Coming Soon Direct Flights Chicago To Liberia Airport

Major vacation tour operator   plans direct flight

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Apple Vacations, one of the biggest U.S. wholesalers, is putting on a direct Chicago to Liberia flight starting Jan. 14. The flight will bring 190 vacationers to Guanacaste every week. This is the first time that the company has had a direct flight from Chicago, Illinois. The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo said that the flight is directed to middle- and upper-income vacationers who will spend $150 or more per night. The company promotes these three Guanacaste hotels on its Web site: Riu Guanacaste, JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa and Paradisus Playa Conchal. It also lists other hotels and also escorted tours and tours to San José. The company also is offering three- and four-night tours of La Fortuna and Monteverde, the institute said. The company also has tours to Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero and Turrialba. Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.

The Growth and Expansion Of Nuevo Arenal

Banco Nacional, One of Costa Ricas oldest and largest banks has been a fixture in Nuevo Arenal for many many years and just recently completely renovated and expanded to meeti the growing business and population expansion. Great service from this branch.



The Arenal Soccer field and Catholic Church in the back ground. Almost every small town in Costa Rica has a soccer field. To the left of the church is part of the public school.

The new Arenal Gym, just opened and a real plus to a town this size has been a great success and an asset for all those who wish to stay in shape of all ages



Many small towns in Costa Rica have old fashioned meat markets. This is ours owned by the Sibaja Brothers who have been there for many many years and offer a variety of good fresh meats and will cut a particular cut to your specifications with pleasure



Muswanni, Arenal's newest addition, just opened and is part of a national chain of bakeries. The breads and pastries are excellent and although dieters beware, it is great to have them here

Banco Costa Rica just opened in Arenal Town. Reinforcing the conclussion that Nuevo Arenal and the Lake is on a fast track path for growth, discovery and expansion

Arenal Fruits and Vegetables, one of two fruit and vegetable markets in Arenal town that off a wide variety of fresh, inexpensive produce some of which is organic and a must for every food shopper several times a week

Super Compro, our recently expanded supermarket, offering a pretty good selection of products for a town this size and reflecting the expats here by offering products not normally offered in a local town.

Also rumored that PALI, a large supermarket chain is coming to Arenal town directly across the street from Super Compro, which will be a boon for competition and the variety of foods available here



Colono Hardware, also recently expanded to serve the booming construction trade at the Lake. Pretty good selection, part of a chain and what they don't have they can order for you

Moyas Restaurant and Video Rental Store. Moyas is a great place for a pizza or a wrap and has a great outdoor cafe feel to it. Reasonably priced and conveniently located. Video store is well stocked.



Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years Of tTopical Real Estate Excellence

After twelve years of therapy my psychiatrist said something that brought tears to my eyes. He said, "No hablo ingles."

Frontier Airlines Joins The Rush To Costa Rica

 

Frontier Airlines Announces New Costa Rica Route

Posted on: August 31st, 2010 by Charlie Mills

It now appears that Frontier Airlines is the first of many airlines that will be launching new routes to Costa Rica. Apparently the carrier is planning on running this as a seasonal service, which will run as of February 13 next year and will service Liberia, Costa Rica.
For those that do not know, Liberia is about four hours northwest of the capital, San Jose, when traveling by bus. It is one of the major jumping off points for beach resorts on the West Cost. Frontier Airlines, which is a unit of Republic Airways Holdings, said that it will operate weekly nonstop flights to and from its hub at Denver International Airport.
As of right now the airline already runs flights to San Jose. After this information was released, Republic Airways saw its shares rise 2 cents to $7.01 in morning trading at the start of this week.
So why are airlines now starting to add more routes to Costa Rica? Why are experts suggesting that more airlines will now start looking into offering Cost Rica routes? A lot of this has to do with the fact that the United States government is starting to relax travel restrictions to Costa Rica. This could mean that routes to the country could now be profitable for airlines to fly.
However, it is not yet know just how popular these flights will be. Most experts assume that they will be pretty popular, though. Apparently people have been asking airlines for a long time to add these kinds of flights and asking the government to relax its travel restrictions.

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Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
 

Expats Rate Public Hospital Calderon Guardia As First Class

I have lived in Costa Rica for almost 20 years, and I had to use the facility of Hospital Calderón Guardia only three times, twice in the emergency room and just a few days ago for a four-day stay.

I had never been beyond the emergency room facility until this particular time, so therefore I wasn’t really familiar with any other part of the hospital except the emergency facility. My wife, Blanca, had three serious operations in this hospital on three different occasions and she always assured me that it's a top-rated hospital.

My opinion of this hospital now having a first-hand experience is the following.

