What constitutes a real relocation tour and seminar to Costa Rica?

For the last 30 years I have been writing guidebooks, articles about living here and conducting relocation tours and seminars. The question is, what should relocation tour really consist of?

First, it should cover the most desirable areas to live and include the following: infrastructure: accessibility, good medical care, shopping, entertainment, basic services and good communication (telephone, Internet and TV). It should also feature activities in which expats can participate to stay busy and happy. Not so much ziplining and adventure sports but clubs, get-togethers and other activities where expats can make new friends easily and stay busy and happy. Boredom can be an issue when one relocates to another country.

Visitors with their eye on retirement should experience as much of what life is really like when they move here and the lust wears off. One thing is visiting and another is actually living here and experiencing the day-to-day life and reality.

A seminar is also a must. However, it must feature speakers who have live here for many years, really speak the language and understand the country’s culture. For instance, the ARCR’s two-day intensive seminar’s features a variety of speakers who have a combined total of 200 years living in the country. All of the speakers have been screened.

Such tops as residency, the legal system (very different than the U.S.) buying and renting property safely, moving your household good and automobiles, U.S. and local tax responsibilities, different types of insurance (different than in the U.S.), the best way to learn survival Spanish, medical and dental care options, communications (Internet, telephone and television options).

The seminar should also include valuable contacts and time-tested information to make the move seamlessly and guarantee your success here. A lot of people return home because they fail to do things the right way as the people with many years with “boots on the ground” suggest.

When dealing with people offering relocation tours and seminars one should find out:

1. How many years the company has been in business. It is well-nigh impossible to offer these types of service without having lived here for many years.
2. The background of the people behind the product. Do they speak the language well-enough to know all of the cultural nuances.
3. If they are from the U.S., or any other place, find out what they did in their home country and what qualifies them to be relocation experts. If someone was in another field of endeavor, what qualifies them to work as an expert in Costa Rica.
4. Google the person’s name and see what comes up. Be careful! Over the years many people use an alias or change their name because of a criminal past.
5. If something is suspicious, check to see if the person is wanted by Interpol or in their home country. You’d be surprised what can be found.
6. During the 30 plus years I have lived here there have been innumerable foreign conmen and unscrupulous figures who have set up shop here to prey on naïve newcomers. I have seen some people lose their life savings, purchase non-existent land and be bilked by numerous fast-talking hustlers.
7. Whatever you do, do not leave your brain on the plane, drop your guard and do stupid things you would never dream of doing at home.
8. Beware of foreigners who aren’t of retirement age trying to make money in real estate, other investments or tourism. Some of these people are desperate to make a buck at any cost.

Follow this time-tested advice and you will have a happier life here and thus avoid unfortunate situations. Costa Rica is a wonderful country, but there are hidden dangers. Expats can be especially “easy prey.”