Topic Wiki

List of TR's:
Fan Of Dan, BrooklynCPA, momo Part 1, momo Part 2, lechaim2life, eliteflyer, Pbaruch, Rcarentals (Guanacaste)

Bringing food/meat through the airports:
  • San Jose Airport SJO - customs are known to be ruthless here with meat. There are many stories in the forums and online of people having all their meats or kosher travel meals seized at customs.
  • Liberia LIR - Recent experiences were that LIR customs didn't check anyone at all.
The general advice which is the only method that seems to consistently work, is bringing in specifically USDA certified products. For example most hotdogs will have an actual USDA certification printed on the hotdog packet. Some companies like Teva, Agri in various supermarkets and most manufacturers have the USDA certification and approval number printed on the label. This is rarely the case for supermarkets who repackage and butcher things themselves and do not have a USDA-certified processing room.
There have been reports of stickers like the USDA organic stickers regularly used to label meats in supermarkets working as well if they look like THIS
In the most ideal world, your food has a clear description of: The product, the nutrition, and a USDA label on the manufacturer packaging.

In a worst case, food can be airshipped to anywhere for a fee - for example from one of the SJO kosher suppliers to Liberia for example the JW Marriott for around $400.

Kosher Food/ Restaurants:
  • SKCR/Super Kosher has takeout under the local Chabad rabbi.
  • The Israeli restaurant in Jaco may not be acceptable for many.  It is my understanding that while they get some meat/chicken from Chabad, they have no hashgacha.
  • Supermarket Automercado has pas yisroel bagels in the freezer per the Chabad rabbi in tamarindo - may or may not be tamarindo specific.
  • Walmart is 6 minutes from Liberia airport, and has tons of American, kosher products and snacks.

Synagogue:

Things to Do:

West side/Liberia

Hotels:
The JW Marriott Guanacaste has amazing suites. If you book there, it's worth speaking to the reservations department before or after to see if you can negotiate an upgrade for a small fee. They offered off the base room, an upgrade of $175 a night for a suite, or $200 for a suite with ocean view, and plunge pool.

Getting Around:
A 4 Wheel drive here is mandatory. Not just because the humidity and rain create muddy and slippery roads, but mainly because the potholes here, are really huge and bad, and your car needs clearance to drive... The roads in costa rica are absolutely terribly maintained. they are completely manageable with a SUV - but expect a ton of bumps and thousands of potholes - almost the entire country is made up of 2 lane roads including highways. All overtaking is done in the direction of opposing traffic. cars here are seriously used and abused - so when you pick up your car.. it's worth going for one with as low mileage as possible.


Notes:

ALL CAR COMPANIES CHARGE MANDATORY LIABILITY INSURANCE. This seems to be one of the biggest complaints from tourists who don't know and consider this a tourist trap - like Israel.
CDW here often REQUIRES the letter - more than Israel.. so have that prepared.


Author Topic: Costa Rica Master Thread  (Read 177380 times)

Offline A3

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Nov 2009
  • Posts: 3449
  • Total likes: 95
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #260 on: January 06, 2016, 08:53:17 PM »

Offline eliteflyer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 1517
  • Total likes: 60
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #261 on: January 06, 2016, 10:30:08 PM »

Offline A3

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Nov 2009
  • Posts: 3449
  • Total likes: 95
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #262 on: January 07, 2016, 10:06:41 AM »

Offline rileywiles23

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Posts: 5776
  • Total likes: 108
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #263 on: January 07, 2016, 11:41:51 AM »

DW is there now.
Did she have any issues checking in as a second guest ?
Life is as good as you make it...

Offline Frostboot

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 129
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #264 on: January 08, 2016, 12:18:29 AM »
Are there any kosher products at all near the Andaz in Guanacaste?  Do any of the local groceries carry kosher products? Also do the drinks in Costa Rica have kosher symbols? For example, is a Coke kosher?

Offline Cw3323

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2012
  • Posts: 372
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
  • Programs: UR, MR, UA, AA, JB, HH.
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #265 on: January 08, 2016, 12:59:38 AM »
There is a big supermarket "Auto Mercado" like 20 min drive and they have a lot of basic kosher stuff. I even found in the freezer section frozen salmon with kof k hechsher

Offline Frostboot

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 129
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #266 on: January 08, 2016, 01:17:08 AM »
There is a big supermarket "Auto Mercado" like 20 min drive and they have a lot of basic kosher stuff. I even found in the freezer section frozen salmon with kof k hechsher

Thanks, good to know.  What is the story with sodas/soft drinks?  Do I need to stick to water or are there kosher soft drinks?

Offline Mtl18

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 122
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #267 on: January 08, 2016, 11:19:13 AM »
I'm planning on being there Jan 24-28.

