www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I would love some advice on a 3 week stay in Costa Rica. Should I try and get a deal at a hotel although I don't see why they would, or try and rent a condo, I was thinking Escazu area.

Any advice from others would be appreciated. I'm leaning toward the condo for rate reasons but would like a safe, and also it may be a little far from the action. But quiet may be good and it would make a nice home base for short excursions.

Thanks
(want to be near San Jose for obvious reasons)

Many hotels will give you a deal for a longer stay. I posted someting about this a few weeks ago. Look into aparthotels or smaller places and ask the proprietor. The person at the desk at checkin time usually doesn't have the authority to charge anything less than list. Use the search button and try some places.

Puff,

This comes from personal experience:

My buddy and I rented a house in San Joaquin, which is only about 20 minutes by car at night. Many BM/DR girls are not willing to go to places which are not near the gulch. We also encountered many that flat out refuse to go to private residences (non-hotels) for safety reasons. They feel a sense of security at a hotel which is understandable, I guess.

I'm not staying anywhere other than a hotel near the action from now on.

-Orange

There are several apartments in the downtown area that rent by the week.If you need a lead let me know.Most are in the 150 to $200 range.I have one where I stay and know a few outhers.rbc100

For your info (FYI)

Avoid EL SESTEO in La Sabana Sur. Without mincing words- they S*CK!

I know the rate is fairly low...but too much noise...beds are horrible (at least twenty years old and dusty) plus the staff either doesn't want to help you out or they just don't know anything about San Jose. Gringo unfriendly from what I saw....and I'm an easygoing nice gringo.

Moreover, it's a heck of a long ride through exhaust fumes into the downtown area.

I think La Amistad has extended rates. I think there's a German owner ...decent beds...plus food. It's near the Sportsman's.

I hear good things about the Aparthotel in Sabana. It has a nice pool,they're chica friendly and reasonable rates.

Its hard to know individual taste regarding accomodations. Also don't know your budget. If I were in your situation, I would arrange my first 2 or 3 nights in one of the more popular hotels discussed here on crt. The Presidente would be a good starting point. I would then spend two days checking out the various alternatives in person before making a $ commitment. Its easy to do. SJ is not all that big of a city. Taxis are inexpensive and plentiful.

I agree with Gopher's approach with a caveat. I used to do that for a few trips until the time I came down during the high season with no reservation. My usual place was booked, so I wound up at the Bella Vista. It was cheap and not that far from the gulch and had breakfast. The down sides were noise and getting mugged outside of it. It sounded a little like a cross between a TB ward and Arte y Sauna. As I've mentioned several times before -- be extra careful on Sunday.

Those days (4-8 years ago) my usual place was El Sesteo, which has changed hands recently. I cannot say if the rather harsh comments above are an accurate depiction of the present situation or yet another case of unrealistic expectations. The bus ride through the traffic fumes is enough to keep one from going into the gulch every day. The places in Paseo Colon are close enough that it might make the Sabana neighborhood more attractive again. I don't know. There are several other aparthotels in the general part of town that may suit better.