Dear Patients,

It has become necessary for me to clarify the issue of "transfers" here on the website. Please read this. It may save you and my team in Costa Rica a lot of aggravation.

The fact is, other than your transfers to and from the airport and to and from the hospital on your day of surgery which are included in your room rate at the Villa Plenitud, you are responsible for all other transportation while you are in Costa Rica.

There are a couple of exceptions:

If you are seeing either Dr. Sheinfeld, the Dermatologist or having dental work done at the Prisma Dental Clinic, they will each provide free transportation to and from the Villa Plenitud to bring you to your appointments and back to the Villa Plenitud ONLY. This is a courtesy that is not offered to other recovery retreats. I have negotiated this extra little perk for Dr. Lev's patients who stay at the Villa Plenitud and we are very fortunate to have this courtesy extended to us by these wonderful doctors.

However, it is very important that you understand that sometimes the drivers are late. This means that you could be late for your appointments because of the lateness of the driver in picking you up from the Villa Plenitud. If this happens, your appointment will be guaranteed and honored whenever you arrive so it is not necessary to freak out.

If your driver is late in picking you up, it is because of the terrible traffic situation in San Jose which is unpredictable. You must be patient and know that you will definitely have your appointment no matter how late you arrive at the dental office or the dermatologist's office.

Also, it is possible that you may have to wait for the driver for up to one hour when you are finished with your appointment. It's likely that won't be the case, but it has happened in the past on a couple of rare occasions and I always like to give people the worst case scenario. I'd rather you be pleasantly surprised if you don't have to wait an hour for the driver to take you back to the Villa Plenitud, than disappointed, angry and frustrated if you must wait.

You do  always have the option, by the way, to have them call you a taxi to take you back if you don't want to wait for their driver. But that will be at your own expense. Most of the time the wait for the driver is under a half an hour.

If perchance you get back to the Villa Plenitud after dinner has already been served (6pm) don't worry because Meredith, the V.P. manager/chef extraordinaire will hold a meal for you and serve it to you when you return from the dental office.

We have had patients in the recent past who, in their frustration with having to wait for the driver either going in the morning or returning in the evening, have been extremely rude with the driver or the staff at the Prisma Dental Clinic.

I want to say that this behavior is totally and completely unacceptable and I encourage each of you to bring a book or a puzzle or a writing tablet or an IPod or whatever you want to bring that will keep you busy if you have to wait.

Acting angry with and taking out your frustrations on the people who work at the offices or the drivers is not only rude and unacceptable, but it is an exercise in futility since 99% of the time whatever it is that is causing you to wait is beyond anyone's ability to mitigate at that moment. I guarantee that no one wants you to be waiting for long periods of time. But sometimes it happens and you need to be prepared for it to happen to you. So I strongly urge you to bring something with you that will entertain you while you wait.

Safe travels!

Love, Didi