Let me get this straight. You don't want to "pay hotel prices" but you want to "stay in the $400 range." What sort of hotels do you stay at? That come out to around $60/nt, which will get you plenty of decent regular hotel rooms. If you factor in discounts on weekly stays that are available at some hotels that moves even deluxe hotel rooms into your range.

Let me ask you another question. Do you really need to rent a studio APARTMENT (with kitchenette) or are what you're mainly interested in is just some place (even a hotel room) that offers a discount for weekly stays? Keep in mind that there is added security to staying in a hotel that is usually lacking in an apartment. For example, there is a certain freedom in being able to come and go as you please from an apartment, but that chica hotel check-in process does provide an added level of protection for the monger (someone else checking, recording and in some cases holding the cedula while she's up in your room). Also, you're much more likely to have a room safe in a hotel room than in a private apartment. If you don't plan to use that kitchenette, you may be better off in a hotel room with a weekly rate.

Any way the list of places that offer discounts on weekly stays is quite long. For hotels, apart from thhe Amistad, the Castillo is another one that comes immediately to mind. And the Castillo is a little closer than the Amistad to everything else. I'm sure if you talk to many of the hotels we stay at you'll find them willing to offer some discount for stays of a week or longer (however, places like the SL which are always booked do not need to do that). For studio apartments, the Aranjuez is even further away from the Gulch and the usual MP zones than the Amistad and it falls way below your price range. Does that make it too rinky dink? If ultra-cheap is your thing and distance from the Gulch is not a problem, the Linda Vista Apartments have weekly rates from just $160/wk. And the Sudamer Apartments have nice FULL-sized apartments for well under your range.

BTW, in that other thread about the Casa Vino, Bondtrader was asking about whether there was any link for the Casa Vino or pics of the place. If you want to see any of that, you can find it at http://www.casavinocr.com. Also, you should be aware that the Casa Vino used to operate like a hotel and that there are MANY reviews of it here. Just keep in mind that it is in some sense under different management now since effectively you'd be "subletting" the first floor from Boyd, who I can personally vouch for as a GREAT guy, who you'll enjoy being around (the only problem is who will vouch for me )