www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Col Ingus........ I met Max a few years ago (nice guy-excellent writer). It was just MY opinion that he took alot of shots at SL......didn't mean to offend you..possibly I'm too big of a SL fan and don't see the negative.....I just never found too much to complain about!!

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There's a prettier girl every day...

As much as I love living in Costa Rica, I have to agree 100% with Col Ingus! Costa Rica has its problems, mongering here has its problems, there are many things that could and should be improved, it is certainly NOT the "perfect place"!! AND IF WE DO NOT DISCUSS THE NEGATIVE, IT WILL NEVER GET ANY BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Did the bartenders ever put a chica's drink on your tab without your approval? If not, then you didn't see an improvement. The many times I have been in the SL, I have never had a chica's drink on my tab that I did not approve prior to it being served.

never personally happened to me as I pay cash per round... but I've seen it happen to my traveling buddy who is far more experienced, fellow mongerers that i meet at amistad and walk over to SL, and it has been discussed here on CRT in the past few months...

I dont believe that it is a practice that was dont to rip anyone off but the scenario usually plays out when the bar is crowded and different guys are buying the same girl drinks over the course over the night... or when the customer buys multiple girls drinks.... or where multiple guys are in a group have multiple tabs.... it happens in regular bars too...

i just noticed that the Bartenders and waitresses were making sure to interrupt the customers conversations to double check which drinks they were putting on their tab this past week...

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its easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled- mark twain

no offense taken... i hear you on SL.. i love the SL and San Jose too but have noticed the numbers diminishing over the past few years...
for many its the little things like lighting, bartabs, taxis, pricing etc that is the difference between a return trip to San Jose or a trip to "greener" pastures somewhere else...

One thing i like alot about CRT and SJO is that the small size of the community allows for members and business owners to have a dialog online and in person. It is like a surrogate family that has its ups and downs. for me more ups than downs...

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its easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled- mark twain

Agreed.....more ups than downs. We wouldn't still be going if this weren't true.

There are better places--but CR is a short flight, safe (IMO) and affordable.

For a about a 6 year period I was a frequent visitor to Rio--thought it was the best place in the world (still do). But airline tickets are about $1500 now and beachside apts. have almost doubled in price--not to mention the 10 hour flight.

Its either 2 trips a year to Rio or 4-5 to CR............I've opted for CR .....

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There's a prettier girl every day...

I'm not sure I understand your offense to my commentary. I apologize if I offended you but I travel the globe and state my opinion. The only thing I have is my opinion. Some (very few) seem to take offense if I offer an alternative or state my preferences. And apparently for you, my preferences have been taken as offensive.

In college, I remember those who told the Black Student Union that if they didn't agree with the current politics to "go back to Africa". This line of logic makes no sense to me. I'm just stating my experiences in CR, Asia and elsewhere. Each CRT member can discount them if they find me non-credible. But no need to be hostile.

And to your point, yes, I will be going back to Asia. I love it. And I think you would personally enjoy it if you experienced it. I genuinely hope you get the chance to experience what I have experienced in your lifetime. My CRT buddy & I have already booked our flights to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Danang, Hoi An, Hue in Vietnam. Plus we are visiting Bali, Indonesia + probably Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And we'll end the trip in Thailand (Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi). A few months ago we were in Hong Kong, Macau, Angeles City, Singapore, Pattaya, Bangkok, etc. Have you visited all these places or even one? Is your opinion that despite me trashing Angeles City that I am biased or inaccurate? Or do you find it offensive that your favorite stomping ground is not my favorite place of the 34 countries I have visited? And if it's not my favorite, I should keep out of a particular country & not speak my thoughts to anyone?

If we get to the point where we can't honestly & analytically discuss (for better or worse) the differences offered in the various scenes, then we will suffer the consequences of a corrupt, non-competitive, global market for those who prefer to engage in the hobby we share. Who cares is Pattaya is 10x better than San Jose. The discussion may open up avenues for San Jose to become more competitive. It's not a competition. It's a discussion of the reality we find ourselves in at this moment in time.

I don't subscribe to the philosophy that if you don't pay maximum dollar for the well marketed hotels, currency exchanges, or transportation options that you are somehow a negative person. Or if you dare to mention equivalent lodging for less than 50% the cost of the well marketed hotels that you are somehow hurting the scene. Quite the opposite in fact. For the minority who tell me if you don't like overpaying then go elsewhere, I don't find the argument rational. It's like telling a black or latino to go back to their country if they even hint they have experienced discrimination. It's not a rational, logical or human.

I'm always learning from those with more experience than me. And for many, they can benefit from learning from what I have experienced. So whether I am in San Jose, Jaco, Singapore, Medellin, Pattaya, Angeles City, Sousa, Cancun, Phuket, Macau, or Hong Kong...I will always say what I think. If you find it offensive for a seasoned traveler to speak his mind, then just ignore my posts. No need to take the "get off my lawn" approach.

And even if you never experience a scene beyond Costa Rica, an open discussion will still benefit you. And if you ever get the chance to experience what Asia has to offer, perhaps my comments will become more clear to you.

Happy travels wherever they may take you.

Regarding your opinion on tipping a taxi driver 58.7% for a 630c fare that hasn't even started counting up (meaning it's a very short trip), no, I don't hand them a 1,000c note. Do you? You pay a 370c tip on a <630c fare or 58.7%. I do pay taxis in general a 10-15% tip if they take a direct route to my destination of choice. But I refuse to be the stupid Gringo who pays them close to 60% tip because it's easy or because the difference is meaningless to me. Let's be honest, what's a dollar to any of us? Nothing. But those who through around money without care for the consequences are not benefiting the drivers or other travelers.

Next time you get your car insurance bill for $630, are you going to pay $1,000? Tip fairly but not stupidly. Or else that country you visit that seems to be really affordable, won't be affordable much longer. Not when guys are paying 58% tips to taxi drivers or paying Ticas $150/hr because it's cheaper than what they pay back home. Why not pay fair rates that are perfectly fine locally so we don't create a false economy?

Max , your reports have carried CRT the last few weeks and your posts about thailand have inspired me to pull the trigger in November..... you are exactly what crt is here for.....you write about your experiences, you post photos of girls, you post photos of food and hotels , encourage others to visit the places that you have enjoyed .....and share " your" opinions.....good day john can hit the ignore button

Really keep posting and sharing ....if not for yourself and bash the last year .....crt would of been very boring ....the haters that send cheap shots really ruin this site ....my trip that was in May had some great stories that I would of loved to shared with the site , but having knuckelheads that loved starting shit with me .....over nothing ....has me thinking twice before posting.....

I've become accustom to about 25% of the replies being negative in a thread while 100% of PM's are supportive. Unlike many others who due to income, vacation restrictions, marital status, etc...don't have the freedom to play the globe, I do. I will state my opinion. Shoot, I'll even tell you when I nailed a cow. Because to me, it matters little what anyone thinks about me. Read my posts. Figure out if I'm a blowhard or someone with street cred. Then filter the information provided within that prism of credibility. But I never live in fear of retribution of a CR hotel, MP, restaurant or club. They fear me far more than I fear them. Firstly, I play elsewhere most of the time. And Secondly, I bring plenty of business to people who run good businesses. Girls, hotels, restaurants, etc.

The only reason I still post to CRT is because it was where I popped my monger cherry. I can post on Pattaya Addicts or ISG and get 50x the views & response. So for the minority who seem to be protective of their one & only option of a scene, that is their choice. Far be it from me to judge anyone else for the decisions they make. I just hope the information I provide will enable the readers to either 1) save money, 2) return more frequently, and/or 3) have more fun on their trip.

Mona Lisa Review

I didn't take a ton of pictures. My return to San Jose (from Jaco) was less than 24 hours before wheels up on my flight home. I booked Mona Lisa via their website. No credit card was requested. The $39.99 rate was in effect. I stated I wanted double queens vs a king because I knew I would be using both beds.

Check in was simple. They required $45 cash which included the 13% tax rate. I see lots of CR guest houses & hotels skirting the national 13% tax rate but apparently Mona Lisa plays by the rules. Checked into Room 318. The room was large, had two queens, was a corner unit. It had a large (maybe 60") flat panel TV. I never watch TV but it was used for music videos in session.

Everything was dated. Apparently the 4th floor was under construction. The lobby bar was open but the casino & restaurant were closed. This made no difference to me but I was struck at the lack of communication between ownership & staff regarding the expected completion date of the renovations. Could you imagine going into a W hotel under construction & the staff has no clue as to the completion date? No clue as to when or what restaurant will open? That would never happen in the States. Some said JR ribs, others now say it will be an Italian restaurant. And no guess as to the approximate date of the Casino reopening? Perhaps management should take a more American (USA) approach & inform the staff & customers as to their progress & opening dates.

When checking in a girl, the front desk took her ID, used a photocopier, and had the guest (i.e. me) sign for her. They never called when the girl left which would have been appreciated. Of course when Luna came to the room, she was like a rock star. Everyone greeted her & the staff waived her through. Absolutely no complaints from me but it shows the staff does not operate by the book for all guests.

