"Man, I need to get back to C.R.! Wish I had more money... Now I have to choose between waiting and saving, or going down right now on a cheap Spirit flight.
Speaking for myself, both the distance from Costa Rica (in my case, over 2,400 miles), a variable income stream and responsibilities at home conspire to allow me to only go to C.R. about twice a year, if that often. I am usually fixed just fine for cash, as I have time between trips to put some colones aside for the next trip.
But let's say that you just can't wait. While you've saved very little money, you've saved up far too much leche. So, on a whim you pull the trigger. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy Costa Rica with somewhat less money than you'd prefer.
We all know that good deals on airlines are harder and harder to find, even with sites like kayak and tripadvisor. Priceline and Expedia these days seem to offer no bargains whatsoever to C.R., at least not from my home airport. Patience and checking multiple times might however, save you enough money to pay for a night's stay and a day's meals, if you shop carefully enough.
Hotels. Yes, elegant places like the new Castillo, the Hotel la Amistad and the Sportsmen's Lodge offer first-world levels of comfort, cleanliness and service. I am so comfortable in the SL in fact, that I even stayed there one night a couple years back with my wife. And no, she's not bisexual, nor does she have any interest in playing with the girls.
However, with rooms starting at around the $75 price point at all three hotels (and I've not seen the new prices at the remodeled Castillo), and good rooms well above the $120.00 price point, you might want to find a cheaper but still chica tolerant option.
Problem is, most of the lower priced hotels are in dodgy neighborhoods, offer much less comfort (an old futon mattress at the Nuevo Johnson versus an orthopedic foam mattress at the Amistad, for example). Cleanliness will usually be okay, but the rooms will be more spartan in the cheaper hotels, to say the least. It is possible to find decent hotels, a bit off the beaten track and well outside of the Gulch for around $20.00 per night, plus 13% tax.
Eat like a local. You can live well on rice and beans, some cabbage and local fruit. Quite well. If you insist on cordon bleu and filet mignon, you'll pay accordingly. It can be fun to eat like a local person of modest means. Cheap sodas and cafes abound, but most are not anywhere near where we typically play. Even the soda that was attached to Las Arcadas in the zona roja was priced higher, because of its proximity to the action. But yes, you can eat cheaply.
Girls: Most independents with whom you'd actually *want* to have sex will, in most cases demand *at least* $70.00 for an hour date these days. So, do as the average tico working stiff does...use a locals' massage parlor. Quality of the girls can run the gamut from breathtaking to gut-wrenching, often the facilities make you want to start searching for fleas and lice within minutes of leaving the joint...but you've got very little money, right? So, why not do a $30.00 session down on Calle 6? Or if you're really, really brave (and very well trained in self-defense) try calle 8, one block west. I have heard (not verified) that a BBBJ can be had there for 5K colones...less than ten bucks. You can of course, try to play it straight with local girls...but as we already know, that can in itself be risky.
Drink: Simple. Cut down your level of consumption.
Drink Casique Guaro - 1 Pluma. It's a bit like drinking Windex with a kick, but hey...you've got no money, right? Locals bars can be an option, but step carefully. There is a resentment against male travelers from the first world, Americans in particular. This resentment can make you feel unwelcome at best, and put you in the morgue at worst. Guage the energy in the room when you enter before even sitting down at the bar. But don't mistake caution on the part of our tico hosts for hatred, either. Many ticos are conservative by nature and will require time before welcoming you into "their" spaces.
DO NOT engage the services of streetwalkers. Their initial come-on might be a very good price, but please remember: They're walking the streets instead of working bars or massage parlors for good reason. Many are crossdressing males who can easily become violent or will try to rob you. Others are untouchable because of a lack of years. Many are addicted, a few are downright psychotic and dangerous.
Tip: If you want to pass as poor, don't dress in new or stylish clothing of any kind. Jeans and a T-shirt with a beat up pair of sneakers will take you farther than will a $400.00 Nike running suit and $250.00 cross trainers. .
And, a great idea:
Join VIP here at CRT. Less than $40.00 for a year's membership, and you'll save that during your first three days in C.R. Or you can do what I did in 2005, and buy a Lifetime membership for less than $150.00. Worth every penny,k and VIP membership gives you access to chica photos and much more access here on CRT, even a private VIP Members Only section. That's one place you ought to splurge. Get the card, Get it hard, Have a ball. Discount and all! (sorry, I've written better slogans, but I'm running on 4 hours' sleep...)
No, I'm not going to make it easy for you by posting links. If you give a shit, put in the effort to find it on this site. I guarantee you it will be worth the search. Find RBC100's "Tico Bar and Massage Parlor List""which is periodically updated by other CRT guys. RBC is the MAN when it comes to cheap-ass hobbying in San Jose; he does so not because he's broke, but because he really enjoys making frequent trips, and saving money is a must.
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