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Costa Rica, vacation and warm-climate real estate destinations are featured here. We will post information regarding Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Belize, Roatan, Caribbean, Bahamas, etc. My primary focus is Costa Rica but I'm open to working with others to post here as well.
The affordability of purchasing in Costa Rica, Belize, Panama and elsewhere is becoming more popular throughout the world.
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By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff | clong@ticotimes.net
Original: http://www.ticotimes.net/daily_paid/dailynewsarchive/2010_08/083010.htm#story1 | | Young Ticos will soon have the opportunity to work on Canada's famous ski slopes, study in the best Canadian universities or travel through the northern nation's national parks, thanks to an agreement signed by the two countries' foreign ministers on Friday.The agreement overrides immigration requirements for a one-year period so that Ticos and Canadians between 18 and 35 years of age can participate in an exchange program. Canada has similar programs with Chile, France, Poland, Sweden, Australia and the United Kingdom, among other nations. “This is an opportunity to build people-to-people ties,” said Peter Van Loan, Canada's minister of international trade, who was in San José for the signing of the agreement. “It allows young people the chance to work, to play, to travel in a foreign country.” Costa Rican Foreign Minister René Castro praised the program for creating a platform for cultural exchange and said it has the potential to bring Costa Rica closer to its goal of joining the nations of the developed world. “It's a pleasure to work to open doors for youth,” he said. “We hope that hundreds – maybe thousands – will benefit from a program that opens borders and opportunities for young people through a cultural exchange and mutual learning.” The two countries still have to agree on a quota for how many people from each country can take advantage of the opportunity. According to Castro, both governments are in the process of gauging their citizens' interest in participating in the program. |
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By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff | clong@ticotimes.net
Original: http://www.ticotimes.net/daily_paid/dailynewsarchive/2010_08/083010.htm#story1 | | Young Ticos will soon have the opportunity to work on Canada's famous ski slopes, study in the best Canadian universities or travel through the northern nation's national parks, thanks to an agreement signed by the two countries' foreign ministers on Friday.The agreement overrides immigration requirements for a one-year period so that Ticos and Canadians between 18 and 35 years of age can participate in an exchange program. Canada has similar programs with Chile, France, Poland, Sweden, Australia and the United Kingdom, among other nations. “This is an opportunity to build people-to-people ties,” said Peter Van Loan, Canada's minister of international trade, who was in San José for the signing of the agreement. “It allows young people the chance to work, to play, to travel in a foreign country.” Costa Rican Foreign Minister René Castro praised the program for creating a platform for cultural exchange and said it has the potential to bring Costa Rica closer to its goal of joining the nations of the developed world. “It's a pleasure to work to open doors for youth,” he said. “We hope that hundreds – maybe thousands – will benefit from a program that opens borders and opportunities for young people through a cultural exchange and mutual learning.” The two countries still have to agree on a quota for how many people from each country can take advantage of the opportunity. According to Castro, both governments are in the process of gauging their citizens' interest in participating in the program. |
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| http://www.ticotimes.net/daily_paid/dailynewsarchive/2010_08/080410.htm#story5 MANAGUA, Nicaragua –The Nicaraguan government's Export Processing Center (CETREX) reported that the value of Nicaragua's exports increased by 32.6 percent in the first seven months of 2010 in relation with the same period last year. Nicaragua's foreign sales from January to July of this year totaled $1.16 billion, compared with 871.8 million registered in the same period in 2009, CETREX said in a preliminary report. In addition, the agency reported a 25 percent increase in export volume during the first seven months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. The volume of exports totaled 1,064,227.5 metric tons between January and July of this year, while during the same period of 2009 they were 850,680.7 metric tons, the center said. CETREX noted that the increase in cultivated land and the rise in international prices of some traditional products such as sugar cane, gold, coffee, beef and petroleum derivatives are responsible for export