www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Checked out yesterday after a 4-night stay (my second stay at the Castillo). Was in room #6 (2nd floor, main building) and loved it. The room had sort of a sunroom that made for a delightful place to sit, have a smoke, check email, and enjoy a cup of coffee.

My ONLY negative observation was that the mattress was a bit mushy, and probably due for replacement soon. But to me, it was far from a deal-breaker.

Paid $38 CRT cash rate, which included both taxes and breakfast. It was clean, staff was competent and pleasant - and the location was convenient. My CRT VIP savings (from the hotel) saved me enough to pay for my entire 1-year membership! As if that wasn't reason enough to be a VIP.

The breakfast was basic... hard-boiled eggs, beans & rice, fresh fruit, toast, juices and coffee - all served around 6:45-10am in a delightful courtyard/bar area. And the WiFi was free and consistent.

Next time I come to SJ, I won't bother comparing rates and such. I found my home there. Best lodging value I've found in SJ.

Mattress a bit "mushy?"....................can't imagine why.

ha ha...I know that bed! Actually there were 2 beds in there when I was there.

I like that little room and the breeze there tho.

Gonna see what Darren has available for January.

I overheard a conversation between Darren and another hotelier that rates should drop this next year to keep occupancy rates up, due to declining U. S. economic deterioration. It was a public conversation so I'm not telling tales out of school. I liked La Amistad but will try El Castillo next time.

_________________
"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

Interesting.

I looked at the Amistad first because I stayed there once before and it was a good deal. 25 percent off.

I checked out one day mid week and went to Jaco for the night and then came back, they did not try to stick me for that night even though I had checked in for 9 days at once. They even stored my suitcase while I was at the beach.

It's also the quickest place to walk to SL, if you like to go there.
As others have said on here, the construction was sometimes annoying and you sort of had to "look for & ask" for the free breakfast.

Overall I liked the rooms better than Castillo & with the Garden's bar next to Castillo now not as appealing as it was last trip, I thought I would check out the Amistad again and hang out at SL, but the new website made it a bit hard to figure out what the CRT discount might be for a given room. Though it might have its bar ready by January I hear.

My flight cost quite a bit more this coming trip so I guess Im looking to keep it simple on hotel & since I don't have time for the beach, close to the gulch. Glad to hear prices might be down a bit, across the board lately it seems, and a favorable exchange too. Castillo, Amistad, SL are three places its hard not to get a fair deal at.

The others around there depend more on your personal situation to make a decision. I have taken a quick look at Dunn Inn, only downside are the rooms are tiny and its a couple blocks away but then again those are very small downsides, and maybe not at all if you are NF, Havana inclined.

Freebird has good rep, but sharing a bathroom not my style & if not, the price goes up a bit. Casa Vino single is only $40 CRT I think, but seems "lonely"' at first thought, like to seem some reviews. Don't see Presidente, HDR, or Sleep Inn as worth the extra money. Hemingway a bit below standard I think.

Sometimes I've paid $100-150 for rooms in CR and Panama, and they were all quite nice, but the times I got rooms for $40-70 that had few negatives allowed me to use the balance saved "play" more & have overall better trip. Some $40 rooms have been dumps tho.

Labor day: 3 nights in Panama City for $129 a night and 3 nights in Chiriqi for $33 a night; both hotels were great and considering the prices was a push as far as the overall "good times".

Went back to Hotel Milan for 3 more nights in PTY and for $75 had just as good a room as the $129 place. That's $54 bucks a night more to party with. You need to make reservations early to guarantee the Milan.

Castillo or not, I will be wandering the gulch come Inaugaration Day, make I will take a bagful of Obama buttons for the little darlings.