Travel Costa Rica NOW Highly Recommended

Truth is, your about 50X more likely to hear when people are displeased with you than when they are pleased with you. And boy, can some folks be harsh in their displeasure. So the fact Iris took the time to tell us how much she appreciated all our hard work to make her vacation to Costa Rica "the best vacation ever," well, it feels really, REALLY good. Here's what she said:

Hi michael alan, D'Angelo and Renee,

Things have been so hectic since I got back that I didn't have time to thank you as you deserve.

My cell phone was stolen at Madrid, so I lost all my contacts and some good pictures of Arenal….But still, we had the best vacation ever, and mostly thanks to you!!!!

We did not spend any precious time on looking for things to do or places to sleep. All activities were perfect for us and we were on a perfect mood for them…all guides were great guys and you were so helpful in solving problems on the spot. I have no word to tell you how great you did and how thankful we are.

I am going to put all that on the web when I will have a few spare minutes…I want everybody in Israel and the rest of the world to know that TravelCostaRicaNOW is the best option for Costa Rica and I will certainly be back!!!!

Thanks and a great 2013

Iris Y

Iris, thanx so much for the nice words and taking the time to say, we really do appreciate it and if your letter is any indication, and we think it is, 2013 is going to be GREAT for Travel Costa Rica NOW. THANX AGAIN!

TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!

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Pics of Our NEW Vacation Rental Property

Our La Fortuna, Costa Rica, vacation rental property is finally on Flipkey (HERE) and ready to ENjoY! *Flipkey is the owned by TripAdvisor and specializes in vacation rental properties (and no, we don't like TripAdvisor but yes, we understand the irony). We've been working feverishly these last months to be ready for the busiest time of the year here in Costa Rica which is the couple weeks of Christmas and the New Year. Sadly, we didn't really make it because it just wasn't ready, oh well. BUT now it's 99% ready to go and just needs a few minor touches, which I'm sure it will always need. We should have our last and final VIDEO installment done soon and when you compare the first with the last, I think you'll understand why we're so excited. But for the time being, here's a few pics.

LOT'S of Costa Rica style decorations...LOVE the Boruca masks.

Living Room area with a Volcano View and hundreds of birds just outside.

Hot Tub on the porch. The porch area s BIGGER than this, just need some more pics. Breakfast outside with the hummingbirds and the Arenal Volcano can't be beat.

Master bedroom, comfy bed, ceiling fan, flat screen tv.

AND if all that wasn't enough, a Japanese toilet seat... your genitals will thank you.... no really.
These pics don't really capture the house, hopefully the video will...but trust me, it's a very, cute cottage/cabin style house that sometimes I think we're crazy to RENT out. But if you're ever in the area and want a great experience... we're here.

Anyway, not a fan of Christmas but for those of you who are, I hope you have the BEST Holidays EVER!

TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!

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Do I need to Exchange Money in Costa Rica?

This is a VIDEO about the exchange rate and currency in Costa Rica.

First off, I know a LOT of travel books and resource information websites on the internet recommend you exchange your money when you first fly into Costa Rica. *This post(video) applies mainly to folks coming from the US, the rest of you really do need to exchange your money. That may have been true at one time but not so much now. Almost anyplace YOU go in Costa Rica accepts American money although it is true you will most likely receive change back in 'colones', which is part of the reason you don't have to exchange, you'll receive plenty of change in the local currency.

Actually, just CHECK this video out, it explains it all and is definitely a MUST SEE if you're coming to Costa Rica and don't know much about their money. ENjoY and hope it helps.

TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!

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He Made It In Costa Rica BUT Can YOU?

Deciding to uproot your life and move to Costa Rica is not a decision that should be taken lightly. The irony is that based on a lot of emails we receive about relocating to Costa Rica, many folks act as if they're merely moving 3 streets over in the same neighborhood. Like this one:

"Hey michael alan & D'Angelo. First off, love your videos. So thanx. I'm thinking about moving to Costa Rica, maybe on the Pacific side because I love the beach but what I want to know is if I can get a job there (I'm an unemployed bartender and also know alot about physical fitness) and maybe find a nice apartment for around $400. per month. I would like to come in a month or two."

Well, it's NOT easy to make it here and it normally requires a LOT of homework. Erick's story is definitely an 'exception'. Check it out to see how he came to live in Costa Rica these past 10 years.

TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!

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'After Earth' Movie Trailer Starring Will Smith filmed in Costa Rica

'After Earth' stars Will Smith, son Jayden with M. Night Shyamalan directing.
Will Smith and son Jayden were in Costa Rica last February filming 'After Earth'. *The link is my post about it.

Well, the 'After Earth' trailer is out. Not sure what I think... what about you?

TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!

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A Video PLEA to HELP my Friends in Nicaragua

The gay owners of Joluva Hotel in Granada Nicaragua were found guilty of sex related crimes and sentenced to 5 years in a Nicaraguan prison. They're appealing.

Yup, unfortunately our friends, Jan and Francis, who entered the court case cautiously optimistic knowing they did nothing wrong, totally underestimated the corruption that IS Nicaragua. If you want to know the full story and why they are innocent, go to my post; My Friends in Granada Nicaragua Sexually Exploiting Boys?

Anyway, I decided to make this video for the sole purpose of getting their story out. This past September, getting the story out helped in the release of an American,Jason Puracal, who spent 2 years in a Nicaraguan jail, after being falsely accused of drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime activity.

After a two-year legal nightmare that landed 35-year-old Jason Puracal, a U.S. citizen, in a Nicaraguan prison on what he says were baseless charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, a Nicaraguan appellate court found procedural flaws in a criminal trial that could have landed him in prison for 22 years, and ordered his release. - Tico Times.
If you want to help, please post this video everywhere you can, Facebook, Twitter, blogs etc. And if you'd like to DONATE to the cause, visit Friends of Joluva. I'd appreciate it and I know Jan & Francis would.

TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!

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"It's good to see that innovation in Scotland is alive and well"

This is how Marion Anderson, Project Manager of Encompass welcomed over 65 delegates who attended the Encompass event: 'Accelerating Innovation in your business - how universities can help' on 26th November, 2012 in Glasgow.

Why innovate?

Guest speaker Professor Jonathan Levie of the Hunter Centre of Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde Business School started the morning of with an outline of what innovation is and, just as important, what innovation isn't.  In no time, the delegates were drawing their own sunflower maps and business model canvasses.  "Now is the time to innovate" stated Professor Levie, "when your competitors are still focussed on survival".

 

 

Why work with universities?

Author and journalist Adam Jolly was up next to explain why
universities want to work with businesses.  Adam pointed out the pros and cons of working with universities and how important it is to understand how different an SME culture and a university culture is.  If you embrace this difference, you will get the best out of universities.   "It's easy to have self limiting beliefs when you are doing it on your own" said Adam, "but when you work together with the supervision of a university, you can push through to growth".

 

How to access universities

With our designated speaker not able to attend, Shelley Breckenridge from Interface made a mad dash from Edinburgh to explain to our delegates how businesses can actually connect with academia.  Interface can take a business enquiry and share it with all of Scotland's universities and research institutions in order to find the right university team for a particular project.  Huge thanks to Shelley giving a cool, calm and informative talk at such short notice.
The afternoon session continued with speakers Bill Corr talking about funding routes with Scottish Enterprise and Alison Reith from the West of Scotland KTP Centre explaining what a Knowledge Transfer Partmership is and when it could be relevant to a business.
To end the day, we heard from three companies who had worked with universities to take their ideas closer to commercialisation.  Colin Hamilton from Micro-phonics (pictured left) explained how he had worked with both Strathclyde and Glasgow universities.  Eric Whale from Cellucomp described his company's relationship with the University of Strathclyde, and Archie Prentice made the journey from Inverness to talk about his company Carbon Diagnostics' experience with the University of Aberdeen.
The afternoon ended with more coffee and networking, as well as pre-arranged 1-1 sessions with the Encompass team.



The feedback to the event was highly positive, with comments such as:

"Thank you, a really enjoyable day"

"Well presented seminar.  Thought provoking"

"Great event, thank you very much for organising and it was all executed to time and very informative.  Thanks!"

"Thank you for a refreshing event.  Looking forward to being involved in future Encompass events."

"Jonathan Levie very informative as was Adam Jolly and Shelley Breckenridge. Good info on Interface.  Jonathan
Levie's business model canvas was excellent."

Register with Encompass to find out about future events

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