www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Too bad you got hastled, Tom. Atlanta seems to be the US return gateway of problems - must be the Bible belt effect. Luckily I have not yet had the pleasure...

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"Ah, if only I had brought a cigar with me! This would have established my identity." - Charles Dickens

This is interesting because in 5 trips, I have only been asked a question one time, "what was the purpose of your trip?" I replied "vacation", and he stamped the passport and I walked through.

I have NEVER been asked anything at customs nor have any of my bags been checked. I just hand them my form and leave the terminal.

I think this is probably due to the fact that I take the non-stop Taca which gets into JFK at 12:20 or 1:20am, depending on time of year. Those people are all probably waiting for a shift change, tired, annoyed, sleepy, etc. They couldn't care any less.

When I arrived in MIA from my B day trip. (6th trip that year) Immigration guy looked at my passport and asked “Have a good B day?” Answered “Yes I did”, we both started laughing.

My previous four returns went rather smootly, though on two occasions I was "randomly selected" to have my bags searched. This time I got a real hard-ass asking me things like "Have you ever been arrested?". This Taliban-police wannabe looked like he wanted to put cuffs on me right there.

While it's nice that a few of you have had the good luck of getting a friendly agent that you could joke around with, I would suggest not mentioning "booze and broads" or girls or sex. Nope, you were there to enjoy the rainforest and commune with monkeys. Discard any unused comdoms and sex lubes, or give them to the chicas (my favorita always asks me for my massage oil and lube).

Pack a hammer in your bag... next time a bible thumping agent ask stupid questions, tell him you were on mission and help build a house for Habitat for Humanity...... somewhat true... sure there must be at least one chica saving money for a house and maybe you were with her !!!!

Peace Brothers

PIDD

You have to remember, you haven't done anything illegal. What exactly can they do if you tell them you did girls from various venues everyday you were in Costa Rica? Tell you you can't go there anymore, refuse to let you in the US, jail in the US? I don't think so. Like said before, they get bored and just phuck around with people.

Yeah and if it is a female officer tell her that her uniform makes her look fat!

Come on now, I think that there are certain times when the maximum amount of discretion are called for and border crossings are one of them. I have only had been questioned one time about my activities coming back from Mexico and it was during a time of high alert due to recent threats about terrorists crossing from Mexico. The agents asked me what I was up to down there and I said, "having a few drinks and some laughs" and that was that. Sometimes less is more, no need to test their limits or your rights, because you are ultimately the one who will end up paying with lost time, aggravation and bother. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Yes and No.

I am looking for supporting information but we could be charged with "traveling to engage in ???????? activities"

The ??????? is the word or phrase I need to look up.

Give me a day or 2 to find it.

All this talk of US Customs harassment is just silly! They are just doing their job; a job that none of us would want to do. The way I see it, frequent visitors raise a "red flag" to the customs officers that someone might be transporting illegal drugs into the country. I saw a post earlier that mentioned leaving un-used condoms and lube with the ladies so a to not attract attention if searched upon return. WHY? It is not illegal to have sex with someone over 18, in this country or Costa Rica. With that said, they don't need to know everything (nor do they have the right) about our trip. We have the right to some level of privacy. And if that causes them to select me for a search......So be it!

The only question I have for someone is: I know it is illegal for a US citizen to travel to another country for the express purpose of having sex with a minor. Is there a similar law as it pertains to adults?

I have a standard response that I plan to use. My trip combined tourism and research for my upcoming retirement. Easy to remember as both are True!

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OK, I Admit It....I have an Asian Obsession. But I also have a Latina Obsession, too! Perhaps I just have a Pu**y Obsession? -----------------------------------------------------
Next Trip: SJO - April or May??????


Someone PLEASE STOP Me.................LOL

No, but if you tell them that's what you were doing, they can hassle you to death trying to make you prove you weren't with minors. Good luck. Best thing to do: don't be a wise-ass, be courteous, lie, and you'll be on your way. (Unless you want to spend 3-4 hours in an airport interrogation room being questioned by customs officers.)

Agreed.......I am nothing but curteous with the Customs officers. I guess more than anything, I was trying to address the comment about being harassed because of frequent visits to CR. If while I am there, I choose to have sex that is my business, not theirs. At least having un-used condoms in my luggage should suggest that I play safe or that I was unsuccessful.....LOL

I just hope they send me thru when I need to bring a few cubanos back! LOL

_________________
OK, I Admit It....I have an Asian Obsession. But I also have a Latina Obsession, too! Perhaps I just have a Pu**y Obsession? -----------------------------------------------------
Next Trip: SJO - April or May??????


Someone PLEASE STOP Me.................LOL

I have been searched once returning from Thailand and questioned very HARD after one other trip to the DR. Now this is in a large number of trips to several destinations so I figure my odds were due.

Every time I come back into the US I feel a bit uncomfortable. I do get tired of the " Moral Majority" (who in reality is very amoral). I always just have a nice polite conversation and would never even joke about why I am really there.

Remember this! If you search on monger and read on through the laws of the US it is not illegal to be a sex tourist. It is only illegal to break the age rule of 18 which I and 99.99999% of us would NEVER do. But if you read on through the discussions it speaks to how the term monger or sex tourist is automatically associated with the small % who do. I wish there was a way to change this perception because as I grow older I become more convicted that I should not be ashamed of what I do.