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Yes the Mercado Central should be a good place to find fake luggage and handbags. Even fake toys and Barbie Dolls. There is no equivalent to our FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and I am sure the shops are flooded with fakes from China. Go into some of the shops along Central Ave. As well on your way to Mercardo Central.
Good lucK!
So many have ask about my dentist in Costa Rica that I decided to add a link to her website. I hope Jackson doesn't care, It is actually a way to get better prices from the "girls". They like a good looking smile and it seems to help their GFE attitude.
[url]http://www.smileinparadise.com[/url]
I would like to recommend Dr Sergio Chen in San Jose for dental work. His father was the orginal Dr Chen, who is now retired & of Chinese extraction - and his mother is a native Costa Rican. Dr Chen speaks perfect English also, so communicating with him is very easy.
I had two crowns put on by Dr Chen - two years ago for a very reasonable price - $ 100.00 for each crown. The crowns were a stainless steel core with a porcelain top. Both crowns have since proved to be excellent - no problems at all.
Dr Chen has a modern dental clinic in downtown San Jose, and can usually get you in and your work done in a day or two.
He does everything from crowns, dentures, tooth replacement, bridges, whitening, XRay, dental implants....you name it and he does it well.
Also he has his own laboratory on the top floor of his clinic so he can fit you for what you need, and then usually have the item manufactured that day and ready to install the next day....like crowns.....done in two visits.
His current prices are $ 150.00 for a standard crown and a little more for a Gold Crown if you desire. Full X Rays run about $ 40.00 - I believe.
One of my friends from Ohio recently had him do some dental work on him, and his total was less than $ 1,000.00 USD...but my friend commented that it would have been around $ 6,000.00 to $ 7.000.00 had he had the work done in the USA by an American dentist.
Dr Chen is highly competent and has done work on many, many Americans, Europeans, as well as the local Tico's.
Also Dr Chen is a GEM of a fellow.....I believe he is the most polite, humble & genuine caring medical professional that I have ever met. You will not be disappointed with Dr Chen, nor will you have to pay a great deal of money for his work.
I just broke a tooth this week, and will no doubt need to contact him to schedule another visit to have him repair that tooth. Would probably cost me around $ 800 to 900.00 in the US....he will charge around $ 150.00 for the tooth repair - may need a crown or root canal, or whatever.....I am not sure.
So far I am lucky - as it is not painful and I can probably wait a while before it needs to be fixed.
............................................
His contact info:
Dr Sergio Chen
Phone: 2222-0063 or 2233-2703
Email - [email]schepu@racsa.co.cr[/email]
Clinic Location :
Calle 6, Ave. 4 y 6, 50 mts. Sur del antiguo Registro Civil, San Jose, Costa Rica ((( The clinic is approx. 6 blocks from the Parque Central on 2nd Ave. - or 6-7 blocks from the Royal Dutch Casino on 2nd Ave. )))
Was also one of the Dentists I visited before deciding. I found him just as you described. Very nice guy indeed. I only chose Rita and her office because of her Credentials (She teaches twice a month in Miami) and I was a little more impressed with her office and equipment. Dr. Chen was a little cheaper on all procedures but I felt Rita was cheap enough.
Although I am not an expert on this subject - Here is what I know and have experienced: the deal on cell phones for Costa Rica -
They are difficult to get, and are expensive.
I had a rental cell phone a year ago and use it for 90 days while in San Jose. It was rented online and I picked it up when I got to San Jose. I used it for without any problems.
The electric company ICE controls all cell phone usage in CR. Only residents or others with pensionado statas can get a cell phone line, and there are many, many more customers who would like to have a cell phones than there are lines or numbers to go around. So your option is that you will need to buy a new phone ( and they prices are about double of what you would expect to pay in the US/Nicaragua or Panama) and then you will need to find a Tico to sign for it and get it activated for you, or you can just buy a cell phone with a local CR number from a Tico - usually at an inflated price, or lastly you can rent one to use there...... and the price will be more than what would it would be elsewhere.
The rental price is actually not too bad....my phone ran about $ 50.00 a month for the basic service plus about 5 cents per minute for usage. So figure on about $ 75.00 to $ 100.00 a month to get and use a cell phone in Costa Rica. And this would be a basic phone without internet, gps, or any of the other premium services that we are accustomed to having on our cell phones in the US.
It is much more economical to get a cell phone in Nicaragua or Panama - where you can buy a brand new phone for around $ 20.00 and then buy a SIM card for another $ 10.00 to get started. Usage should run around $ 25-35.00 a month in either of those countries- depending upon how much you use the phone.....but cell phones are a whole different deal in Costa Rica.
