www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have a buddy meeting me in SJO for a couple days. I stay @ La Amisted, but he would prefer something cheaper.
No dives please. Yes, for you comedians, I am familiar with Hotel Asia.
I would appreciate any valid advice.
Thanks

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Bring on the dancin' girls and put the champagne on ice. -Bon Scott

Costa Rica: We make easy, hard........

Hoe Dog koo koo ka choo

the royal dutch is cheap and clean (its about 5 min cab ride from where you are at) good location to the mp's and has a good night club in it (all locals...change of paste ) or send him to the freebird very close to where you are staying ....cant go wrong with the guy who owns the place ....he will give your newbe information that would of taken 5 trips to learn

Hotel Castillo just down from Amistad is going to be the best value; particularly if staying at least a week and paying in cash money; even at less than a week, the CRT discount makes it a top shelf alternative.

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Look into our Sponsor Hotel Tiquicia. Inexpensive and 1/2 block from HLH. This link is a WikiMapia view of the surrounding area (Hotel Tiquicia with the plus sign on it): http://wikimapia.org/#lat=9.9378302&lon ... =0&m=s&v=9 All manner of fascinating stuff on this.
For contact info, see our discount pages and if you drop by, say hello to Calvin the owner.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

With the CRT card, get a $50 with tax room at the DUNN INN. Includes breakfast, good security, plasma on wall and electronic safe. Even if you find $10 a night cheaper, in the long run DI will be the best choice

The Freebird Hotel has rooms from $30 + 13.4% tax for a 4 night stay on sell now.For me me this is the best loction to the good mps and a safe 3 block walk to the DR. You`ll hardly ever use a taxi , it is the only hotel I`ll use and the owner is always there to help if you need some advise.I just love the place and the rates are great.

The Freebird hotel lost me as a potential guest when I went to check them out one afternoon and knocked and rang and shouted at the door for several minutes for someone to come unlock the gate and let me in and no one ever answered. I don't know if they give out keys for the front door to guests or they have a guard to buzz or let you in and this was an isolated freak occurance, but that was in the middle of the day and it didn't exactly give me warm and fuzzy feelings about staying there. What if I were staying there and needed to get something from my room during the day but couldn't get inside or, worse, imagine if I were returning at night and I was stuck outside on the street.

Pro,

I am not sure but I beleive they only take reservations from CRT members with no walk ins. I beleive they issue keys and it functions more like a guest house than hotel. I am sure some of the guys who stay there will chime in.


BKTUNA/Boyd
I am never going home

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BKTUNA/Boyd
I am never going home

The owner of the Freebird gives you keys, codes, and his cell phone number when you check in.

also you have to pay cash upfront at freebird, and $200 security deposit cash up front, you get a code for gate......

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Jaco is called little USA by all ticos

I stand corrected, HOWEVER I'd still like to check out the place before I go ahead and reserve a room in advance there sight-unseen. Are you guys saying you need to make an appointment or reservation just to see what the place is like?

Prolijo, the cheap rooms there don't have bathrooms, only the two large rooms do. I tried to reserve one of the cheap rooms for my last trip, did it from the web site, and never got a response. I went to the Dunn Inn ($50 room) instead, never should have bothered with the Freebird. That $200 security deposit isn't even mentioned on the site. Bktuna is right, it really is a guest house rather than a hotel, you can't just walk in and check it out or get a room.

Oh, the Tiquicia was mentioned, that's really a hostel, says so on the sign.

To the OP Elkarlos, basically there's a threshold point where "cheap SJ hotel" DOES mean a dive.

Joker,
Do you really consider this a safe walk (from Freebird to Del Rey)? Its a pretty sketchy area even during the day plus you have to walk through all the street rif-raff in that area. I would think night time walking would be as dangerous as walking past Morazon Park . Just curious on how you feel about that

If you feel that walking from Freebird to the HDR during the day is unsafe then perhaps you best not bother coming to San Jose.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

In almost 4 years of operation I have NEVER collected a $200 cash deposit. All of my guests have had credit cards. All hotels, B& B's or whatever take an imprint of your credit card upon check in. This is for the room cost, any charges incurred during your stay and for a security deposit for damage to the property. If a person does not have a credit card they would be required to pay the $200 security deposit and pay upfront.

With over 400 CRT guests staying here over the past 3 1/2 years we have never received a negative comment from our guest on how the Freebird is operated. The only negative comments I have seen on CRT are by people who have NEVER STAYED HERE or who have never been on the property. Only praise for the relaxed, comfortable, and clean rooms. We only rent to CRT members. We do not take walkin business, couples, Ch*ldren or the French. You need to either complete a Reservation Form or call my cell phone at 506-8329-5425. I answer all my calls at anytime of day or night.

Dennis Eaton, The Freebird