growth in the first seven months of the year. Nicaragua's foreign sales during 2009 amounted to $1.4 million, 6.39 percent less than that recorded in 2008, when export sales reached $1.5 billion, according to official figures. The institution explained that the United States remains the main destination of Nicaraguan exports, followed by Venezuela, which pushed El Salvador to third place. Combined, the three countries buy more than half of Nicaraguan products. CETREX said coffee beans continue to be Nicaragua's main export product, followed by beef. Coffee beans produced foreign exchange earnings of $261.3 million between January and July of this year, 55 percent more than the $168.3 million recorded for the same period in 2009, due to increased production and better prices. Beef exports totaled $168.2 million in sales abroad in the first seven months of this year, versus the $124.8 million sold during the same period of 2009, for a 35 percent increase. For 2010, Nicaragua expects an economic growth rate of between 2.6 and 3.1 percent with an inflation rate of between 5 and 7 percent. The Central American country had a decrease of gross domestic product in 2009 of 1.5 percent and an inflation rate of 0.93 percent, according to official figures. |
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| http://www.ticotimes.net/daily_paid/dailynewsarchive/2010_08/080210.htm#story4 | By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff | clong@ticotimes.net | | Even as the Chinese are putting the finishing touches on world class soccer stadium in San José's La Sabana metropolitan park – a gift to the Central American country – Costa Rica is seeking more investment by the Chinese in infrastructure and in clean energy.On Sunday, during a visit by China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Costa Rica made a pitch to its Asian ally to invest in a $221 million highway that would connect the country's northern plains with the Caribbean port of Limón, among other infrastructure projects. The plea comes at a time when Costa Rica's highways are crumbling under heavy rains and the weight of years of postponed improvements. Just three days before Jiechi arrived, part of the country's main highway north, which connects the country with the rest of Central America, was closed when part of a bridge over the Rio Seco collapsed (see story, below). But Costa Rica's foreign minister, René Castro, said the relationship should be a two-way street. “They also have some ideas for advancement relating to biotechnology, cultural exchanges and sciences that are being developed,” he said, adding that he is looking for “a mature, win-win relationship” between China and Costa Rica in years to come. Following a working session at the Foreign Ministry's headquarters at the Casa Amarilla, in downtown San José, the two diplomats signed a cooperation agreement, which is expected to bring $6.2 billion in infrastructure improvements to Costa Rica. Jiechi spent time with President Laura Chinchilla, Vice Presidents Alfio Piva and Luis Liberman, as well as the heads of the Security Ministry, the Foreign Trade Ministry and the Transportation Ministry. Formal relations between Costa Rica and China began in 2007 during the Oscar Arias administration. In addition to the soccer stadium, China is also investing in the state-owned refinery in Moín and has purchased $300 million in bonds, among other projects. |
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By Matt Levin
Tico Times Staff | mlevin@ticotimes.net
http://www.ticotimes.net/daily_paid/dailynewsarchive/2010_07/073010.htm#story5 | Costa Rica's summer break vacation period saw many travelers heading toward the Central Pacific coast or to Monteverde, while fewer vacationers made the trip to Guanacaste, a traditional vacation hotspot for Ticos.  Photo: Nick Halverson. Ballena National Park, Uvita, Osa, Costa Rica A survey conducted by the National Tourism Chamber (CANATUR) tracked the level of occupancy of hotels in nine different areas of Costa Rica during the last month. The area with the greatest percentage of occupancy overall was the Central Pacific (65.4 percent), followed closely by Monteverde (64.6 percent) and the Southern Pacific (63.7 percent). CANATUR said overall occupancy was a middling 56.1 percent. Guanacaste, specifically its southern part (36.4 percent), saw the least growth. According to CANATUR, South Pacific hoteliers believed that opening the road to Caldera and the Costanera Sur highway from Quepos, attracted travelers to the area. "We are very pleased because the occupation in the first half of July exceeded our expectations,” said Ulises Ramirez, manager of the Cristal Ballena Hotel in the Southern Pacific region. “Employers believe that hotels in this area benefited the opening of (the new roads), as this saved time for tourists travelling to the region.” The northern parts of the country took in the most foreign tourists, with 76.9 percent of the total. The highest percentage of domestic tourists (45 