Important Information for Visitors

Click the tabs on the left to reveal little known tips that can eliminate costly mistakes, help you romatic life, and generally help your trip go smoother!

For Men Only! Hint ... They Just Want You to Take A Shower!

Many women from Costa Rica, especially from the Gold Coast, are know to take 3-5 showers per day. If you're out-on-the town and notice one is sniffing you out, she just may be seeing if you are a viable candidate, as many have a uncanny sense of smell. Take lots of showers and wear good perfume and you might just cleanup in the romance department!

When “Now!” is not “Now!”

Without being able to accurately convey the meaning of this important word, all kinds of things can go wrong! A big problem is not knowing how to tell someone they want something “now”. For in English, “now” means “now”. Mañana –Many people think it means tomorrow, but actually it only means some time in the future. So you can imagine the confusion when you try out your best Spanish and say, “Pick me up mañana at 9:30” To say tomorrow morning, say, “mañana en the mañana”. En esta momento - literally translated, means, “In this moment” Really does sound like it should means “now”!- But the best way to say “now” is just a simple sound, Ja! So, using Spanglish, you'd say, “Please reserve me a table, Ja! Saying it with more enthusiasm means you’re more serious!

Tipping Policies

The question of how much to tip in comes up frequently. A native person with a run of bad luck will often show respect with a token tip, but if they don't that's OK. If it changess, then the rules change, and they're expected to tip. In San José generally people are expected to tip more and more often. The native people assume all tourists have a lot of money, so they are expected to tip all the time, at least 10%.

A New Meaning For  Customer Service

People from other countries often assumed that a "Customer Service Desk" exists to provide, well ... "service". Here the desk symbolizes a position of power giving its occupant a power akin to the bouncer at an exclusive club. Providing good service is more synonymous with doing you a favor. So, be polite and your request will be eventually honored because if you lose your temper and you may be waiting forever!