www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I only visit CR once a year (subject to change in the future but that's it at the moment) and always in either January or February. I'm thinking of coming a bit ealier next winter, leaving just after Christmas so that I'd be there over New Year's. Question: Is that a good idea? Or, since holidays can be, I'm told, quiet in the Gulch, would it be better to wait until the holidays are over?

If I were you I would stick to the usual plan and come later in Jan of Feb. Many of the chicas spend the holidays at home with their families. You should too.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

New Years is very quiet compared to other times of the year. There is a good selection available but not like other times. Did it this year.

I've been to CR the week of and after New Years and the week after is definitely better.

I would wait until mid-january at the earliest.

But getting a hotel room around New Years is really easy.

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Patriot: Ice Road Trucking through the Bearing Sea to recovery

there's less chicas, but there's also less mongers. I've been down there over the holidays and have had an excellent time. There will be things that are closed here and there, so it might be a good idea to line up some favoritas, but even without that you won't find any shortage of what you're looking for.

Your advice is appreciated.

Many of the service providers are Nicaraguans or Columbians. At Christmas time the delay at the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua can be up to 10 hours. That should give you an idea of how many people make the trek back to Nicaland at Christmas time. It is true that the ineptitude and corruption at the border crossing make the typical passage slow but it is unusually slow at that time of year. And after the holidays the same is true as they trek back to their jobs.

The locals are off too, spending time with their families and/or enjoying the beach. What that means is the pickings are slim. Add to that the fact that the police and municipal code enforcers are always out-and-about at religious holiday time (Christmas, Easter, etc.) to shut down one or two token places and show they are doing the Lord’s work -- thus CR is not all that inviting for mongers at Christmas time.

Like a couple of days after New Years is it back to normal? I'm wondering if the next week Mon 5 of Jan is the same as always. When do the MP's open back up after New Years? I think I read that some chicas take three weeks break from work right before xmas,true?

Everything will be open and back to normal when you get here on the 5th. Chicas will be looking to make up for lost revenue and holiday spending. Enjoy.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Thanks for the info.