No doubt Costa Rica's tourism is down due to the instability of the economy, particularly the US were Costa Rica gets a majority of their tourists. This in turn has also lead to the layoffs of 1000s of workers and off course the belt-tightening of businesses. However, all is not lost, and if there was a time to take a trip down south, this is the best time to do it. Several things are … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2009
White Roofs – Energy Savings in Costa Rica
05/29/2009 by Leave a Comment
One thing about being the admin of Costa Rica's largest directory, we get a lot of emails, about everything under the sun (no pun intended on this post) – from where to buy the best airline tickets, to hot nightclub action, to just rant and raving. And then we get the curious or concern like the posts on Costa Rica bedbugs and Swine Flu. One thing for sure, we are not short of posting material … [Read more...]
Rising Costa Rica Credit Card Fraud
05/26/2009 by 1 Comment
With the economy suffering, credit card fraud is higher then it has ever been in Costa Rica. In the last few months, just the Tico Times Directory, the fraud attempts have tripled. A month ago, we received payment for a statewide ad to rent a car, condo and cell phone. Ten days after the ad was placed we were informed by Paypal the card was unauthorized and the money removed from our account. In … [Read more...]
Costa Rica’s New Reality – Patti Blagojevich
05/23/2009 by Leave a Comment
The first lady of ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Patti Blagojevich is now going to take her hubby's place on being on the NBC show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here," (which got canceled due to poor rating) to be filmed in Costa Rica. If you remember (ugh, like it is one of those most important things in your life) a federal judge barred Rob Blagojevich last month who faces … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Cigarettes – New Tax Hike
05/21/2009 by 1 Comment
It seems that Costa Rica's government is following in California's and other US States footsteps by proposing a new tax on cigarettes to increase their revenue. Yes I know - cigs are bad, unhealthy, lead to lung cancer, and blab blab blab... This law would limit smoking in some work places, public recreation, and cultural areas and near health centers like hospitals, clients and wellness … [Read more...]
Worst Motorcycles Drivers Are Costa Ricans
05/19/2009 by 2 Comments
I'm in the technology business and own a tech company here in San Jose. My favorite past time is riding my Harley Davidson as it has been for the past 40 + years. I've lived in a number of countries and have ridden in many more but I have to say the worst motorcycle riders I have ever seen are here in Costa Rica. Tico Times Directory Editor's Note: Raising gas prices have caused a surge of … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Bedbugs – No Press Pandemic or Infestation
05/17/2009 by 7 Comments
Okay, I have had enough! I received an interesting email (from a girl heading to Costa Rica) this morning, almost right after I read the Yahoo article (and several others) about NOW, the US Government fears an outbreak of Bed Bugs! She was fricken worried if, Bedbugs were infesting Costa Rica? Jezzes Christ, what is this paranoia world coming to now? One of the articles I read was from a … [Read more...]
Traveling To Costa Rica – Common Mistakes
05/16/2009 by 3 Comments
I can not tell you how many times in Yahoo Answers, someone writes, 'Yeah I'm going to Costa Rica ... only have a few days ... What do I do ?' A year and a half ago I took my two 'very active boys' down, and got a hold of friend, who puts together custom Costa Rica travel packages, and we enjoyed a ball-busting trip of two days fishing, white water rafting, zip lining, volcano and hot … [Read more...]
Wal-Mart – Costa Rica Monopoly Going Green
05/13/2009 by 20 Comments
Back in Feb, 2007 U.S. retail mega-giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said they would spend $49 million to open 14 new stores in Costa Rica and all within a year. The business hype was simple, it would create 1000s of new jobs, keep the government happy with additional tax revenue, keep prices down, and provide Costa Ricans with some of the US luxuries (like electronics) … [Read more...]
First Swine Flu Death Reported in Costa Rica
05/10/2009 by Leave a Comment
Costa Rica's first death of the swine flu was that of a 53-year-old man on Saturday and as of now his town and name has been kept from the public. As we posted last week Whine Flu - Paris Hilton, hundreds of Costa Ricans (or should I say, hypochondriacs) hush to hospitals in similar flu-like symptoms. I guess the government is being smart, not needing a PP (Pandemic Panic) as the culprit … [Read more...]
Driving to Costa Rica – Pan American Highway
05/09/2009 by 26 Comments
Okay, so I have heard all the bad stories (carjackings, robberies and even murders) about driving from the US to Costa Rica. However, if you like the adventure (which it is a lifetime experience) it's an expensive (about 3-$5000) trip, and time consuming (about 3-4 weeks). It is not great idea for a couple of hot females or an elderly couple to do this. First the trip is long, the roads are often … [Read more...]
Swine or Whine Flu – Reality Culprit, Government and Press
05/06/2009 by 5 Comments
I received this email from a friend, and not knowing the author (sorry about that which this blog is credited to) I elected to pass it on since it is someone who is telling it like it really is. Turn off your @#*% TV and radio and live your life. Forget about the scare control tactics which are typical BS government and press stories use to create a normal flu cycle into some global catastrophe. … [Read more...]
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