www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Brother MrBlack's tip is a good one. Spirit for example checks your bag to your final destination--no problem.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Here's the great part about bringing booze into SJ

You are premitted to bring 5 liters in your luggage. Then you can purchase 8 bottles (like the Ticas, size doesn't matter!) and you don't have to even put your purchases through examination. The duty-free shops in the States have excellent prices.

A word of caution: I checked US customs and surprisingly you can bring in only booze produced in Latin America (Carribean basin, CA & Mexico) only duty-free. However, I don't waste good booze, so I brought in 1 L Bushnell's Original & 1 L Malt which cost $45.00 total.

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Gremlin, no resemblance to the AMC product

I believe you either misunderstood what the person said or they gave you bad information.

I have over the years brought back alcoholic beverages to the United States that was produced outside of the countries you mentioned. Most notably from Ireland.

The pamphlet produced by the U.S. government makes nor mention of origin just amount in what can be brought in.

"Alcoholic BeveragesOne liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your exemption if:

* You are 21 years old.
* It is for your own use or as a gift.
* It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.

Federal regulations allow you to bring back more than one liter of alcoholic beverage for personal use, but, as with extra tobacco, you will have to pay duty and Internal Revenue Service tax.

While federal regulations do not specify a limit on the amount of alcohol you may bring back for personal use, unusual quantities are liable to raise suspicions that you are importing the alcohol for other purposes, such as for resale. CBP officers are authorized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to make on-the-spot determinations that an importation is for commercial purposes, and may require you to obtain a permit to import the alcohol before releasing it to you. If you intend to bring back a substantial quantity of alcohol for your personal use, you should contact the port through which you will be re-entering the country, and make prior arrangements for entering the alcohol into the United States.

Also, you should be aware that state laws might limit the amount of alcohol you can bring in without a license. If you arrive in a state that has limitations on the amount of alcohol you may bring in without a license, that state law will be enforced by CBP, even though it may be more restrictive than federal regulations. We recommend that you check with the state government before you go abroad about their limitations on quantities allowed for personal importation and additional state taxes that might apply.

In brief, for both alcohol and tobacco, the quantities discussed in this booklet as being eligible for duty-free treatment may be included in your $800 or $1,600 exemption, just as any other purchase would be. But unlike other kinds of merchandise, amounts beyond those discussed here as being duty-free are taxed, even if you have not exceeded, or even met, your personal exemption. For example, if your exemption is $800 and you bring back three liters of wine and nothing else, two of those liters will be dutiable. Federal law prohibits shipping alcoholic beverages by mail within the United States."

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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

got a fifth of Glenlivet there for $20!

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The sexiest part of the human body? The brain.

When I arrived in SJO on February 5th I picked up two bottles of 1.75 liter Flor de Caña 7 year Grand Reserve for $20 each. That's the same price I always pay in the airport. When I left on February 22nd the price went up to $28. I had a layover in San Salvador and checked the duty free there. Same price, $28. That is quite a price increase, I am not sure what happened. In my previous 4 trips the price was always $20.

The larger Duty Free upper level has specials that are not always available at the more convienent lower level DF. A pain when running to immigration, but WTH, you probably will wait for your luggage anyway.

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Why Chicas Come to CostaRica:

"Predators gather where prey abounds"

One paragraph in Brother ID's quote caught my eye, the one that said that CBP will enforce more stringent-than-federal state regs. WTF on this (I don't doubt he's quoting correctly). I thought Federal regs always trumped the states--isn't that what the Constitution as interpreted by the SCOTUS * has said? Truly not getting political here (I want to stay in Senior Brother Admin1's good graces) but is this one of those rare cases where the Feds have given it up to the states, instead of of a "my way or the highway" situation? Not a question of choice, like State or Federal charter for a bank--seems like the Feds bent themselves over the car hood here.

* Supreme Court of the US--not to be confused with scrotum.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Actually I would argue that this is a case of the government working as the framers of the Constitution intended it to work. That being that powers not specifically granted to the federal government are powers belonging to the individual states.

In this case each state has the power to adopt their own laws that pertain to alcoholic beverages and CBP is enforcing that law. it is important to note that the law of the state where you enter the U.S. is the one enforced not the state law that is in effect in your state of residence or the state of your final destination.

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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

As a non-drinker, should I still bring in some booze to have my room stocked for my guests? Any suggestions on what I should stock the fridge with?

-grzzly

The chicas like Bailey's.

I second Baileys. It's always popular.

What ever doesn't get drunk you can leave for the maid or give to your favorite member of staff.

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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

Don't worry about that. If you buy Bailey's - and have a pretty regular stream of chica's coming in and out of your room, there won't be any leftover Bailey's for the maid!!!

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

<<<<<<<I believe you either misunderstood what the person said or they gave you bad information.

I have over the years brought back alcoholic beverages to the United States that was produced outside of the countries you mentioned. Most notably from Ireland. >>>>>>

I may have misunderstood since I visited the CBP web page that contained the information and as of 8-21-09 it states that two litres can be imported and at least one litres has to be produced in the countries listed.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacat ... ptions.xml

I generally declare three bottles as my conversations with a CBP agent who was nearing retirement revealed that the agents have about a 10% decretion on booze.

That provision is a special exemption that only applies if you are returning from a Caribbean Basin or Andean country. It would not be applicable of you were returning from anywhere else such as Europe, Middle East or Asia.

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