Bret Dudl Costa Rica Villa Rentals

24 May 2010 at 14:59

Bret Dudl

Bret Dudl Visiting Costa Rica

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Costa Rica Villa Rentals Or Resort Vacations – Some Points to Consider
Bret Dudl Some Important Points To Consider About Costa Rica Vacations By Jeffrey F. Reynolds

In addition to the numerous decisions one must undertake when planning a vacation in today’s eco-diverse travel sector, is the selection between making a reservation with a mainstream Costa Rican resort that initially appears safer, less expensive, and a more secure option than that of a private villa – that for the money is a better alternative – read on to learn more. Contrary to popular belief is the fact that making a reservation with a villa is frequently just as easy as with a resort, as many travel agents and online travel engines facilitate these villa reservations and are highly secure as is the case in Recreo Villas in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

The growing fashion toward the villa industry in Costa Rica revolves around the individual flexibility that these luxury properties are able to offer, additional perks (Over that of a resort), amenities and that they are much more private than that of resort. As if that were not enough to change your mind -in more cases than not – villas are significantly CHEAPER on a cost-per-night basis than their rival resorts and especially at Recreo in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. As hard as they may seem on the surface – statistics prove villas are on average 20% cheaper than resorts.

Incorrect Space

Another commonly experienced situation for those making reservations with a resort is the confusion at the resort upon the arrival to the resort and lack-of the correct amount of rooms that are inter-connected. Many new arrivals are stuck in the reception area, waiting, while the resort staff scurries around trying to figure out available accommodations, even when the travelers were assured before hand with advanced reservations by the resort. This is the result of poor communication between travel agents, resort staff and online reservations, even if you made advanced reservations they are not fully solidified until your arrival to the resort. Immediately those filled with excitement initially upon arrival to a resort, are typically left disillusioned by their misrepresented resort accommodations.

Villa or Resort

Naturally the choice is yours. Having total control of your reservations is just one of the primary advantages. You know and understand your schedule better than a travel agent and the type of accommodations you enjoy and are longing for in a spacious and luxurious Villa in Costa Rica. The freedom of choice, the multitude of selections of villas for a group of practically any size and all without the hassles of misinformed travel agents or resort staff are yours for the taking. It is no wonder that many are drawn to the ease of reserving their space online.

Bret Dudl Costa Rica As A Retiring Destination

24 May 2010 at 14:50

Bret Dudl

Bret Dudl Retiring

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Thinking of Retiring in Costa Rica?

Bret Dudl Costa Rica As A Retiring Destination By Mitch Bowler

Costa Rica is a Spanish word which means “Rich Coast”. It is officially called the Republic of Costa Rica. The cost of travel is more expensive than any other countries in Central America but cheaper than United States and Europe. To enjoy your stay in here you have to learn their language which is Costa Rican Spanish. The cost of living in is not that expensive the average estimation is US$ 1,500 monthly if you prefer to live in a simple life style. Costa Rica is a tropical country. It has two major seasons dry and rainy. Rainy season starts from the month of May to December while dry season starts from January to May.

If you want to become a permanent resident retiree in Costa Rica you must have at least US$ 1,000 to US$ 2,000 monthly income however, if you plan to put up a business or invest here you must show a proof that you have US$ 200,000 minimum worth of investment.

Like Brazilians, Costa Ricans are also very friendly and hospitable. It counts as one of the most stable countries in Central America because they have high a standard of education and life style. While the pace of life is slower here, for anyone that is sick of being stuck on the freeway in traffic, you are going to love Costa Rica as there is almost no highway traffic here which means you can visit beautiful places such as beaches, volcanoes, rainforest and hills in just a short time.

For retirees who want to buy a house, you can save a lot of money because you can buy a house in Costa Rica for approximately 70% lower than what houses cost in the United States. Another great money saving benefit of living here is that as of the time of this writing social security here has definitely no tax.

The staple of Costa Rican food is quite simple and consists of rice and beans, but as the country grows in popularity with tourists many different worldly restaurants are springing up everywhere. If you are a fan of spicy food then you will likely want to spend your time on the Caribbean side of the country where there is more of a Jamaican influence. When it comes to drink the most famous drink in Costa Rica is the Horchata, it is a cornmeal drink with a cinnamon flavor.

Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in Central America since the rate of crime is very low and as mentioned earlier the people are friendly and honest, however like any city or country in the world you need to keep your wits about you wherever you are and be aware of your surroundings.

Bret Dudl About Monte Verde

24 May 2010 at 14:12

Bret Dudl

Bret Dudl Monte Verde

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The Cloud Forest of Costa Rica
Bret Dudl About Monte Verde By Pauline Go

The cloud forest of Costa Rica is located in Monte Verde, and is considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the World. In fact, scientists and researchers from all over the world come to the forest to study this unique and beautiful ecosystem.

The cloud forest is a rainforest, but with a difference. It is situated at a high altitude in the midst of mountains and due to the elevation, the forest is always covered with clouds. Hence, the name. Because of the clouds, water droplets get deposited on the leaves of the trees, creating an ideal environment for the numerous plants and animals to thrive. In the higher reaches of the mountains, the cloud cover ensures that there is a constant drip of water and moisture on the trees and other plants.

The sight is just too amazing to miss out, especially when you see the clouds drifting through the trees. Due to the elevation, it can be a little chilly, but this has not stopped nature from thriving here.

The cloud forest of Costa Rica is home to more than 755 species of trees. According to biologists, there are some 358 species of ferns, some of which grow to amazing sizes that they can get mistaken for trees! There are around 40 to 50 different species of fruits trees making it an ideal environment for fruit-eating birds and animals to flourish.

