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Frequently Asked Questions Country Q: Is Costa Rica a safe country? A: Yes it is. There are some problems in San Jose Costa Rica, but most of the Costa Rican people are very warm and friendly. Petty theft in big cities and beach towns appears to be a national sport, but this is just an irritant and easily stopped by taking normal precautions with valuables. The Tilawa Resort Hotel is in the country, well away from the city. Many expats live in the area and will tell you "I am here as it is a safer place to bring up my children than at home". Tilaran is a small, close-knit community, and people look after each other. Q: Do Costa Rican people speak English? A: Some do, but expect most Costa Rican’s to only speak a little English, if at all. The staff at Tilawa Resort Hotel is multilingual. Q: Should I bring Costa Rican Colones? What is the best way to bring money? A: The Costa Rican Colone is at time of writing (8 March 2005) 466 Colones to the US$. Each week, the Colone depreciates against the US dollar by about 1 Colone (so next week it will probably be 467, week after 468 etc). US dollars are widely accepted in shops, gas stations etc, although you will lose a couple of Colones in each transaction. Best to bring US dollars and change at the banks while you are here, else we will change the money for you at reception. We accept travelers checks, as do most people, and this is probably the best way to bring funds – US dollar traveler checks. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, American Express less so (we accept Visa and Mastercard in Tilawa Resort Hotel). Q: What is the food like? A: In Costa Rica in general serve basically never-ending rice and beans with meat or fish as well as fantastic fresh fruits. Costa Ricans do not use many spices, unlike the Mexicans. We believe our restaurant produces the best food in the entire lake region, by quite some margin, so expect something a little different. There are some other good places to eat, and if here for a while, worth checking out. But get used to rice and beans if going local! Health Q: Do I need to take any shots before coming to Costa Rica? A: There are a number of illnesses that can be picked up in Costa Rica, but we have none of them in the vicinity of the lake. Some of the coastal areas have issues with malaria, Chagas and Dengue, but we do not have any of these issues near the Tilawa Resort Hotel. Sometimes, if the wind is light, there can be some mosquitoes and no-see-ums (bacones) around the hotel, which irritate, but bites are avoided by covering up in the normal ways and using repellant. They generally aren't a problem, and the only time they might be an issue is if walking around in the jungle at dusk. Even then, only some people seem to be bitten while others say "no problem". So, you generally do not need shots around the lake, but best take your doctor's advice if going to coastal areas. Q: Is it safe to drink the water? A: It depends where you are. In the Tilawa Resort Hotel, the water is spring fed, sweet, clean and good. In Tilaran, the water is good. Many parts of Costa Rica have chlorinated tap water but if in doubt buy bottled water. Costa Rica is not Mexico and most people do not have problems. Some people do have intestinal upsets, but they have generally arrived from other areas in Costa Rica where something was drunk or eaten that shouldn't have been. Sometimes just adjusting to a different country upsets the stomach for a day or two, but in general the cases are mild and do not last long. An excellent product to bring along is “Grapefruit Seed Extract” also known as GSE. Add a couple of drops to glass of water, wait one minute and it’s usually safe to drink! Q: I hear there are poisonous snakes, do a lot of people get bitten? A: There are poisonous snakes in Costa Rica, we have a couple as pets in the hotel! (safely caged). No one has been bitten at the hotel in 14 years, even though many guests walk the jungle trails daily. The snakes tend to hang out in long grass, and you would need to tramp around in long grass for a long time before eventually stepping on one. Most locals get bitten while cutting tall grass with machetes, and even then it is rare. Our gardener has not been bitten in 14 years at the hotel, and he is out there just about every day. The most common time locals get bitten is actually coffee picking, where they put their hands into the coffee plants and scare a snake. In the unlikelihood that you get bitten by a Costa Rican snake, the anti-venom is available in Tilaran 8k away. Q: Should we be worried about any other wildlife around the hotel? A: No. There are some big cats around, but you would be privileged to see one. Travel Q: I am considering renting a car. I have been told it is dangerous to drive in Costa Rica and not recommended, is this true? A: Some Costa Rican drivers overtake recklessly, and this is the main danger. If you drive fast yourself, you increase the risks of a head-on. Slow down, drive safely yourself, and the risks are not that much greater than in many other places in the world. The most difficult time is when you are behind slow vehicles and have to overtake. You will see many unsafe overtaking maneuvers. Everyone's favorite is when an 18-wheeler truck takes 5 minutes to overtake another 18-wheeler, and you sit behind (safe with two 18 wheelers clearing the road ahead of you), and you wonder. Also, in some areas, the road conditions are poor; potholes, wandering animals, and narrow bridges make for some exciting slow driving. Q: Do I need a 4-wheel drive? A: Only if tackling some of the more infamous back roads. The road from the airport to the Tilawa, around the lake, from the hotel to Tamarindo, and many of the other beaches is fine for a 2-wheel drive car. Some roads are not so good, for instance the roads to Monteverde and Malpais. So it depends how adventurous you intend to be. The main advantage of renting a 4-wheel drive vehicle in Costa Rica is ground clearance! Q: I have been told that if driving, the police stop tourists and ask for money, is that true? A: Very, very rare. The police will usually only stop you if there has been a genuine infraction, in which case, if you have broken a law, there is often the option to pay a fine on the spot. This is far preferable to waiting around for a week to go to court, and will also be cheaper for you. We are not aware of police fabricating infringements to extort money. Many of our guests drive around the country, and almost none report problems. Climate Q: Do you have air conditioning? A: No. The weather around the lake is far cooler than the beach areas, and the weather is generally sufficiently cool that we need blankets and log fires more than we need air-conditioning. During the days the temperatures are in the 80s, and it drops down just a wee bit at night! Q: Does it rain a lot? A: Sometimes, but we are subject to microclimates around the lake. The far side of the lake near Volcano Arenal gets THREE times more rain than our side. It also depends on the time of year. December is the "change" month when the weather can be unpredictable and very odd, then January through April it is dryer and sunnier, with fresh breezes just about every day. Glorious. Q: Is the lake cold? A: between 70f and 75f, year round. The temperature goes up or down daily depending on rain and sun. Some people do not wear wetsuits, others prefer shorties to stay nice. Bring plenty of sunscreen. |
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