El Presidente is a great place to people watch - but that may change since they shut down their popular News Cafe.
A tip (also called a gratuity) has always been a special thanks to a server for good service. Such payments and their size are a matter of social custom and etiquette and usually are around 10% plus of the total bill. Tipping varies among cultures and by service industry.
In Costa Rica, those that provide services in restaurants and bars or unskilled labor make less than $2/hr (more like $1/hr if not less) – so tipping becomes a major source of income. Restaurants and bars are allowed, by law, to add 10% to the check as a “propina” (tip). The 10% is then suppose to be divided between the restaurant waiters and bar staff, and in some cases, bus boys and kitchen workers, which in many cases that money is much greater than the base salary.
Like Mexico and other countries, Costa Rica’s restaurant and bars owners have always added a 10% on top of the bill. Unfortunately, this money has always had scrutiny because it somehow is not divided equal among the workers – the owners are the ones that retain the largest percentage. Read more... (743 words, 4 images, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)
The ICE Monopoly may have its problems providing a good customer service.
Beginning this week the new Apple, iPhone G4 will start selling in Costa Rica. Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) the state’s telephone, and Internet monopoly, officially became the NEW monopoly distributor and exclusive seller for Apple’s new iPhone G4s. Retailers who have iPhones for sale in Costa Rica, unless it is an ICE authorized agent, are not authorized by Apple to sell them!
Was this a surprise, not really?
Back in Feb, 2011 we wrote how ICE has been under threat since the signing (Jan.2009) of Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA) when they suddenly found themselves in a competitive world of the telecom market; something they knew little about and not prepared for like the demand for high-tech phones and service.
So it wasn’t a surprise (when we also speculated in Feb) that Apple had Costa Rica in their business plan and they are preparing to open up a few more Apple Mac service Centers.
Obviously, ICE saw a big opportunely to cash in on Apple’s demanding iPhones and obviously made a sweet-heart deal. Read more... (531 words, 1 image, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)
The IGFA's 2010 World Record Achievement Award went to Bobby McGuinness, who set more world records last year than any other captain anywhere.
Captain Bobby McGuinness has done it again! For the second time in his illustrious 30 years as a sportfishing captain in Costa Rica, Bobby McGuinness was named the year’s (2010) top captain in the world by the prestigious International Game Fish Association (IGFA).
The IGFA also presented Bobby with its 2010 Lifetime Achievement award.
See Bobby McGuinness Video
This is the second time the IGFA has honored Bobby McGuinness, who fishes out of Golfito in Costa Rica’s South Pacific, as the world’s top captain; the first was in 2006. Over the past 8-10 years he has a long string of IGFA achievements: he made the IGFA’s Top 10 list of guides and captains from around the world in 2008, tying for 5th place that year with 13 IGFA world fishing records. He also boasts an IGFA 3rd place certificate for 2009, and a 2nd place IGFA Saltwater Captain diploma for 2004. Originally from Golfito, Bobby has also fished out of Quepos in the Central Pacific coast and Flamingo in the North Pacific coast, Panama and the United States (North Carolina). Read more... (644 words, 2 images, estimated 2:35 mins reading time)
Once again the media hammered the public with the new IRS threat, that they are going after US expats that have failed to pay US income taxes!
Back in February of 2011 the IRS announced a program for U.S. taxpayers who have overseas accounts, income, or other foreign assets that have not been previously reported and/or taxed. This is called the “2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative,” or 2011 OSVDI – a voluntary disclosure of expats foreign accounts.
In other words, are they trying to get an account on those who have not claimed US income, a requirement of the IRS? And to strike fear in those US citizens who have pulled up stakes, move to Costa Rica and have started businesses and/or received some type of income to support their new-found life style?
What may have started this new threat was the 2007 Central America Free Trade Agreement, which enable any Costa Rican company (US or not) to trade with the US markets. This opened any Costa Rica business to one of the biggest markets in the world. With said, it has allowed more income from US dollars than every before and this is what may be what the IRS is going after. Read more... (542 words, 1 image, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)
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