The Costa Rica Gringo

Typical Casado or Yummy Lobster?

June 14th, 2010 | Costa Rica - Places to Eat | No Comments »

Where should I eat in Costa Rica? The simple answer is go where the locals go. In any country a restaurant’s mark of excellence is how busy they are. You will probably find that there are an incredible array of options when it comes to food: European, Mediterranean, Asian, American, and local. How can you choose? Here are two local favorites that are sure to impress:

Restaurant Las Delicias del Maiz is famous for their delicious corn dishes and pork BBQ. They are located in La Garita de Alajuela on the road to Jaco beach. This open air log cabin is decorated by typical Costa Rican ox carts, and wood sculptures. The atmosphere is relaxed and Read more

Monteverde Mountain Getaway or Cocktails by the Pool?

June 7th, 2010 | Costa Rica - Places to Stay | No Comments »

The options on where to stay in Costa Rica are nearly endless. You can stay in a bed and breakfast in the capital close to the museums, theatres and historic district. You could also stay in a quiet hotel in the mountains or a luxurious all-inclusive resort by the beach. Everyone can find what they are looking for in Costa Rica!

The town of Monteverde is home to the famous cloud forest. The downtown area has a lovely down-to-earth, laid back atmosphere. So does the Hotel Fonda Vela located a few kilometers outside of downtown Monteverde. From its luxurious rooms with large windows you can enjoy the magnificent view of the lush cloud forest and also the rest Read more

Protect Yourself While Buying Property in Costa Rica

August 15th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Business, Costa Rica - Culture, Costa Rica - Gringo Owned Business, Costa Rica - Relocation, Costa Rica - Tourist Trap, Costa Rica - Travel Tips | 2 Comments »

Real estate investment in Costa Rica is quite a project, but by keeping a couple of helpful tips in mind you can successfully venture jump through all the hoops and end up purchasing your own little plot of land in paradise.

In recent years more and more fradulent real estate dealings and investment scams. Therefore, it is important to keep your wits about you and don’t give anyone the benefit of the doubt. Many foreigners come to Costa Rica expecting things to run just as smoothly as they do in the States when it comes to business dealings, and sadly, that’s just not they way it is down here.

So, how can you protect yourself from being subject to Read more

5 Tips to Help you Fit in in Costa Rica

July 27th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Culture, Costa Rica - Relocation, Costa Rica - Travel Tips, The Best of Costa Rica | 1 Comment »

If you are white, and especially if you have blond hair, there is very little you can do to not stand out as a foreigner in Costa Rica. However, there are a number of things you can do that will make you seem more Costa Rican and not call attention to the already obvious fact that you aren’t a Tico.

When you greet a person, touch your cheek to theirs and kiss the air. Main mistake made by foreigners: actually kissing the cheek. To remember:Men kiss women, women kiss women, but men do not kiss men.
At smaller parties and gatherings greet everyone this way and do the same when saying goodbye. Main mistake made by foreigners: Only greeting

Advice for Potential Expats on Relocation

July 20th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Business, Costa Rica - Culture, Costa Rica - Family Friendly, Costa Rica - Gringo Favorite, Costa Rica - Relocation, Costa Rica - Travel Tips, The Best of Costa Rica | No Comments »

The amount of time I could spend talking about the things you should or shouldn’t do when thinking of relocating are endless. I have been trying to shorten my list to include a few essential do’s and don’t’s for those considering making the move to Costa Rica. Here is what I have come up with.

DO take your time in deciding where you want your home in Costa Rica to be. (Or if you want to stay here permanently at all… this is not something to rush into.)
DON’T buy the first piece of land or first house you see.
DO Rent a place in that area before you buy!
DON’T expect things to be the same as they

Why Rent a Villa Instead of Staying at a Hotel?

