www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Has anyone stayed at Hotel Nine?

No, but I was having a beer in the bar and restaurant which overlooks the ocean and it was really nice... Think a very nice 19th hole on a golf course. Two big screen tv's. It is pricey but I have been told by friends that the food is incredible. The property itself looks very nice.. I know they have put a lot of work into the rooms.

was it close to town. do you think it would be friendly?

I have stayed there a few times. The last time, being about 16 months ago. The hotel is fairly nice by Jaco standards. I stayed in room number 9 my last two trips. It is one of their premium rooms and is a two room suite. I think I paid about $150 a night for that room and a standard room is/was about $80. That was in the green season. I think it goes up about $40 in peak season. The hotel is/has been under a complete renovation. Dennis, the owner was adding a third story and a private suite for himself when I was there last. He is our kinda guy. He hooked us up a couple days with some special friends for the afternoon. As you know Jaco is a little slow during the day so, this was a nice touch.

There was only one other guest in the hotel when we were there. So, me and my buddy had the place to our selves. Even with the major construction going on when we were there they were pretty good about noise early in the morning. Being in construction myself I enjoyed it and the guys working there were mostly transplants and hung out after work and shot the bull with us. I have no idea if that is still going on, I would ask if that is the type of thing that bugs you. I would assume something is going on there as he has owned the place for about 5 years and has always had something being worked on.

The restaurant was completely remodeled and although small, maybe 5 or 6 tables but done very well. The bar runs the entire length of the place and has about 15 stools. It is on the second floor of the hotel and overlooks the beach. Unfortunately in typical Jaco wisdom he no sooner finishes the place and they run several power lines directly in front of the windows. Dennis was hiring a new chef for the restaurant and invited us to a test dinner. The food was very good.

During the day Dennis allows some of the local girls to come by and use the pool. That worked out pretty good for us . The pool is very well maintained. There is a 15 foot water fall that flows most of the time. It shuts down at night. There was a problem with the hot tub heater that could not be fixed while we were there. But not really a big deal to me.

Over all I would say it is a good place to stay. Depending how you look at it, you might like or dislike the fact that it is just far enough down the beach that it is a cab ride to the strip. Personally I would recommend it.


www.hotelnine.com

Brother Goingsouthsoon--Nice description of a "better" alternative in Jaco. Appreciate the link--wish more would do so. Their Website includes a reasonable map of Jaco. One thing though--you seem to need an access code to view the rooms or otherwise use the site fully--a screening device for "tire-kickers"?

_________________
"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

I just tried the website again and it seems to work fine for me. There defiantly is a members section and If you become a guest of the hotel Dennis will give you a access code. Tried my old one and it has expired. I call him and get a new one. In any event that area used to just be a bunch of pool shots of some of the more attractive guests. I never made it in that area (nor do I really want my picture there) Look at the top and there is a photo tab. It worked when I just tried it????

I can tell you there are 9 rooms at this place and 2 of them are two room suites # 4 and # 9 (9 is the best room in the place in my humble opinion) The suites each have a mini fridge, small desk, small two seat table and very comfortable couch. The rooms have nice drapes and black out blinds (another nice touch) and small pieces of art and décor about the various rooms. The bedroom and the front room each have French doors that open on to the pool deck or In the case of # 9 a nice size private patio with some overstuffed chairs and a patio table. The balcony also has a sun screen that drops down. It can get a little hot in the direction these rooms face, directly toward the beach. That end of the beach also has a lot of surfer action to watch. The balance are standard rooms. These rooms share a small outside area with a similar couch and small chairs. Even these rooms are the size of a satndard hotel room, simple yet comfortable. Now, it is not the Ritz but each is air conditioned and tastefully decorated. The beds were new and very firm. Nice sheets and big pillows. All in all, the place is very clean and neat. The TV’s and the phones are all in good working order. Really, I have no complaints to share with this place.

I also forgot to mention there is a pool side bar although in the half dozen or so times I have been there it was never staffed. But there is a full size frig behind it that has the coldest beer in town and was on the honor system when I have been there. It seems to me that the bar up stairs was like that also. In the morning no one was ever around so we kinda helped our selves to the espresso machine and once in a while to the bottle of whiskey (lol) and just kept track and squared up at the end. You best ask before hand on that policy.

I have enjoyed many of the places in Los Suenos and unless I have a big group and rent one of the houses this is the place I would stay.

Brother Goingsouthsoon--Really fine description of a place I'll be sure to check out next time I'm in Jaco. Hadn't seen this venue mentioned before here. Wouldn't it be great to have them as a CRT Sponsor? But they are probably too "mixed" a venue for that. It was my pleasure to set it up so you could spike it (volleyball parlance) with your 2nd post. Love to read your take on any other restaurants, bars, hotels you're familiar with in CR or elsewhere.

_________________
"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

Is this the place that Roger owned named El Vago a few years ago?

Yes I fairly certian it is. I am not certian what the relation is between these two guys. I think, although not certian, Dennis and he split. They had a girl Lalena Bennett who was marketing it for them at that time and who developed thier web site. She is still around Jaco but no longer involved with the hotel.

As I remember, Roger sold it to Dennis almost 4 years ago, and then headed to Panama to live happily ever after. His girl friend was Panamanian.
It sounds as though Dennis has done quite a bit of work to the place

That is the spot Diablo..... Super nice place, like I said a bit pricey on the menu if you are squeezing nickels but the food I saw looked incredible...

5 years since this thread started. Anyone recently stay at this hotel? Is it still guest friendly? Still a nice place to stay?

5 years is a long time in the hotel, res't or bar world - did you check to see if they had a web site? Or any way to contact them?

I can tell you I've never seen it referred to on this site, at least by that name (and the name is unique enough I think I would have remembered ) - hell it could be a condo - or the shell of one - by now - just as a general comment - while it might be interesting to stay outside and above Jaco, taking cabs - especially if you want company later - or just going into town, to the beach - it gets to be a hassle - just making an observation. When I stay in Jaco, I want to be on or near town and the beach.

Re guest questions - if indeed the property is still open and functioning, you need to call and ask, before you book a room - many places will not permit "guests" or will allow but charge <in some cases a lot- example - Holiday Inn in San Jose allows guests @ $75 plus tax per - if you just ask the basic question, they can say yes and be telling you the truth - so always ask if there is a fee, and get the name of the person you spoke with - believe me, hotel people are like doctors - not much they haven't heard >

Here's the best map I could find of Jaco hotels--just locations not quality assessments and I don't know how old this is--happy hunting: http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/v ... ironsource
NOTE: Cocal and Clarita's to name 2 are not listed nor is the 9 but this gives some orientation in the town. Somebody's got to have a better map--please Post if so.

BTW, here's the 9's Site: http://hotelnine.com/ << I understand everybody here knows Google search--this is presented as a 1-stop courtesy, not flexing my ego.

_________________
"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

You can also contact the Dunn Inn ref Hotel Nine (they own it). The DI also has brochures on the hotel. On my last trip the DI desk said it wuz chica friendly and they could book a room for me if and when I go to Jaco. If not mistaken the room prices are not on the low end.