The room has air con similar to American hotels. Unlike the in room air con units in Freebird, Sportsmens, or Dunn, this was central air. Simply turn the dial & it kicks on. The hotels also has build in hot water so simply turn the knob, and hot water is available. Better yet, the hotel has key cards. To date, only Hotel Cocal & Mona Lisa have key cards. A guest could simply go make a copy of the room key and steal your luggage, etc if you are staying at Sportsmens, Freebird, Dunn Inn, Casa 69, etc. Why more CR hoteliers don't install key cards given we are in 2015, not 1990, is beyond comprehension.

Please understand, this is my review of the Mona Lisa while it is under construction for the low rate of $40 or $45 including taxes.

The room smelled musty. The carpets & sheets were dated but tolerable. The bathroom was extremely dated but everything worked. The shower faucet was extremely low pressure. The worst aspect were the frayed towels. If the new ownership has any sense of customer service during the renovation, the one easy fix would be to improve those ridiculously terrible towels. That said, I'm not the type to nit pick every flaw in a budget hotel option. For me, $45/night all in was easily worth it. And they have no joiner fee either. Do I think ML with double queens is worth all-in $45/night, absolutely yes.

You may be spending 3x what Mona Lisa charges for a similar size room at your hotel of choice. But unless you are just loaded with loot to toss around, it would be worth considering Mona Lisa. Although honestly, I prefer the Dunn Inn @ $57 on Expedia for their Queen ($50/night for full).

I took a few pictures but the forum does not allow me to post them in this thread. To set the scene, consider the pre-renovated Mona Lisa like a 1982 Holiday Inn. If you are the type to take pictures of poor caulk, dated curtains, or aged plastic in the bathroom, stay elsewhere. If you are the type to realize you are getting a huge hotel room with good hot water & air con for $45/all in with no joiner fee, then you'll probably love staying at ML.

The bar staff was very friendly. They had 4 FLs at the bar. Drinks were fairly priced and bartenders were friendly. I would definitely stay there again for $45/all in if the Dunn Inn queen rooms were booked or if Dunn raised their prices. And in 6 previous trips having never stayed in this area, I was very happy with it. I had this flawed notion that I would somehow be out of the action in this area but I was actually more in the action than when I stayed at SL. Yes, this area is more action packed than the SL hood without a doubt. And to get to HDR was 650 meters or a $1.20 taxi ride so it wasn't an issue anyway.

If you are an SL or HDR guy and think staying at Zona 2, Dunn Inn or Mona Lisa is somehow an inconvenience, think again. It's actually more convenient to most locations of interest than SL. And the area is quieter & safer than the area around HDR. Plus, none of the three hotels mentioned Z2, DI, or ML charge a joiner fee like HDR. Since you are unlikely to walk to HDR at night, the taxi fare is still around $1.20 from either SL or ML/Z2/DI. So it's not even an issue. Why it took me 7 trips to realize the obvious is proof to the power of marketing or my lack of rational thought. But you don't have to be stupid like I was (at first).

I tore down the veil on this trip & now know better. Although I have stayed in guest houses on trip #4 (Freebird) and trip #6 (Casa 69) so I'm only a partial fool. I spent $36/night at Casa 69 in April for a room better than Dunn's queen, ML's double queen, and definitely better than SL's junior deluxe. Explore the scene. Make up your own mind. But learn from fools like me that used to pay $99 (it's now $109) + 13% tax for rooms clearly inferior to other rooms a short walk away that cost between $36-57 including tax & breakfast.

Unless you find a better bed, better curtains, superior bathroom, larger safe, friendlier reception staff, better breakfast (for less than half what you are paying for your room) offensive, then try something new on your next trip. What do you have to lose? Try a new hotel or two on your trip. You have nothing to lose but your misperceptions. You owe it to yourself to explore your options & make up your own mind. There is no status in being the fool who overpays. So don't be like I was on my first few trips, don't be the fool.

Or you can keep paying 200-300% market rate and calling those in the know, cheapskates. It's your call. If you are happy to pay an extra $66/day (tax included) for an inferior room and call those who know better names. Then more power to you. Cause the joke is on you.

Hmmm. While I appreciate all input on Costa Rica and San Jose in particular, you do realize that you are calling all those who stay at the SL or other hotels that charge more than the hotels in which you recently stayed "fools" and "stupid". Your words.