It would rival any first-class rated hospital in the U.S., and I mean every word I am about to say. I was diagnosed with pancreatitis which can be very severe, and the pain, on a scale of one to ten, one being slight, ten being excruciating, was definitely a ten.

While in the emergency room facility, I was sent for several different tests, five x-rays, sonogram and several blood tests. It was determined that it was indeed pancreatitis and that I would be required to spend some time in the hospital for treatment and further testing.

I was admitted and brought up to the fourth floor in a large room shared with six other patients and an ample size bath facility and shower. Part of the patient’s room was shared with a duty nurse who occupies a desk and devices to perform her/his duties and still be able to monitor the patients.

The meal schedule is incredible. The breakfast is served and then a few hours later a light snack and beverage and then lunch is delivered around noon and then an afternoon snack and beverage, the evening meal is of course next and then a beverage before bedtime.

The staff which includes doctors, nurses, technicians, kitchen staff, cleaning crews, maintenance crew are extremely well organized, compassionate, intelligent, professional, and energetic beyond anything I have witnessed here in Costa Rica or the U.S. and would definitely rival anything in the States.

It was a pleasant surprise to me because as I have mentioned I had never been beyond the emergency facility and as all emergency and trauma facilities go anywhere in the world they are a bit chaotic and of course overtaxed with emergency treatment.

I would rate the doctors and the nursing staff and all the support staff as excellent and very professional and
dedicated far beyond anything I have seen in the States and others countries where I have lived. It almost seems that practicing virtues is part of their curriculum. I have never witnessed such compassion to all the patients suffering from every conceivable ailment or disease.

This hospital is, of course, part of the socialized medicine system which Costa Rica has demonstrated works with great proficiency both economically and socially. They could be a great lesson to the U.S. and other countries of the world. But of course most countries because of their own ego problems wouldn’t consider using a smaller country as a model to their own health care systems.



The first doctor who saw me said that it would take about 48 hours of no food for the body to heal my condition. He went on to say that the human body has wonderful capabilities to heal itself and that all they need to do is diagnose the problem and assist in the healing process, through proper medications, therapy, and or surgery.

A team of doctors would visit me at the foot of my bed, all eight of them, and ask me questions relevant to my case and then confer between themselves and make a group decision. It reminds me of the very popular TV show “Dr. House.” Only this is real life. Their diagnostic skills are world class and they would rival the fictional character Dr. House himself.

It is so incredible that a staff of doctors, nurses, and all the support staff can have such energy, dedication, caring mindset, compassion, all while maintaining very professional work ethics and still manage to have nice broad smiles on their face when you come in eye contact.

All I have to say is that Costa Rica is fortunate to have this wonderful hospital and its incredible staff from the administrator, doctors, nurses, technicians to the support personnel which makes this hospital run like a fine tuned and well oiled machine, and I hope the Costa Rica citizens as well as foreign visitors are very thankful for that. God bless the entire staff at Calderón hospital.
By Alan Charles Johnson*
Special to A.M. Costa Rica

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Some days there won't be a song in your heart. Sing anyway

What Is The Richest Country on Earth

Costa Rica is the "richest country on earth." That's the conclusion we've reached over the last three days of discussion here at the 2010 International Living Live & Invest in Costa Rica Seminar.

Nowhere else can you live as well, as long, or as happily... for as little money. Today was especially eye opening.

I'm Suzan Haskins, reporting to you from San Jose, Costa Rica, where the conference is taking place.

Over coffee this morning, I found myself talking to Geraldo and his wife, Carolyne, from Decatur, Georgia.

He's a former attorney and educator, easing his way into retirement. He's also a diabetic. And a few years ago, he had open-heart surgery. Today, he's fit and trim and raring to go. Go south, that is...to Costa Rica.

It's not health issues that are killing him, he says, it's health care costs in the U.S.

At home in the States, he's covered by Medicare. And that's not all bad. "But every time I go see a doctor, I have a co-pay," he says. "And I have to pay partial costs for the tests they're always doing. It ends up costing me at least $170 every time."

And if something major were to happen, it would be a big bite financially. After his heart surgery, for example, he had a bill of several thousand dollars.

So he's looking to move to Costa Rica, where his overall cost of living will be less...especially when it comes to health care.

At age 72, Geraldo isn't eligible for private insurance in Costa Rica. But he learned at the conference this week that if he becomes a resident here, he automatically qualifies for CAJA, Costa Rica's public health insurance system.

"I'll pay out of pocket to see the very best doctors in this country," Geraldo says. "And I'll save at least 1/3 over what I'm paying in the States."

And if anything catastrophic happens, Geraldo's medical care in Costa Rica will be 100% covered through CAJA.