July 13th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Business, Costa Rica - Family Friendly, Costa Rica - Gringo Favorite, Costa Rica - Must See or Do, Costa Rica - Places to Stay, Costa Rica - Travel Tips, The Best of Costa Rica | No Comments »

Planning a vacation to Costa Rica? I strongly recommend going with a villa or vacation home rental as opposed to a hotel or an all inclusive and here’s why:

Vacation Villas offer a more private vacation experience.
Villas accomodate larger groups and families better than hotels.
When split among a group a villa rental is a more economic option than multiple hotel rooms.
If you get a villa rental with a pool, you don’t have to share it!
With a villa or vacation rental you can do your own cooking in the kitchen. (Some vacation villa rentals offer an all-inclusive package, for those who don’t like to cook.)
Vacation villa rentals are more secure since no one is entering

Bring a Dehumidifier to Costa Rica – Keep Mold at Bay!

July 2nd, 2009 | Costa Rica - Best Shopping, Costa Rica - Relocation | 6 Comments »

When I first got to Costa Rica many foreigners told me that I needed to buy a dehumidifier. I didn’t really see the importance since I was home a lot at first and I didn’t notice any problems with mold. Then one week I left for only four days and upon arriving back home I found mold had grown on all my clothes, wood, couches and basically anything made of cloth. After that I decided to get myself a dehumidifier and it has been a life saver and a killer.

One reason I love the dehumidifier is I noticed when I mopped the house the water would not dry on the floors, now with the dehumidifier I don’t have

Finding a Good Comfortable Bed in Costa Rica

June 30th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Best Shopping, Costa Rica - Business, Costa Rica - Culture, Costa Rica - Relocation, Costa Rica - Travel Tips | No Comments »

Most of what we do in a bed is sleep. Yet we all know how hard it can be to find the right kind of mattress. Though mattresses are cheap in Costa Rica it is not going to be any easier finding a bed here than it is in the United States.

For example when you buy a bed here in Costa Rica you will find that it comes covered in plastic that they use to ship the mattress. I would recommend not removing the plastic from the bed after you purchase it. The reason is when you buy a frame in the United States normally there are metal cross bars that hold your bed up. In Costa Rica Read more

Bed Sheets and Feeling at Home in Costa Rica

June 29th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Business, Costa Rica - Relocation, Costa Rica - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

Sometimes you may find that it is the little things you miss when you come to Costa Rica. One thing I missed terribly when I moved to Costa Rica was bed sheets. Though you are able to find bed sheets at low reasonable prices the material used is different than what I am use to. I even paid for custom made sheets just to find that they felt stiff and like plastic.

The best way that I can think to explain it is that bed sheets in Costa Rica are made of a material that feels like window drapes. This may not be true in San Jose but for your smaller communities you will probably find that this Read more

My Favorite Pizza in the San Jose Area

June 25th, 2009 | Costa Rica - Gringo Favorite, Costa Rica - Places to Stay | 1 Comment »

Want to get out for the night and eat out somewhere other than your typical haunts in San Jose? Head east to San Pedro, to La Posada de la Pizza in the Calle Real commercial center.

La Posada de la Pizza, which translates Pizza Inn, not to be confused with Pizza Hut, serves up all your traditional Italian and pizza restaurant favorites: pastas, calzones, salads, and of course, specialty coffees and homemade desserts.

If you are looking for real delicious pizza, then I suggest coming to this place. Toppings include your traditional pepperoni, ham, bacon, mushrooms, pineapple, and olives, but also extend to coconut, fresh tomato, ground beef and salami. There are a number of vegetarin options, including a Read more

Typical Casado or Yummy Lobster?

Monteverde Mountain Getaway or Cocktails by the Pool?

Protect Yourself While Buying Property in Costa Rica

5 Tips to Help you Fit in in Costa Rica

Advice for Potential Expats on Relocation

Why Rent a Villa Instead of Staying at a Hotel?

Bring a Dehumidifier to Costa Rica – Keep Mold at Bay!

Finding a Good Comfortable Bed in Costa Rica

Bed Sheets and Feeling at Home in Costa Rica

My Favorite Pizza in the San Jose Area

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