Advertise with Costa Rica Bedfinder

February 20, 2010 by The Dominical Bedfinder

Costa Rica Bedfinder is offering a great deal to business owners to take advantage of the “Travel Services” section to advertise their business to travelers and expat residents. Tourist activities to restaurants to travel agencies. Language classes, retail shops and personal care services are listed as well. Real estate agents can also take advantage of the site as well as homeowners looking to sell or rent their home.

The cost for this service is incredibly only 50 cents a day, which includes a link to the advertiser’s website. However, it is FREE if Costa Rica Bedfinder gets a back-link, as in a link exchange. Also, it is free for listings that do not include a website address. This is a great way for Costa Rica businesses to work together to help travelers to the country obtain all the information they need.

The system is easy to use, the display format is pre-programmed, and all business owners need to do is upload text and photos, and even a business logo. They will directly receive customer inquiry details and contacts through phone or e-mail. Businesses that have a website will receive more traffic.

Costa Rica Bedfinder provides advertisers with a private login access to update info and pictures anytime they wish.

Just follow these few steps to get up and running.

Step 1:
Establish a login. Go to the link below and fill in the appropriate information.

http://www.costaricabedfinder.com/web/loginusers

Step 2:
An email will be sent to you to activate your account. Click on the link in the email, enter your Client ID and Password and select login.

Step 3:
You are now at the panel menu. Here you select ‘List your business”. You can also update your listing here in the future.  You can post up to 5 photos.

If you choose the link exchange option, there is information on how to do that, also provided online.  Go to ‘Link exchange’ on CostaRicaBedfinder.com for all the details or use the link below.

http://www.costaricabedfinder.com/web/pages/links-exchange

If you have any difficulties at all, contact Elaine at elaine@CRB.cr and she can assist you with any ‘how to’ issues.  She can also work with you on banner advertisement if that is desired.

Wet season rain in February!

February 19, 2010 by The Dominical Observer

‘First time in over 10 years,’ that’s what the locals are calling the weekend storm and wet seasons rain that came down on Dominical a few days ago.

Humid and hot, not good; but the gardens needed it, as all the flora and fauna gets somewhat stressed.  A large tree fell down at Playa Dominicalito, causing the campsite some problems, and the campsite owner some grief.

Now it is  back to clear Costa Rican spring weather, great for vacation or honeymoon, especially if you are indulging in a luxury ocean view vacation rental.

Surfing at Dominical

February 18, 2010 by The Dominical Observer

Need a surfing lesson? Here’s some information on how it starts for beginners.

Once you have had a base info session on what to do and what not to do,  and safety info on the ocean itself and what to look out for, you head down at low tide for your first  go. Ocean awareness is important and should not be forgotten, ripe rides, sand banks,  rocks, other surfers etc, and all that kind of stuff.

First up is paddling, and how to get yourself up on the board. Usually all this is done at low tide. Then you start to progress into how to get through the white water and how to catch a wave as they say. Small gentle waves first up.

Then its all go and good luck, as you progress into doing few simple turns on the face of a wave.

There are many surf schools and board rentals places,  some with locals who have been here many years and know all about the different beaches and what’s best for you.

Talk to a few surf schools to get a feel of why they may be better for you than others, everyone has different needs, are yours being met?

Dominical drinks

February 18, 2010 by The Dominical Observer

Having a few drinks in Dominical? Costa Rica has no national beverage but that does not stop them having a few. You could call horchata which  is based around a cinnamon-flavored ground rice , and guaro onme as local specialties.

Some like to try mixing up local fruits with water or milk, popular are mango, tamarindo and papaya; ask for them fresh at the bar.

Those who work in the fields around Dominical like to try boiled water with brown sugar. No doubt you will see some coconuts at some of the local road side stores with a straw sticking out of it; nice and cool.

You can get some local Vodka, terrible whiskey, and a mediocre rum. Local beer is ok, most drink Imperial. Tasteless larger type.  The box wines are cheap from Chile, the purple box Merlot is good with soda water.

