A different Costa Rica Trip
 

I write this note with the hope that future travelers to Costa Rica can be spared the trauma we just endured. I will tell you a short story with many happy moments and some very bad and dangerous moments.

We planned this follow up trip to C.R. for over a year and decided on the approach of minimizing the movement around the country and seeing basically one area. Our past trip leads us from the Caribbean to the mountains, to the Pacific. It was many hours of driving and we wanted something more relaxing. We settled on the Nicoya Peninsula area and Playa Grade in particular.

We searched the web and many guide books for a place to call base camp for a couple weeks and decided that the Playa Grande area had nice surf, less development and close to the Liberia airport. Also, the wildlife around the area seemed to be plentiful. It seemed like the ideal spot for a vacation. I saw on the web a hotel, Bula Bula that had rooms but also handled house rentals. I looked at the pictures and the prices and decided to try a villa rental with a private pool and near the beach. We could cook some of the meals there, walk to the beach or hotel and enjoy our own private pool. Sounded like heaven and it was in the beginning.

We arrived and checked into the Hotel Bula Bula and they guided us to the house, a short walk down the road. It was nice and lived up to the pictures. I could tell that they were very paranoid about security after advising us to keep the doors and windows locked and double locked with curtains drawn. I noticed the doors to the patio looked as if they had been jimmied and broken into during the past. Oh well, that’s the past and now security is probably better was my thought.

We spent 10 days there and enjoyed the beach, estuary tours, zip lining and just hanging out at the house and hotel bar. Our last night there was spent having a nice dinner at Bula Bula’s and getting some sleep. The next day we were driving up to Arenal for a few days. In the middle of the night, around 0230, I heard a noise. It was coming from inside the house and somewhere

in the living room/kitchen area. I got up out of bed and walked to the kitchen. There I notice a guy with a mask on opening the cupboards. I asked him “what the f*&$ are you doing?” He approached me and I picked him up and literally threw him out the now open front door. He now approached me with a 6 inch knife and I stood my ground…..stupidly. Then another masked individual came running out of the second bedroom and ran by me at the door. He was carrying a duffle bag with our belongings. They both made it down the driveway and into the night.

After surveying the loss we discovered that they had entered through a window 4 feet above the ground level and not protected with extra security locks…..the only window in the house not so protected. They had found the safe key and emptied it getting a few hundred dollars cash and $650 in traveler’s checks. They took a DVD player, camera and all the clothes we had out. We called the police and 1 ½ hours went by before they showed up. There was little that they could do anyway.

So, we packed the remaining clothes out of the dryer and made our way to the Bula Bula lobby to turn our key and use the phone to call American Express about the T. Checks. We parked directly in front of the bar and all the help and we had a good view of the car. You guessed it. While we were taking care of the keys and the T. Checks the car was broken into and ALL the remaining clothes and luggage was taken. Nobody saw anything. I fortunately was wearing my backpack with some cash and passports. I also had the guide books in the back pack. The Moon Handbook survived.

We were wrecked. Our trip was a disaster and we decided to head back to Seattle. I guess besides the feeling of being violated we felt ignored. The hotel staff offered us little more than an “oh well”. Had it been my business I would have at least sent a letter apologizing for the trauma and maybe some form of reimbursement for the losses. But, we received nothing except the return of the T. Checks in the mail. Very strange.

I would certainly warn folks of the lack of police presence and the growing amount of crime in the country. We met many folks at the airport with similar stories and all had passed through the Playa Grande area. I had thought of retiring there and now have deep reservations about it.

Thanks for any help you can be in warning future travelers.

Rod, I am so sorry that that happened to you. I would have been terrified. That's one thing you hear consistently - that CR police are very slow to respond and then nothing much comes of it when they do. I wish they would change that. I'm glad you guys are okay now; you must be so shaken. Pretty scary that they would break in when you all were there. That's part of what scares me about staying somewhere like a private house or villa, that it's isolated, but of course this sort of thing can happen anywhere. One of our favorite hotels in Arenal has a security guard and a gate that they must open for you; I always kind of thought it was overkill, but now I find it comforting. Again, so sorry.

I am so very sorry about your awful experience. I'd be shaking for days after finding an intruder in the middle of the night, with a knife no less. Thank you for sharing that terrible experience as a warning to others.

What a nightmare--literally. I can't even imagine. We have stayed at Bula Bula and didn't even realize they had houses for rent. I wasn't that crazy about the hotel as it made me a little claustophobic! On top of the personal violation resulting from the crime itself, the last thing anyone needs is for the experience to be taken lightly--by anyone. Very sorry this happened and gravely concerned for lots of reasons.

Very curious too that the owners didn't take the same precautions with that window that they took with the other ones - and it does sound like it's happened before.

seattlerod..........
I am so sorry that this happened to you. An experience like this can leave such a bad taste in your mouth and for such a long time.
I too have stayed at the Bula Bula and am so surprised that the owners did not go overboard with comfort after such a horrible experience. Thank God you weren't hurt.

Everyone hates to hear about a trip being spoiled.
However one is much safer in Costa Rica than in most US cities.
Look at the crime stats and you will see that you chances of having your home broken into are much greater in Seattle than in Costa Rica
That said, it is still sad to have a good trip ended that way

Too many coincidences here for this not to appear to be an inside job.

From a previous investigative insurance assessor's point of view - here are the anomalies.

I'll allow the unsecured window - it happens, but managing to find the safe key's location, particularly at 02:30 in the dark is highly suspect, and indicative of a location tip off by someone who had previous access - cleaner? maintenance?

Add in the vehicle burglary on check out, pretty audacious for the thieves to be still around after the police had called, unless of course the thieves worked there.

"We met many folks at the airport with similar stories and all had passed through the Playa Grande area. "

I'd thoroughly recommend that this is an area to be avoided, nothing like a substantial drop in revenue for the area to get something done about the crime, until then visit at your peril.

You definitely get the prize for scariest trip report. So sorry to hear about your horrible experience.

Rod, I'm very sorry that you had this traumatic experience in Costa Rica and don't doubt that there was inside knowledge as you suspect.

Criminals in many parts of the world know that foreigners have trouble doing anything about crimes when they are leaving the country and don't speak the language. My son and daughter were robbed in Thailand the night before leaving and were sure it was people who worked at the hotel where they was staying but they had a plane to catch.

I posted a warning thread for women visiting the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica a while back. My brother's family had a traumatic experience there and received little help or support from the police even thpugh all the local residents knew who was responsible.

The hotel owner, who fully knew about the potential danger but didn't warn them, just kept saying that it wasn't his fault. But since my brother and his family are residents of Costa Rica they are attempting to work within the justice system to put the predator behind bars.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35137823

I too am sorry to hear about your experience. I haven't stayed at that hotel but usually stay at nearby Las Tortugas. About 2 years ago while we were there I remember a couple's car being robbed while they were checking out of the hotel. Las Tortugas has a guard in the parking lot (I think only at night) but I still think that gives people a false sense of security because you really can't trust anyone. Very sad...

Wow !!

What a report and experience.

Everyone has already said what I would have said.

Glad you are home and safe.
Percy

Totally agree with the "inside job" suggestion. Sounds VERY likely. Not the owners, of course, but an employee. . .very likely, considering the details.