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 177480 times)

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 #240 on: July 22, 2015, 12:36:49 AM »
In which town is the villa? Quepos?
It's in Manuel Antonio. Just south of quepos

Offline mordechain

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 668
  • Total likes: 69
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #241 on: July 22, 2015, 12:38:34 AM »
Is it part of a complex? About how much? I week tons of options on vrbo and airbnb

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 #242 on: July 22, 2015, 12:39:54 AM »
Is it part of a complex? About how much? I week tons of options on vrbo and airbnb
Search property number 681393. There's plenty of similar ones in the area. No shortage of gorgeous villas at very affordable prices

Offline mordechain

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 668
  • Total likes: 69
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #243 on: July 22, 2015, 12:49:59 AM »
Thanks! I liked the photo of the visitors on the porch

Offline Brister

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 1
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #244 on: July 30, 2015, 04:40:50 PM »
Anyone successful with contacting chabad of Costa Rica ? I tried emailing  them from their website but haven't heard back?

Also, anyone know of a good hotel to stay in San Jose to be close to Jewish community for shobbas?

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 #245 on: July 30, 2015, 05:45:46 PM »
Anyone successful with contacting chabad of Costa Rica ? I tried emailing  them from their website but haven't heard back?

Also, anyone know of a good hotel to stay in San Jose to be close to Jewish community for shobbas?
Marriott residence inn on escazu

Offline mordy44

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 383
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #246 on: October 11, 2015, 02:27:02 PM »
Anyone ever go first weeks of November? I know its technically still rainy season, but does that mean a short thunderstorm or constant rain?

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 #247 on: October 11, 2015, 05:23:20 PM »
Anyone ever go first weeks of November? I know its technically still rainy season, but does that mean a short thunderstorm or constant rain?
Short thunderstorm. Usually about an hour or two

Offline mordy44

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 383
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #248 on: October 11, 2015, 07:05:52 PM »
Thanks for the reply. Do you think its worth vacationing there that time of year?

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 #249 on: October 11, 2015, 08:13:35 PM »
Thanks for the reply. Do you think its worth vacationing there that time of year?
I went in August which is just as "rainy" as November. It was well worth it and as long as you plan your day properly the rain shouldn't affect you at all

Offline mordy44

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 383
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #250 on: October 26, 2015, 09:19:56 PM »
Does anyone know about the level of kashrus of the kosher store in SJO? Is it generally accepted?

http://www.costaricakoshercenter.com

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 #251 on: October 26, 2015, 11:41:22 PM »
Does anyone know about the level of kashrus of the kosher store in SJO? Is it generally accepted?

http://www.costaricakoshercenter.com
I think so. It should be under the certification of the chabad rabbi there.

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 #252 on: December 01, 2015, 03:24:51 PM »
Does AA fly to Costa Rica ? I seem to recall seeing that they recently launched a flight there, but can't seem to find any flights ?
Life is as good as you make it...

Offline @Yehuda

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 9693
  • Total likes: 187
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #253 on: December 01, 2015, 03:41:40 PM »
Does AA fly to Costa Rica ? I seem to recall seeing that they recently launched a flight there, but can't seem to find any flights ?
Sure they do. Not from NY if that's what you're implying, but they definitely fly to Costa Rica.

Offline Buruch

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 1984
  • Total likes: 39
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #254 on: December 01, 2015, 03:45:30 PM »
AS just started/will be shortly too.

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 #255 on: December 01, 2015, 06:49:28 PM »

Sure they do. Not from NY if that's what you're implying, but they definitely fly to Costa Rica.
From where do they fly ?
AS just started/will be shortly too.
I'm assuming that's from the way coast ?
Life is as good as you make it...

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 #256 on: January 01, 2016, 12:42:22 PM »
Planning a four day trip to CR for Feb., and will be bringing our 10 month old with us. My original plan was to fly RT to LIR, and stay at the Andaz.
As of now the andaz is pretty much booked up, and so far only managed to reserve 2 nights, tuesday, and wednesday, plus the direct flights to LIR,are not available to lir for the inbound, only the outbound. on tues,
My question is should I wait it out to see if the Andaz will have more openings, or fly the inbound to SJO, and stay somewhere else Sunday, and Mon. near that area, and drive to the andaz on tues.
What would be my hotel options point wise, or inexpensive revenue ?
Are there activities near the SJO area that can be done with a child ?
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 #257 on: January 01, 2016, 01:04:45 PM »
Anybody ever have problems at the Andaz checking in as a second guest on a reservation?

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 #258 on: January 01, 2016, 01:20:23 PM »
Anybody ever have problems at the Andaz checking in as a second guest on a reservation?
When you going ?
Life is as good as you make it...

Offline oiseli48

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Nov 2013
  • Posts: 386
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #259 on: January 04, 2016, 10:43:02 PM »

When you going ?

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)