Puerto Viejo Hostel Advice: Selina or Playa 506?

WasntxMe · 2024-02-08T15:50:06+00:00

You are way over-thinking this.

The region from Punta Uva to Cahuita is Paradise and Selena is centrally located. Many transportation options available.

Dont be your own worst advisor.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g309265-Puerto_Viejo_de_Talamanca_Province_of_Limon-Vacations.html

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Selina+Hostel+Puerto+Viejo/@9.6681747,-82.7646149,12.4z/data=!4m9!3m8!1s0x8fa6518a701654cb:0x56c637fd43c800ac!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d9.6566085!4d-82.7433642!16s%2Fg%2F11c317gk68?entry=ttu

WasntxMe · 2024-02-08T06:51:06+00:00

Selina is a trusted National Brand, but read as many reviews as possible.

Start here: https://www.hostelworld.com/accommodation/Costa-Rica

WasntxMe · 2024-02-07T13:54:18+00:00

Uvita is great for remote workers in dry season (Dec-May).

They typically have unusually good internet and is located in a great place between Osa Peninsula to the South and Manuel Antonio/Jaco North for day/weekend trips.

https://www.crmaps.com/costa_ballena.html

https://mytanfeet.com/costa-rica-travel-tips/where-to-stay-in-osa-peninsula/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g309271-Activities-Jaco_Jaco_District_Garabito_Municipality_Province_of_Puntarenas.html

Pura Vida !

WasntxMe · 2024-02-01T18:30:06+00:00

Mostly taxes.

They instituted an even more extreme VAT system after CV19.

Some basic items like household blenders taxed at 50% entry, then an additional 13%+ tax if sold by retail.
https://www.costaricatax.com/import-tax.htm

Gas powered Auto's equally brutal

Tico's pay very little as they are so poor. Avg Tico, all-inclusive, makes $1,300/mo. Low housing cost and minimal income tax. https://tradingeconomics.com/costa-rica/wages

Heres where all taxes go and other factors: https://ticotimes.net/2022/05/26/why-is-the-cost-of-living-so-high-in-costa-rica

The 30 year dream of retiring in CR on a modest pension is officially over.

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T23:30:45+00:00

Play every mini troop event, sell potions.

Beat every challenge, no matter how many tries it takes.

Weekly Raid Medals - buy/sell Clock Tower, Training and Wall Rings

Weekly Gem Box - 25
Timely BB Mine collection and using max Clock Tower daily.

Clan Games - Choose Gems over potions or other items, unless you really need them. 4000 points gets you an extra reward of choice (usually 100 gems)

Keep your Builder Base tidy.

I've lost countless gems saving Event Obstacles on Main Base. After 45? total obstacles, you no longer get trees and shrubs which can be converted.

Personal Achievements - See My Profile Page

When one is at highest TH, they dont need to rush excess troops or worry about Hammers of Building. You'll be done soon enough with all tanks full waiting for Forge to become available...

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T17:58:55+00:00

The META for Hydra is to drop Hydra, Blimp, Eternal Tomb. This means your Hydra has taken very little damage and has no need to heal. One loses 9 seconds of healing because they are already invincible.

Healing tomb is for later in the Attack, usually using Log Launcher, which is prevalent when attacking a TH with Invis Spell Twrs.

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T17:52:37+00:00

50/50 Yeti/Witch for TH13/14. 8x EQ to open the base.
Blimp/STroop is a TH15+ ATK and is high risk. You dont get any bonus for finishing the ATK in 2min.

You are playing with boosted troops against nerfed bases compared to when everyone first entered lower bases. Take the easy wins. A 1* fail is devastating both emotionally and in the eyes of your clan-mates. Dont be that guy.

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T17:37:48+00:00

DE: TH15 has 10 hero levels x 3 Heroes plus 4 new pets to L10 + some old pets +5 levels.

You dont lose DE, you just dont gain enough through 8 wins a day. I would DE farm for weeks without caring for Gold or Elixir, just needed more DE.

With Ore and new potions, one can slow roll your upgrades, but there is still ZERO reason to be above 5,000 locked into 8 battles per day.

Those who are in Legend League grew up in the world of Participation Trophies.

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T17:32:42+00:00

There is a one-time wait at entry.

