Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Speaking bad Spanish is better than not speaking any Spanish at all. And, you can rest easy, at GoDutch Realty, we all speak English, in case you want to buy a house in Costa Rica. First and foremost, communication is about connection, not perfection. Even if your grammar is off,…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes Are you wondering how to get mail and packages to Costa Rica once you’ve moved here? We don’t get as much mail as we did a few years ago. Who writes letters and mails them anymore? Even my 92-year-old mom is on email. Getting your mail forwarded to your new…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Are you a type-A personality or a type-B personality? A move to Costa Rica is not for everyone. Maybe it is not for you? Moving to any other country is not for everyone, and indeed, if you have a Type A personality, you have two options: Think about your move…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes For a smooth closing, the seller should vacate the premises before closing. But is it always possible? Sometimes it’s necessary to negotiate for the seller to stay for a longer period. Are there other solutions? Not long ago, we had buyers who were eager to purchase a house in Atenas…
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes I know a lot of expats who get angry every time things don’t go how they want them to. Even after all these years, I am still happy living in Costa Rica. Of course, I get angry occasionally, but I shouldn’t. Don’t worry, be happy. Life is good! Being happy…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes The pulpería and the polaco are two typical purchasing methods for Costa Rica’s working class. It is a pity that so much of the flavor of Costa Rica (and other countries) is disappearing with corporate business. I remember well when we walked to the pulperia to get our fresh bread…
Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes You are here to learn all about tipping in Costa Rica. You assume you must leave a tip when you eat out or have drinks. Be aware that your bill already includes the tip. In most countries, you’re expected to tip, even if you’re unhappy with the service. In others,…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes Did I learn Spanish before moving here? No, I didn’t. And that was stupid. I’d never do that again. Before I moved to Costa Rica, there was so much to do and I had no time to take Spanish classes. I did not realize how important it was to learn at…
Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes Do you know why expat’s Costa Rican retirement dreams get shattered? There are several reasons, so I’ll just have to walk you through them. However, the main reason is that they are unsuccessful because they don’t listen to those with expertise. Every day, I see people asking the same questions…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Do you need ambulance services to get to the hospital in Costa Rica? Then make sure you know your Tico address. This is important so the ambulance will know where to find you. We don’t have real addresses, you know! If you don’t want the ambulance to get lost, ask your…
Estimated Reading time: 5 Minutes Because I grew up in Holland, with a more open mindset than others, it is easy to talk about the topic, and often, future expats ask if LGBTQ+ people are moving to Costa Rica. The answer is yes. The LGBTQ crowd is quite large and relatively well-accepted in Paradise. Only…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes Who says it does not get cold in Costa Rica? Of course, it does. Compared to the temperatures in some other places, this is still paradise. Many of us who have moved to Costa Rica come from cold places. Most of us relocated because of the nice weather, which is…
Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes Getting utilities connected in Costa Rica can be a frustrating process That’s especially for newcomers unfamiliar with the country’s bureaucracy and service delays. Buying a property in Costa Rica is a relatively simple process. However, the challenges to getting utilities connected often begin with the language barrier, as most communication…
Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes Did you know there are a ton of perks of living in Atenas, Costa Rica? What was a quiet little village is now one of the largest retirement destinations in Costa Rica. Don’t get scared; only a few thousand retirees live in Atenas, I’m sure you can handle that! There…
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes You can avoid making mistakes by following these 11 ideas to help sell your home in Costa Rica. Selling a house can take years for different reasons. So, what can you do as a seller to sell your house as fast as possible? The short version is to clean up…
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes I’m sure you already know that the Costa Rican weather is one of the country’s most attractive advantages. Nonetheless, you might not know that the weather and temperatures can change tremendously from one village or town to another. A friend sent me some very cold-looking photos of snow-covered roads, rooftops,…