percent) visited the Southern Pacific region. Hotels in other regions attributed growth to mid-year promotions that pitched deals as last-minute options. "The mid-year holiday season is important for the sector. However, this year was atypical because the promotions that the hotels offered served as last resorts in many cases. Poor weather also scared off tourists to the area," said Luis Villegas, of the Hotel Montaña de Fuego, located in La Fortuna de San Carlos. Average Occupancy by region during mid-year vacations: | | Mid-Pacific | 65.4% | | Monteverde | 64.6% | | South Pacific | 63.7% | | Central Valley | 56% | | Northern Plains | 56% | | Caribbean | 54.8% | | North Guanacaste | 52.9% | | Puntarenas and Islands | 51,7% | | South Guanacaste | 36.4% | | Total: | 56.1% |
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By Adam Williams
Tico Times Staff | awilliams@ticotimes.net
http://www.ticotimes.net/daily_paid/dailynewsarchive/2010_07/072710.htm#story4 | | What the city of Houston, Texas is to space travel in the United States, the city of Liberia may soon be to Costa Rica. On Sunday, President Laura Chinchilla announced that Liberia, located in the northwestern province of Guanacaste, will be the location for an initiative entitled “National Aerospace Development and Integration for the Central American Region in the Generation of New Technologies.” The presentation also included the unveiling of the Central American Aerospace Industry Chamber (CACIA), which will consist of numerous aerospace experts and companies in Central America. Chinchilla had mentioned further development of the national aerospace program as one of her priorities since her inauguration in May. Liberia was selected as the site for the program's launch because of its proximity to the headquarters of the Ad Astra Rocket Company, which was formed in 2005 by Costa Rican astronaut and rocket scientist Franklin Chang. Chang, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), spent many years working as a scientist and astronaut with the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Ad Astra is based in Houston, Texas. The Costa Rican branch of the company, located 10 kilometers west of Liberia on the campus of EARTH University, focuses its research on the creation of the plasma rocket, known as the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR). Ad Astra in Costa Rica hopes to test one of their first plasma rockets in space by 2014. “We want recognition for Costa Rica, so the country can enter this special industry,” Chinchilla said in May. “We hope that Costa Rica will be the first Latin American country (to enter the space industry).” (TT, May 14) Of the various experts in attendance, several spoke on their ideas for the development of Central American aerospace, their plans to finance the projects, and explanations of how they will advance the use of plasma energy. According to Costa Rica's foreign minister, René Castro, over 80 Central American companies have expressed interest in participating in the development of CACIA and the aerospace program. |
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By Adam Williams
Tico Times Staff | awilliams@ticotimes.net
http://www.ticotimes.net/daily_paid/dailynewsarchive/2010_07/072610.htm#story3 | Costa Rica's Second Vice President Luis Liberman announced Saturday that $1.5 million will be spent to build a new two-kilometer road in the northwestern province of Guanacaste. The proposed road will connect Playa Panama with route 159, the roadway that links the coast with the provincial capital of Liberia farther inland. The project was announced in Liberia during the weekend celebration to commemorate the 186th anniversary of the annexation of the province to Costa Rica. According to the Public Works and Transportation Ministry (MOPT), the new roadway project will be built in two stages. The first will connect the principal street of the town of Panama to Route 159 in Playa Arenilla, while the second stage will connect Route 159 with Playa Buena. MOPT also said the project will include improvement of some of the side roads and bridges in the area, as well as the creation of new bus stops. The projects are expected to be completed during the next three months. “This is an important development both for tourism and the people of these communities,” Liberman said. “We want to provide tourists more access to these communities, which will generate employment and financial opportunities for their residents.” The project, which will be implemented by MECO, a private contractor, will also improve the bridge over Quebrada La Pita. The one lane bridge will be expanded to two lanes and an additional support beam will be added to the bridge's base. |