Anyone have experience renting from apex rental at LIR airport? I got a reservation through Travelocity, standard suv (automatic) for 4 days, total $35 (l know there's the extra insurance coming up on top)
I will also be there Jan 24-28. Looking into car rental options now. Any suggestions?

We are considering going straight from LIR to Arenal and spend 1-2nights there and then go to Hyatt for 2 nights. Is it worth the trip to arenal to spend 1 or 2 nights there versus 4 nights at hyatt?

Offline Cw3323

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2012
  • Posts: 372
  • Total likes: 9
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
  • Programs: UR, MR, UA, AA, JB, HH.
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #268 on: January 08, 2016, 11:25:56 AM »
if you wanna do arenal fly in SJO, if you are going just to relax then go straight to the andaz, if you like to explore then do arenal   Hotel Royal Corin was very nice.

Offline binnyshvaads

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 18
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #269 on: January 10, 2016, 07:14:17 PM »
so whats everyone whos going doing for food?
whats the deal with bringing in frozen pomegranate meals through customs?

Offline A3

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Nov 2009
  • Posts: 3449
  • Total likes: 95
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #270 on: January 10, 2016, 07:24:20 PM »
Did she have any issues checking in as a second guest ?
Put it this way... They did notice and did ask if the main guest was there...

Offline srap

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 2819
  • Total likes: 202
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #271 on: January 10, 2016, 08:00:12 PM »
I will also be there Jan 24-28. Looking into car rental options now. Any suggestions?

We are considering going straight from LIR to Arenal and spend 1-2nights there and then go to Hyatt for 2 nights. Is it worth the trip to arenal to spend 1 or 2 nights there versus 4 nights at hyatt?
Are you going to Costa Rica for the volcanoes or for the Hyatt?

Offline nyweather

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 11
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #272 on: January 17, 2016, 12:50:12 AM »
Anybody have issues with bringing in kosher food through Liberia airport?

Offline Frostboot

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 129
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #273 on: January 18, 2016, 05:43:52 PM »
Anybody have issues with bringing in kosher food through Liberia airport?

Make sure all non-cooked food is stamped USDA where possible (i.e., meat and poultry) and all cooked food is vacuum packed. Don't bring anything with bones and no "fresh" fruits or vegetables.  Make sure all perishables are brought in a cooler or freezer bag. The customs guys want to see that nothing is potentially spoiled.

Offline rileywiles23

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Posts: 5776
  • Total likes: 108
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #274 on: January 18, 2016, 08:27:52 PM »

Make sure all non-cooked food is stamped USDA where possible (i.e., meat and poultry) and all cooked food is vacuum packed. Don't bring anything with bones and no "fresh" fruits or vegetables.  Make sure all perishables are brought in a cooler or freezer bag. The customs guys want to see that nothing is potentially spoiled.
POM meals wouldn't work ?
Life is as good as you make it...

Offline A3

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Nov 2009
  • Posts: 3449
  • Total likes: 95
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #275 on: January 18, 2016, 08:55:10 PM »
POM meals wouldn't work ?
YMMV. I believe it's been discussed.

Offline eliteflyer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 1517
  • Total likes: 60
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #276 on: January 18, 2016, 09:49:04 PM »
POM meals wouldn't work ?
See my report upthread. We ultimately got our POM meals in, but if I ever go again, I would be sure to have some sort of USDA stamp on them and pack them in a legitimate cooler. We had ours packed frozen (and they arrived frozen) in a cardboard box with ice-packs along the perimeter. The whole customs operation at LIR seemed very haphazard and unpredictable.

Offline Jm1248

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 2419
  • Total likes: 14
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #277 on: January 18, 2016, 09:49:58 PM »
I came in to SJO and my food wasn't taken away but they did put everything through a scanner and almost took it away

Offline Jm1248

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 2419
  • Total likes: 14
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #278 on: January 18, 2016, 09:50:55 PM »
See my report upthread. We ultimately got our POM meals in, but if I ever go again, I would be sure to have some sort of USDA stamp on them and pack them in a legitimate cooler. We had ours packed frozen (and they arrived frozen) in a cardboard box with ice-packs along the perimeter. The whole customs operation at LIR seemed very haphazard and unpredictable.
+1 by SJO. Same experience. Not a good place to take a chance with food.

Offline nyweather

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 11
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #279 on: January 18, 2016, 09:54:48 PM »
Make sure all non-cooked food is stamped USDA where possible (i.e., meat and poultry) and all cooked food is vacuum packed. Don't bring anything with bones and no "fresh" fruits or vegetables.  Make sure all perishables are brought in a cooler or freezer bag. The customs guys want to see that nothing is potentially spoiled.
Thanks Frostboot. We've vacuum packed all and will be transporting it in a freezer bag so I think we should be OK.