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 177422 times)

Online lansky

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #460 on: November 28, 2020, 07:32:53 PM »
We are planning to be in Costa Rica during Dec 15 - 31.
Does anyone want to arrange to meet up somewhere during Shabbos or share food? Do you plan on going to the shul?

Offline importantq

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #461 on: November 29, 2020, 02:01:27 PM »
Not sure where to be for Shabbas.
San Jose or Jaco?

I wonder what’s the news RE Covid. Is everything running the same?

Offline nirc

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #462 on: November 29, 2020, 08:13:29 PM »

Offline Kobe Bryant

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #463 on: November 29, 2020, 08:17:07 PM »
cost?
For the basic requirements (and under 70 yo) came out to less than $2 a day.

Online lansky

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #464 on: November 30, 2020, 12:46:14 PM »
Any updates on skcar food situation and the shul,and are the outlets the same as us?

Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #465 on: December 02, 2020, 10:53:06 AM »
Andaz or W for Costa Rica?
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


― Aristotle

Offline ar

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #466 on: December 02, 2020, 04:09:41 PM »
Andaz or W for Costa Rica?

W looks nicer to me

Offline nirc

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #467 on: December 02, 2020, 08:00:18 PM »
Andaz or W for Costa Rica?

whats your itineary?

Offline Kobe Bryant

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #468 on: December 03, 2020, 01:32:18 AM »
W looks nicer to me
Have you been to either?

Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #469 on: December 04, 2020, 08:50:55 AM »
whats your itineary?
right now none lol, arriving Sunday noon, departing Thursday noon, open to all ideas....
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


― Aristotle

Offline nirc

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #470 on: December 04, 2020, 10:00:03 AM »
right now none lol, arriving Sunday noon, departing Thursday noon, open to all ideas....

When u get one please post.
The current TR are helpful, but there’s not many of them and some are dated or lack sufficient detail to help plan an itinerary.


Offline Kobe Bryant

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #471 on: December 05, 2020, 07:37:36 PM »
When u get one please post.
The current TR are helpful, but there’s not many of them and some are dated or lack sufficient detail to help plan an itinerary.
Anyone that needs help with an itinerary can feel free to PM me.

Offline Kobe Bryant

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #472 on: December 05, 2020, 07:38:42 PM »
right now none lol, arriving Sunday noon, departing Thursday noon, open to all ideas....
What Airport are you flying to and from?

Offline Kobe Bryant

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #473 on: December 05, 2020, 07:48:49 PM »
Andaz or W for Costa Rica?
I can’t speak to the W as I’ve never been.
The Andaz is an exceptional resort. It is conveniently located 30 min away from LIR in the Papagayo peninsula in a very natural setting within a jungle overlooking the bay, with gorgeous infinity pools. The rooms (even the basic ones, there are suites with private pools) are very large with an appealing design. The service is beyond phenomenal (5/5) and there are activities to keep one entertained for days on end. (Snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddle boards and electric bikes to explore the peninsula are complimentary.)
And right now it is only 20k Hyatt points. (It was 15k when I visited in 2016/17)

Offline nirc

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #474 on: December 07, 2020, 06:34:56 PM »
Any way to avoid the $85 pp tax on award tickets? Given the cash price of tickets it’s almost not worth using miles.

Offline Dan

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #475 on: December 07, 2020, 06:37:07 PM »
Anyone that needs help with an itinerary can feel free to PM me.
Post your itin?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #476 on: December 07, 2020, 06:37:24 PM »
I can’t speak to the W as I’ve never been.
The Andaz is an exceptional resort. It is conveniently located 30 min away from LIR in the Papagayo peninsula in a very natural setting within a jungle overlooking the bay, with gorgeous infinity pools. The rooms (even the basic ones, there are suites with private pools) are very large with an appealing design. The service is beyond phenomenal (5/5) and there are activities to keep one entertained for days on end. (Snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddle boards and electric bikes to explore the peninsula are complimentary.)
And right now it is only 20k Hyatt points. (It was 15k when I visited in 2016/17)
What did you do to warm up meals?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Online yitzyul

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #477 on: December 08, 2020, 03:48:35 PM »
What did you do to warm up meals?
I just stayed there for 2 nights.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZZNGD7

A bit bulky but doesn't weigh much. Although not an oven it warmed up the food nicely in about 25 min (was cold not frozen) and shlepped it across CR

(And was able to use it for eggs  ;) )

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #478 on: December 08, 2020, 03:50:16 PM »
I can’t speak to the W as I’ve never been.
The Andaz is an exceptional resort. It is conveniently located 30 min away from LIR in the Papagayo peninsula in a very natural setting within a jungle overlooking the bay, with gorgeous infinity pools. The rooms (even the basic ones, there are suites with private pools) are very large with an appealing design. The service is beyond phenomenal (5/5) and there are activities to keep one entertained for days on end. (Snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddle boards and electric bikes to explore the peninsula are complimentary.)
And right now it is only 20k Hyatt points. (It was 15k when I visited in 2016/17)

I kinda agree with you:) The service was impeccable. However pool area is small (narrow and long) and if not for it being empty not sure if they can handle larger crowds.
And the minibar (non alcoholic) is free and you can request from them to restock it as often as you want....IE tons of water and soda

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Re: Costa Rica Master Thread
« Reply #479 on: December 08, 2020, 04:01:39 PM »
I kinda agree with you:) The service was impeccable. However pool area is small (narrow and long) and if not for it being empty not sure if they can handle larger crowds.
And the minibar (non alcoholic) is free and you can request from them to restock it as often as you want....IE tons of water and soda
Snacks are complimentary as well.