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Original: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2010-03-11-roatan-honduras_N.htm Laura Bly: http://www.usatoday.com/community/tags/reporter.aspx?id=382 ROATAN, Honduras — A favorite souvenir on Honduras' most popular destination is a T-shirt that reads, "Where the hell is Roatan? Answer: Between Utila and Guanaja." Aside from scuba divers, most Americans are still clueless about this Caribbean outpost about 30 miles off the Central American coast and flanked by its smaller, even more obscure Bay Island neighbors along the southern end of the world's second-longest barrier reef. But thanks to non-stop flights from Atlanta, Houston and Newark and a flood of cruise passengers — a projected 730,000 will stop here this year, up nearly 70% from 2009 — the flip-flop capital of the original banana republic is showing up on more vacationers' maps. Cruise ship visits proved to be one of the few bright spots on Roatan after President Manuel Zelaya's ouster in June prompted a U.S. State Department travel warning to stay away from Honduras. (The advisory was lifted in December, but tourism revenue plummeted by 80% last year.) And the island's increasing fame is an economic boon in a country that's among the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. At the same time, however, Roatan's core cadre of undersea explorers and part-time expats — sucked into the "Roatan vortex" by a combination of cheap prices, sultry weather and scruffy, Margaritaville vibe — are hoping their lost-shaker-of-salt paradise can hold its own against shifting tides. Honduras' other draws range from some of the planet's best bird-watching (in Pico Bonito National Park and the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve) to the Paris of the ancient Maya world, Copán — all on the mainland. But after divers discovered Roatan's clear waters and prolific marine life in the 1960s, the mostly English-speaking, former pirate haunt earned a worldwide reputation as one of the best and least-expensive spots to become certified. Both here and on nearby Utila, where lucky snorkelers can commune with whale sharks, learn-to-dive courses start at around $250 for four days, including dorm-style lodging. A rapidly changing landscape About a decade ago, bargain-hungry "snowbirds" from the USA and Canada launched a real-estate boom on the 50-square-mile island. A flurry of condo construction, particularly along the powdery sands of West Bay, host to a majority of Roatan's hotels (most under 50 rooms; no name-brand chains), followed. And although the tanking global economy and Honduras' recent political turmoil have sidelined several projects, a Pete Dye-designed golf course and resort complex opened its initial nine holes, Roatan's first, this year. The island's most talked-about development is the new Mahogany Bay Cruise Center, a $62 million partnership between Carnival Corp. and a local businessman. Capable of accommodating 8,000 passengers on two ships, Roatan's second cruise terminal whisks vacationers via chairlift ($8 for unlimited rides) to a private beach where cold beers and thatched-roof cabanas ($199 for the day) await. To radio host and recent transplant John Morris, the new port is a "Disneyland in Roatan" designed to keep passengers tethered to their chaise longues. But West Bay restaurant owner and real-estate broker Edward Moulder argues the complex is "an eight-hour commercial" for what, to most cruise arrivals, remains unfamiliar territory. "They've never heard of Roatan, and they're blown away by what they find: a mountainous, tropical island with an 'old Caribbean' feel. It's a Jimmy Buffett place, even though he's never been here," Moulder says. And, he adds, many of those day-trippers come back. Less than 10 years ago, "90% of the tourist business was from divers, but now we're seeing a lot more families who had stopped on cruise ships." Going to great lengths for barbecue Though the surrounding reefs have been degraded by construction-related run-off, the scuba scene still dominates Roatan's vacation landscape. Along the unpaved road that runs through the main tourist town, West End, the thump of compressors refilling air tanks mingles with the clink of Salva Vidas (a Honduran beer whose name aptly translates to "Life Saver.") At the island's oldest dive resort, 41-year-old Anthony's Key, masked-and-wet-suited guests are shuttled like clockwork to nearby dive sites in pursuit of lumbering hawksbill turtles and twisting canyons. For all the changes on Roatan, from a new mall featuring Applebee's and Wendy's to Euro-style beach beds at West Bay's San Simon Beach Bar, one of the island's quintessential attractions remains a Sunday afternoon at Bob Lee's place. From West End, it takes almost an hour via a hilly, two-lane road to reach Oak Ridge, a haphazard collection of wooden houses, some built on stilts. Then, starting around noon, diners are shuttled via open skiff — piloted by a teenager with savvy self-assurance — about 10 minutes across a mangrove-laced lagoon. Their destination is Lee's aptly named Hole in the Wall, a tiny, over-the-water restaurant that's a cross between Texas roadhouse and set from Gilligan's Island. Lee washed up here 20 years ago from California, his boat sidelined by a storm and a gash in