Planning on going down in mid Feb and looking for some input.

What areas would you recommend? I don't want to live in the middle of the jungle and would prefer a more westernized area. Also not looking to spend more than $500-$600 for a furnished place. This will be my first time in Central America and I don't speak spanish. Also it must have decent internet, gym in town, and decent night life.

Is it true that you can leave every 90 days and re-enter after 72hrs? Any other options that are easy for a longer visa?

How easy is it to get setup back onto stars/ft? bank account? better to get a lawyer to help me do that?

What is local food like? How expensive is food in grocery store like eggs, rice, milk, chicken, etc all stuff that isn't imported.

How big of a difficulty will it be not knowing any spanish?

If I wanted to get some funny tobacco how hard would it be? decent quality? can you get in trouble?

Is Testosterone and other things like that available down there in pharmacies?

Any american girls down there?

Also if anyone has any other information they feel is relevant please feel free to add. I'm also open to other countries but would prefer to stay in central america. If you know of anyone that deals with rentals that you would recommend please feel free to PM me or leave them here.


Thanks in advance.

I'd like to add a question if you dont mind instead of making a thread:

What do you use for backup internet?

Doesn't bother me man.......I have actually done some research on that and it seems that people use air cards available down there for back up.

I went down there last year in January about this time, so I can help answer some of your questions.

What areas would you recommend? I don't want to live in the middle of the jungle and would prefer a more westernized area. Also not looking to spend more than $500-$600 for a furnished place. This will be my first time in Central America and I don't speak spanish. Also it must have decent internet, gym in town, and decent night life.

I would say that if you wanted westernized and night life gym, internet etc..san jose area would be good. most ppl that stay in san jose area stay in Escazu. It is the upscale nice rich area of costa rica, but things seemed pretty expensive there as far as dining out, drinking, and groceries in some places. But you can def get good rents there.

Is it true that you can leave every 90 days and re-enter after 72hrs? Any other options that are easy for a longer visa?

Yes you can leave every 90 days and you could go to nicaragua or panama if you want on a bus. Ive also heard from some people that you can get someone to stamp your passport etc..ive heard lots but not sure on that.

How easy is it to get setup back onto stars/ft? bank account? better to get a lawyer to help me do that?

You can get everything you need for stars on your own. We used poker refugees (kristin wilson) just for our bank accounts and not for finding a house and docs as I figured we could handle that. We tried with a lawyer who attempted to get us bank accounts but ran into some issiues, bet kristin did get us bank accounts open.

What is local food like? How expensive is food in grocery store like eggs, rice, milk, chicken, etc all stuff that isn't imported.

It can be cheap im pretty sure, but in escazu it seemed a little more exp then stuff in the states.

How big of a difficulty will it be not knowing any spanish?
I guess it woulud help to kno some spanish. I dont know much, but u learn a little and try to figure it out.


If I wanted to get some funny tobacco how hard would it be? decent quality? can you get in trouble?

Got ripped off a few times on some brown **** but met ppl and figured it out and youll be fine once u meet other players...I wouldnt worry about getting in any trouble..just dont be dumb.

Is Testosterone and other things like that available down there in pharmacies?
no idea

Any american girls down there?

Theres not really like a concentrated tourist area here, so Id say you wont see many of them...unless they are on holiday.

Also if anyone has any other information they feel is relevant please feel free to add. I'm also open to other countries but would prefer to stay in central america. If you know of anyone that deals with rentals that you would recommend please feel free to PM me or leave them here.


Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]


I would say its a great place to check out. I would join the costa rica poker group on Facebook..always ppl lookin for roomates,,or have places..or seeling computter etc.

Escazu, Jaco, and Tamarindo are good places to start, do you want to be in the city or beach? The farther outside the main tourist areas the more Spanish is required. The better you know the language the more the country opens up to you, locals will treat you better, you don't get "gringo priced" as much and exploring the country is smoother, and easier. That being said you can get by with knowing a minimal amount of Spanish, but you will find it frustrating often not knowing what people are saying to you and not being able communicate your ideas.

I recommend hiring Kristin Wilson at Poker Refuges for your banking needs and getting back on PS, FTP, ect. she has helped hundreds of players, me included, and she is just a great resource for any grinder moving to CR.

Prices are pretty much the same in CR than they are in the states, there are deals to be had, less in escazu though. You can get a full tipico lunch with drink for $4-$5 (meat, veg, rice, plantains). groceries are priced the same as they are in the states. CR is one of the more expensive countries to live in central america. Farmers markets are good places to shop (every friday morning in Jaco by the soccer field, fyi)

Never buy trees from a stranger on the street, just ask people you meet and can trust, and you will be pointed in the right direction.

Pharmacies will sell you a lot more Rx's OTC than in the states, as far as testosterone, if they do not sell it OTC then you can have a doctor make a house call for $60-$100 and write you the scrips that you need. Again just ask around for a doctor who makes house calls, there are a lot of them.

There are a lot of American girls who are teachers in Jaco, if you do go there you will inevitably meet them. They are a good looking group and a lot of fun to hang with. There are a lot of other Americans who are living in CR for a variety of reasons.

Gl bro hope this helps a little.

How did you feel as far as safety from crime? I've read a wide range of different things.

Also, with the internet backup you had set-up, were you free of all spotty connection?

Standard saftey rules apply anywhere in the world
1. Don't walk alone late at night especially on the beach
2. Don't buy drugs from strangers on the street
3. Don't be an a**hole
4. Don't leave your belongings unattended even for a short time
5. Be aware of your surroundings


If you keep to these somewhat obvious rules you will minimize your chances of being a victim of petty theft which is the most common crime.

