www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Okay, I'll get the bitching out of the way first.


That phucking train. Not the hotel's fault, but a commuter train with a very loud horn passes the hotel frequently throughout the day, starting before 6:00 a.am. Now, don't get me wrong; I personally love trains, having grown up near a trainyard as a boy. However, many guests complained bitterly in my presence about the train. Management/owners are trying every possble noise abatement strategy, and I wish them luck.

Rooms: Okay, here's my real problems with La Amistad. How the hell can you renovate a bathroom and then forget about shelving and robe hooks? In my room (#211, which I truly enjoyed), there is literally no space in the bathroom to put even a tube of toothpaste and brush. One has to put items on the shelves in the bedroom and then go fetch them as needed. Inconvenient to say the least. Also, the lack of night tables is unforgiveable Happily, the desk/dresser near the bed in #211 was usable as a nightstand...

The pluses: Damn! There is so much about La Amistad that is truly lovable. First of all, the bar/restaurant while expensive by C.R. standards is the best I've ever experienced. The chef knows his craft, and meals at the little restaurant are superbly presented and delicious. Asta' and Gretel at the bar are wonderful hostesses, and Ms. Asta' crafts a martini fit to be drunk by the gods. Furthermore, the restaurant is a family affair, with Gretel's husband Caesar serving dinner in the evenings, and Asta's husband Rodrigo serving breakfast. The bar/restaurant is marvelously decorated and appointed.

The Staff: Hard to beat service, whether maid service from Mria, Cecilia, Gabi or Flori to the desk staff (Rudolfo, Carlos, David, Merlene). New addition Phil (Americano) helps keep things running smoothly, and Matt is frequently on-scnene. No complaints at all about the fine service I received at La Amistad!

If you can put up with the noise of the commuter train and if you don't requireeither a nightstand or shelving in the bathroom, the Hotel la Amistad is a brilliant choice. BTW, the hotel is less than a 2 minute walk from the SL, is very close to restaurants and a good farmacia/clinic and is located on a tranquil avenue...well, it will be tranquil once downtown street improvements are completed and local bues can be returned to their normal routes....

Rating: four and a half stars out of a possible five. For many, that train will be an issue.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

El C, the varying sizes of the bathroom counters (from large to postage stamp-sized) and the general lack of nightstands is also a main peeve I have about the Amistad. This comes from each room being different in some way from the others. While some see this as charming and "character", I like uniformity among rooms, like with the American chains. My last trip I was in room 214, the desk had the TV (tube, not a flat panel) sitting on it, thus preventing me from using it for my laptop. I also bring with me a cheap LED clock radio, and I usually have to use my suitcase as a nightstand for it since there isn't an actual nightstand.

These are all small issues though, and are not going to keep me from staying at the Amistad as the place overall is great; I'm staying there again next week. But there are times that I wish the place had the things that any Super 8 has.

I stayed 4 nights at LA in August.

And that mother phucking train woke me up by 0700 every morining.

I even had ear plugs in.

It rumbles and shakes the whole hotel.

If u are a late night guy like me, who wants to sleep in, stay somewhere else.