the hull. The sunken trimaran now rests under the bar of the Hole in the Wall, which was rebuilt with the help of patron donations after a fire in 2005. The steak and lobster tails in Lee's $25 all-you-can-eat barbecue are draws, but so is the company. Kids fish for mangrove snappers off the dock while sunburned newcomers guzzle rum punch and quiz veteran expats on how to battle bites from Roatan's voracious sand flies (one local favorite: Cactus Juice, a repellent/sunscreen combo). The 66-year-old proprietor, accompanied by his scarlet macaw, Abogado, says he wears shoes "only when I'm forced to." And here, at least, Roatan still lives up to its reputation. | IF YOU GO |  | Getting there: Continental flies nonstop to Roatan from Houston and Newark (the latter only during the winter high season), while Delta offers nonstops from Atlanta. Several airlines offer flights from San Pedro Sula (the closest airport to the Maya ruins at Copan) and La Ceiba, Honduras. From La Ceiba, ferries run to Roatan and its sister Bay Islands, Utila and Guanaja. Lodging: Though Roatan prices are the highest in Honduras - and steeper now than the "make-me-an-offer" days following last summer's political crisis - many resorts are still offering specials. Anthony's Key (800-227-3483; anthonyskey.com), famous for its dolphin swim program, gives a 50% discount for the second guest through 2010; packages without meals start at $884 per week. A two-week dive deal at Roatan's upscale Barefoot Cay (barefootcay.com) and Utila's UtopiaVillage (utopiautila.com) costs $2,699 per person, including transfers between islands, lodging, dives, meals and more; a 20% savings from last year. Another option are the island's growing number of condo rentals through outfits such as Roatan Life Vacation Rentals (970-300-4078; roatanlifevacationrentals.com). Diving: About 35 dive shops and resorts offer courses and boat trips to more than 100 marked dive sites around Roatan. In the main tourist town of West End, the non-profit, community-based Roatan Marine Park (roatanmarinepark.com) rents snorkel gear for $5 per day. Whale sharks: Nearby Utila, reachable via ferry from La Ceiba or directly from Roatan via a four-hour, $50 per-person catamaran ride, is known as one of the best places to spot (and, if you're really lucky, snorkel with) the world's largest fish. The Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Center (wsorc.org) offers four-hour whale shark encounter trips for $40 per person. Information: Roatanet.com; Letsgohonduras.com |
| IF YOU GO | | Getting there: Continental flies nonstop to Roatan from Houston and Newark (the latter only during the winter high season), while Delta offers nonstops from Atlanta. Several airlines offer flights from San Pedro Sula (the closest airport to the Maya ruins at Copan) and La Ceiba, Honduras. From La Ceiba, ferries run to Roatan and its sister Bay Islands, Utila and Guanaja. Lodging: Though Roatan prices are the highest in Honduras - and steeper now than the "make-me-an-offer" days following last summer's political crisis - many resorts are still offering specials. Anthony's Key (800-227-3483; anthonyskey.com), famous for its dolphin swim program, gives a 50% discount for the second guest through 2010; packages without meals start at $884 per week. A two-week dive deal at Roatan's upscale Barefoot Cay (barefootcay.com) and Utila's UtopiaVillage (utopiautila.com) costs $2,699 per person, including transfers between islands, lodging, dives, meals and more; a 20% savings from last year. Another option are the island's growing number of condo rentals through outfits such as Roatan Life Vacation Rentals (970-300-4078; roatanlifevacationrentals.com). Diving: About 35 dive shops and resorts offer courses and boat trips to more than 100 marked dive sites around Roatan. In the main tourist town of West End, the non-profit, community-based Roatan Marine Park (roatanmarinepark.com) rents snorkel gear for $5 per day. Whale sharks: Nearby Utila, reachable via ferry from La Ceiba or directly from Roatan via a four-hour, $50 per-person catamaran ride, is known as one of the best places to spot (and, if you're really lucky, snorkel with) the world's largest fish. The Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Center (wsorc.org) offers four-hour whale shark encounter trips for $40 per person. Information: Roatanet.com; Letsgohonduras.com |
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Latinamerica Title Company (LATCO) kicked off their business opening in Panama at a great event on May 27, 2009, at the Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center in Panama City. LATCO provides buyers of real estate the assurance of clear title (title insurance), security of third party funds/escrow services in land transactions and trust services. They also provide legal services under a program called LATCO Attorney Aliance Group. LATCO works with Chicago Title in providing title insurance and providing buyers of real estate a guarantee that their title is clear.