Geraldo has already done the research on the quality of the medical care available here. And what he learned at the conference this week only made him more certain that he and Carolyne are making the right decision. (Several speakers mentioned that the World Health Organization has ranked the quality of health care in Costa Rica as higher than that of the U.S.!)

Geraldo and Carolyne were all smiles as they discussed their plans for the future. They have kids in Miami...and Costa Rica is a quick (just two hours) and inexpensive flight from there. Geraldo wants to buy some land and build a house here...maybe a big enough property where they can do a little farming.

"The cost of labor is low here," he said, "so I figure we can easily afford to hire

some helpers...both inside and outside the house."

Before they buy any property, though, Geraldo and Carolyne will "try the country out" for a while. They plan to come down and rent for three months or so.

For $600 a month, there are lots of rental options for quality living in Costa Rica, we learned this week. We heard from expats here who paid $600 a month to rent a brand-new, fully furnished three-bedroom home – with lawn service and internet included. They've now moved to the beach where they pay $1,000 a month for a home with a swimming pool and a big yard for their dogs.

In the last three days of this conference, we've learned exactly where and how to find the very best rental deals. Or, for that matter, where the best markets are to buy an income-producing rental property.

But to get back to where I started... if prices are so low and labor is so inexpensive, why do those of us in the audience at the Live & Invest in Costa Rica Seminar agree that this may very well be the "richest" country on earth?

Here's what the experts say...

5 Things That Contribute to a "Rich" Life in Costa Rica:

• This country is rich in biodiversity, which means GREAT weather. It offers just about every landscape, temperature, and topography (except snowscapes and who wants that?). From the cool temperate climate of the capital city and suburbs of San Jose to mountain cloud forests, pristine volcanic lakes, lush rainforests, and the world's most beautiful beaches...you'll find it all in Costa Rica.

• It's one of the "greenest, cleanest" countries in the world with little pollution and lots of clean water and fresh air. (Costa Rica is one of the only countries in the world to actually reverse deforestation!) You will be healthier here, I can practically guarantee it.

• A staggering 99% of Costa Rica's energy comes from renewable sources. I don't have to tell you what that means in terms of dollars...and sense!

• Costa Ricans are rich with happiness. According to sociologists, Ticos are the happiest people on the planet. The Happy Planet Index, an independent think tank founded to study environmental impact and human well-being, says: "Costa Ricans report the highest life satisfaction in the world and have the second-highest average life expectancy of the Americas (second only to Canada)."

• Maybe Costa Ricans are so happy because they have all the modern amenities anyone could want or need -- modern shopping malls, world-class hospitals, reliable high-speed Internet, you name it...

• And, importantly... despite the fact that this is one of the world's most peaceful countries, with one of the world's longest-standing and most stable democracies, Costa Rica has no military.  Instead of spending money on wars and armies, they spend it on education (adult literacy is practically 100%) and on universal health care, which, as I mentioned, every resident qualifies for. (Free health care is provided to 86.8% of the population!)

But, of course, there's more. Costa Rica (which literally means the "rich coast") isn't called one of the world's richest countries in the world for just these reasons. Despite all the fortune of Costa Rica's land, culture, and people, it may just be a place that allows you to live a fuller, richer life...on so many levels.

4 MORE Things That Will Contribute to Your Own Personal Richer Life in Costa Rica:

1. Low taxes. Costa Rica assesses no (zero) income taxes on foreign-earned income... and annual property taxes are laughably low...no more than a few hundred dollars in most cases. And there's no capital gains tax!

2. Affordable real estate. Despite what you may think... real estate prices in Costa Rica are low -- just as low, in fact, as in Mexico and other popular Central American countries like Belize and Panama. You can still find properties with an ocean view, for instance, for one-half to 1/10th what you'd pay for a similar property at home.

3. A low cost of living. Most expats report that they live quite happily and without sacrifices on a monthly budget of $1,500 to $2,500. 

4. It's easy to start a business here. So said speaker after speaker today at the Live & Invest in Costa Rica Seminar.

Starting a business in Costa Rica was one of our important topics today. Two expert speakers addressed that very issue.

John Collins, an expat from California, told us why he thinks Costa Rica is one of the best places in Latin America (if not the world) to start a business right now. He's successfully done just that...on Costa Rica's emerging southern coast.

In his presentation, he offered up seven "must-do" steps for starting a business in Costa Rica. These aren't legal things...they're tips John learned along the way. (Experience is everything, after all, and John was generous in sharing his.)

He also shared his top 10 ways to promote your business -- both locally and internationally. (Don't start a business anywhere today without understanding all this...like how to use new social media to your advantage.)

