Job Discussion Forums

Willsnow · Joined: 25 Dec 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Barcelona

Hi.. I'm relocating from Barcelona to San Jose with my girlfriend in February. The school We are working for (IH, Instituto Britanico) has already taken care of our VISA's etc... but I need some advice about the best way to rent a flat.

What Barrios would people suggest as being the best in terms of safety, location and price (also are there some older prettier ones)?

Do people generally use agencies, websites (if so, which) or street/shop advertising?

When I was living in Argentina I had a nightmare with the "fianzas" (someone who owns property in the country needs to back you before you can get a flat), does this exist in costa rica?

Word of mouth and friends always seem to be the best way of finding something so if anyone personally knows of anything or any leaving teachers that would be great.

Thanks in advance for your help, if anyone currently in Costa Rica would like to meet up for a drink in a month or so drop us a line and we'll buy you a drink for the skinny on Costa Rica.

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

Hey,

if you poke around a bit in the diversity of the "security", "crime" and so on threads in the forum (you'll find at least two near the top), you can find a lot of stuff about the different barrios and their relative safety levels. For myself, I lived in Guadalupe and frequented Moravia a lot and enjoyed both places - safe and with everything one could want.

dan_lawrence · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 50 Location: FLORIDA USA

In 2007 I visited San Jose in August and October. I stayed in the center of the city near to the National Theater. In front of the theater is a small park where alot of retired Americans who live in CR tend to hang out. I found that many of them own apartments that they rent out in the $250 to $350 per month range. Mostly furnished and utilities included. I have one lined up for the spring just 5 minutes by foot from the center.