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It has been a long time since we have “spoken” to one another. The markets have been changing and I have been busy on several different projects, securing affiliates and improving our process in Costa Rica to ensure that our clients receive the best real estate offerings, the best service and the best experience when purchasing real estate in Costa Rica. In this newsletter I’m going to outline several key projects, changes and highlights for you and provide a bit more detail as to what we have been working on since the last newsletter you received from me. Moving forward you will receive a monthly newsletter from Sol Property Group. Enjoy! 1) You may have noticed that there is a new logo and company name on this newsletter from previous ones. Sol Property Group, SRL, (SPG) is a company that I started with the help of several other key personnel. (sol = sun in Spanish) SPG is committed to providing clients who wish to purchase in Central America and the Caribbean the best in customer service – from travel planning to post-purchase follow up. Click here to learn more “About Us” Sol Property Group is a Costa Rican based real estate company with partnerships throughout Central America and the Caribbean. We provide our customers with the highest level of service and make the purchase process – from trip planning, property selection, the closing and post-purchase property management - simple and easy. We only work with the most well-established firms and conducted numerous interviews to ensure our partnerships offer the same high level of quality service. In today’s market many clients are not only looking at several types of property within a country – they are also looking at property in several countries. Sol Property Group alleviates the problem of having to try and find a reputable broker/agent in each country. Our network of real estate professionals will be available to you at almost all times of the day and with any budget. One of the highlighted properties we have has lots starting $19,900 with financing available. We have made it easy to contact us with an online chat feature on all of our pages and the ability to call us on Skype. Also, we can call you back on Skype or any other number you wish. You may notice on our website that we only list around a dozen properties per country. This is intentional. We have 100’s of other listings available. However, our experience has taught us that many clients are not sure exactly what they want when they start their search. We know it can be overwhelming to choose from thousands of properties with scant information and an agent’s opinion. We make the process easier by starting off with a small questionnaire that we can ask over the phone or e-mail to you. During this 5 – 10 minute interview we will ask you some of the following questions:
a) What type of property you are interested in (condos, farms, houses, etc)?
b) What is more important – the type of property (beachfront) or the country where you want to own?
c) What are the most important decision factors for you? (temperature? Proximity to the ocean? Proximity to a large city? Certain amenities?)
d) What is your budget?
e) When do you plan on purchasing? With these simple questions we can begin the process of finding the perfect piece of property for you. We will provide you with up to five property options based on your criteria. From there it all depends on your travel plans (we will assist you with that). We have gone through the purchasing process ourselves and understand that at times our clients will have many questions. We patiently answer all questions and understand the importance of this decision for you and your family. We look forward to helping you find your piece of paradise. We have several travel agents on staff to ensure that your trip is hassle free. We can line up bi-lingual tour guides, airfare, hotel, rental cars (save 10% through National here), etc. Additionally, we routinely survey our clients after the trip to ask about their stay. What they liked and what they would recommend changing. We are constantly improving the travel and property visit experience. 2) The Village in San Buenas - Lots starting at $19,900 (click for more information)
There has been tremendous progress made to all phases of one of the largest projects in Costa Rica. Please contact us to see the progress of the first golf course in the Southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica. We have lots starting at $19,900 with financing. 3) What’s going on in the Southern Zone?
I am still focused exclusively on Costa Rica. In calendar year 2008 I made eight trips to Costa Rica. So far in 2009, I’ve already made four trips to Costa Rica. I will be back down in Costa Rica in July and again in August. Many of you have not been down to the Southern zone of Costa Rica in over a year. I wanted to show you the great progress taking place. Click here for some of the biggest changes from 2007 and 2008/2009. We are compiling 100's of photos taken over the past year to put in an easy to view format - we will update you on this in subsequent newsletters.
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Moving overseas offers a wealth of positive new experiences and challenges. However, it can also be an extremely stressful time, especially in the first few months while you’re trying to find your feet in your new home abroad - but never forget, it is also an extremely rewarding experience. After all, you’ll be discovering new life experiences, meeting new people and seeing how the day-to-day routine operates in other cultures. But at times, living overseas can be very daunting and you might need to hear a bit of reassurance from home. Whatever the reasons, keeping in touch with home can be more important and comforting than you currently realise, so let us take a look at the best and most used communication options for expats.