Juan Sostheim also shared his experiences. I have to say, this man is my hero. He's created an intentional, self-sustainable community in Costa Rica that has become a new world standard. If you don't know what that means, you need to listen to Juan explain his vision. I so wanted to speak to him after his presentation and congratulate him on what he's doing, but he had a huge crowd around him. Everybody, it seems, wanted to pick his brain.

But no worries, I have his contact info... And you can have it, too, by the way...along with contact details for every single speaker at this historic conference. And every single presentation, for that matter.

Today, for example, we learned more about the property-purchase process in Costa Rica. We learned about our options for moving our household goods here. We received a tutorial on all the little details that sometimes slip though the cracks...like traveling with our pets, how to best maintain daily communications with our family back home, how to handle paying our credit card bills, getting our mail...

                                International Living - The World Leader in Real Estate Values

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Pray that success will not come any faster than you are able to endure it. 

                                         

Costa Rican President Calls Costa Rica an "Economic Miracle"

Chinchilla sets financial goals,
calls Costa Rica an ‘economic miracle'

By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff | clong@ticotimes.net

The Chinchilla administration on Monday announced financial goals for the next four years, saying it aims to achieve $9 billion in foreign investment and $17 billion in exports.

“Costa Rica has been one of the most successful countries in Latin America in terms of foreign investment,” said President Laura Chinchilla, calling her country an “economic miracle.”

Chinchilla said that for each million dollars of foreign investment, at least 17 direct jobs are created.

“We have to understand that a united platform in favor of foreign investment and production of exports gives us not only access to markets, but also better levels of competition and higher economic welfare,” she said.

Foreign investment has increased an average of 12 percent each year since 1990, but fell by 34 percent during the crisis year of 2009. Former President Oscar Arias is credited with a 132 percent overall increase in foreign investment during his second four-year term, which ended this year.

Foreign Trade Minister Anabel Gonzaléz pointed to the telecommunications, tourism and energy sectors as some of the most promising target areas for investment.

Not only is Chinchilla looking to attract more money into Costa Rica, but she is also working to increase the country's exports by 22 percent during her term. For each percentage-point increase in exports, she said, 7,500 jobs are created.

Chinchilla said her administration will focus on improving infrastructure, streamlining regulations and continuing to educate the labor force to meet the target goal, which she stressed has been brought closer into reach by the recently signed trade agreements with Europe, China and the United States.

Direct foreign investment has increased an average of 12 percent each year since 1990, but fell 34 percent in 2009.

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An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit

Who Should Not Move To Costa Rica

Who Should Not Move To Costa Rica? By Christopher Howard, Liveincostarica.com After helping thousands of Americans and Canadians move to Costa Rica over the last thirty years through my books and monthly retirement and relocation tours, I have observed who are the best candidates for living successfully in the country. Don’t move to Costa Rica if…. (1) you expect everything to be like the U.S. (2) you think the locals should change and do everything like we do. (3) you don’t like warm weather or rain. (4) you have breathing problems due to high altitudes or have allergies (5) you expect to every product from the United States. (6) you are insensitive to the local culture. (7) you a smart ass, self-righteous and know-it-all “Ugly American.” (8) you are going to refuse to use Spanish and think the locals should speak English. (9) you are running away from the law in the U.S. You will be found sooner or later. (10) you want to get rich overnight. (11) you want to find a Latina woman for a low price tag and exploit her or if you have serious problems with the opposite sex. (12) you want to avoid paying taxes. (13) you want to work illegally under the table here. (14) you don’t want to go through the process of obtaining residency. (14) you want free medical care. (15) you want scam people. (16) you have a serious drug or alcohol problem. (17) you expect all of your emotional baggage and problems to go away just because you move here. (18) you are smarter than the locals and can beat the system. (19) you think you can become an expert on the country overnight. (20) you think it is easy to set up a business. (21) you can’t stand your fellow Americans. We have more and more coming here every day. (22) you think you are the savor of the locals and will civilize them. You should leave the Second Coming of Columbus Syndrome at home. (23) you are type of person who will give foreigners a bad name. (24) you think a younger woman will be attracted for your good looks and not your money. (25) you feel just because you are an American you should be entitled to something. (26) you have no sense of humor. (27) you don’t want to experience the country’s culture and people. (28) you don’t have a sense of adventure. (29) you don’t realize you are guest here. (30) both you and your spouse don’t see eye to eye about moving here. (31) you really don’t have enough money to live here. (32) have no goals. (33) don’t want to affiliate with groups like clubs, church groups, volunteer etc. (34) suffer from the “hammock syndrome” with nothing to do. You’ll end up tipping the bottle and get real bored quickly. (35) are a negative person who likes to complain about everything and everyone. (36) you have never traveled or lived abroad. Moran Real Estate - Over 50 Years Of Tropical Real Estate Excellence Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.