On my next trip to S.J. I will be staying my first night at HDR and then 3 nights at SL. Has absolutely nothing to do with "marketing". I stayed 2 nights at the SL on my last trip, quite a while ago, and yes, it might have been due to comments made on CRT. And in my opinion it was worth the extra cost. Like many have stated, it is close to a fraternity house atmosphere. I don't know if you've been in the rooms at SL in the Mansion Wing, but they are VERY nice. The one hotel that I would look at in a future visit would be La Armistad, based on reviews by CRTers.

I am not calling anyone who does not want to stay at the more expensive hotels "cheapskates". As you've said, explore the options and make up your mind. Certainly budget is a concern to most of us. All I ask is that for those of us who, for whatever reasons, decide to stay at the SL or HDR and pay more for what YOU consider to be equivalent or better facilities for the money elsewhere, do not refer to us as fools who have made stupid decisions. As you stated in an earlier post, these are your opinions.

I'll apologize in advance if I've misinterpreted you cited statements.

Bill runs a tight ship. If you are staying at SL, I'm sure you will have a great trip.

I hope you find time to write a trip report.

Since the daytime hours can be a bit slow, why not take a few minutes to explore new hotels & restaurants. Once you explore your options, perhaps you will have a better perspective on your future options. For example, I ate at Soda Peru (lunch only) which could best be described as a dive restaurant. But once you taste their food, you'll be blown away. So try new places to eat, sleep, or hunt. No harm in a bit of variety.

And certainly no harm done in staying at SL. Every evening, I make it a point to walk through the venue. Despite it being a ghost town in April & June for me, perhaps you will find more action. You can make your own evaluation as to the quantity & quality of talent when you are there.

Once in country, why not explore your options for future visits? It's not like a few minutes daytime exploration will hurt your trip. Try a few new restaurants. On the high end, I enjoy Cafe Mundo & Tin Jo. On the lower-to-mid end, I love Soda Peru (lunch only). It's a dive but the seafood & fish is outstanding. For Tico food, try Chellas. It's worth the price and keeps you from eating that hotel food. Once your belly is full, why not walk to Dunn Inn, Mona Lisa, Zona 2, etc and ask for a room tour. Compare those room prices, quality, layout, linens, showers, blackout shades, safes, door locks, etc to your room. Then you will clearly be in a position to have an educated opinion with little effort & no cost to you.

Regardless of what you do or don't do...

I hope you have a great trip. My last trip was great and I hope yours is as well. If you can, write a trip report so we can share the experience with you.

Explore the scene. You are the best evaluator of the things that matter to you. So explore. Evaluate. See your options. It's not like spending a few minutes a day exploring will in anyway detract from the enjoyment of your trip. But it will benefit you on future trips. And once you make your evaluation with your eyes, it won't matter what some person on CRT says, because you'll have made your own determination. So see your options & make your own evaluation. You can only fail if you fail to understand your options. What choice you make once you are familiar with your options, is obviously the best choice for you.

+100.
Max makes a lot of sense.

Maxbass,

much better post. I don't travel to C.R as much as you evidently do. It's been 5-6 years for me and after my next trip I can't say it won't be the same interval again. The one thing I forgot to mention about the SL which I look for is that they have an exercise facility, which is very important to me when I travel. It's not Gold's Gym, but it seems to have a spin bike.

You wrote your post as if I don't explore options. Not true. Restaurants like the one in La Armistad, Cafe Mundo, Balcon de Europa, and a little French place right near Cafe Mundo are high on my list. I have shopped and bought several Costa Rican specialty items at stores off of Avenida Central. I have traveled to Monteverde, La Fortuna, and various other locales and did hiking, white water rafting, volcano exploring, zip lining, etc. For people who travel to C.R and never travel beyond S.J and Jaco, C.R. is a fun and interesting country.

The point of my previous post is that there are MANY reasons to stay at a specific location, one of which
is cost, which is down on the importance list for me when I am on vacation. And I took exception to you implying that your opinion was superior to our "foolish" opinions.

Max, your ML review was excellent! Obviously we differ in terms of what we want in a room and what we are willing to pay. TEHO. Hopwever, if the ML does a good job with their renovations and gets a price point around $70 per night that will get a significant amount of our business.

I have been staying at the LA the past 4-5 years, and even as a liberal spender, they are at the north end of what I am willing to pay. I was not on the all inclusive and got charged $7 for rum & coke, the HDR charges $4. I also think that the rooms at the SL are small and way over priced. (just one man's opinion) so I wont stay there. Based on the reviews I have read and my own personal experience I am ready to try the HDR and just pay the elevator fee. If the reviews of the renovated ML come back good I would be willing to give them a try.

Having said this I wonder how much of our crowd still goes to the gulch regularly? Or put another way how many hotel rooms can we fill per night on a regular basis?