www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi guys, I'm thinking of making my first trip to CR next month. Very excited and nervous about being in a foreign land and not speaking the language.

Where should I stay? This board seems to like SL a lot. Why? Isn't DR the place to stay for all newbies? Isn't that where all the ladies are? I'm leaning towards DR because it's mentioned in many sites as the place to be at once in your lifetime.

Also, I'm Asian. Do the ladies approach more American looking guys at the DR? Or race doesn't matter as long as you're a single guy?

Hey dude, welcome to the board.

I would recommend staying at either La Amistad, SL or the Castillo, especially for your first visit. Reason being is the DR can be a little overwhelming especially for your first visit to SJO. I like to hang out there occasionally especially the KL accross the street, but would never stay there, it's just not my style.

Would also recommend joining as a CRT/VIP to take advantage of all the discounts, maps, access to pics etc.. Believe me, you will save more than the $39 as soon as you hit the ground.

The color of your skin, race, marital status or any of that shit doesn't matter here. All that matters is your attitude (good) and the color of your money. "It's in the way that you use it"..lol

Enjoy!

I concur with Diego1 in hotel choices: Amistad, Castillo, or Sportsman's Lodge. The CRT membership dues is easily absorbed after just one stay...particularly if it's for one week or longer at both Amistad and Castillo. Personally, I do prefer the Amistad: It's a 2 min walk to the SL for the "action" that is going on there and muy tranquilo....very tranquil....breakfast is free and most excellent; high speed internet in all rooms....via ethernet cable or wireless.....staff are most helpful....excellent beds.....suites are fabulous and just better value than the SL it seems....and it's just quite relaxed. I myself am anxious to check out the new martinni bar and intimate restaurant in an impending trip. The Amistad does NOT allow working girls into the bar area UNLESS they are accompanied. The SL DOES allow unaccompanied ladies to roam about. Castillo is very tranquil as well and the restaurant/bar which is attached to the hotel is most excellent.....and just like the Amistad does NOT allow unaccompanied working women to roam about....

These three hotels are about a $1 cab ride to the Del Rey and Key Largo...and easily walkable to the Del Rey in the day....less than 1km....

You will undoubtedly meet other CRT members at either of those three places who can assist you. The Del Rey is overpriced and shabby at this point in it's existence and you have to pay each and every time you decide to go to your room with a "friend".

I don't believe you mentioned how long you'll be staying and that might impact on any reason to stay at the Del Rey. As for how the workers respond to Asian men, I cannot say. Sorry.....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

sk,

Welcome man. The girls don't care if you are from Mars as long as you have one especially attractive feature......cash. LOL

Really, I don't think you are going to have much luck at SL at this late date. If you do want to stay there you should really start making reservations now. I know for a fact that there was only rooms off the lobby for LD weekend. That's why I chose the Amistad, which like Diego said would be a good second choice and many actually prefer it. My first mongering trip I didn't care for the vibe at DR. Call me naive or stupid but I get the feeling at the DR that it is ALL business. I'd love to find out differently over my LD trip but we'll see. The atmosphere at the SL is more laid back and it feels more like just being in a bar with a lot of very friendly, sexy ladies (this is where the naive or stupidity comes in, depending on your perspective) LOL Where ever you decide to stay the SL should be on your places to visit and by all means get you CRT VIP. I only used it for my hotel but it was well worth the price.

KenL

Think of your hotel choices as being personality based. If you want a slightly shabby hotel with a 24/7 pace of action like a high energy frat house, by all means pick HDR.

If you want a nice place that is chica friendly and friendlier and more laid back, then Castillo, Amistad or SL would all suit you. I usually stay at Castillo which is nice quiet and homey. But from there, I can walk two block to SL for my evening happy hour and socializing. Two MP's (HLH and New Fantasy) are also very close. When I want to people watch I go over to HDR to watch the action.

_________________
Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.

if your coming for pu*sy dont take the weekends where every swinging dick is in town....I never book on those weekends, when I first join the site I remember some posts about a weekend (4th of july or labor day) where most posts were about guys outnumbering the girls or guys out bidding each other for pu*sy....no thanks ...but on the other hand /half of the fun is being with our kind and enjoying the fun and stories we all have..I pick dates right before or after (such is the case ...leaving on 8/10) yes there is plenty of girls to go around but I like a buyers market

Welcome to CRT, SK!

Every reply to your questions so far seems to be right on the money.

I have stayed at Amistad, Castillo and of course, the SPortsmen's Lodge. Each hotel has its own advantages.

