The Voice of Nosara


home	regional	community	sports	entertainment	surf	nature	health		en Espa�ol	English


Archives

	December 09
	January 2010
	February 2010
	Water Edition
	March 2010
	April 2010
	May 2010
	June 2010
	July 2010
	August 2010
	September 10
	October 10
	November 10
	December 10
	January 2011
	February 2011
	March 2011
	April 2011
	May 2011
	June 2011
	July 2011
	August 2011
	September 11
	October 11
	November 11
	December 11
	January 2012
	February 2012
	March 2012
	April 2012
	May 2012
	June 2012
	July 2012
	August 2012
	September 12
	October 12
	November 12
	December 12
	January 13
	February 13
	March 13
	April 13
	May 13


Media Partners

	El Pais

	Inside Costa Rica

	Costa Spirit

	Q Costa Rica

	Today Costa Rica

	El Sabanero


connect


	FaceBook

	Twitter

CLASSIFIEDS

community

	Nosara Animal Care

	Nosara Info

	Esquelita de Nosara

	Friends of Nosara

	Nosara Civic Association

	Nosara Wildlife

Consumer Commission Fines Samara Hotel for Not Including Taxes in Advertisement
• Hotel said other hotels do the same thing and taxes were included in the bottom of ad

By insidecostarica.com

The Technical Support Unit for the National Consumer’s Commission has issued a fine to the hotel “Villas Playa Samara,” for alleged false advertising.

The report was filed by the Costa Rican Consumers Commission, because of an ad that the hotel ran in which the price for accommodations was printed without including taxes.

According to the Consumers Commission, the hotel violated the “Law for Competition and Effective Consumer’s Defense.” The hotel was issued a fine of 1,750,000 colons (about $3,500), and is also required to publish a new ad in which the rates with taxes are included.

“If there is noncompliance of what has been ruled, the debt and file will be certified and referred to the General Controller’s Office, in order to be executed in the State’s name. Also, the Technical Support Unit for this Commission must proceed by referring the file to the Public Ministry for the offense of failure to obey the law,” the commission’s resolution stated.

The case dates back to 2010, when Villas Playa Samara published an ad in a national newspaper, advertising rooms for $129, with the phrase “+impu” (short for “impuestos,” meaning taxes) next to the price. According to the commission, the ad did not include the final price, which is an apparent violation of law.

Villas Playa Samara said in their defense that other hotels do the same thing, that it is a practice known in the market, and that the price of the taxes were included in the bottom of the ad with an asterisk (“the small print”).

The commission, however, determined that the prices on services and goods must be shown in a manner that leaves no doubt whatsoever as to the final price, including all applicable taxes, not just sales tax.

More Community News

New Nicoya Library Inaugurated

Nicoyans came out by the dozens to celebrate, together with teachers, students and stakeholders, the inauguration of a new library for the city this past Thursday November 15th.

Families Inside Refuge in Peladas Can Get Hooked Up to Water Service

On Tuesday, November 13th, neighbors that live within the refuge area of Playa Peladas started digging trenches to install water pipes, with help from AyA and the Nosara Development Association.

Chopping Down the Guanacaste Tree in the Heart of Nicoya Outrages Many
Minicipalidad said that tree impeded construction of the new plaza

The broad leafy branches of a Guanacaste tree that provided shade for decades in Nicoya's park in front of the historic colonial church has been chopped down, saddening many for the loss of a tree that symbolizes the culture of Guanacaste and Costa Rica.

Letter to the Editor
A Story About Nosara's Beach Attack Dogs

It was after the attack by a large black dog that bit the back of my sandal as I tried to pedal my bicycle faster that I decided I was not going to be the hunted anymore. I had been chased a half dozen times and I was going to fight back! So I armed myself with a stick.

Google More Popular than Books at School Libraries
MEP Aims to Transform School Libraries into Resource Centers

The Google Internet search engine has become the best friend of students when doing homework. Since the speed of searching for content in digital texts is more comfortable for students than hunting amongst various books for the information they need, the number of visits made to school libraries has decreased notably.

Santo Domingo’s New ASADA Board Considering Options for More Water

Santo Domingo finally has a new board of directors for their ASADA (Water Administration Association), and the new board will continue efforts to obtain a new water source that can supply the community with sufficient water during dry season.

CREAR Hosts Club for Samara Kids

After giving the park in Cantarrana a facelift, CREAR now hosts Kid’s Club there Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Each day has a theme.

The Woman who Survived the Aftershocks of Criticism

On September 5th, when the municipal building started shaking and glass started falling around her, Vice Mayor Adriana Rodriguez Cardenas knew this was it: the big earthquake that had been predicted.

Unsung Heroes of the Earthquake

Moved by the stressful situations of many families after the September 5th earthquake, several locals have stepped up to offer their time and their resources to help.

Tune into Radio Samara

Samara now has its own internet-based radio station, known as Radio Samara, with two local radio personalities using the on-air names of Raul and Dave (not their real names). The radio station was launched at the beginning of September with 30 days of nonstop music with no repeats and no commercials.