www.CostaRicaTicas.com

this will be my first time to costa rica. i tried to make reservations at the presidente but it was full. i am going aug. 25. does anyone have any other recommendations. i tried to find the phone number for hotel del ray but couldn't. also can anyone tell me is hotel balmoral is convenient to all the night life. thanks for any and all help

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gb5151

Hotel Balmoral is directly across the street from the Presidente. Last I knew they had a chica fee but not sure of the amount or their current policy.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

GB,
Check the Hotel section for all the contact info.

Del Rey has their own website.
Hotel Amon Plaza is a "Comfort Inn".
Sportsmen's Lodge is a CRT favorite.
Hotel Marazon is hit or miss on reservations but you can try (better to call them direct).
Royal Dutch, Sleep Inn (so new the bedspreads are only half covered in pecker tracks so far) and Holiday Inn are all in the downtown area.

Make a reservation at any of them then check out the others when you get there.

Balmoral has a $20 chica fee.

Sleep Inn has a $30 chica fee and it doesn't sound like they particularly want us there anyway.

Holiday Inn I think has a $25 chica fee

Royal Dutch not sure of their chica fee or policy but it has received many bad reviews.

The other places are all good options, though probably already booked given the huge number of CRT conventioneers in town.

You left out the Europa and the Castillo, two other popular hotels on this board.

One more chica-friendly hotel that does not get as much press on this board and thus might still have a vacancy is La Gran Via.

Try the Amon Plaza, you can reserve online thru expedia, travelocity, etc.
No chica fee if the girl doesn't spend the night.

DO NOT MAKE A RESERVATION AT THE AMON THRU TRAVELOCITY UNLESS YOU WANT TO PAY TWICE AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE TO.

Current Travolocity rate=$100+ per night
CRT VIP rate= $50? per night according to CRT benefits page. I think it may have gone up to $69 but is still way cheaper than Travelocity.

To get that rate you have to book your room through Nixon, the casino manager. You can call Nixon at 506-378-6775 or email him at casinoparadiso@hotmail.com. If you stay there you can save practically the whole cost of your CRT membership on that one transaction.

Proijo is correct, but it make take Nixon a few days to get back to you if your ready to step on the plane right away.

If you have few days then you should contact Nixon via E-mail. The rate for a regular roon is $75 with CRT card including taxes. If you go thru a website it will be closer to $100 plus the 16.5% tax.

I second La Gran Via as good back up. Not at all fancy, only average space. The rooms are large enough, very chica freindly, easy as pie.

Psychman

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I said hey baby, take a walk on the wild side.
Lou Reed

Of course I'm right Dalvy! Aren't I usually? E-mail might be slow, that's why I also included the phone number. OTOH, your Travelocity post may not be entirely a bad idea. GB might want to make a reservation through them immediately just to make sure he's locked in a space and then cancel it when he's confirmed seperately through Nixon. Wasn't sure of the exact rate but $75 tax included vs. $104 + 16.7% = over a $46 saving vs. $39 for GB's CRT membership. Not a bad deal at all.

I've heard mixed reports lately about the old Gran Hotel across the plaza from the Teatro Nacional (not the Gran Via). Years ago I used to use it as my backup. At the time there was not a chica fee. Lately I've heard rumors that they don't even want us there and that the hotel is very run down. About two years ago I saw grand plans for its renovation, but to my knowledge nothing came of it. In the last few years I've used the Holiday Inn as my backup. Not popular among our crowd, but for spur of the moment trips when I find an airfare thats hard to resist, its always available at an internet rate of about 80 bucks. Service is nice. Hotel is nice. Atmosphere like a funeral. 9 months ago chica fee was 20 bucks. Tipping doormen during your stay allows a "wink & a nod" from them at night.

The Gran Hotel Costa Rica (not to be confused with the Gran Via) was sold and has been under going renovation. It has been designated an historical building. The casino has been moved completely out of sight and that space turned into a restaurant. The outdoor café has so many plants, to screen out the hustlers, it is no longer possible to sit there and chica watch.

There is no chica fee because they will not allow you to bring a girl to your room period.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Actually, one doesn't need to be a CRT VIP to get the rate; this is a "casino rate" meant to draw players to the Paradiso. The contact information is correct.

However, the rate is now USD$75.00 per night, taxes and breakfast included. As stated, there is no chica fee unless she spends all night with you, in which case it's an additional$10.00, and yes, she can have breakfast with you.

The Amon Plaza, while a bit removed from the Gulch is a business-class hotel, a Clarion Hotels branded property. It features awireless Internet, A/C, a small workout gym, business center and tour desk. If you're a guest at the Amon Plaza, you can purchase your $26.00 exit tax there.

I am booked at the Amon Plaza Aug. 31 - Sept. 5. Perhaps I'll see you there!

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

LET ME Make a correction... to El Ciego's Post. These are the rates THROUGH THE CASINO $5.00 off additonal per night when you are a VIP!

V.I.P MEMBERS
Standard room $75.00* Taxes Included
Junior Suite $95.00* Taxes Included

NON V.I.P MEMBERS
Standard room $80.00* Taxes Included
Junior Suite $100.00* Taxes Included

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Thank you for supporting CRT!

I stand erected...er, corrected. So, if you spend 8 nights at the Amon Plaza, you'll save the cost of CRT membership in one transaction (per Prolijo).

Thanks for the correction, Admin. Further proof that CRT VIP membership is worth every penny. I've said that very publically all along.

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

Was walking bty the Hotel Morazan today and they have a new sign advertising a rate of $35.00 + tax. (total just under $41.00 per night).

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine