www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Any recommendations of hotels near the SL that does not have a reputation with the locals?

Hotel Don Carlos

Sleep Inn


Expect chicas fees at Sleep Inn, not sure if Don Carlos allows

I would mention the Holiday Inn if not for the $75 chica fee..

Thanks, how far away is the Don Carlos from the SL?

Roughly 4 Blocks

SL is located just off the corner of Avenida 9 and Calle 13

Don Carlos is located on the Southwest corner of Avenida 9 and Calle 9.. Here is the link, they have a map link http://www.doncarloshotel.com/

Try La amistad. 1 block from SL.

I might stay at the Don Carlos this wknd. I toured it on a previous visit 2 yrs. ago and really impress just don't know if they allow chicas. I would like to stay at HLH but havin a hard time since on their web-site is some info. on the goings on there but when I toured it also very impressed (very clean and nice rooms).

I also like Amistad excepto for the trens. Does anyone know if the rooms furthest away from the trains are quiet enough?

Thanks,
Dezzy Fez (aka JT!)

As far as the question about the Train noise at Amistad. I do not know what the stink is about this. Have stayed there over 20 times and I have never found this to be much of an issue, including when I was recovering from dental surgery in one of the suites (closest to the trains). They also hire Crossing guards to greatly reduce the train noise between 6 am and 10 am, 7 days a week

If you are overly concerned, ask for Rooms 305, 307 or 308, furthest away from the trains


Back to the topic at hand....

I am not sure if the responders have read the criteria regarding "reputation with the locals"... BUT !!! Amistad is certainly WELL known to the locals as to the majority of their guest activities..

Don Carlos as I posted earlier is an excellent choice if you are not bringing girls back to your room, or just one that you can check in.

I'll put in my "Shameless Plug" for Hotel Castillo. It's a hotel that accommodates mongers (no chica fees), but does a good job of remaining below the radar.

A gringo staying in the gulch, who do you think you'll be fooling..

You should clarify this, do you mean a place that allows chicas or just a place without a monger rep without caring if it allows chicas or not?

For the former case the Amistad, Castillo and Sleep Inn ($25 chica fee) are good choices. If you don't mind a $75 chica fee the Holiday Inn Aurola is also good.

For the latter case, there are any number of higher-end (like the Grano de Oro) and boutique places (like the Don Carlos) in the area thave have zero monger rep, in most cases they flat-out don't allow chica guests.

Or stay at the Presidente - w/ the change in policy, you have a better chance of seeing Jesus than getting a girl in there

PS Written in jest - Phuck the Presidente

Here's another venue more in the downtown area that is a sponsor of ours:
Their Website: http://www.gruporealinternacional.com/hotelincareal/
And from our discount forum (they are a CRT Sponsor): viewtopic.php?f=17&t=13903
Also, there's the Hotel Hemingway, a recent CRT Sponsor that's kinda funky but in The Neighborhood:
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=32205 >> read especially Brother Prolijo's comments
Their Website: http://www.hemingwayinn.com/ good commentary from guys who've stayed there, and it's on the same block as the Castillo and Pension New Fantasy; also they have only recently come to see the light and stopped depending on the nearly-nonexistent eco-tourist trade = not much rep to overcome.
If you prefer a more hostel atmosphere, Calvin would like to put you up:
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=31869&start=0 >> Location? 1/2 block from the HLH

_________________
"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

There is a new hotel at the corner of Av 9 and Calle 13. I cannot remember the name of it but it appears to be upscale. Does anyone know about it?

The Hemingway is next to Castillo. There is a restaurant between the two of them. I don’t know if they are chica friendly.

There is another one called the Hotel Inca Real. It is near a block or so from the Dunn Inn and a couple of blocks from the HLH. It used to be listed as a CRT a sponsor. I don't know if it still is.

It still is but good question. The announcement Thread's last post was 5 years ago. Maybe Senior Brother Admin1 could answer? Or maybe the hotel's GM?
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=13903
And how about the Hotel Santo Tomas? newly Chica-tolerant if not friendly. Here's a recent Thread:
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37979&hilit=santo+tomas
and their Website: http://www.hotelsantotomas.com/

_________________
"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

I checked the Inca Real out about 4 years ago... right when it became a a CRT sponsor. It seemed to be a nice place with reasoanbly priced rooms + / - $40 per night. The quality reminded me of La Amistad prior to the make-over. The room rates included breakfast and no chica fees. Had I planned more trips to CR, I probably would have stayed there.