www.CostaRicaTicas.com

After pouring over CRT for the last few weeks I am ready to book my trip. The one thing I am struggling with is which of these hotels to choose. Everyone seems to say that for your first trip it HAS to be Del Rey, but the sportsmans seems to offer a much more relaxing, casual atmosphere to relax. It also seems to be more personally attentive. I could still spend alot of time at the BM anyway right? Anyways any input woould be appreciated!!

My suggestion is that you will be at HDR enough anyway, SL does provide that relaxing laid back atmosphere that in my opinion is tough to beat. You are only a very short cab ride away, however it does provide you a chance to catch your breath when you want to, or catch a chica in the bar, or catch a bite of good food at a fair price and oh! did I mention no chica fees. Either way you are going to have one hell of a time. Enjoy your upcoming trip.

Rainman3

Xray,
I agree with Rainman, but I believe in the complete opposite. I love staying at the SL, and will continue to do so, but......

IMHO, you should stay at the HDR for your 1st trip to paradise. You'll probably end up spending quite a bit of time at the SL anyways, chatting with some of the CRT Goodfellaz, but this is your 1st trip, and you're only a short cab ride away from the SL. You HAVE to stay at the HDR your 1st time. That's Ground-Zero! That's in the Belly-Of-The-Beast! That's the center of the universe!

Phuck the chica fees. It's your 1st trip!!! It's inevitable that (after this trip) you'll be phucked forever, and will no doubt start planning your next trip while you're sitting on the plane, flying home. You'll have plenty of future trips to stay at the Prez, or the SL, or ZB, or Casa Vino, or Amon Plaza, or Castillo, or anywhere else for that matter. But this is your 1st trip!!?!!!!?!

Since it's your maiden voyage, and I assume that you're going to CR to Drink, Gamble & Phuck, keep this in mind:
- If you're staying at the SL, you can't wake up at 4 a.m. with a hard-on, and take the elevator downstairs, and pick up a chica....
- There's no casino at the SL (actually, this might save you money!)......
- The bar at the SL closes at midnight (and all the chica's go home), but the bar at the HDR is open 24/7 (and the chica's are always there)....
- Quantity of chica's at the SL is much more limited than the HDR, no matter what time of day.....

But, after saying all this, I personally prefer staying at the SL. But I only say this, because after 19 trips to CR, the "shine" of the HDR has worn off. If you stay at the HDR for your first 2 or 3 trips, you'll probably end up changing your mind about lodging choices, and start staying somewhere else. But for chrissakes man.....THIS IS YOUR 1ST TRIP!!!!! Don't deprive yourself of getting a hotel room, just steps away from 200 women, who ALL want to ph*ck you! Actually, they only want your money, but it's good for the ego!

My dos colones........ Go to CR. Stay at the HDR. Pay the chica fee. Feel like a phucking Rock Star. Lose a little money at the tables. Phuck your brains out. And then, upon returning to the real world, post a good trip report!

Whatever you decide, you're gonna have a great time. Enjoy !

Mucho Gusto

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

ya, what he said.

1st trip, must be HDR

If Mucho Gusto were a preacher, I'd be shouting "Amen!"

He's absolutely right. I wish I had stayed at the HDR for my first visit to Costa Rica. In addition to MG's comments, let me add:

The downtown location means finding taxis almost instantaneous. There have been times, odd hours where I've had to wait twenty minutes or longer to get a cab at Sportsmen's. These occasions are rare, but I hate to waste time.

The location of the HDR also means you're close to more dining options. While the food at the SL is excellent and fairly priced, you'll get tired of it after only a few days. Yeah, JR Ribs and Cafe Mundo are close to the SL, but for variety and convenience, HDR wins hands down.

On the downside, the HDR does charge that pesky $10.00 per chica per visit fee, the hotel can be very noisy unless you get a room well above the casino. The hotel is a 24/7 party, with all the usual party drawbacks: smoky, noisy and lots of drunk people.

But as Mucho Gusto so succinctly put it... this is ground zero, the belly of the beast...and I agree that this is the place to be for a first-timer.


Have a great trip! And, be sure to let us know about your choice of hotel and about your trip. Nothing is so fun to read as a newbie's first trip report. Ah, the freshness! Wish I were again a virgin...

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I stayed my first trip at the SL and glad I did. Too much traffic and noise at the DR. Only a 2 minute ride to the Dr from the SL.

Although the SL wasn't the first hotel I stayed in, I do agree with Toadtamer that it is mas tranquilo. I've been treated extraordinarily well by Bill, his staff and the ladies who frequent the SL bar.

And I will certainly stay there again. <crossed fingers>

But I'm also the type of guy who likes to jump into a northern Minnesota lake in mid-May, when the water is still sub-fifty degrees. If the shock doesn't kill you, you'll be a better swimmer for it.

That's how I feel about the del Rey. And it surprises me that I haven't yet stayed there. I guess that for a 49 year-old blink, the SL is more comfortable. For others, the del Rey may be the shocking immersion they need to swim with the big mongerfish and avaricious sharks.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

If you are non smoker you do not want to stay at the Del Ray as the smoke filters up to the rooms. Also there is no place to just relax at the Del Rey as you will always be hit on by the chicas. Also have to pay everytime you take a chica to the room.

The Hotel Presidente is also a good place to stay as there is no chica fee.
However you have to work around the dress code but most girls are familiar with the code and usually have an extra top to put on.

I personally like the Sportmans because I always find it relaxing and they have everything you need in a more relaxed setting and you will get to meet a lot of the CRT members there.

I stayed at the sportsmans lodge my first trip and i loved it,no chica fees ,laid back atmosphere ,great host (Bill) great bar staff and best of all most of the chicas you can take to your room for around $50 where as at Del ray ,maybe $70 ,$80 or more.Bill and his staff make you feel like you are at home.That being said i have never stayed at Del Ray but i do know that is a hell of a lot quieter at sportsmans. Jay.

(first post---yippee!) Good thread, here. I have reservations at Del Ray in January for my first ever CR trip. The Sportsmans actually sounds more like my style, as I'm a non drinker & non smoker, but I totally see the logic in staying at the Del Ray since it's obviously the most notorious, hopping place in SJ.
I've read the noob pages and will be perusing threads in the coming days. For now I'm glad to be a part of the community.
Niko

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Asian women are still women.

Xray27,

You will not regret staying at the Del Rey for your first time. I just got back from my first trip and stayed at the Del Rey and it was incredible. It is true, what I read on this board about seeing the hotel for the first and the amazing scene. Had such a great time, I am going back in Feb and staying there again. I had a room on the 3rd floor in the corner and never smelt smoke and the noise was not bad at all. Figured for the first time, might as well stay on ground zero. Have fun down there.

Tixswarehouse

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"It don't make you a bad person"

For the first trip I agree,. the Hotel Del Rey.

The only real big negatives are the chica guest fee of $10 and some rooms on the lower levels can be a bit noisy.

The positives are 24/7 action, room service and eye candy everywhere.
And it is safe. Not enough can be said about that. If you are a new tourist you do not understand what and where is safe and not. And believe me there are problems on the streets. ...all hours.

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

First time MUST be at HDR!!!!!! No doubt about it! Oh, the memories......

God bless Costa Rica, and God bless The Brotherhood of CRT!!!!!

I will be jumping in to the freezing water!!!

Del Rey Jan 9- 16.
Thank u all for your input!!!!!!!!
Now off to check the roll calls

Ok! First timer here. Where can I check reservations for HDR?

Got it! There was another thread with the info.

Thanks!.