jenny

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 15 posts - 46 through 60 (of 211 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • in reply to: Running a B&B in Costa Rica #182544
    jenny
    Member

    May I please jump in, we opened our B&B at first very private, we did not advertise much and we used the help that we had for our normal household and garden. We wanted to test the waters out before we made any committment. That means we did not have any signs up pointing anyone to our place as a B&B. We knew to do that we would have to get the proper license. Our offer for accommodations went out to mostly people we knew or people we had gotten to know. We did not want to cause a rumble in the local community because we really had not decided that this is actually what we wanted to do. The one thing we did do first was to get a lawyer and we took his advice. We had contracts made for each one of our workers. We hired them as professional contractors and paid them almost 35% more then the quoted minimum. Plus we added on benefits as well, we gave them the option of having us to pay their Security Social as an employee and working as an employee or working as a professional. That professional knows what the job is about, needs no supervision, and promises to committ to getting the work done. You set no hours and you do not supervise a professional. This way the worker actually profits and his social security needs are taken care of. He provides us with information saying he is paying social security. Our contract is signed and the contractor agrees that he is aware of the conditions and agrees. Our contracts are made up every year.
    We did this through a lawyer, legal contracts are renewed every year. We pay everything required, our contractors have vacation paid and the Christmas bonus. We pay double time for working holidays or more the 5 days a week. We have currently a pension benefit package for our contractors that they can take with them if they are no longer working here.

    We have gone above what the law requires and have added benefits. We built confidence in our workers. Otherwise a worker based on the law can be worked up to 12 hours per day 6 days a week at minimum pay. That is about as close to slave labor as you can get. When you do that then you have angry workers that may steal from you. Not because they are thief but because they have a need.

    We are currently licensed, but we still do not put up signs. We have made a decision to continue to be private. The keeps away the traffic that we find undesirable. We have an accountant who does our paper work for us and collects taxes.

    At first the fear was if we had to include taxes our guest would look for other places. Well our business has improved and is getting stronger every day. Costa Rica does have it’s laws and you should obey them as closely as you can. Licensing is not difficult and if we would have known how easy it was we would have licensed immediately. Costa Rica is like any other country, they are looking for more taxes. The expense of an attorney and peace of mind is well worth it for operating your business.

    You need people who will work for you that are honest, good workers and dedicated. Building a bridge of confidence in your workers is so very important.

    If you want information on actual operation of your B&B here in Costa Rica, I do not know everything but the things that I know, are for sharing.

    in reply to: Us family planning extended stay #182333
    jenny
    Member

    phil, if you fly down please bring the sausage for gumbo. We have not had real good gumbo since your last trip.
    Speaking of laws in Costa Rica, this is the only country I know that obey the red light by not stopping. Ive never been in a country that randomly selects to abide by the law and then not abide by the law.

    In the five years we have been in Costa Rica they have perhaps not changed the residency laws, but they sure have practiced keeping them in differing manners. So much so until a lot of the people working in immagration dont even know the real true law.

    When this country cracks down on the perpetual visa holders they will lose millions of dollars in revenue. So with that thought in mind, do you really believe they are going to spend money enforcing the law, only to lose money. Doing that would even effect the tourism industry. No, sir, Phil most of the NAmer and European foreigners bring income. Most of the laws they are trying to enforce on their neighbor on the border to the North.

    You can enroll your children in school, buy property, open a bank account, start a business, purchase and register a car, just to name a few things you can do here without having a residency. It should be something you do, because it is expensive to keep leaving the country every 90 days to renew your visa. Richard and Sandra said they saw your lovely home.

    in reply to: Making friends in San Ramon and Grecia. #181124
    jenny
    Member

    You know the wonderful thing about our being here is that it just happened for us. We came here on a vacation and fell in love with the climate. I hate hot weather and I dont like being cold or living in houses shut up in the winter from the cold and in the summer from the heat. Nor do we enjoy changing our closet from summer to spring then to winter. Coats are bulky in the closet and hard to store during summer months. It was the weather and the people here are nice. I dont want to live anywhere you have to be closed up in the house to cool it or heat it. I love fresh clean air. Grecia is all of that and more. The people here are very social, we have some sort of party almost every month. We now have enough people living here now to develop these social groups of the have and have nots. Almost every party we go to someon is building a house, and sharing ideals and information about the process of purchasing land and building.

