Antes de navegar

You're going to spend a year at the Universidad Auotónoma de Centro América, in San José, Costa Rica. You already have all of the academic information. Now you want to find an apartment that meets your needs: a good location, a reasonable rent rate, comfortable, clean, and so on. Before searching for an apartment on the Internet, make a list of things you would like.

1			¿Cuántas habitaciones quiere Ud. en su apartamento?
2			¿Y cuántos baños prefiere tener?
3			¿Cuánto quiere Ud. pagar por mes (per month)?
4			¿Quiere Ud. un apartamento cerca del campus? ¿Por qué? (Piensa en cómo va a llegar a clases, etcétera.)

Al navagar 1

In order to find the perfect apartment, you can start with newspaper classifieds that are posted on the Internet. Use the following links, and any others you might find, to locate two possible apartments. Take notes on each apartment before deciding which one you want.

La Prensa Libre: www.prensalibre.co.cr/2003/noviembre/22/clasificados01.php

Alquileres en Costa Rica: www.alquilerescr.com/cgi-bin/search_locations.pl?t=1

The following site provdes exchange rates, which can help you understand how much the apartments, and other things, will cost.
www.xe.com/ucc/es/

5			apartamento 1 zona: habitaciones: baños: precio: ¿?:
6			apartamento 2 zona: habitaciones: baños: precio: ¿?:

Al navegar 2

Now, imagine that you have chosen an apartment. Describe the apartment, the furniture you will need/use, and so on.

7			¿Cómo es su apartamento? ¿Cuántos cuartos tiene? ¿Qué muebles tiene o necesita? ¿En qué condiciones están el apartamento y los muebles?

Después de navegar

Now, write an email or a letter to the landlord of the apartment you plan to rent. Include the following information in your message to him or her.

• which apartment you're interested in
• when you plan to arrive in Costa Rica
• what information, documents, money and so on, the landlord might need from you before you arrive
• other questions you might have about the apartment itself, the neighborhood and surrounding area, transportation, and so on

8			Querido señor/señora: