www.CostaRicaTicas.com

First, I want to thank everyone for all the advice, reports, and stories. I’ve been reading the board and am now planning a trip. I booked a flight, and will be landing in SJO in the evening of 22 April, and will be in CR until the 29th. I'll be coming down solo -- My real goal is to “get the hell away” for a week, and to really relax.

Based on the advice of many, I’m planning to stay at the HDR for the first night (probably first 2) to get my feet wet. Monday morning, I’d like to head to the beach, and stay until Friday, then back to the DR for the last night before I fly out on Saturday. (I emailed a few days ago for reservations, but haven’t confirmed anything- I’ll call if I don’t hear tomorrow)

I have a few questions in planning the rest of my trip. The beach is really the priority of the trip. I’d like to find a nice hotel, on a great beach, with a good bar and decent food, where I can just veg out for a few days. However- comma, I’d like to find a place with at least a little decent chica action in case the mood strikes me, which it inevitably will. I haven’t heard good things about the beach at Jaco (brown/muddy sand, too hot, etc.) so I’m leaning away from there.

I’m thinking Flamingo or Tamarindo, and have seen good reports on the Flamingo beach resort, and am considering staying there, but am open for any recommendations. As far as chica action, I also saw threads on Amberes which look good, but nothing has been posted recently.

Basically, my questions boil down to:

1) which beach would be best (flamingo?)

2) which hotel (chica friendly?)

3) should I fly into Tamarindo? and if so, is it easy to book a domestic flight once I’m there or do I need to book it ahead of time?

Thanks again for everything, hopefully I can meet up with some of you guys at the BM on Sunday the 23rd –maybe a trip to Kamur?

Mb,
In May I am going to Flamingo Beach for a few days, staying at Flamingo Marina ( www.flamingomarina.com ) in the Sportsman Suite. It looks pretty cool. This will be my first time so I can't give you a review.

I am going with a chica so I don't know about chica availability there but I think the resort is chica friendly as far as I know.

The guy to talk to about Flamingo is Much Gusto. Send him a PM and I'm sure he'd be happy to steer you in the right direction.

Getting there, you can fly to Tamarindo then take a short cab ride. It's kind of pricey though. Interbus is $29 each way but it's about 5 hours, while the flight is only about an hour.

Have fun.

Mb212,
Welcome to the board. The 2 main hotels in Flamingo Beach are the Flamingo Beach Resort Hotel ( www.resortflamingobeach.com ) and the Flamingo Marina Hotel ( www.flamingomarina.com ). They're both chica friendly. The local bar "Amberes" is where the chica action is, but it's only in the evenings, and they start rolling in around 9 pm. Nothing like the BM, but you should find what you're looking for.

The beach is, IMHO, one of the nicest beaches in Costa Rica. If you want to spend time just chilling out, then Flamingo is a perfect place for this. You can still do all the various day trips/excursions, and they can be booked from your hotel. There is a small casino on the 2nd floor of the Flamingo Beach Hotel. There is another small casino inside Amberes.

The rooms at the Flamingo Beach hotel are cheaper than the Flamingo Marina hotel. The 'Poolside' rooms run around $99 per night. The Flamingo Beach hotel has one of the largest pools in all of Costa Rica. The Flamingo Marina has the "Sportsman's Suite" which has a outside patio area with full size bar, jacuzzi, refrigerator, microwave and several chairs/couches. It looks out over Playa Portrero. There is also a bidday (sp) in the bathroom. They have 5 different pools/spa's on their grounds. The Sportsman's suite runs around $159 per night.

During the daytime, Flamingo is very mellow. If you don't have a rental car, you can take a taxi to Tamarindo to do some souvenir shopping. It's more of a 'surfer' type town, but there's several nice little bars right on the beach. Night life in Tamarindo seems to have a younger crowd, but there's some action to be found there as well.

You can take a flight from SJO to Tamarindo on Sansa or Nature Air. They both run around $80 each way, and the flight is only about 30-35 minutes. Taxi from Tamarindo air strip to Flamingo runs around $25.

If you need more specific info, PM me, and I'll help you out. If you want chica recommendations from Amberes, I'll give you a few.

Mucho Gusto

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Flamingo is OK, but it depends on what kind of beach you like. The surf is gnerally flat there, and very windy. It's a personal preference I guess, but i like seeing the waves role in, and the wind gets to be a drag. But, it still is a vey nice place and the hotel is very, very nice. The chica action at all the beach towns is minimal although you might get lucky, might. If you are counting on it, better to bring your own from SJ. I'd make a deal for 1 or at the most 2 nights--unless you like being married to a stranger because you're going to be with her 24 hours a day and after a while it gets kind of stilted. Put em on the bus or plane, and fly back and get another one or stay and chill.