    It is wonderfull but then you hear it so much, it is sort of like hanging around women that keep sharing the child birth experience. Just had to throw that in (smile). We just love Grecia, there are some outstanding people in our community of foreigners. Plus Grecia is really sort of the country club area of Costa Rica. When you mention Grecia the Tico community have nothing but good things to say. In fact they are very proud of Grecia’s record of being the cleanest city in Central America. Plus we have a California style gym now. That makes Grecia that much better.

    in reply to: Renting/Buying in Central Valley #181150
    jenny
    Member

    Hello,

    Your plans sound great, until you mention children the ages of your girls. You must remember social life. Yes, children have a need for social life and school is a great part of that. Many people home school, and there is not a problem with that. When you come here just as you will want to establish some social ties, the children will also want to establish some social ties. By doing that, they need to have contact and common interest. Please keep those things in mind or your relationship will not last and you would have just made a move to Costa Rica, spent a lot of money only to develop problems which could have been prevented. We all must get pass that dream and look at reality.

    Believe me children at that age have a lot of power. Sure they are young and are not included really in the decisions made about where to live and what to do.

    For this surely they depend on your loving and caring guidance. That does not eliminate the fact that they play a major role in the outcome.

    What I am saying is not sugar and spice everything nice, but it is reality. If you are a boyfriend, that means you are not a permanent fixture in their lives. Your position is subject to change and they may well be an instrument of that change. Boyfriend, girlfriend, work real well when children are not involved.

    With the change in living conditions, social interaction and opportunities, children often feel threatened. Limited mobility, unfamiliar surroundings, foreign language, strange foods, and a non permanent family structure, your stay in Costa Rica as a couple, will be short and sweet.

    Now, I know the new modern mode is to have a partner, room mate, significant other, these are all temporary positions, which are subject to change. Children feel threatened, they have no security and now to capitalize that by moving to a foreign country and a culture totally different then their own can cause major problems.

    Of course you have thought all of that out and your circumstances will be different. My suggestion is that it will not matter where you go, because you will be moving again. You are not in a permanent situation. Unless your relationship is unmovable and unshakeable, if you purchase property it will be up for sale within a few years.

    You can take it to the bank. Stop dreaming and face reality. What you will actually be doing is taking kids out of school and going on a long vacation. It is amazing how people can make these life time decisions without commitment and involve children in the scenario.

    in reply to: Making friends in San Ramon and Grecia. #181122
    jenny
    Member

    In Grecia we have a lot of social groups, one of them meet in the park every morning and then they walk to a local coffe shop. They meet between 9:30am and 10:30am. Our English speaking community is very strong. If you are in Grecia on Jan 28th we are having a birthday party. Many from the community will be here. You are invited to join in. Contact me privately and I will tell you where we are located in Grecia.

    in reply to: Where to go? Retire in Costa Rica #180480
    jenny
    Member

    It is so difficult to make a decision on which area is best. There are so many properties up for sale. People that now have decided that Costa Rica is not for them. We have met some people that purchased property on the beach and now have decided that it is not for them. You will see their ads in the classified section of AM Costa Rica and Tico Times. Believe me there are far more properties for sale that are not listed.

    The suggestion about coming over and living here for a period of time is one of the best suggestions ever. There is a law of 1-5 years and it is actually true. We have seen many people return to the US after being here for five years or less. It really pays to do your home work and not to be moved emotionally. Emotions cost a lot of money, and things dont work here like they work in the US, it is a different world. Some areas where people have built homes can not get a telephone other then the cell telephone. It would be hard for me to live several years driving into town to use the internet or only having the use of a cell telephone. Then those are my feelings, but Ive seen many weather through the difficulty for a period of time, then they tire of it and decide to return to the US. It really is an individual decision.

    Grecia is progressing, our community is rapidly changing. Many people come from Athenas to get services here in Grecia. There is a wonderful schedule growth program for Grecia within the next few years. The city will be expanding, but yet keeping the wonderful sense of a small town community.

    in reply to: Ex USA Military benefits in CR #179978
    jenny
    Member

    Mike, TriCare comes under TriCare prime and standard. You are automatically enrolled in TriCare standard while living in overseas areas if the government does not have a facility here or if they do not have a assigned clinic of doctors. TriCare Prime, is set up like an HMO system, and that is not available here.

