is the Coffee, macadamia and coconut milkshake. And no, they do not charge extra for the third flavor. Awesome.

But who wants to drive on a bumpy, rocky, winding road all the way to Monteverde just for cheese and ice cream. The answer is that you don’t have to. Most supermarkets will at least have some Monteverde goodies on hand. The best option, aside from the factory, is a visit to the Monteverde restaurant along highway 1 on the way to Guanacaste. Pricey meals prepared with delicious Monteverde products are the order of the day at this restaurant/ice cream parlor, and well worth the price.

Many towns have their very own little Monteverde Ice cream parlors where you can get your Monteverde fix. I usually get mine at Heladeria Monteverde in Liberia. The ice cream is rich and creamy and the best ice cream I’ve ever had in Costa Rica.

Is Monteverde your favorite? Have another local ice cream favorite? Leave a comment!