Every ho you see, of course, has a cell phone because they all have disposable income coming from Gringos......easy come - easy go.
But for the most part - your average CR citizen can not afford a cell phone unless they have it for business or their company pays for it......and most companies there will not do this unless the employee is a higher up executive.
There just isn't any good cheap way to have and use a cell phone in CR......like there is in the other Central American countries.
You can do a search on renting cell phones in Costa Rica prior to leaving your home country for info -
Thank you Steve for the info, that helped a lot!
A few more questions:
1) Any gyms in San Jose where I can purchase a week long pass to work out? (weights) near centro preferably or within commutable distance
2) Any recommended one on one spanish instructors? I saw one spanish school online that is close to centro that charges 20 dollars an hour for 1 on 1 instruction. Sounds a bit expensive for central america (1 on 1 instruction in Ecuador was 4 dollars.
3) Any feedback on masseuse Marisol who specialized in massages with HJ at the end who charges 25000 colones? Is that a reasonable price? This is her page: [url]http://costaricamassage.ning.com/[/url]
Thanks!
[QUOTE=Aybolit]Thank you Steve for the info, that helped a lot!
A few more questions:
2) Any recommended one on one spanish instructors? I saw one spanish school online that is close to centro that charges 20 dollars an hour for 1 on 1 instruction. Sounds a bit expensive for central america (1 on 1 instruction in Ecuador was 4 dollars.
Thanks![/QUOTE]
I really enjoyed taking Spanish lessons at Costa Rican Language Academy. I took group lessons for three weeks but there were only two students in my group. The school quotes private lessons at 19.80 per hour. It is located in San Pedro, about a 30 minute walk from Sportsmen's Lodge.
[url]http://www.spanishandmore.com/[/url]
Aybolit
Multi Spa is a nice gym very near the southwest corner of Parque Central. Fully equipped weight room on one floor, bikes, treadmills and stepmasters on another. Weekly membership: 11,000 colones.
Hi Dave here,
I'm coming to SA in Jan. I start in BA and then going to COL. I intend on going to a 3rd country. Maybe CR. Could anyone please explain what CR is like compared to COL and BA. I have RTFF, but I think if someone who has been to 2 or 3 of these places, thry would be able to make a very accurite comparsion. Also what is the level of english spoken compared to COL and BA?
Thanks Dave
[QUOTE=Davekphp]Hi Dave here,
I'm coming to SA in Jan. I start in BA and then going to COL. I intend on going to a 3rd country. Maybe CR. Could anyone please explain what CR is like compared to COL and BA. I have RTFF, but I think if someone who has been to 2 or 3 of these places, thry would be able to make a very accurite comparsion. Also what is the level of english spoken compared to COL and BA?
Thanks Dave[/QUOTE]
Dave
If you want an anwer to your questions, then I think you are going to have to drop the abbreaviations and spell out what you mean.
There are lots of standard abbreavations on Jackson's list...but when I checked it seems that not too many of yours are included on the list......so
unless you want to be SOL on your plans in CR, COL, & BA then please take the time to say what you mean in ' plain English ' - I believe you will get more good responses to your questions that way.
[QUOTE=Stevewxly]I had a rental cell phone a year ago and use it for 90 days while in San Jose. It was rented online and I picked it up when I got to San Jose. I used it for without any problems.
[/QUOTE]
Could you PM me the info to able to do this? It would be much appreciated!
[QUOTE=Stevewxly]Dave,
If you want an anwer to your questions, then I think you are going to have to drop the abbreaviations and spell out what you mean.
There are lots of standard abbreavations on Jackson's list...but when I checked it seems that not too many of yours are included on the list......so
unless you want to be SOL on your plans in CR, COL, & BA then please take the time to say what you mean in ' plain English ' - I believe you will get more good responses to your questions that way.[/QUOTE]Sorry BA Buenos Aires
COL Colombia
CR costa Rica
Any help?
Gearing up to head out next month and I was wondering if I could get help with a few questions I have for all the CR vets:
1) What is most that you would expect to pay on a taxi ride from the airport to your hotel? Do you ask the driver for a "flat rate" or do you go by the meter? Which taxi's should I avoid (if any)?
2) How much could I expect to pay on a taxi ride to and from the Del Rey or Key Largo from Sportmen's Lodge or Hotel La Amistad? Again, should I ask for a flat rate? Or should I go by the taxi meter?
