www.CostaRicaTicas.com

First of all, let me say thanks to all those who've contributed information here as it all appears to be pretty top notch.

I'm in the early stages of planning my first trip to CR which I'm hoping becomes the first of many. Sadly, that trip is still quite a few months off due to current work schedules. Barring a lottery win large enough to never work again, I'll be heading to Costa Rica some time in early February most likely. Possibly the week and weekend leading up to the Super Bowl.

I can't possibly visit all the places I'd like to go on a one week trip and still enjoy it so, I'm thinking about splitting the trip up and staying in San Jose for part of the trip and maybe Jaco for a few days as well. If I want to get some time in on a beach/some beaches in addition to evening entertainment, this seems like a nice secondary base of operations for my trip.

I'm leaning heavily towards the Dunn Inn for my San Jose portion of the trip and Clarita's for the Jaco portion if I decide to stay there. I know there's a big Super Bowl party at the SL, and I heard that Clarita's has one too. I'm intrigued by the idea of watching the Super Bowl on foreign soil, and doing so in an open-air bar on the beach... that sounds pretty damn cool. Any have any input on Clarita's in general or past experiences with watching foozball in CR?

Thanks again for all the info and thanks in advance for any new tidbits I may pick up here.

I just returned from my first trip this past Monday. I had a good time but my stay at Clarita's in Jaco was the worst part. The bar, people, and food where fine. The hotel was one of the worst I have ever stayed in. I was there two nights and wish I would have followed my instincts and checked out the first day. The room was clean, but the beds are low and short, the a/c worked fine but the room was so poorly insulated it was ineffective, and there is a sign posted in the bath not to flush the toilet paper. You can have fun at Clarita's, just don't stay there. In San Jose, I stayed at Sportsmen's for three nights and found no reason to leave. Great place. Sounds like the Dunn Inn will be similar by February.

FYI-You can't (shouldn't) flush toilet paper anywhere in CR. That's why they have small garbage pails next to the can. The plumbing in 3rd world countries is usually not good.

You may be the only person ever that found the "don't flush toilet paper" to be a straw that broke the camel's back.

By Super Bowl time, the Dunn Inn should have their casino up and running, so you will have two places to watch the game if you're in San Jose. The SL is a super place to hang at the bar and watch sports and socialize with the ladies, and it looks like the Dunn Inn should be just as good.

Here in the vast corn field that is Indiana, we have a very large community of Hispanic immigrants from all locales and various states of legality. I had a buddy that was just fit to be tied because he couldn't understand why all his employees kept throwing the paper on the floor in the corner of the bathroom out in the shop. I explained this situation to him and he purchased a newer, larger wastebasket for the bathroom and now everyone is happy.



I thought about that too. Maybe I should get my R+R time in at the beach first, and then back to SJ to party until the plane leaves.

Damn I must have plugged up many a crapper on my visit...I flushed paper everywhere

Brother El Guapo seems to have his trip planning right--beach first, SJO last (from the aiport, you are a goodly part of the way to the beach--take advantage). For Jaco 1st trip (being as he's a CRT VIP), check out our hotel Sponsors there. The Dunn Inn is an excellent choice for SJO but the Super Bowl is such a sausage-fest that reservations early are a MUST, especially there or the SL.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Lol. Yeah. I agree. I've been to CR 3 or 4 times. I finally checked out Jaco for the 1st time on my last visit. Stayed at Claritas on recommendation of a "friend". The place sucks. People and vibe are cool but the place is a dump. Roaches everywhere and it's located wayyyy at the friggin end of the beach. I left Jaco after one night there. I didnt like it at all. Jaco sucks.