Rooms at the HDR are shabby. No, worse than shabby. Many do not even have windows, being in the interior of the hotel. The rooms are small and because of constant use, very beat up. Yes, there are hookers in the bar/casino 24/7, and if you get an urge at 3:30 in the morning, it's a quick elevator ride down to the action. However, drinks are overpriced, IMHO.

The Sportsmen's, while I love it is starting to show signs of wear and tear, even in the "Modern" section, but is much nicer than the Hotel del Rey. It's smaller, and is located in a residential neighborhood about 1 km. from the Hotel del Rey/Key Largo club. While the SL lacks the 24/7 aspect, the bar is frequented by lovely ladies from mid-morning until midnight. The food in the bar/restaurant is good and farily priced. The bar features TV's for watching sports, a pool table and a Golden Tee golf machine for fun. Service is friendly and top-notch.

Hotel la Amistad has undergone extensive renovation over the past three years and is now perhaps the most luxurious of the hotels mentioned (with the exception of the SL's new Mansion wing, which is expensive but spectacular). No working girls on-site, and they do have a "1 chica per visit per guest" limit in order to maintain security. Again, excellent staff, and the breakfast included with your room price is the best of all hotels mentioned.

The Castillo feels like you're staying in someone's very nice home. Furnished with antiques, a broad curving staircase and several unique rooms, the Castillo is probably the best value in terms of price. Pay cash, show your CRT-VIP card...and it's the least expensive of the options mentioned.

No Spanish? Dude, no problem! Visit the Sportsmen's around Happy Hour, connect with some wing men, and let the good times roll. Many of us speak Spanish, and most of us are more than happy to help a new guy.

Asian? I have a different take than some. Recently, Chinese business interests have been putting a lot of cash into the C.R. economy. You may not be Chinese, but frankly, the round-eyed chicas can't tell the difference between a chino, japoneso or koreano... and will think you're a high-roller from Beijing. You may actually get more attention than some Caucasians.

Friend, do yourself a favor. Pay the $39.00 for V.I.P. membership. Savings at the Sportsmen's (20% for the room rate for the rest of Green Season/10% on all your food and beverages), Amistad (special deep discounts for CRT V.I.P.s) and Castillo alone will pay for your membership in just a few nights' stay. Plus, you'll get free strip club admissions, discounts on tours, discounted MP sessions, a printable map of all the best places, access tothe photo galleries, and access to a more exclusive section unavailable to the general public.

Welcome! If I can answer any questions directly, please send me a private message (PM). I am more than happy to help if I can.

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

Thank you all for the suggestions. You guys are so helpful, much appreciated.

I think I'm going to go ahead and take advantage of the SL discount by joining CRT. I probably will stay 1 night at DR though. Maybe the first night.

El C,

Bill has just finished rehabbing 11 rooms and is doing the penthouse next.

BKTUNA

Thanks for the update, BKT. Hooray! And about time....! High traffic requires high maintenance.

BTW, I'm very much looking forward to hanging with you again in a couple weeks. Perhaps you'll be kind enough to explain the finer points of Texas Hold 'Em. And perhaps teach me how to drink properly.

Looking forward to it!

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

Sklb, the Del Rey and Sportsmens are "all in one place" cocoons, but the SL doesn't have a casino, is a more quiet relaxed place, offers a CRT VIP discount and NO extra fee for bringing a girl to your room. A great place to be for your first time if you're a nervous type, as you won't have to leave and the staff speaks english.

What El Ciego said about the girls and Asians. Latinas think all Asians are "chinos" (Chinese), and they also believe that Asians pack small "tools" and pop their load early, meaning an easy phuck compared to some gringo who wants to slam a salami into her for many minutes. And with the Chinese pouring money into the country, the girls will see you as a rich chino who will be a quick easy phuck, and will be all over you. If you go into an MP like HLH you'll most likely be greeted with a chorus of "chino rico!"

Sklb,
Once I started getting out of the US, I realized that the US is about the only place where race matters any more. Everywhere else we are all the same, including CR, as it should be. In the few places that might be different you aren't going to find too many tourists.

Just ask Almond how Asians get treated in SJO...

_________________
mh

damn, and just when i thought i was special! lol

_________________
"El Chino Rico" | el.chino.rico@hotmail.com
Trip Reports - 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th

You may want to read Bedbreaker's recent trip report. He addressed this.

From all I've seen the girls like Asian guys equally or better. There is a big Chinese population in Costa Rica. Most speak spanish so the first 'customer' for many of these girls other than a tico was an Asian person .
A lot of the girls will say , "chino" to anyone that looks Asian. From what I've seen, they mean this as an affectionate thing, nothing derogatory.

_________________
* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.