For all American citizens it’s that time of the year again filled with fear and excitement. Will I owe taxes? Will I get a refund? Do I even need to file? These are all good questions. Happily, Uncle Sam has answers to these and other questions.
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 Read more
We all hate going to the doctor. We all hate getting sick. We kick and scream and drag our feet all the way to the doctor’s office. The truth is that it’s usually an unpleasant experience.
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 Read more
Well, there aren’t that many options. You can either fly into Liberia or San Jose.
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 Read more
Costa Rica has become quite the topic of conversation. So much so, that last December there were two articles written about retiring to Costa Rica.
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 Read more
I forgot my sweater! Arrgh! As we drive through San Ramon, I start feeling the chilly mountain air coming down and start rifling through my bag only to find I forgot my sweater…again.
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 Read more
As the holidays approach everyone is planning their winter holiday vacations. What’ll it be this year? Arenal, Jaco, Witch’s Rock, Puerto Viejo? Sure you could try to enjoy the overcrowded beaches and packed tourist spots or you could go where the locals go.
Although Playa Samara in Nicoya, Guanacaste is mostly frequented by locals, it does get its fair share of foreign visitors itching to ride the waves. Only 10 minutes away, neighboring beach Carrillo is a totally different story.
Clean, Lonely beach.
Carrillo is actually in the neighboring county of Hojancha so the beach itself is much cleaner. There are trash cans and signs everywhere reminding you and everyone else to keep Carrillo clean. The waves are great Read more
Fees, fees, fees. We’re all familiar with the high international fees and ATM fees were charged every time we take money out of our American bank accounts. How can you avoid losing half your money on fees? The answer may be very simple. Open your very own Costa Rican Bank Account!
How? Here’s the breakdown.
Passport, residency permit or permanent residency card
Proof of residency (water, power, internet or other bill with your physical address on it)
Fill out and sign application form
Deposit the minimum amount for the account you want. If you want an account with Banco de Costa Rica you need to deposit a minimum of ₵50 000 or $500. Banco Nacional only
Fees, fees, fees. We’re all familiar with the high international fees and ATM fees were charged every time we take money out of our American bank accounts. How can you avoid losing half your money on fees? The answer may be very simple. Open your very own Costa Rican Bank Account!
How? Here’s the breakdown.
Passport, residency permit or permanent residency card
Proof of residency (water, power, internet or other bill with your physical address on it)
Fill out and sign application form
Deposit the minimum amount for the account you want. If you want an account with Banco de Costa Rica you need to deposit a minimum of ₵50 000 or $500. Banco Nacional only
Our hearts were filled with fear and excitement all at the same time. We were headed to the Occidental Allegro Papagayo All-inclusive Resort. Our stay there was a gift from our family. As we read the reviews online, our hearts sank. There were horrible horror stories and also stories of lovely vacations. We were so confused we didn’t know what to think.
The truth. The rooms are nice and comfortable. They are large, clean, air conditioned and they have hot water. The view from our third floor room was amazing. We had a great view of the pool, the beach and the forest surrounding the resort. Everything needs a little updating. A nice coat of paint, a couple Read more
Ahhh! What a headache it can be to just think about buying a car in Costa Rica. Between simply finding a car, a lawyer, rtv, marchamo, and deciding whether to buy from a dealer or an individual you may think bringing your own car may be simpler. The truth is it probably isn’t simpler.
If you don’t have residency yet and you leave Costa Rica every three months then bringing your car may work out for you, for a while. So long as you are on a tourist visa your car will be attached to that visa, meaning when you leave the country that car needs to leave with you. However if you are planning on becoming a resident Read more
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