Do you remember the old BT commercial when the neighbour was “calling Sydney”, “Sydney who?”, “Sydney Australia!” – well, using your landline to call home is one option, though an expensive one in our opinion! Landline calls can be made from pretty much anywhere to anywhere, but per minute costs can be prohibitive and certainly will limit the amount of contact with your family. One way around this is to buy international phone cards, these cards normally work on the premise that the company provides a local number or free number to call and then they redirect your call overseas. Simple to use, the cards can be bought over the Internet or from local shops. They are one alternative in the arsenal of expat communication options. There are a number of VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) or Internet based telephone systems also available that offer cheap or free calls. Perhaps the most popular communication option for expats living overseas is Skype. The Skype system is free to download onto your computer, and if your family and friends back home do the same, Skype to Skype calls are free. Skype calls offer the advantage of being able to video call your folks back home so they can all see just how tanned and relaxed you are looking, and you can see how cold and dull it is back there – reminding you that living overseas does have some advantages even on days when you’re feeling overwhelmed! You can also buy credit through Skype to call normal telephones and mobile phones at cheap rates. The Vonage system is also a good communication tool for expats. With this system you use your existing telephone with a Vonage converter that places the calls over the Internet. The system works with monthly billing and offers calls at reduced rates. Other communication options for expats living overseas are websites such as Facebook - or you can even try setting up your own blog or family website. These forms of contact allow you to do things like post photos of you and your family enjoying your new life abroad, and you can get your family back home to post photos of them in the rain! And don’t forget the good old email. The new form of almost snail mail when compared to VOIP calls and instant messaging, it still allows you to send and receive news to and from home. Providers such as MSN, Google and Yahoo offer communication services for expats and also have chat options to allow you to keep in touch in real time. Instant messaging is the term used to describe services like Google chat, Yahoo chat and MSN messenger. They are basically real time, text based chats between 2 or more people. Usually they have features such as webcam so you can see who you’re talking to, and these services also allow you to transfer files. Failing that, if Granny really is stuck in the Hebrides without an Internet connection, telephone line or Morse code receiver…. you could always write to her in the traditional way…a letter will get there eventually!
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The exchange rate between the US dollar the Costa Rican colon reached an all time high yesterday, the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR) setting the sell at ¢567.94 and the buy at ¢558.18. The exchange rate a little over two weeks ago, on January 31, was ¢558.18 for the buy and ¢555.51 for the sell.
Yesterday afternoon the state and private banks were trading in the currency at between ¢567 and ¢569 for the sell and ¢557 and ¢562 for the buy.
Although the president of the Central Bank, Francisco de Paula Gutiérrez, says that the bank does not forecast the trading of the dollar, economists feel that the dollar will continue to rise in the exchange of the colon.
One economist, Roxana Morales, of the Universidad Nacional (UNA) says that the trend will continue, due to a decrease in exports and a decrease of tourists visiting Costa Rica.
However, no one will predict how high it will get or if the Central Bank will, as it has in the past, intervene.
One year ago, February 17, 2008, the Central Bank sell was ¢493.45 and the buy ¢499.12. A decade ago - February 17, 1999 - the BCCR the exchange rate was ¢275.52 for the sell and ¢274.95 for the buy.
For a complete list of the history of the exchange rate set by the BCCR go to:
http://indicadoreseconomicos.bccr.fi.cr/IndicadoresEconomicos/Cuadros/frmVerCatCuadro.aspx?CodCuadro=400&Idioma=1&FecInicial=2008/01/01&FecFinal=2009/02/17&Filtro=0 By: Inside Costa Rica (Original here)
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Costa Rican telco ICE has signed a contract worth US$ 16.2mn with Teledata Networks under which the latter will provide its BroadAccess-1000E Multiservice Access Gateways, supporting the telco's plans to deliver triple-play services in Costa Rica.
The project is intended to enable ICE to transform its current network to an IP-based next-generation network (NGN) architecture, and hundreds of BroadAccess-1000E systems are to be deployed across Costa Rica, installed within a fibre-to-the-remote (FTTR) architecture within hardened street cabinets.
"We are proud to be selected by ICE for this important project and to take part in their progress towards a new era of NGN," said Mauricio Tepper, Associate Vice-President of Sales at Teledata Networks.
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