Job Discussion Forums

Carolebest · Joined: 23 Mar 2005 Posts: 18

Can someone let me know where are the best, most convenvient and most reasonably priced places to stay are when one first arrives? I need something while i look for an apartment then a good apartment while i look for a job. Thanks!

doreenp · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 147

once again i highly recommend a homestay to get over the hump of where to live and where to teach.

The question to homestay or go to a hostel has come up and after hearing from some newly arrived teachers, i have to say that homestay would be the way to go. Of course my experience was a good one and so that makes me biased and my friends time at the hostel was so bad that they almost left CR . If you�re trying to take a course while living in a hostel it can be extremely tough. A well run hostel will have curfews and noise rules after 11pm but things happen and sleep is not always tranquil.

I have posted about my homestay before, but i�ll refresh it here. I really appreciated having people pick me up at the airport and take me to their home. I was given a walking tour of Heredia and didn�t have to worry about shopping or cooking or anything for the first days and could just enjoy my time and explore the city. It also gave me a good start on looking into where exactly i wanted to work and live. Job offers came in immediately but I traveled around and interviewed many schools before i chose to stay in Heredia.

If anyone is interested in more information you can private email me .
Living in Central Heredia you are walking distance to churches, gyms, pool, shopping and parks and many universities and language schools.

The house i live in offers 4 rooms to students and teachers. The cost starts at about 250.00 per month for a fair size room, upstairs , two rooms share one bathroom, toilet and shower with hot water and downstairs you have your own.

I only had one meal a day cooked for me because of my work schedule but the other people had all three meals cooked for them and she is an excellent cook and will vary the meals and accomodate your tastes (vegetarian etc.)

Our rooms are cleaned once a week and bedding cleaned and changed.

My laundry is done when needed, washed folded and returned to me.

The three upstairs rooms have a private and seperate entrance so you don't have to go thru the whole house to get to your room.

You have complete use of the living and dining rooms and kitchen. The living room has a TV for communal use.

The family is great and more than willing to help you out in any way they can.

Email: Hector - [email protected] or [email protected]

please put �� heredia homestay information�� in the subject line

good luck to all
cheers
d

doreenp · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 147

a few people have asked me for references. i know a few people from Dave�s have stayed with Zeneida.

Anyone out there care to leave their views on this homestay?

cheers
d

nesec · Joined: 11 Nov 2005 Posts: 18 Location: Heredia, Costa Rica

I lived in Zeneida's home for five months. She's a very nice woman and the family is, too. I've posted about this homestay before so I'm not going to spend much time writing about it again. However, If you have some specific question, IM me and I'll do my best to fill you in.

One note - most of the people living there are either students or teachers, it's not a party house and if you're coming to Costa Rica to go out pretty much every night, get drunk and party all the time, this may not be the place for you. I went out and came home late plenty of times so don't get it wrong. However, there is a limit - she's a 66-year-old woman.

Overall, it was a great jumping off point for me and they were really nice and helpful.