Left from Reagan National, AA to Miami (2 1/2 hrs) change planes for SJ (two hour wait expanded to four by mechanical problems, then another 2 Ѕ hours in the air). Total time nine hours, total cost with return US$619 (inclusive). Flight was packed, glad to see the airlines have improved their business model but the days of the US$310 round-trip airfare are probably gone forever. So are the days of finding an extra row to stretch out in.
The security hassle was not as bad as usual – the airport gnomes were giving priority to anyone one with flights departing within an hour – that works well but destroys the rationale for getting there 2 hrs plus prior to the flight. But most people hadn’t learned to game the system yet so it went very well. Wait till everyone starts showing up one hour prior.
With the new restrictions on all carry-on liquids the national low-IQ employment program (aka TSA) has hit overload and was actually letting people thru with less hassle. They did catch the tiny bottle of airline mouthwash I had buried in my carry-on from a long-ago trip in first class (ah, dem was da days). They dealt with this by the simple expedient of dumping the entire contents out, waving the offending bottle at me and then stuffing the mess (less miniscule mouthwash) back into the bag. Re-sorting everything gave me an activity while waiting in the boarding area.
Because of the long wait we arrived at SJ with two other flights resulting in a jam at the baggage area and customs but I got lucky and my bag came off first. Unlike last time no one was passing out notes advising tourists to carry a copy of their passport id page and entry stamp vice the actual passport (still a good idea). Because of the crush immigration/customs was perfunctory; they mostly just stamped the passports and waved us through.
Grabbed an airport taxi and had first hitch, the driver had never heard of the Hotel Castillo. Hemmingway Hotel? Lo siento, no. Fantasia Nuevo? Ah, that he could find so off we went. Took about twenty minutes, cost US$12 plus two buck tip which seemed to be OK with him.
This was my first time at the Castillo which is small, pleasant but VERY basic. It is also very quiet which is a huge plus for me since I like my sleep. "Delux" room approx 15x22 plus small but perfectly adequate bath (tile floor, no closet, clothes chest aka chest-of-drawers w/o mirror, one chair, no desk, small “double bedâ€, the usual tiny bathroom but with a shower and small tub, nightstands, cable TV (no remote), alarm clock and telephone. Old fashioned room safe w/key, too small to hold a laptop but otherwise OK.
CRT rates were a reasonable US$50 per for a seven night stay, even lower rates are available for an extended stay - US$40). NO CHICA FEE. In fact everyone at the hotel was very friendly. As far as I can tell the clientele is almost exclusively monger which gives us something to BS about, mostly good guys.
Laundry service is c 3000, not sure how its figured but it cost me a total of c 6000 for about five small bags of laundry spread out over a week.
Like everything else the free bkfast is pretty basic, hard boiled eggs, toast, melon, juice and coffee. I usually have the toast and coffee then later drift down to the Central Market for the desyuno completeo (C1100) eggs, cheese, bread, fruit, the inevitable black beans and rice, coffee and/or juice.
There is a free computer available which is more-or-less available, however, the wireless will not net with my laptop, another guy reported the same problem. FWIW spotted a couple of chicas using the hotel computer. After some conversation turns out they are lesbians and the smaller, cuter (fem one) wants to check her email from guys in the states but can't make the system work.
Attached resurant/small bar is, like everything else non-elaborate but the food is OK not great. An extra c 400 to deliver it to the room. No food service after 10 p.m.
Its a basic hotel for your basic monger and my favorita liked it OK so what the hell.
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