www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Has anyone ever stayed at Hotel Don Carlos? Looks like a very nice place in a perfect location, but is it chica friendly w/o charge?

not chica friendly. the guys that own it play for the other team, i'm told. agree it is a nice place. too bad.

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Voted San Jose's #1 Maripepino

The Don Carlos is an excellent, well run hotel. I've stayed there several times. They will not allow you to bring working girls into the hotel. They cater mostly to the higher end eco-tourist crowd. It is what it is.....just not the right place for guys like us.

Thanks for the intel guys. They're loss!

Not 100% true, as I too have stayed there several times, got to know the night guard (Antonio) and the late nite front desk guy. I was able to bring my girl in for 5 mil provided we kept things quiet. She took the heels off and we made it up to the second floor, np. She was with me for the breakfast buffet, no questions asked, as she toned down the clothes. We looked just like any of the other "couples" that were enjoying the morning. True, there is a "NO" policy, but getting to know the guys at the door will certainly help. Funny, I posted this same response on Trip Advisor and got myself banned for daring to comment that a girl had been smuggled in. The hotel GM wanted to know details, and that "heads would roll"..too much drama. So, not the best place to bring company (Castillo is my fav now), but not impossible either. Helps if you live here.

Many thanks for the info. I have a family reunion coming up soon in SJO organized by an old bittie of an aunt from the DFW area. I thought everyone would be staying well away from "the gulch" as in times past - wrong. I had to go online and recheck that Don Carlos was indeed across the street from the NF. I've never stayed at the place but I've done the "walk of s(h)ame to you" past it a couple of times under the watchful eye of the patrons having their "cafecito" on the balcony out in front. (Thanks again for the skinny on the place, I'll be sure to stay somewhere else when I go.) At first I was thunderstruck but then I couldn't stop laughing. (There's going to be a considerable amount of squawking coming from the DC in a couple of weeks... )

For a place that is not an "obvious" mongering venue, you may want to try The Hemingway Inn in the same neighborhood as Don Carlos and Castillo.

It's chica friendly and has good reviews on this board. It's also a CRT sponsor.

The Hemingway is popular with backpackers.

RAC