    We have always selected TriCare standard even when living in the US because I like being able to select my doctor. The 25% cost is really very little. If you are a disabled Vet then you will come under VA medical for you condition and they pay everything.

    We are very fortunate to have the benefit. The primary reason for cost in military health care is to cut down abuse of the system. When people have to pay money towards any medical care they are usually more cautious about what is being paid.

    in reply to: Pre -owned Car site Costa Rica #180043
    jenny
    Member

    The problem with purchasing a new vehicle is the insurance, it is very high. The problem with purchasing a used car is that they almost cost as much as the new one.

    We have purchased two used cars, and had them inspected, plus checked on the recorded history. You can do that by running a Vin# check. You will be able to detect whether you are purchasning a hurricane or flood area car from the US. Diagnostic test, tell the person you are purchasing the car from that you need to have it tested first. It will cost you a little money but then again it probably will save you a lot of money.

    Locate where you can have a diagnostic test done, take the owner of the car with you and get the vehicle checked out. My solution as a woman.

    My dad alwasy purchased used cars and he told me if all the tires do not match dont buy the car. Match by name, tread, size. Tread because if the previous owner was very carefull, he would rotate the tires often, so the tires would be almost equally worn. Check the doors, hood and trunk. You can never match exactly what the factory orginally put on the car. There will be a slight difference.

    Most people purchase vehicles emotionally, they look at all the bells and whistles. I fully believe you can purchase a great used car but you have to take time to check every thing.

    Most of you guys know this, I am just joining in the conversation.

    in reply to: Buying a car in Costa Rica – Gas or Diesel? #180064
    jenny
    Member

    Thanks for that information in a nutshell. Usually when you get a book on the differences, you have to read 5 pages before you get to the answer. Thanks

    in reply to: Episcopal Churches in Costa Rica. #180069
    jenny
    Member

    Good Morning it is so refreshing to see a request for finding a Church. Tom I can not help you with that information. I can only offer you a little advice on finding the information you want. Check with your church organizations main headquarters. They usually have information on an missionary outreach program that has been developed.

    Not to long ago the Catholic faith was the only church and today it is the only church legally recognized in Costa Rica. Try your denomination headquarters for infomration. Almost every faith has worlwide ties.

    in reply to: Anyone know of a Costa Rica B&B For Sale? #179887
    jenny
    Member

    Jessica, that applies to moms to. We need more people concerned about the children and not so concerned about making money. I wish my husband and I would have concentrated more on caring for our children and less on, having the right house in the right neighborhood and driving the right car. We would have done a much better job. So, stay encouraged it pays off.

    in reply to: More americans head overseas for health care #179965
    jenny
    Member

    That is what I was going to say. Hey, the rates would go down in the US dramatically if Doctors did not have to carry Malpractice insurance. Plus most dentist here do not start out over $200,000 in debt. Dentist in the US on average have large student loans to pay off.

    in reply to: Ex USA Military benefits in CR #179970
    jenny
    Member

    Luke asked my question but let me go a little further. If you are a disabled vet then you are eligible for medical coverage under VA. You can only have a APO at the Embassy if you have served 20 years in the military. You are not eligible just because you were in the military.

    What more do you want? We do not have a PX or Commissary, what else is there. You can take a hop if you are retired. If they have a plane that goes out. The last time we called they said most of the planes have been committed to Iraq. So they did not have many flights leaving here.

    in reply to: Anyone know of a Costa Rica B&B For Sale? #179885
    jenny
    Member

    JReeves, it was not your statement that I directed my comment to it was the reaction to your statement. My comments were not meant to devalue the quality concern of your statement.

    When it comes to our precious children, nothing should be overlooked. You sound like a good Daddy and we need a bunch of them.

    in reply to: Anyone know of a Costa Rica B&B For Sale? #179884
    jenny
    Member

    Scott, is correct, I may not cook, clean or cut grass. I manage the people who do and manage the business. Your day can be a 12 hour day. My status is retired and I am working by choice, and doing what I like to do.

    When we have a guest that arrives at 1am or a guest that leaves at 4am our workers are not here. I manage the workers all day and when they leave for the day, my work begins. My workers dont put in as many hours as I do.

    It takes work and MONEY

Viewing 15 posts - 46 through 60 (of 211 total)