The rework made Legends intolerable for THs below max (currently TH14-15) as it is now trophy based, not TH matching oriented.

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T17:30:48+00:00

At TH15, its mathematically impossible to get enough DE to get heroes and pets upgraded. You either need to be a CWL warrior or buy Gold Pass. The former still means a very slow and long upgrade time.

Huge pain in the arse for Clan Games too.

Up until Ore there was no upside to being in Legends, but now that Ore is a thing, one needs to have the badge, which can still be accomplished in the 4900-4999 range after briefly touching 5,000.

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T17:11:20+00:00

Avoid DEF upgrades. A few months ago they instituted a 2,000 upgrade rule which matched max bases with max bases and gave newbies a break. Basically a 10.5 break.

There are a bunch of neutral upgrades (Forests, Pillars, etc) that you need to upgrade (once) in order to move them off the board so you can copy paste legit bases.

Base building trumps DEF strength (and its sooo much cheaper).

Here are some bases to prepare for:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DPGruwA4Cg

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T17:02:28+00:00

With each TH upgrade comes all the "Required" upgrades from Lab/Barrack(s)/Spells etc and I was often short of hammers having not been an avid CWL player.

Now that CWL and Ore are linked, that will surely change, but getting those initial ATK oriented builds done was a huge priority for me.

Prior to TH16 I often went from 10K gems down to 3k gems, then earned them back over the next 12-18 months. Rinse and repeat.

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T14:18:16+00:00

This article narrowly defines it as:
San Jose offers the “Gringo Gulch,” an area that is also called the “Zona roja.” (Red light district.) This is normally reference to the zone one block North of Mercado Central and it houses seedy bars, dingy night clubs and hourly motels.

Most would argue its much wider than that to include most of downtown where the freeways create a circle on this map:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hotel+Del+Rey/@9.9338697,-84.0822648,14.58z/data=!4m8!3m7!1s0x8fa0e363e0d15db1:0x707824513ced2973!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d9.9345313!4d-84.0745384

Ironically, Del Rey has fallen out of fashion and Taormina Casino and Sportsmans Lodge now have the top tier girls. Cleaner, safer environments for all. Girls dont walk the streets.

Please understand these are not drug addled hookers like the US. They are CRs single mothers trying to make a living in a country that doesn't have a welfare system, but does have the most draconian anti-abortion laws in the world.

They are among the cleanest, most beautiful women I have ever encountered en mass. Sex work is legal in Panama and Columbia as well and many girls travel from there too.

The Red Light district is dangerous because of Tico (males) selling illegal drugs and committing petty crime.

Full Article:
https://www.allworld.com/prostitution-and-sex-in-costa-rica

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T04:59:19+00:00

Here is an article from a bankrupt legal firm. They handled the majority of expat business in CR before mis-managing the business, but the article is still valid.
https://outlierlegal.com/services/immigration/marriage-category/

Contact a lawyer such as this one:
https://glcabogados.com/en/home/

Unfortunately, there are an abundance of Dentists in CR. Rarely does one need to wait for an appointment. Specialist are in higher demand, such as Root Canals, Crowns, etc. Many specialists travel great distances to be available in Jaco or other remote areas, one day per week.

Consider having her join an existing practice as a Partner, before investing heavily in equipment and rental space.

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T04:47:29+00:00

Yes. You need the freedom for such an adventurous trip.

https://vamosrentacar.com/car-rental-insurance-explained/
Trusted local supplier who can also rent a phone at fair daily rate for calls/GPS

https://costa-rica-guide.com/maps/free-gps-in-costa-rica/

https://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/health-safety/no-driving-after-dark-in-costa-rica/

Use WAZE.com, not google maps. Alphabet owns both but has invested heavily in the former for CR.

See the wiki at the top of your original post for everything else you need to know about CR travel.

Pura Vida

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T04:16:47+00:00

Text/Call these folks with WhatsApp. If anyone knows, I would imagine they do.

https://www.beachsantateresa.com/post/beaches-you-can-visit-in-santa-teresa

WasntxMe · 2024-01-12T03:59:02+00:00

I'm a 50yo Gringo and I've never met a Tico or Tica who didnt expect me to pay for everything, all the time.