The forest is home to 425 species of birds, 68 species of bats, 6 species of cats, foxes, sloths, armadillos, numerous amphibians and reptiles. Some of the animals, especially the birds do not live permanently in the forest. They come to forage and then fly away. However, many of the birds found in the forest are rare species.

Today, Monte Verde is the destination that all nature lovers head to because of the cloud forest. Truly, it is an amazing place — maybe heaven on earth!

Bret Dudl in Costa Rica

24 May 2010 at 13:59

Bret Dudl

Bret Dudl in Costa Rica

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Getting Around in Costa Rica
Bret Dudl Make Informed Decisions About Costa Rica Travel By Brock Higdon

I thought I would write this article to help those visiting Costa Rica make informed decisions and be safe in their travels. There are many different ways of getting around in Costa Rica some of them include: walking, taxis and buses.

The first thing you should know if you’re going to be walking is the pedestrian does not have the right of way, you should always use cross walks. If you are going to walking during the rainy season it is a good idea to take an umbrella with you, because must afternoons it will rain and there is very little warning before it starts, better to be prepared than wet other than that it is a great way to enjoy the nice Tropical weather.

Now let’s talk about taxis my favorite mode of transportation (kidding of course), there are plenty of them around and there easy to spot because they are Red with a yellow triangle or a company signs on the door. Taxis are the most expensive option I will talk about today. When you get into the car ask the driver to reset the meter it should start out at around 500 colones, which is about a dollar. It is better if you pay for your trip in the local currency, which is called colones, this way you will not have to worry if the exchange rate is correct. Most of the drivers will not speak English, but will know some words. If you’re going to a public place, just tell the driver the name and what part of the city it is in; if you’re going to a private residence or a hostel that is not known by the driver you will need the address. The addresses in Costa Rica are a lot different than in the States, because they use reference points the houses do not have numbers. Here is an example of an address (500 meters south of the Church, 150 meters west, White house on the left side) if you do not speak good Spanish this could be a problem to communicate to the driver.

A couple other things you should keep in mind is if you call a taxi from a hotel you can expect to pay a little more and if it is raining you will have a hard time finding one on the street, it is better to call and have them come and pick you up.

Then there are the Buses, there are two different kinds the big public ones or the smaller private ones, tour companies use these. The big buses are the most economical option with an average trip costing about 50 cents. They will always have signs in the window, telling you where they are going, if you are not sure you can always ask the driver and if you’re not sure what stop to get off at just ask someone on the bus and they will tell you the people are very friendly and will be glad to help you. I once took one of these buses from San Jose to Jaco to save some money, it only cost a couple of dollars, but was crowded and very slow. The private buses are owned by a tour company or a private company and they seat about eight to ten people, if you have purchased a tour you will probably be met by one of these buses at the airport and your tour company will use these to transport you from location to location. The private buses operate between cities, this is a good way to travel for example you can go from San Jose to Jaco for around 40 dollars. The best part about taking one of these buses is you never know who you’re going to meet I have met some very interesting people on my trips.

Bret Dudl Costa Rica Retirement

24 May 2010 at 13:58

Bret Dudl

Bret Dudl Costa Rica Retire

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Costa Rica Retirement
Bret Dudl Reasons to Retire in Costa Rica By Mitch Bowler

So Many Reasons to Retire in Costa Rica

If you want to live a laid-back life, then Costa Rica is suitable for you. Since this is a sub-tropical country, one is privileged to enjoy many activities under the sun all year long. Costa Rica is lucky to have immaculate beaches to brag about. There are a lot of things that you can explore in this country, ranging from immersing yourself into their culture to exploring their landscapes. This enthralling country belongs to the nature loving dreamers who have high respect to Mother Nature thus making its flora and fauna biodiversity unspoiled.

Costa Rican living is low budget living. It is best to buy local produce since it is cheaper than imported goods. Here you will be able to live a wonderful and fantastic lifestyle without spending too much. Doing business here is a good idea especially if you plan on investing in real estate, livestock or plant and flower businesses. The country belongs to a middle class economy, but a lot of developments are continually being initiated by the government to improve the country’s economy. Costa Rica is known to be politically stable and a peaceful nation.

The people of this country are not so very punctual as compared to the USA, so if you hail from America, this culture of the Costa Ricans might be a shock to you. In terms of congeniality, the locals have become more open to retirees staying in their countries thus it is more likely that you will find yourself engaged in doing activities together with a local or a co-retiree. Costa Rican housing ranges from affordable to expensive depending on the area you plan to live.

English is the second language in this country, meaning that it is least likely that communication will be a hindrance in your stay in Costa Rica. The food here is somewhat simple and if you have a taste for spicy things then you would do well to look at retirement options along the Caribbean side of the country. As a part of their culture, the people in this country love to just relax, casually just take things to go on and informally run their life. When you visit here you will often hear people saying “Pura Vida” which means “Pure Life” and the Costa Ricans take this saying to heart in everything they do.

The Costa Rican health care system may not be that of the same standards in the USA, but the quality of care is excellent, and the cost is one of the worlds’ low-cost medical care systems. With its universal care system, it is a guarantee that each person seeking medical help will receive utmost care and attention.

There are different types of residencies available for foreigners and retirees when they plan to stay in Costa Rica. These are Rentista, for retirees who do not have a pension but gain income in the form of investments with an income of at least $1000 per month; Inversionistas, for those who would like to start a business in Costa Rica, the investment should be worth $200,000; and the Pensionados, for retirees receiving a lifelong pension, and must earn $600 per month.