Costa Rica is a new international destination gaining popularity everyday. It has only been since 1995 that the country has leaped into the International eye and has been growing in popularity as a travel vacation destination.

     5 star hotels, high-end restaurants or not, remember that Costa Rican’s are a proud people, very proud of their country and are always trying to do their best to serve you. (With very few exceptions)

They are not lazy or stupid and they are still learning the hospitality industry and the expectations of service and efficiency that the international traveler here expects.

They are friendly and kind (with very few exceptions) and are easily intimidated or insulted if they feel they have not been doing a good job.

Don’t be mean to them but rather strike up a friendship with the people serving you during your hotel stay or restaurant experience and you will find they will be more conscientious of your expectations and will probably go an extra mile for you to meet your expectations of them and meet your approval.

Costa Rican in the hospitality industry always mean well and try to do their best but one must remember Costa Rica has become very popular travel destination very rapidly. Most of the employees in the hospitality industry have come out of the household and have been employed in the hospitality industry with no or very little formal international hospitality training.

Costa Ricans are such a proud people they can easily be offended, intimidated if they get yelled at or are spoken to in a harsh condescending manner. They will feel that they can never please you or that they are doing a terrible job.

Even though there is a service charge of 10% included in the bill of any restaurant, which is a gratuity shared by the waiters and bartenders in the establishment. Remember that leaving a little extra to the person that served you will go miles in the way of making them happy. They make very little in salary and if you have received good service from your waiter the little extra you leave to him (1000, 2000 or 3000 colones = $4 to $5 dollars) mean so much to him/her and their family and they are very appreciative of this gesture.

In general the intent of these little hints are just meant to help you to interact well with the Costa Rican culture that has been taken out of a household and employed in the hospitality industry. They may not be perfect and or understand the high expectations of a seasoned international traveler, but they are proud & humble. The industry standards for salaries are not very high at all and Costa Ricans mean well and work hard. They are genuinely friendly people and you will see them smile with a friendly greeting (Pura Vida is common) and be friendly towards you at every turn, with few exceptions noting there is always a rotten egg somewhere & anywhere you go, and they are doing their best within their understanding of what is best to do to make your stay pleasant and memorable

So enjoy Costa Rica when you come here and your patience and friendship will make you travel experience here wonderful.

Gary Haynes - Owner/Principal Broker
Costa Rica Property Sales
Read Organization – President/Personal Advisor
DIRECT TOLL FREE TO Gary Haynes: 1-800-913-0511