www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I always travel with a laptop in the States, it's just a normal part of my life, but I'm wondering if it's worth the hasstle and risk in CR. 10 days is a long time without it. My hotel has DSL in the room. What do you guys think ?

Its no different than travelling with a laptop in the US. There is no additional hassel and there is no additional risk. Obviously use common sense. Cameras are riskier cuz they are smaller. I brough mine down on my last trip and I'm considering bringing it down on my next due to work.... argh!

I brought my laptop with me on my last trip.

My problem was that I really under-utilized it. I was busy with other things, I guess...


I had no hassles, and it was fun to occasionally encounter the odd open wireless Internet connection in unexpected places!

My deal is a little different, because I am blind. The laptop is my little black book, mail center, reading room, newspaper and yellow pages. Despite the numerous uses to which I could have put the talking laptop, I didn't use it all that much.

If you're on vacation and not working, maybe you could leave it at home. The experience might be liberating.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I usually bring it since I am online daily.

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Hanging in Laurelas with the Paisas

I normally live with my laptop.
In CR I don't need it.
There is internet access everywhere.

Leave it at home.

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It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.

Take it.

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Hanging in Laurelas with the Paisas

I hope that answers your question.
(whatever you do will be right - and wrong)

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It is cheaper to pay now and get it over with.
It is also easier to get them to leave.

I agree.

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Hanging in Laurelas with the Paisas

I have a slightly different perspective on this than many guys. As you all have figured out, I spend a fair amount of time on my PC when I'm at home. So most of you would guess that I'd be really heavily in favor of taking my laptop with me to CR. Actually, quite the opposite is true. I won't repeat all the reasons I'm down on it here as I've posted before on this subject. The primary reasons in brief are security, availability of much more enjoyable ways to spend my time and the availaibility of dirt cheap cybercafes for the few times I do need to go on-line. I encourage you to read a post I did that covers these and more in greater detail http://www.costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=52726&highlight=laptop#52726.

While I'm personally down on bringing my laptop with me to CR, I understand why other guys do. There are certainly valid arguments on BOTH sides. So do a search, read the various posts and decide what works for YOU rather than me or any one else.

There are some differences. For example, when I travel in the US on business, I'm usually not bringing strange hookers back to my room and sometimes sleeping with them TLN. Electric current in CR is less stable than in the US. You might want to consider bringing one of those mini-surge protectors that they have for laptops (as well as a good laptop cable lock). Also, cameras are in many ways actually less risky because they will easily fit in ANY sized room safe. Granted the chances of any of these bad things happening to your laptop may be limited, but the risk is there. Evaluate for yourself whether the risk outweighs the reward.

When I brought my laptop with me on my last trip, my biggest fear was hurting it with my own clumsiness or having it stolen.

I was pleased to discover that the new in-room, digitally-locked security boxes at Hotel Presidente easily accomodated my laptop while not in use.

To avoid the problems of C.R.'s sometimes unstable power grid, I charged the laptop on the wall outlet, but I always operated it from its battery. Thus, surges and glitches didn't affect my computing, the few times I actually used the thing.

Would I bring it again? Well, my circumstances are a bit different from the rest of you. I can't easily use cyber cafe computers; they don't talk. As little as I used it, the laptop proved very useful at least a couple times. I'll probably bring it along on my next trip.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Definitely, bring it. While there are many places (hotels, ZB, internet cafes...) that have access, sometimes they may be being used by somebody and not available. This is when a laptop comes in handy. Also, you can browse the board for info while you are in your room 24/7.

The only thing that is a necessity to bring along is a laptop security lock. This is especially true if you are bringing chicas back to your room. http://us.kensington.com/html/1434.html

Thanks to all for your thoughts. It gave me some new things to think about. It seems like it comes down to personal taste and trip style for the CR adventure. On my first trip last year, without the benfit of CRT, I played it very safe. I stayed outside the Gulch in a hotel with a large digital safe in the room, and didn't bring any chicas back to my hotel. That worked for me then. This time, I feel more confident about digging deeper into the Gulch, if you know what I mean...
It's also a luggage issue. I try to travel with a suitcase that I don't have to check. It'll probably be a Game-Time decision...In less than 24 hours...Yikes !!!
Thanks again for the feedback.
The first one at the DR is on me.

What about all the smokin' hot bored "abburida" ticas in the internet cafes, some are just waiting to be asked out for bien frio Pilsens.

Seadog I may be too late but, I was never worried when I brought mine. I also go in one carry on bad and a brief case.

Now having said I never felt bad about bringing it I always used the ones available at the SL. The Presidente's wireless was down the night I was there.

To each his own do not worry if you bring it but be warned you may never use it.