www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hey guys,
Nice to see and hear from a lot of you.

Just spent a long trip and I am on my way home thinking about all of the guppies waiting to be eaten alive and digested in Costa Rica. Maybe these tips will save your hide and your wallet after you become a Rock Star in Costa Rica.

1. Don't fall in love. This is akin to cutting yourself and adding blood to
the water attracting even more sharks.

2. Don't trust any Tico. They are sharks with a teddy bear costume on.

3. Rent everything. Buying makes you dependent and again a target

4. Get all of your prices for everything up front and don't pay extra.
As I said previously, generosity is seen as a weaknesss here.

5. Listen to Vegas Bob.. He is a honest and direct as they come.

6. Don't compare prices to prices in the USA.

7. Keep all of your options open and change if anybody tries to take
advantage of you.
.

WHO can argue with any of these points? Not me, but somebody will try... that I am sure of.

Berk.....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

Berk I'll be the first one.

Me as a Tico feel a bit fustrated by the way you think about other ticos.

King

I am sure you advise not to trust any Tico, obviously because of the things you have seen or gone through when dealing with us but that doesn't give you any right to generalize. One thing I can say is "trust" comes with friendship and friendship is not something you develop in a 3 day trip or even a few more days. I am not in defense of any other Tico member, to each their own but get to really know and become real friends with a Tico and you will see the difference.

Mente

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Tico and Panama, let me know if you need any help down here.
Panamaexplorers.com

I won't argue your point. Let me point out though that the vast majority that participates on this board are vacation types who show up for a week or so and then go back home. I think those types of guys, in general, are the ones this message is directed to. Only KC can speak to that.

Living in CR is a different story. It gives one the opportunity to actually get to know someone and their character as a relationship is built along the way.

It's like someone jumping into a taxi and the driver says "amigo, have I got a deal for you"! I don't think so.

Berk....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

While I agree in general with your rules, I also take exception to the "don't trust Ticos" thing. I've found most Costa Ricans to be as honest and friendly as they can be. Yeah, there are hustlers there. But to be hustled, you have to be trying to hustle a little yourself.
There are con artists and street sharks everywhere, but pretty much all of my dealings with Costa Ricans have been good.

Let me start off by saying King, I 100% agree with 6 of your 7 points.....

I have a little different few on Tico's/Tica's regarding friendship and relationships.




I completely agree with Mente here that you can't generalize all in this regard. I have made several friendships over my multiple trips with Tico's and Tica's that I completely trust, with Mente being one of them.

I have had dental many dental appointments in Sabana Sur and Santa Ana over the past year +, I have been offered rides with no payment asked for (I have offered on more than one time and been turned down. Did this result in any requests from this person...NO. He is someone I consider a good friend who has gone out of his way for me on more than once. Do I repay in other ways, absolutely, but never by request always offered (insisted) by me.







I will allow for Berk's point here, IF KC is referring to this, I do agree with his above point that the so called Vacation types who travel to CR 1 or 2 times per year and get taken advantage of for reason ranging from not listening to veterans or just being gullible. I treat people as I wish to be treated and I have yet to be taken advantage of in country..

I have to agree with ES's view as far a tico's and agree with the outher points made by KC. I am also a freind of Mente and it would be great to catch up with him again as it has been a while. I tend to agree with a lot of tico's one encouters in the tourist areas may be sharks but if you get out in the real scene with the ticos on a local level and blend in you make a lot of freinds. That is when you are really in Costa Rcia in my opinion

I spend very little time in the gulch and am around a lot of ticos and ticas who are very nice poeple. They know me a greet me in many of the places where I go and anyone who knows a little English always wants to get aquainted and practice. I hear a lot of mention of problems with taxis but most of the time I have no problem but there are alway some out to rip you off. I find Costa Rica no different than any outher foriegn country in that respect. I would say locals are more freindly in Costa Rica than most anyplace I have traveled. rbc100

Along the lines of some of these posts.....One day I was relaxing and just killing time in the monrning in the cultural plaza across from the McDonalds, sitting on a bench, playing with my phone, and smoking cigarettes. I was approached by a Tico, about 25 y/o. kinda scrawny, a little nappy, and almost looking like a strung out TV in normal men's clothes for the daylight hours. He was very friendly, and I was so wary of his intentions that I think I missed the mark with a guy who just genuinely wanted to practice his English and just wanted to talk to a gringo for awhile. It was actually a rewarding experience, as he knew a little English and I know a little Spanish and we managed to communicate about a variety of topics. Sometimes it is fun just to try to talk.

Hey Guys

Obviously, I am overstating the point because I REALLY NEED TO WITH SOME OF THE GUYS THAT GO TO COSTA RICA

I am not speaking about the "street hustlers around the gulch"
I am speaking about a lot of TICOS that will be honest for a little while to gain your confidence. Sometimes it takes years before you will see what I mean. Ask Vegas Bob about his driver.

I am getting a little tired of hearing horror stories down there. Guys need to read and listen a little.

i respect the intentions of your post.

We are all products of our experiences. I'm sure KC is exagerating to make his point. If he really distrusted ALL Ticos then he surely wouldn't be planning on moving here full time.I hope he doesn't mind me sharing these.He has recently had a Tica relationship end badly. He also has been involved with some not so honest Ticos in the construction and real estate businesses. He is correct that I was screwed over by a taxi driver that I have taken numerous trips with over the last 2 years. He is done as far as I am concerned.