You would be wise to have a backup source (air card, two or more connections, hot spot, ect). Both internet and power are not perfect and there are outages for both periodically, this is indicative of how things work in Central America, the systems in CA are good, they work, but not perfectly, so if you do move to to a CA country, expect things to take longer and be a little more troubling to get done.

Here's from the Travel Gov website, just wondering how accurate it was:

THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: The incidence of crime in Costa Rica
is higher than in many parts of the United States and has adversely
affected the traveling public. Pickpocketing and theft remain the most
common crimes perpetrated against tourists. U.S. citizens also have
been the victims of violent crime including sexual assaults,
robberies, car-jackings and murders.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1093.html

Thanks for taking the time to write those responses guys. Lots of good information.

I have heard some people here and other places say they don't like Jaco. What do you guys think?

What best area in central valley?

Thanks again

do you like surf, beers and lots of hookers?

if you do, you'll love Jaco, otherwise avoid it

Astro is not wrong, but it is a simplified version of Jaco. There is a lot of good in Jaco even though you will find a lot of "Jaco haters". $1 beers, $1 pizza slices, $2 burgers, girls in bikinis on the street, lots of bars and restaurants, cheap taxis in town, everything is walking distance, farmers market, loose prescription laws, shorts t-shirt and flip-flops are standard clothing 24hrs a day even in the fanciest restaurants in town, lots of ex-pats, a lot of English spoken, and a lot of f*ckin cool people live there (grinders and ticos)
There are a lot of hookers, but people say that as if it is a negative thing. Hookers know how to party and if you got some extra cash... But that sh*t is up to you, not trying to tell you how to live.
That being said I don't think it is a place to live for a long time period (multiple years) and if you live there for a little while you will understand what I mean.

So what is the best way to get a bank account going in CR?

I am moving out there in a few weeks and I have heard that it is harder to get a bank account than it use to be. Is this true?

I've heard of hiring a lawyer or translator for a few hundred. Does anyone have any specific suggestions on getting this done?

Just hire Kristin Wilson from Poker Refugees, she will set you up with what you need

what about charles schwab international accounts?

Can someone explain to me how they are worth the $650-$750 to get an account started? Surely if you get there you can pay someone to get it done for half that if not cheaper? She can't be the only person in CR that can get bank accounts.

Does anyone actually have any experience going other routes or trying other routes that failed?

I'd like to know about this as well.

I know Refugees is a business and they are trying to make a living but that seems like an absurd amount

It's not as simple as you may think there are certain documents that are needed to open an account, and a lawyer may need to be present to help you open the account. It is not as easy as it is in the states.
Do you speak Spanish?

Try and walk into the bank and open an account see how it goes, that would be completely free to do.

PR have helped hundreds of grinders set up bank accounts and they are intimate with the current banking system in CR and what is needed for you to open a new account.
Gl however you go about it

I completely understand that I am not going to be able to waltz into a bank by myself and get an account. I always knew I am going to have to pay someone to help me. It's just that number is way too high for me and I am looking for alternatives.

Surely people have opened accounts without PR and I am just wondering what my alternatives are (if any)

Or re: these documents keep being mentioned. Can anyone even link me to what you are specifically talking about? Or name any of these specific hurdles that make getting an account more difficult?

I am not trying to undermine PR in any way (they seem to be a respectable way to easily do all this) but it IS very expensive and I would like to hear some opinions from others who have opened bank accounts.

So from what I've gathered researching, a bank account at Banco Nacional will require the following,

A Translator (since I don't speak spanish)
Reference letter from my American Bank
Reference from a customer of the Bank
A CR utility bill or leasing agreement with my name on it
Passport/Obvious ID stuff

Proof of Income? (somewhat confused on this. Would my final paystub of 2012 from my job at a restaraunt work? What exactly do they use this for?) What should I claim as my employment?

Am I on the right track here / Missing any important aspect of this?

Proof of income I believe is something a CPA can do for you.

Looking to get out there next week. Anyone have anything available? Feel free to PM, thanks


Josh

headed down to jaco solo next week for couple months to grind. shoot me a pm if anyone down there want to grab a beer or something.

Is backup aircards a necessity or is the internet good enough not to have too many disconnects a day?

I'm thinking of moving to costa rica or playa del carmen in the next few weeks. CR looks amazing to me, and I'm put off slightly by how touristy PDC is, I'm looking for somewhere chilled, not big into partying/ drinking, more into beaches, hanging out in the sunshine, extreme sports, exploring etc.
However I'm going alone and i want to find people in a similar situation (I'm guessing that'll mostly be fellow poker players) that I can live with/ hang out with. Im guessing thtll be easier in PDC..
Any advice, & where the best place for me would be in CR?
How big are the poker communities in Jaco/ Tamarindo?
Are they big enough that ill easily enough find people to hang out with everyday/ live with?

Anyone know of any free rooms in CR/ PDC. or anyone in similar situation?

Add me on Skype: iason.riziotis if u wanna chat

any u guys live in playa del coco? i heard its pretty chilled there, and has a poker community? would be cool to hear more about it. add me on Skype or pm me.. (iason.riziotis)

Point your finger to any other place along the coast and it will be far preferable to Jaco or Coco (except maybe Puntarenas).

Poker community? *barf* Why would you move to a foreign country looking for what's familiar?