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I have rented a small apt. in the Gultch. When I fly back to CR from USA I would like to bring a new TV packed in my suitcase. What are the chances of the TV breaking during the flight? Any suggestions for packing? The cost of the item will be under $500. so there should be no problem with CR customs. Thanks

Your question cracked me up so I will respond as it reminded me of bring a flat screen to Iraq when I went up there from Kuwait, I would just use the original packaging or bubble wrap it and it should be fine, not sure whether you will get charged for oversized luggage however.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

Funny enough, a guy I was sitting beside on the flight down to CR was a Canadian ex-pat and he had a 40" LCD stashed in his luggage

I am not sure on the customs rules but I have never even seen a customs officer look at anything when entering Costa Rica, so I don't think you would have much trouble. Don't try this with a plasma.. they break easy (I know from painful and expensive experience). LCD's and LED flat screens are super light these days and should travel no problem as long as they are wrapped up in bubblewrap or in a cardboard & Styrofoam box..

i have brought many 22 flat tvs in my lugage it the bigest that will fit in checked bag, and customs will see it and want to look at it, and if you have had your passport stamped in 6 months for binging one, then you will be fine, i have always declared it when i have one and they always have to touch it , see it, see the reciept, and they don't care what else you have in your lugage

I have brought two LG 26inch LCD Tvs and Dennis from the Freebird has brought one. 3 total all at separate times, all wrapped in a huge bed blankets in a checked suitcase.

All three resulted in a passport tax exemption ( one per 6 months) stamp. They show up on the X-ray machine because of all the rear plug ins , HDMI etc.

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

Thank you fellows for your answers. I bought a 24" Toshiba. Fits in my suitcase. Will wrap extra towels and sheets for padding. I saved about $150. compared to CR prices.

I'm planning on bringing in a 26" LCD soon. What's the best way to prevent damage? I was thinking of using the styrofoam that came in the box for the front so when they put other suitcases on top of it, the screen won't get crushed. And wrapping it in bubble wrap and then cover with blankets.

Any suggestions (about anything related to bringing a TV into CR)? Thanks.

One thing to make sure when you are packing things like TV or bottles in your suitcase is to pack it full (with cloths etc.) and tight so the content doesn't move around in your suitcase. Protecting the corners, edges and the screen as you mentioned with bubble wrap will give you very good protection. Suitcase belt on the outside is recommended also.

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Pura Vida!

on my last trip i packed my laptop in check in[placed it in the middle of my packed clothes] when i opened my bag at the room i found my laptop on top of my clothes and a form showing they had searched my bag.now i am enjoying my new laptop.

About eight years ago, when Martinair was flying from Orlando to CR, a Tico was at the ticket counter in Orlando trying to check in (or carry-on?!) a chainsaw and two jars of oil! I don't think they were even packed/boxed. As I recall, they refused to allow them on board. I think it was shortly after '911'.

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

That's because they were dangerous goods (DG's) Any internal combustion engine, oils, gasoline, firearms, explosives, chemicals, things like batteries, etc..etc.. None of those things are allowed on passenger aircraft unless it has a Class C cargo area (self contained fire suppression and detection). Also they have to be specially packaged and have paperwork by a DG certified shipper. I once had to do that training a long time ago when i was working in Europe. What a PITA. I'm so glad I don't have to handle any shipping stuff with my job these days.

Old CRT televisions would actually probably fall under DG regs, but new LCD's and LED's are just standard freight.

I've brought in two 19 in LCD TVs n the past year or so. Both used (over 6 mo old). I got nabbed at the x-ray at customs both times. The first time I valued the TV at $200. They stamped my passport with the aduana exemption.

The 2nd time I did not declare the TV. In my opinion the TV was allowed in baggage. In reading the BACK of the customs form it does state that you are allowed to bring in a "portable TV". This particular model has a carrying handle on the top. I would call that portable. Of course, at the x-ray the TV showed up and the customs gal wanted to see the TV. She insisted on stamping my passport. I called BS on that and explained to her that a portable TV was allowed and that this TV was a portable. Still she took my passport and I resigned myself to losing another $500 exemption for a $200 TV. To my surprise, when she returned my passport there was no stamp in the back! I don't know if she saw the light or liked the way I licked my eyebrows.

Just make sure that any TV you bring in cost less than the $500 exemption or you will have to pay duty on it. If the TV is used (>6 mo old) you can set your own value (hint, hint). Save the sales recipt so you can prove value (if new) or age (if used).

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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

Thanks, yes, I already put the reciept in my passport. It cost $250. I don't care about the stamp. I will not be back to CR until August, that's just over 6 months.

August? DAMN!!!!!!!!!! Guess I will be defending the hood by myself for a bit......

the DR


<------OG'n the hood..........

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“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"

I don't know if this applies to check bags or not. For many years I have used areocosillas to purchase things on the internet. I always waited for at least six months and kept the purchasesnder $500.00. Never got charged any taxes.
In November they revised the law so that anything purchased by internet and brought into the country via currier was not exempt. Example follows. Got my things out of aerocoillas yesterday.

Invoice value $352.00
Frieght 37.50
Ins. 4.00
Tax ???? 6.38
Customs Duties 78.04
CR Sales Tax 54.93
Customs Service 15.00
Sales Tax On Service 1.95


Total Charge on $352.00 197.80.


No phuckin Mas

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not as good as I once was, but as good once as I ever was