www.CostaRicaTicas.com

In the May issue of Money magazine they profiled the 7 best places to vacation based on what the dollar is worth.

In alphabetical order were:

Argentina
Bali
Costa Rica
Mexico
Morocco
Panama
Vietman.

Regarding Costa Rica:

Incredibly, Americans now have about a third more buying power in the natural wonderland than they did five years ago-a dollar equals around 500 Costa Rican colones today vs. 360 then.

You can explore beaches good for surfing, then go snorkeling in coral reef-filled bays. Don't miss the rainforests, which teem with wildlife-including rare quetzals with spectacular plumage.

In the June issue appeared this letter from Jeffrey Van Fleet, Contributor, Fodor's Costa Rica (he lives in San Jose):
Re: the statement that "Americans now have about a third more buying power," I would point out that Costa Rica's tourist industry adjusts prices in light of the exchange rate. Many things that cost 360 colones five years ago will cost 500 colones today...meaning $1 then, $1 now.

Apparently the ladies of the Del Rey are also in tune with the current "tourist industry" trends.

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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

They have to be joking. Yes the dollar gets more colones but the prices increases have not only swallowed up that differential but a whole lot more. Just one small example, when I moved here 5 years ago the price of a pineapple was about 350 colonies or approximately $1.00 today it is about 850 colones or approximately $1.50. Almost all food items, electricity, gasoline, bus & taxi fares, entertainment expenses, etc. have experienced similar or greater % increases.

I doubt you will find anyone who has lived here for the past 5 years would agree that their purchasing power has increased in that time.
Things that cost 360 colones 5 years ago do not cost 500 colones today they cost 650 colones.

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

I've been thinking about Argentine lately. I recently dated an Argentine in my home town. We had a great couple of months of enjoying the outdoors and she was a great skier also. ANd a wonderful cook, actually made some of the best food I've ever eaten. And yeah, she tangoed. I will go to Argentina next and find more like her.

PURA VIDA!

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Livin' & Lovin' in Key Largo....oh....And the one in The Keys, too!

So, does this mean that mongering dollars have 1/3 more buying power?

Costa Rica ranked 3rd, behind Buenes Aries and Bali.

ID is right. The "basket" of basic commodities has gone up sharply even at the farmer's markets (ferias).

The increased diesel prices for a small family farm are crippling. Many of the small, family operated dairy farms are using a horse and cart, instead of their trucks, to haul the milk cans to meet the Dos Pinos collection trucks.