www.CostaRicaTicas.com

My life has taken some turns recently and I need to get away to relax and have some adult fun relatively soon. I'd love some feedback from those who have been to CR and Thailand or the Philippines.

Its been quite a while (8 to 12 years), but I've made trips to Angeles City, Bangkok, and Phuket. I enjoyed Phuket the most (the original intent for that trip was relaxation, not the girls). Angeles was nice - it was easy to talk with the girls, but I wasn't able to get out of the entertainment area on the short trip. Bangkok was nice with plenty of options for girls, shopping, etc, but the large city wasn't exactly relaxing.

I get the impression that San Jose is somewhat of a cross between Bangkok and Angeles - in that it is a metro area with the girls close to the nightlife/clubs. Is this somewhat accurate? For something closer to a beach, Jaco sounds like the best option which still has some nightlife & girls? Are there any other destinations along the coast which might fit what I'm looking for?

The weather in October/early-November is still pretty rainy? My prior trips to SEA were all in the July to September timeframe, so I've dealt with the monsoons which roll thru there. Would it be better waiting until January?

I'm also considering Pattaya in Thailand or Subic in the Philippines. If you had a choice, which would you pick?

Thanks!

If length of flight and time to get there and back is no concern, I would go back to the PI, have done all three but I preferred PI over Thailand. My dos colones.
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

How can you go wrong in CR? It offers a wide selection of chicas and you can meet other CRT members and have great food and drinks.

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Koolaid in the House!

Ask yourself what type of girl really gets you hot or type of girl you always wanted to be with but never had. then plan your trip.. If it is the latina girl for you, then costa rica is a great first stop.

cr is a fun place, sj is where the girls are but not a very attractive city, medium action at jaco but not a great beach, but you are coming during the rainiest months, if you believe the statistics, november is the worst, although on the coast you usually will get a few hours of sun, wether in the am or if rain then in pm, so if you want guaranteed sun, wait till january, but of course everything is more expensive jan feb march april. i like the rainy season there, sun not that important for me, but it can be annoying. alot shorter ride than your alternatives.

Thanks for the replies! I'm trying to do my homework and posted this inquiry on boards for CR, Pattaya, and Angeles yesterday. The replies from those who have been to CR and SEA are definitely proving the most helpful - thank you.

My primary goal is to have some sort of actual vacation where I'll hopefully come back slightly less burnt-out (my normal time off this summer got canceled and its been a several years since any real travel or vacation). Total cost does matter, but the budget is a bit flexible. I did a trip to Cancun several years ago (no intent on P4P that trip) and it really didn't work for me which makes me a bit hesitant about CR.

I've been scouring airfares for the past couple days - from where I am, the trip to CR is a shorter flight and somewhere in the range of $400-$500 less than to get to SEA (the travel cost to Thailand vs the Philippines are pretty similar). I'm looking for at least a week, but thinking closer to 9-12 days or so. Some quick numbers I've been running for airfare, hotel, transportation, & girls seem to indicate that AC and CR would be a similar cost with Pattaya about $400 more (this is prior to meals or other sightseeing).

When it comes to the girls - their personality/attitude really matters to me. I've read some of the trip reports for CR and it sounds like the attitude of the Ticas leaves a bit to be desired compared to what I've experienced with Thais and Pinays.

If you have 9 to 12 days I think you will find it best to go to Pattaya or Phuket or both. There are cheap fares from Bankok to Phuket on AirAsia.
You seem like a person who likes a few activities in addition to mongering.
CR is good for a quick short trip of up to 5 - 7 days.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

Yes, if you have that much time and don't mind the higher ticket prices and long plane trips, then by all means go to Pattaya. CR mongering is far inferior to that of SEA, and if you want more of an "actual" vacation, then there's lots more to do in Thailand than in San Jose.

San Jose isn't a "cross" of anything, it's just your typical shithole Central American capital city that has as far as most gringo mongers are concerned one main mongering spot, the Hotel Del Rey, a secondary spot in the Sporstmen's Lodge, and a few brothel-like massage parlors that are actually worth the money, plus a whole bunch of shithole MP's that are real cheap. As for the girls, you have to go through a lot of chaff to find the good ones, most are business-like who if you don't negotiate beforehand will just give you a CBJ and will leave after your first pop during sex. Getting them to stay overnight is hard and usually expensive. The primary appeal of San Jose is that it's real close to the U.S., especially the southern states, so it can be done as a frequent weekend trip, particularly from south Florida, where the fares are cheap and the flight is short. It's also very gringo-friendly, you don't need to know Spanish if you just stay at the HDR or SL. Most mongers go there simply to eat, drink and phuck for 3-5 days and never leave the city (sometimes not even their hotel).

Look dude, Jaco beach is just wonderful if you don't mind a high contamination of fecal coliforms. Yeah, I rolled around in that beach for a week in 2006 and suffered from Hepatitis A for two months.

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* 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.

I appreciate the candid replies. Looking at the costs for CR (airfare, hotel, etc) and if I was only going for the girls, it looks like I'd be better off sticking with local ******* (who average $225/hr) for any trip less than about 4 days.

I'll keep doing my research and might make it some day, but I think for this trip it will probably be to SEA.

Thank you to all who replied.

Wherever you go, it's always worth it to get Hep A and Hep B vaccines.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

I agree with Isra 123 and Hiker tom. I usually spend 10 to 11 days in Pattaya each July and 5 to 6 in October in San Jose. Both places are unquie to each other, but the flights/airfare are are 180 degrees out from each other. I live in the midwest it cost me $1475 to get to Pattaya booking 7 months out. Flight time was 23-24 hours. San Jose was $105 more this year than last year up to $727. I use my AA FF miles and got it for $50.40. Flight time is 6-7 hours with lay overs on both.
I do like Pattaya better it is more laid back and this was my 7th trip so I have several friends there. San Jose is more "business like". Still a very nice place. But as we all have heard "up to you"
Thanks
Bobshere