www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Semana Santa? This is a CR holiday week? What is open and what is closed? It seems like I picked a bad week for my first visit.

Everyone goes to the coast. So your best bet would be to plan to do the same. Jaco, Quepos, ect, ect. San Jose really shuts down during this time.

To make matters worse the city of San Jose prohibits the sale of alcohol from Thursday the 24th to Monday the 28th. So the Blue Marlin shuts down, Idem closes and so on.
NO ACTION except for Hand Solo in his room.
You have been able to bring your own bottle to the Blue Marlin in the past but last year they shut down to "remodel" the place.

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William Walker
8 May 1824 - 12 Sep 1860
Fusilado

To reiterate, I don't think you want to be in Jaco that week. Even if you can find a hotel, it is a terrible week to be in town. Believe me, I've been through five of them. Hard to get into restaurants and the town is incredibly dirty. Being the closest beach to San Jose, we get busloads of people from San Jose that camp, sleep on the beach, etc. I'm going to do a little investigating this weekend to see if many of the girls are staying in town and try to set up something a little ahead of time. Who knows, maybe we can get something up in San Jose that bad weekend. I know a few small hotels that are going to get around the booze thing by having private parties and charging a cover, but no money exchanged for booze. We'll see. What a silly little custom to deal with every year.

For your visit during Easter week, try to get some members to private mail you some names and phone numbers of some chicas and call them ahead of time and set up some dates at your hotel. If you do not speak Spanish find someone who can call for you.

That may help.

Also that would be a good week to try to see if 747, Oasis and other local places which do not sell alcohol will be open.

I will bet that some enterprising individual will hold a "private party" during Friday or Saturday night. Maybe in the back bar at the Europa. Ask. That is what Bill did at the old Hotel Park.

Be sure to buy some booze at the stores before the ban goes into effect, or bring some down with you. You can usually BYOB into restaurants during Santa Semana.

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

Um its Semana Santa not Santa Semana at least thats what we call it in PR.

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For good or bad (depends on your point of view) there are not many as sleazy as Bill around so would not depend on a "private party". The penalty can be severe if they get caught.

PS: Is Semana Santa here also.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Personally I am gathering as many phone numbers as possible, and giving out my own to as many chicas as will accept it. I am hopeful that when the drought hits I will have a few puddles available.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

Wow I had no idea, guess I better book a room ahead of time since I was planning on being in Jaco from Thur to Monday. So what is the Beatle going to be like during this holiday. You can buy booze in Jaco during this time correct?

SJO,

Most of the liquour areas at markerts will be shut down.

Although if you know somebody you can always find someone that's selling

Best advice is, if you are in the country bofore Thrusday, go to the market and buy in advance what you plan to drink and take it with you.

Mente.

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Tico and Panama, let me know if you need any help down here.
Panamaexplorers.com

Nothing illegal as long as no money changes hand for booze. I know a couple of places that are talking about having a party and charging a cover charge for food and drinks. But the cops will keep an eye out. They can't catch a criminal to save their lives, but they can sniff out every bar and store in the country.

I'll be there in time to buy some booze, but does that mean that the Beatle will be closed? And if it is open it'll probably be really slow? Maybe if it's open and I'm one of the few with the booze portion of the drink, then I might be real popular and help negotiations alot? What are the chances of bringing a girl from San Jose down? I'm not talking in general, I understand that, but for this time in particular. Do these girls for the most part already have plans, or might this be a good angle since it sounds like this is everyone's destination anyway, hay much better if it's all expenses paid right. I do understand that this could be a nightmare with the wrong chica and I'd always prefer the variety. Thanks for all the advice on getting through this hiccup. (Thinking about a reschedule, but not sure if my buddy's work schedule is as flexible as mine)

I was scheduled to be in SJ 3/21 - 3/25. What a shock when I found out about Semana Santa (holy week). I rescheduled my first trip at an additional cost of $180. In a way a waste of money but at the same time what would I do being the only person in SJ. The airline charged me $50 bucks going and coming cancellation fee plus the flight ticket was $80 bucks higher.

Best of luck with whatever you decide. Just imagine not knowing before hand. My special thanks to the CRT members for providing the insight.

Another option would be to buy your booze at the Duty Free Shop upon arrival at the airport. In San Jose, you can buy it duty free going or coming.

Does anyone know if the liquor ban also applies to the airport?

Yes it does.

It also applies for hotel bars and restaurants.

Mente.

_________________
Tico and Panama, let me know if you need any help down here.
Panamaexplorers.com