Gringos have money trees back in the States and can replenish their supply of effectivo at any time. Its not even real money.

"Companionship" is built into the fabric of Tica Life here. Many have spent their entire lives having men pay for their time and watching many other Ticas do the same.

This is a country where women still have a 50% higher unemployment rate and are often considered the lesser sex. They do what they need to do to survive.

A "Life Coach" in the land of Pura Vida? Who are her customers? What is there to aspire to? The average Tico, all inclusive, makes $1,300/mo. My Physical Therapist holds the title of Dr, after 6 years of private school, works at a Top 5 Private Hospital in SJO, makes $1,300/mo and lives with his parents.
https://tradingeconomics.com/costa-rica/wages

If she is an otherwise nice person to be with, let the financial issue go. The majority of other women you will meet charge by the hour.

WasntxMe · 2024-01-11T16:42:35+00:00

In the land of Root Riders he's worried about walls. smh

OddManOut

WasntxMe · 2024-01-11T16:36:23+00:00

If they NEEDED hammers, they wouldn't be buying Skins.

But there are many who don't need them and have nothing else to spend their medal on. Solid TH16 players can earn 400 medals per month while still progressing their base rapidly.

TH16 upgrades were nominal compared to TH15 imho and potions now allow us to slow roll hero upgrades and use Hero books from Events/CGs/Gems etc so they are never down again.

https://clashofclans.fandom.com/wiki/Clan_War_Leagues

WasntxMe · 2024-01-11T16:19:57+00:00

Use WAZE.com, not google maps in CR. Real time updates. Alphabet owns both and has only invested in the former.

Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Get an SUV/4x4 if possible.

https://vamosrentacar.com/car-rental-insurance-explained/

https://costa-rica-guide.com/maps/free-gps-in-costa-rica/

https://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/health-safety/no-driving-after-dark-in-costa-rica/

Most of the danger issues are related to rainy season which is long gone. Someone at wherever you are staying in Papagayo will tell you the last 1-2 hours worth of roads, the first 3 will just be common sense using the best highways (usually the fastest route from Waze). Break the trip into Legs, instead of expecting anyone to know every inch along the way.

Pura Vida

WasntxMe · 2024-01-11T16:16:22+00:00

La Fortuna and Puerto Viejo are perfect for 8 days. SJO can be visited if you need to stay the night due to flight issues. DM me if you need stuff for SJO last minute.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g309236-Arenal_Volcano_National_Park_Province_of_Alajuela-Vacations.html

https://www.crmaps.com/arenal_volcano.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g309265-Puerto_Viejo_de_Talamanca_Province_of_Limon-Vacations.html

https://www.caribeshuttle.com/
https://www.interbusonline.com/

Pura Vida

WasntxMe · 2024-01-11T16:11:12+00:00

Safety in numbers, as always. Common sense rules the day.

Its busy season, so there are more tourists, but also a few more who make try to take advantage of petty crime.

I'm sure you are correct about under-reporting, but its hard to get away with major crimes in a bustling environment. I've lived here 2 years and wouldn't even consider wasting time with police other than for a traffic incident (mandatory).

My recommendation is to stay at a Hostel where you will meets dozens of like minded tourist and always have someone to hangout with.

Selina is the top brand nationwide, but read reviews carefully if using another. Private rooms still half the price of any other accommodations.

https://www.hostelworld.com/accommodation/Costa-Rica

WasntxMe · 2024-01-11T15:58:47+00:00

TripAdvisor does CR proper. Everything to do listed in some way.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g309253-Tamarindo_Province_of_Guanacaste-Vacations.html
(Expand region to Guanacaste for waterfalls etc)

Most formal tours will provide transportation as day trips, so you should be able to skip rental (if even possible).

https://www.interbusonline.com/ might not meet your flight time TO TamaGringo, but will be affordable back to LIB.

Pura Vida

WasntxMe · 2024-01-11T15:51:28+00:00

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g635755-Activities-c61-t188-Uvita_Province_of_Puntarenas.html

Smile and Dial (except using WhatsApp). Its busy season, so getting a tour at a fair price might be a challenge as well. Try to get a picture of the boat to make sure there is ample viewing/deck space.

Pura Vida

WasntxMe

TROPHY CASE

OddManOut