www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Apparently, I'm booked into a large standard room which I think is off the courtyard in the SL. Anyone have any feedback on those? How is the room? Is it REALLY that noisy?

I didn't see any photos on the SL site which make me wonder how those rooms are... I'm guessing they have beds, TVs, showers, etc. But specifics would be much appreciated!

All rooms have private bathrooms with showers, TVs, room safes and mini fridge. Plenty of hot water. Ask for extra towels.

I stayed in Paz during my last trip. It's probably the smallest room in the hotel. It's the last room on the left in the hotel entrance corridor leading to the courtyard, almost in front of the reception. Although the room is small and it can get pretty noisy, I had no complaints. I had earplugs so I used them when I wanted to shut out the noise.

The bathroom washbasin had a leak when I got there but the staff was really prompt about fixing it.

My wingman stayed in Amor next door, and that's probably the darkest room in the place... but he didn't complain too much, as he was too busy.

Bear in mind you're not going to be in your room that much unless you are sessioning or sleeping. When we weren't running around the Gulch we spent most of the time in the courtyard or at the bar hanging out.

Bottom line -- I'd take the room and pack comfy earplugs.

P.S. Watch the video on the SL site. They show some of the courtyard rooms. If you know the name of the one you've booked, you might see it in the video.

_________________
mh

You're also worried about being able to order room service 24/7 so apparently you're not planning on doing a lot of sleeping anyway. As you've been told in your other thread, the bar area, which is the source of most of the noise, closes at midnight, so unless your planned bedtime is before that the bar noise shouldn't interfere with your sleep. Breakfast might be another story but that doesn't start until 8AM (or later for the many guests who are night owls just like you).

To be honest, I haven't stayed in those rooms, but I have stayed in plenty of other hotels with TILED floors like the SL (or the Prez). There have been people who have complained about noise at ALL of them at one time or another. Some of those other hotels where I've stayed have had ALL NIGHT night clubs right across the street, some had bus stops right out front and some had breakfast areas right on the other side of the wall from where I slept. Unless you're a light sleeper the courtyard rooms at the SL shouldn't be a problem. If you're a light sleeper (or even if you're not but want to play it safe), I have just 2 words for you. Disposable Earplugs. They're dirt cheap, readily available (I pick up mine at Walmart), easy to pack, comfortable to wear and fairly (though not 100%) effective.
-------
edit:
oops, Miamiheller beat me to the punch on the earplug suggestion, but I 2nd what he said.

The noise won't bother you while you're one of the ones making it when you're partying with your CRT brothers and, of course, the chicas at the bar. It won't bother you while you're out and about during the day or at the BM or other places at night. And it shouldn't bother you too much when you're sessioning with one of those chicas. The only time you have to worry about it bothering you is if you're trying to sleep and the noise probably won't be happening during most of the time when you're trying to do that.

You guys rock.

And I LOVE the idea of just cracking the door and waving a girl over to the room. That's awesome.

My wingman did it to a little curly haired Nica while standing in his underwear in the doorway of his room (Amor). Coolest thing I ever saw.

_________________
mh