www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hello all! I got back home last night after a 4 night stay at the HDR via Spirit Airlines. I thought I'd post a few observations for everyone to read...

My experience with Spirit was excellent and exceeded all expectations based on some of the sub par reviews I've read on here. We flew out of FLL. The flight was scheduled to depart at 11:15am and we were in the air at 11:20. The check in line was very long (45+ minutes), so it was a good thing we got there at 8:30. The flight from SJO back to FLL was just as good and uneventful. We were scheduled to depart at 1:15pm and we were in the air at 1:14. It doesn't get any better than that.

This was my first time back to CR and the HDR since 2005, so I definitely noticed a few differences between trips.

1. The ratio of Ticas to Colombianas, Dominicanas, etc. seemed to weigh a lot more heavily in favor of Ticas compared to my last trip in 05. I'd say that 9 out of every 10 girls I spoke to at the BM was a Tica compared to my last trip when maybe half or so were from other countries (mainly Colombia and Dominican Republic).

2. There were much less beggars outside the HDR at night compared to my last tip in 05. I remember when I went in 03 and 05 how the walk from the HDR to the KL was like an obstacle course of various beggars. But other than a group of young k*ds that hung out on the corner and intercepted people walking from the HDR to the NY Bar, the walk from place to place in the gulch seemed much safer after dark.

3. The demographics of the gringos has definitely changed. I'm 35 and was 31 when I went for the first time in 03. At that time, my friends and I were hard pressed to find any gringos younger than we were anywhere in the gulch. But on this trip, the number mongers in their 20s and early 30s was comparitively much higher and they seemed to travel in groups of 3 or more.

4. The asking price of the girls is much higher compared to my last 2 trips in 03 and 05. Negotiating down to $60 or less was never an issue on either of my last 2 trips. But on this trip I was astonished at some of the asking prices. 4 or 5 different girls who weren't even 10s actually asked me for $200!! I'd just laugh and tell her to come back and see me when she changes her mind. Generally speaking, the asking price on this trip was right around $100. Some would budge, others would not. I told the ones that wouldn't budge to have a nice night standing around getting no business.

5. Finally, what the hell is the deal with the loud, obnoxious, bald wackjob in the wheelchair with one leg who always seems to have a bitter beer face??? He was in the HDR cafe every single day starting altercations with various mongers (he told me he wanted to cut off my ear and wear it around his neck). I had to have security keep him the hell away from me on several occasions because I was a milisecond away from cracking a beer bottle over his head. For whatever reason, he seemed to single me out and follow me around telling me he wanted to suck my dick and inviting me outside to fight him. I can only assume that he pays off the security guards, because there's no way that they should be tolerating that kind of behavior from a non-hotel guest (I was told by one of the guards that he lives there and stays in the HDR every day for more than 12 hours).

So that's the story. If I think of any other observations I'll be sure to post them. I'm still incredibly sleep deprived and it's hard for me to think straight right now. I'm suffering from a serious case of the post-CR blues as well. But one thing I know for sure is that there's no way in hell I'm waiting another 2 years to head back there. 365 days and counting!

Cheers.

funny .i met that guy back in May and for a guy in a wheel chair i just could not shake him. he turn out to be cool arter getting to know him. he is a vet that got injured and some how the sugery got botched.He told me that he sued and won the settelment and was moving to CR.We went to a club one night and he is a hell of a dancer chair and all. For some reason i hope he is there next week when i am down .I find him to be a great person

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You can't drive me crazy I am so close i can walk

I guess he's an acquired taste that you have to get to know. I think I'll pass. For whatever reason he decided that he didn't like me and I did my best to ignore the guy. I have a shaved head, so maybe I resemble someone in his platoon that detested or something. I just thought it was really bizarre that in a bar full of beautiful women he was always more preoccupied with me than the females (staring me down from across the cafe and pointing outside anytime we made eye contact). But anyway, I heard basically the same story about him that you wrote regarding being a vet. and winning a settlement from several guys I talked to while there who found him to be equally annoying.

Have a great trip next week!