I agree that genuine friendships with Tico's take time to develop but I have had a few invite to their homes to meet their families and have a CR traditional meal. While cautious and loking for the angle, I never found one, other than just a nice time.

I also believe there is a big difference with people outside TheGulch vs. those there. The Gulch is far more loaded with hustlers, scammers, and what not. I have also found that local Ticos in SJ believe there is no reason to be in The Gulch except for no good. When I am in business situations there, I never say I am staying downtown or go to the Gulch.

Also, in the country areas, the Ticos might as well be a family member. You will have no worries. That world is another planet compared to SJ>


PS As wisely noted many times on this forum, be cautious of gringos who have lived there for many years(present company excluded). The other night I was gambling in Horseshoe, there was a fat guy with long grey hair and he would not shut up and just kept offering any service possible to some gringos playing blackjack. He sounded absolutely desperate and pathetic. I was at another table but the dude was so loud everyone could hear him. He was hawking land, rides, condo's, investment oppty's in businesses, you name it. If he was at my table, I ould have left. I couldn't believe the casino let him harass clientele that way.

PURA VIDA!

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

I agree that genuine friendships with Tico's take time to develop but I have had a few invite to their homes to meet their families and have a CR traditional meal. While cautious and loking for the angle, I never found one, other than just a nice time.

I also believe there is a big difference with people outside TheGulch vs. those there. The Gulch is far more loaded with hustlers, scammers, and what not. I have also found that local Ticos in SJ believe there is no reason to be in The Gulch except for no good. When I am in business situations there, I never say I am staying downtown or go to the Gulch.

Also, in the country areas, the Ticos might as well be a family member. You will have no worries. That world is another planet compared to SJ>


PS As wisely noted many times on this forum, be cautious of gringos who have lived there for many years(present company excluded). The other night I was gambling in Horseshoe, there was a fat guy with long grey hair and he would not shut up and just kept offering any service possible to some gringos playing blackjack. He sounded absolutely desperate and pathetic. I was at another table but the dude was so loud everyone could hear him. He was hawking land, rides, condo's, investment oppty's in businesses, you name it. If he was at my table, I ould have left. I couldn't believe the casino let him harass clientele that way.

PURA VIDA!

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

Mente,

I agree with your point. KC and even VB are probably talking about getting screwed by pirate taxis. Even the locals know that pirate taxis are questionable. Hence, the name "pirate" taxi. My GF who is Costa Rican won't use them.

Concerning geting screwed in the Real Estate business??? That is well documented and it is equally common getting screwed by gringos, ticos, you name it in this business. I wouldn't point my finger at Ticos alone.

In my 2 years of living in CR, I've gone through different stages of liking CR or disliking CR. What I have found, is that the less time I spend in the Gulch, the more I like CR. The more I like CR, the more trusting I am of EVERYONE down here.

I don't view ticos as being much different than gringos. In fact, the worse that I've gotten screwed is by an outspoken gringo on this board. I tread with more caution around gringos, than ticos.

It also sounds like KC is a little green down here. Falling for a working girl is usually a recipe for disaster. I learned my lesson early-on and have never ventured down that road since. It is guaranteed to sour your taste in just about every category down here.

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http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

I understand the gringo point of view as well. My only reason for posting to this thread is to say that I consider Mente a very good friend and I trust him just about as much as I do my mother. I think we have a mutual trusting relationship. He has done many things for me in CR that I could not have done myself and I have done some things for him. In general I think that if you (typically a gringo) have more financial means than the people you deal with in other countries you are a target for financial abuse. Particularly if you are transient to that country. "Screw him today, he'll be gone tomorrow, problem solved." Always remember, it's their field of play, their ball, their rules.

Most of us who have spent any significant time in another country have been taken advantage of at one point. I'm sure of it. I remember one time taking my long time favorita to the Colombian clothing store just behind the Prez. She picked out some pants, blouses, undergarments etc... While she was doing this, I went to the News Cafe and had a few beers. I came back and saw the items that she wanted. I looked at her and said, "No way am I paying for all of this. Some of it needs to go back." Her response was, "Ok, no problem. Pay half and I will come back next week and pay the rest." In other words, a layaway plan. No problem. So, I whip out he Visa card, they run it through. I sign and we are on our way. A few days later, I get home and check my online activity and..(do I need to tell you the ending?) I ended up paying for the whole thing. I didn't pay any attention to the receipt I signed. I'm sure she knew I paid for it all, the store clerk knew it, me the dumb gringo..as usual. Just remembering this is bringing me to a boil. Really. I called her up and just totally went OFFFFF about it. I must admit that in my rant I insulted her, the store clerk and basically the whole country of CR. I would rather not post the things I said as people could easily take offense. In a nutshell I said that if we (gringos) continue to be financially abused and taken advantage of for our kindness maybe one day we will not show up. Then questioned the economic stability of their own livelyhood. Jesus Cristo, when I was done with my rant, she was in tears, denying it all and I could literally feel my head pounding with every heartbeat.

Sorry, I got carried away with this post. I really only wanted to say that I don't think ALL Ticos have malicious motives and that Mente is a great friend of mine and has proven that over the last 4 years.