www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hello to everyone, im so glad and excited to have found this gem! Today i spent most of my afternoon reading and learning all of the priceless info this site has to offer for newcomers such as myself interested and captivated by the possibility of such experience abroad. As a result, I have built great desire to go visit Costa Rica this summer for my first time out of the US nonetheless. However, only one problem, as of today i have no passport. And after searching about the 6 month passport rule as it pertains to CR i come to find out that CR has less than stringent rules for US tourists. My main issue here is I would like to go visit sometime late June perhaps early July. Assuming i get my passport and travel 30 days after receiving passport, will customs deny me entry or is not worth the chance. I mean, i literally feel held hostage i would hate to have to wait 6 months if i could go earlier. After reading the Sticky Costa Rica for newbies thanks to "Orange" (extremely helpful btw) it says you need 6 months of valid passport prior to entering. However, if you check the US State Department for what they believe the entry requirements for Costa Rica you will find this:

…state.gov/travel/…entry_requirements

They say: "entry into Costa Rica, a U.S. citizen must present valid passport that will not expire for at least thirty days after arrival..."

And the Costa Rican Embassy in the US says similar

costarica-embassy.org/consular/visa/country-… (see what they say for US)

costarica-embassy.org/consular/…no_visa.htm

I would appreciate your replies and knowledge in the matter.
Thanks in advance

Your passport must be valid for 6 months AFTER you enter CR; in other words, it can't be ready to expire. You can get your passport and fly to CR the same day if that is what you want to do.

[quote="GoodDayJohn"]Your passport must be valid for 6 months AFTER you enter CR; in other words, it can't be ready to expire. You can get your passport and fly to CR the same day if that is what you want to do.

Thank you for the quick response. Thats really good news! Im a total newbie but i intend to do this right and get to know as much info as possible to try and make this first trip a success.

Thanks to this forum and you the users/contributors im sure that will be the case. Likely be flying there for July in the meantime i will stay connected and soaking in all the more info and then eventually going into planning.

Having read lots of different opinions on all the places to stay. I must say thus far im leaning towards HDR for first time visit. Slight possibility picking LA over HDR just cus im a spanish food junkie and reports fit the bill. Cant phucking wait!

If you will be going to CR any time around the 4th of July be sure and make your reservations soon. U.S. holidays are usually a busy time in San Jose. There will probably be some festivities in conjunction with the holiday at SL and Zone II.

Have fun.

Wit

AS far as you being a first time international traveler, i recommend you try to book a direct flight into SJO vs connecting in another airport if possible. Connecting in panama, managua etc can be very confusing for the first time traveler. If you do have to connect Houston, FLL are your easiest bets...

keep asking more questions and the guys here will point you in the right direction...

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its easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled- mark twain

Start the passport process on Monday. The processing can take a few weeks once you have submitted the application or you can pay more for faster processing.
You will not be allowed on the plane without the passport. The airlines ask for a passport number to book the flight.

Keep reading and strongly consider the membership route so you can access the entire site and photos. We were all rookies once.

For a first time newbie I recommend the HDR. Why? It's the belly of the beast, Grand Central Station. there's working girls there almost 24-7, at any time dozens if not well over a hundred Thur, Fri, Sat evening and Key Largo is right next door, it's a mind blowing experience.

You can pick your favorite and be riding the elevator to your room and be banging her within 15 minutes of culminating the deal. If you're tired from the days activities, just hang around the lobby, watch tons of hot honeys, pick one and you don't have the hassle of traveling around at night.

I would then check out Zona, SL, Amistad, Mona Lisa and any other chica friendly boutique hotel to see if you like a quieter more relaxed atmosphere, Zona and SL have a small smattering of girls to check out on premises as well, I'm hearing Mona Lisa is picking up in that arena as well.

The problem with the non chica on premises places is if you want action in the evening, you have to travel around looking for it, most likely the HDR anyway as most MP's close before it gets too late.

I always like staying there because I travel around on foot all day, often walking up to 5 miles or so plus hitting an MP in the daytime so I'm tired in the evening and like hanging around the lobby, watching dozens and dozens and dozens of chicas and picking one for a nightcap, contributing to a good night's sleep, plus you get the biggest selection in front of your nose day after day, night after night. There's no law that says you can't visit the other places for the food or whatever their claim to fame is....

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

Netgems.......Spot-On post..good advise for the new guy!!...(even the old guy)

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There's a prettier girl every day...

Thanks, Tellen,

I remember my first visit to Costa Rica, and even though I stayed at a friends apartment, I still remember the mind blowing experience of visiting the Del Rey the very first time. I can see why a lot of guys like these quieter places for various reasons, I just think it enhances a newbies experience. I still stay at Del Rey and I've been coming since 2003, if HDR didn't exist I would stay at SL and if SL didn't exist I would stay at ZonaII, the other places are nice, but I personally find them too subdued and boring, to each his own, I like being in the middle of the action, but I can see the draw of some of the quieter places for other types who don't want the manic craziness of being....well...this song says it all....

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... 2w&cad=rja

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

Netgems...we are of like mind! Totally agree with what you say above...for a first visit HDR is without a doubt the place. After being on the ground at least once and developing a feel for the gulch, it's TEHO, but my ranking would most likely be exactly the same. Been staying @HDR since 2004 and still do!

Netgems and Bandon--DR has always been a cool place. Stayed there my firrst 5 trips starting in 1997. Things were different back then--but still was ground zero and fun times!!

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There's a prettier girl every day...

In 2003 it was $35 for an hour at NF, girls at HDR rarely asked for more than $50, I got one to spend a weekend with me at Mt. Arenal for $200 and all she can eat and drink, and she was gorgeous, 19 and GFE non stop. I didn't know any other places existed, I don't believe SL or Zona Blue existed yet, so NF and HDR were the main choices for visiting gringos, a few in the know knew Idem and maybe a few other downtown places.

I lived in Costa Rica from 2007 to 2009, 2 years, and developed friendships with numerous ladies I met at low cost MP's in Paseo Colon and Zona Blue, NF and girls I met at HDR during the day. Since I had so many friends with benefits to choose from, I rarely paid more than $50 to have one over my place and no clock watching, some would spend the night for $50!!!

I felt guilty on the over nighters and usually tossed in dinner, breakfast (I cooked myself) a $10 tip and cab fare, but during that time, other than my first month or two, I never paid over $70, that's the beauty of living there, no need for cien events like when you're on vacation and have limited time. I'll be 61 in July and have every intention of retiring there, the only issue is when?

I'm trying to set myself up where I can work out of my apartment down there via skype and the internet and collect social security, it would be a modest income in the USA but quite nice in CR...

I never thought I'd look forward to getting old!!!!

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

The Rey has changed over the years but I would still recommend it to a beginner. From here you are still walking distance to many of the favorite places and one can also get "the feel" of the gulch. Based on the experience one can then decide what they like and change for the second visit accordingly.

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I am NOT a Cien Boy!!