www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I agree wholeheartedly with you if he plans to pick up none pros, (Even if young, if he doesn't speak Spanish well, he's going to have a hard time.)

If he's a non Spanish speaker, I'm advising him against it after spending all that money to get here unless he has buddies or Latino pals to go with him, but I'll debate you on two things.

First, the HDR is pretty cheap, and often the "better" hotels have "bigger" prices, so once or twice a day visits in many instances will still keep the daily rate lower. However you may be correct in his case, he's young, he may be coming back 4 or 5 times a day, lol. That's what I'd be doing if I could morph back to that age for a week, lol.

Now regarding "better" hotels, as you recommend on it's alleged merit for him. Now I'm not sure about you, but I'm assuming you're in our age bracket. Perhaps you enjoy the class and elegance and meals at La Amistad, the ambiance, the quieter neighborhood (except when the train comes barreling through your room at 2 am) or the modern rooms at the Castillo, some with large porches and gorgeous park views...

20 Somethings don't give a donkey's arse about those things and don't want to pay the higher prices. At least the young straight single males don't...

They want to be where the fightin' n fkkkn and boatloads of poontang are round the clock where they can get loud n wild n cut loose and wake up in abject misery, and go out and do it again. I vaguely recall that's what I liked at his age...

3/4 of the 20 something guys I know would be happy staying at Hotel Asia to get at this kind of debauchery, lol. Remember, you're not making recommendations to a fellow grey beard who hates noises, is intimidated by sharks and wants a quiet nights sleep every night...

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

I am in the "older" age bracket .

The reason I would recommend La Amistad or Castillo to a younger guy is that overall they are going to probably save a lot of cash if they are anything like I was at that age which was always wanting to eat and drink in great quantities (along with having sex at every opportunity). At $10 a day a young guy can get a lot of value with free food all day, free beer, free local liquor, free laundry, free calls back to the states, etc. San Jose can be very pricey to eat, especially for newbies that don't know where to find the value priced meals that the locals eat. The area around the Del Rey can really get expensive for food and drink.

Also, the younger guys I meet now a days seem to be a bit more luxury / comfort oriented than we might have been back in the 60's / 70s / 80's.

Also I have gotten a few great deals at the Taormina when I booked it along with my Delta flight (on Delta.com). The last time (in December) the room rate was $51 before taxes including breakfast.

I guess I am just prejudiced against the Del Rey. I've only stayed there a couple of times since I started coming down in the late 90's but to me it just doesn't get it. While it is convenient in that there are women pretty much 7 by 24, the rooms aren't much for the price, breakfast across the street (the buffet is great) is very expensive, there are sketchy characters right outside the hotel day and night and you get hit up for $11 every time you want to take a woman back to your room.

Good argument, but me at that age, I'd stay at the Rey and feast at the greasy hamburger joint and pizza place across from HDR on Ave 1 during my stay, and keep eyeballing potential hottie conquests every spare second.

Other option (which I have done, even in my 50's) is to enjoy the all you can eat breakfast at Del mar, at about $15...stuff myself unmercifully, 1/2 lb of bacon and 4 fried eggs with minor amounts of side treats, waddle out of there dizzy and stuffed like a big snake after consuming prey 3/4 its size, get in a good nap and digest, then skip eating the rest of the day, lol.

I'd give a year off my life if I had access to the DeLorean time machine and could go back to the HDR for a week at age 25. I'd return with 30 to 40 conquests under my belt, lol.

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

Not sure how valuable this advice will be since he posted and hasn't been back, but if the plan was to go out clubbing to find regular women and only pay as a backup then I think the HDR is not the right choice. I do think that you should try it at least for one night but do it understanding what it is.

there are fun clubs to dance all over but no way is DR a club
es un putero solo

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

An easy way to connect with young student types is over social media. You will find some that speak English and it is easier to discreetly find out if they are interested in play for pay without being offensive. Trying to pick up women in bars has always been something that I find uncomfortable. Social media like Tinder lets them come to you if they are interested. It is still a crap shoot as to what you get but it always is. I think I am more likely to find what I look for on social media than at the Del Rey. It still requires skills as to how you approach them and negotiate. It is another interesting way to play the game.

Ditto. At least when I go alone. The only time I've gotten a number or a same night rendezvous was when I had a friend to talk to already there.