3) I am assuming that when you guys taxi to the MP's you use the meter. Am I correct?
4) MP's: I have never been to an mp before, so I was wondering how it works as far as choosing a chica. Does them MP parade them out all at once for you to select from? Or do they just come out one at a time and you need to write down the name or number of the girl you plan on choosing? Do they come out in lingerie?
Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks!
SavePros321
Most taxi drivers in CR will be honest...but you will find crooks - occasionally- in every occupation. ....so it is a good idea to ask the taxi driver first about the price before getting into a cab for the ride.
I have had taxi guys in CR try to double the normal asking price, simply because they thought I looked 'New' and they figured they could get away with it.
From the international airport in San Jose to downtown - the Del Rey Hotel area - commonly called - " The Gulch " it is a good 13-14 miles .... - so figure on paying about $ 15 to $ 20.00 for this taxi ride - either way.
But that is not to say that if you ask several drivers - you might find that the rate they quote you may be nearer the $ 12 to 13.00 range.
To save money - which I always like to do - I will look for other gringos going from the airport to town and ask if they would like to share a taxi and go for 1/2 price.
It is fairly easy to buddy up with another gringo when arriving at the airport.
You will see them also waiting for a taxi at the front doors of the airport.....just briefly introduce yourself, and ask the guy if he would like to share a ride to town ( to go to your respective hotels)....even if you are staying in different hotels...they price will be the same and you can then save 1/2 the rate.
From the airport I think you will have better luck telling the drivers that you want a flat rate instead of asking them to run the meter.
Running the meter is much better for shorter trips like less than 1 mile or so.
The meter is called 'the Maria' in Espanol - (just like the girls name).
I think if you were on a meter from the airport it might be like way over $ 20.00 depending upon the traffic and the time it took for the trip. The meters are set up to charge for both time and distance....so the exact same ride from say the Del Rey to Sportsman's Lodge or La Amastad Hotel - which is only about 8-9 blocks- might be around $ 2.00 at low traffic time - but then again if you go at 5 or 6 PM - it might cost $ 1.00 to 1.50 more because you will be stuck in traffic waiting for the other cars to move on.....so more time on the meter. The flat rate might be a little cheaper for this trip, and expect to pay a little more coming back....say Sportsman Lodge or La Amastad back to the Del Rey.
The taxi's that set out in front or on the side of the Del Rey Hotel are going to be more expensive....they are parked and waiting for a Gringo fool newbie who will pay anything they say....so better to walk about a half block away from the major hotels like the Del Rey or Presidente to get your cab.
Some taxiistas are official - working for a taxi company...but many are independent who own their own taxis - so there will be differences in prices - just shop around by asking a few drivers their rates from here to there and then take your best deal.
To take a taxi to a massage parlor...it depends on where it is and how far.
If you know it's location....how far, etc. - then perhaps ask for a flat rate....if you do not know how far or where - then perhaps the meter would be best.....except if it is say 8-10 miles distant (way out) then I would ask for the flat rate.
Massage Parlors - They will mostly all be different.....sometimes the girls will be huddled together in a small room....like at the New Fantasy - where you enter and then look them over and then pick one. Of coruse you can also sit down and spend a few minutes talking to any of them to see if you can get a good vibe from any of them before making your choice.....but usually most guys will just choose one of them based upon the girls looks and such.
At Hotel Little Havana - formerly Zona Blue MP - you will go into the bar/lounge where the girls will be sitting on the side on a long bench. You can take your time there picking one out. Have a drink, buy a drink for the lady of your choice and get acquainted first before going back to the private room for your massage.
When going to an MP - I almost always take a few minutes to talk to the gals first so that I can get an idea of their demeanor and attitude before jumping into the sack with them. Some other guys simply go in, pick out a gal in 20 seconds - based entirely upon their looks - and then take their changes.
I like to take some time to get acquainted with them a little first - I guess you could call it an 'interview'. I think if I have employ basic good interview skills, then usually I can make a better choice
Some times they girls might be wearing lingerie but most times they will typically just be wearing their street clothes.....so that differs from place to place also.
Pura Vida, Steve
[QUOTE=Stevewxly]The taxi's that set out in front or on the side of the Del Rey Hotel are going to be more expensive....they are parked and waiting for a Gringo fool newbie who will pay anything they say....so better to walk about a half block away from the major hotels like the Del Rey or Presidente to get your cab.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the quick response. I am very much trying to avoid these predators. Which direction do I need to walk in when exiting the Del Rey in order to catch a (non-predatory) taxi then?