www.CostaRicaTicas.com

After some pretty thorough searching I don’t seem to be able to get a good answer on this topic so I am turning to the mercy of the board.

I will be in CR as soon as next week for my second trip in order to pursue business opportunities. I play a key role in the operation of my current business, so it has been hard for me to get away for any length of time in the past few years. As technology improves I believe that I can handle most of my responsibilities from CR if I have a reliable internet connection with solid, high speed access and perhaps a cell phone that doesn’t cost a mint to use.

My question is, where is a good place to stay to get a good internet connection in the room. I will have many contracts, reports etc. to review and email back and forth while in CR. Many of the files could be a few megabytes in size so I need the ability to download as well as upload files.

My first/last visit I stayed at the Villa Tournon. Because of this internet dependency, I did not make hotel reservations before I landed at SJO. I had the taxi take me to Clarion Amon, which reportedly had wireless internet access. I tried to log on to the network in the lobby, and the signal was too week for what I needed so I walked up to the Villa Tournon. I asked to see the room and was satisfied with it, as the bellman said they had cable internet in every room – I took that to mean a hard-wire connection. I was wrong about that but still the wireless system was adequate (barely adequate but adequate nonetheless) for what I needed so I stayed there.

I would love to find a hotel with WIRED internet access if possible. It would be very helpful to be able to transfer files with the same efficiency I have at home with my cable modem or at my office with a T-1 connection. I am probably asking for too much.

A reliable and high speed connection would help me extend my stay and allow me to return more frequently. I do believe that with a little bit of effort and cooperative technology I could accomplish most of what I need to do while in CR while serving clients on US soil. I would have no problem paying over $100/night if not twice that for a decent/average room with good internet access. If ZB had a T-1 connection I would probably never leave CR again.

Any input is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I am currently staying at the Marriott Courtyard in Escazu. It has wired internet that works well, but not blazingly fast. The Amistad has wired internet in the room I stayed in last time out. It worked very well, but the wireless was unpredictable. I don't know if wired is available in all rooms, so check in advance. You also might want to pm mkink (amistad owner) to find out particulars.

Ciaoicao

I agree that I too, have had good luck with a signal at the Presidente. If worst comes to worst, there are several internet cafe's in the area as well.

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LT

IMO this is the best you can do. I have stayed in 4-5 different places in SJ and I have yet to break the 1Mbps download speed barrier. Upload speeds equally suck, probably less than 256kbps. Most hotels offer unsecured wireless networks for guests, but the quality of the signal can vary from second to second. T1 is 1.5Mbps and you will not find this at any hotel, rental apartment, and even internet cafe. I assume residential customers who get cable or high-quality DSL can get 1.5Mbps and more.

The main problem that I have noticed with the connection in hotels in CR is consistency. You may get a very good signal at some point but it won't last but a few minutes, maybe even seconds. I don't want to sound too dramatic, but if your business or financial well-being depends on a solid connection, I'd suggest to forget CR.

They have wired connections in the apartments I rent. PM me for details. I haven't run a speedtest there so I am not sure what it is, but it's faster than I've had in other places. I will test it over Labor Day weekend.

Orange is right. At home I am a speed junkie and CR internet speeds drive me up the wall. Also, reliability of the providers network isn't that great either. I have been in CR several times to see the internet fail because the provider had some issue.

You can get your work done if you need to but don't expect super fast or super reliable.

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[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

Sleep in has the fastest connections I have had in SJO, but you need to bring your ethernet cord, or you can rent one from the front desk for 7 dollars a day.
Its ethernet and its fast.

I just bought a new 25ft ethernet (RJ-45) cord for $6 (shipped) on Ebay to use in the apartment that I rent when I'm in town.

Orange,
I ran a speed test with DSLreports.com for the computer at the marriott. It is 1794 kb/s down and 791 kb/s up. FYI.

Ciaociao

(Removing foot from mouth)

That's very impressive.

Hotel Grano de Oro has wired internet in the rooms, a very fine hotel as well.

Sounds great, but what about the $25 chica fee?

Tested connection at Sportsmens Lodge on Dslreports.com. This is a wireless connection and the speed fluctuates.

7/28/07: Download is 984 KBS;Upload is 484 KBS.

7/29/07: Download is 1345 KBS; Upload is 461 KBS.


Ciaociao

If your looking for at least a week stay, look at Scotland Apartments. The connection is hard-wired and I usually get pretty good speed. True, the service provider isn't all that reliable but I'd say it's up and going about 90% of the time.
It has been reliable enough to have downloaded files over 1GB in size many times during my stay. Course, I'd recommend a download manager for stuff like that...
I just did a speed test and got 1456 kb/s download and 228 Kb/s upload speed.

presidente upgraded there internet to a business line last time i was
there.

you used to be able to fly back to america before the page downloaded
but last trip it was very fast
and they were re-wiring all the floors to accomodate their new system

should be all in place now

test the speed there now

i'm going to email admin 1 about having a category-"living in costa rica"
i'm sure many of us would live there for 90 days clips at a time
is we had 99% internet reliability and were confident in making resonable
phone calls