All the usual imported stuff is on the shelves, expensive, go for the local stuff but look  out for a hangover.

Dominical waterfall trip

February 18, 2010 by The Dominical Observer

Nice trip going on horseback to Don Lulo’s farm for a Tico breakfast, after 45 minutes through the hills and rainforest; proceeded to the falls after breakfast and there we enjoyed ourselves until lunch time; 20 foot deep large pool for swimming below two 150 ft  cascades. All in our group had a pleasant time on this trip; saw plenty of wildlife; met a couple on honeymoon, they loved this place. Humid though, why rain in Feb?

Dominical real estate

February 17, 2010 by The Dominical Observer

Rumours flying about regarding first time visitors walking into a real estate agents office, and a week later leaving Dominical having bought land to build some cabins for rental income. Any market research done by this buyer? sweet talked perhaps?

Before anyone buys  real estate for commercial purposes do the research and the financials. For a Tourism business see www.turnerlodgingco.com. With over 90 years experience in the hospitality business, a small investment at this  stage could save you your life’s savings. Looking at all the foreclosures in the country,  and dreamers  building so called luxury eco lodges or what ever along the coast. Commercial buyers beware of the pitfalls or face the consequences. Do not expect to get balanced advice from real estate agents either!

The last mile between Quepos and Dominical

February 2, 2010 by The Dominical Bedfinder

Fifteen years in the making, the end is in sight. The 43 kilometers between Quepos and Dominical have come down to the last mile. No more back-breaking journeys, no more dusts and ruined tyres.  From being the worst to being the newest and best highway in Costa Rica in under a year. Hats off to MOPT!

The way it is in the dry season

February 1, 2010 by The Dominical Observer

Here we are in the heat, 90 plus most of the day, sunny and hot. Great for hours in the pool, not so good unless you have a villa in the hills with some ocean breezes to cool you down.

With many villas for rent in the area, choose carefully,  select a villa that has the front ridge Pacific Ocean exposure to enjoy the cooling breezes.  Or be ready to travel further up into the hills.

Gardens take a beating, water runs short, but the evenings are delightful, enjoy a BBQ in your garden or  by the poolside,  with seafood salads, fresh prawns and lobster, and plenty of white wine!

Dominical and Uvita Vet Fernando

February 1, 2010 by The Dominical Observer

For those with pets, our friend Fernando has the best surgery and medical services outlet around.   He has a reputation for saving many dogs’ lives, including Chillie’s, who had the most complicated of illnesses, i.e. the lack of ability to absorb protein, a possible cause being a malfunctioning kidney, while also suffering from a brucella strain found in pigs.  She developed a swollen body which when drained removed nearly 3 litres of water, and left her with half her usual weight. She had to be sent to the animal hospital in San Jose last X’mas and New Year, while university specialists looked into her unique case. It became a case study for Vet students at the University. Against the odds, she is still with us today.  Three months of pills she tried to spit out, a high protein diet,  and tons of TLC and other stuff,  she is back enjoying everything life has to offer. Chasing raccoons and barking at monkeys, swims in the streams and sea,  running on the beach and long walks into the rainforest hills. Thanks to Fernando.

Dominical vacation accommodation for real estate investment

January 29, 2010 by The Dominical Observer

If rental income is an important consideration for you in purchasing Real Estate in Dominical or anywhere else in Costa Rica, then do your homework and ask independent vacation rental specialists for an assessment. It is pointless asking real estate sales people who will probably say you will receive  this or that based on pure guess-work. Ask those who actually  operate a vacation rental business.

The common talk among owners of poorly located or overpriced rentals goes  like ‘my property has not been rented for months…’

Is business picking up? Sure, but with more vacation rental homes and condos coming into the rental market monthly, and visitors still not up to past levels, owners of new vacation rentals will have a harder time than they imagine!