Quepos/Manuel Antonio is my favorite beach town, and I've been up and down both coasts since 1997. Great beach, one of the best in CR, lots of restaraunts, bars, good fishing, and some chica action at the bar next to Wacky Wanda's, hit or miss though. Avoid "Leyla's" if it is still open, and "Itzamana" where you can get girls but you'll surely pay for it.

Despite all the bars, it's pretty quiet at nite though as are most of the beach towns--jaco being one of the exceptions. The beach is sub par for CR but over the past four years, the chica action has increased 500% there, especially at the Beatle Bar. But, I like a nice beach.

I'd consider splitting my trip up to 2 days in SJ, 3 at the beach, and if if you only have a week, the rest in SJ where your not likely to get much of a tan but you will have a hoot. Or my favorite itinerary is buy the Air pass on Sansa for $250, fly all u want for a week, leave in the am to Quepos (25 min flight), or whatever other beach town u want where they go, and catch the next to last flight back, just in case. In Quepos, that means around 3pm. Get tanned all day and party hardy all nite. It's a bit of drain but to me it's the max fun--best of both worlds.

The DelRey is a good starter, the epicenter, so to speak, but be advised it is noisy, from the casino, the action in the rooms and the hallways, and the TRAFFIC. I like staying at several of the Aparthotels in Sabana, 10 minutes fromthe epicenter, and quiet, with a kitchen, pool, free breakfast.

Thanks for the help. I'm not really too concerned with the price of the room- give or take a few bucks. According to the website, it looks like the week I'm going, that the sportsman suite @ the marina resort is $139. It seems to be the best value and nicer place. I emailed a request for a room to the hotel, and will try to stay there.

On the other hand, the beach resort has an all-inclusive deal (meals and drinks) for $178 ($70 more than the room) Is that a better way to go? I assume I can get food and drinks for less than that (at least what I'd be having at the hotel itself).

I don't think bringing my own chica will happen- only in SJO for a day or two, and hate the idea of not hiitng it off once we get to the beach. I guess if I get really lucky the first night, you never know

IMHO...Book the Sportsman's Suite at the Flamingo Marina Hotel. And, if you feel like eating or drinking at the Flamingo Beach Hotel, just walk down the street to that hotel. They're only a 5 minute walk from each other.

Another thing... When you make your reservations at the Flamingo Marina Hotel, ask for Marjorie, and tell her that you're a friend of mine. This will get you a 20% discount on the room! If she doesn't believe you, let me know, and I'll call her to get you the discount.

Ya see ???? Your CRT membership is already paying for itself !!!
Membership has its' priviledges....

Mucho Gusto

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Mb,
He ain't lying, I booked there and got the Sportsman Suite for $139 less 20%. Mucho is well known around those parts.

Hopefully it's as good as it looks.

Wow,

With 20% off, it'd be a deal. I just tell her I know mucho gusto from CRT, or do I need to tell her something else? Can I email marjorie or is phone best?

I emailed the request yesterday, and didn't get a reply yet, but will try calling tomorrow if that's the best way.

Thanks again- I think my mind is made up!

Mb,
check your PM.

Orange, Mucho Gusto,

thanks to both of you guys for the help-

just got email from marjorie- booked the sportsman suite for $139 - 20% for four nights.

Looking forward to the trip

Thank MG, it's mostly him, I got all my info from him. He's swell!!!

Not a mongering place, but I love the Nosara area. Very quiet and peaceful. Cool vibe with locals and gringos. Roads are terrible. Not as many atm's and our usual ammenities. Great waves, beautiful beaches. Harbor Reef Lodge is a great spot. I've stayed there and put clients there. Good info in these threads. In 6 1/2 years, I haven't been to Flamingo. Gotta check it out.

I like Hermosa Plus Jaco is right around the corner where I guarantee you can find some hot chicks. Flamingo, I have only been close to there it is every bit as hot as Jaco if it is anything like Witches Rock. Jaco/Hermosa has always been home base for me you have a little bit of everything close by.

Im sure you will have a great time up there. Mucho-Gusto likes it up there and im guessing not just for the fishing.

SD

You're right about that!!!
And Flamingo Beach is every bit as hot as Jaco!
Mucho Gusto

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Is Flamingo really as hot and humid as Jaco? Ughhh!