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Hi guys. I've done the gulch thing about 15 times now. I'm going to be there for a week in mid February. Would like to find a nice place; 5 to 15 minutes via taxi from grond zero. Seems I recall a place being touted a few months ago, but no longer see it. I'd like to find an upscale condo type of place, with a pool thats heated, or at least a warm hot tub. Every non heated pool I've ever run across in SJ is like swimming in the arctic. Any local reports, pro-con, on Sesteo or Apartotel LaSabana? (those were suggested in my Lonely Planet book). Price range I',m looking for is $300-400 per week. Thanks, -gopher

I've spent about 6 months at el Sesteo over the years, and it's an OK place. I got tired of having to take a cab or the Sabana Cementerio bus through to bus fumes to get into town. It just changed hands, so some things have changed. They used to do a decent lunch, but that is gone now. The pool, hot tub and courtyard are definite plusses. Now I stay at Hotel Castillo and get a room with a kitchenette. The 1 bedroom places at el Sesteo give you more room and a more fully appointed kitchen than at Hotel Castillo, but the location in Amon makes up for that. You really can be out of the gulch, but only 3 or 4 blocks away, with no bus fumes or people playing ocharinas outside your window.

Gopher, sesteo is a nice place.The service is good,the rooms are nice,the kitchen units are a definite plus and in my opinion the rates are a bargain.The hottub is nice,but the pool is not heated.Ive been there 4 times now and the pool is always COLD.I dont know if it ever gets hot enough in san jose to warm the pool water enough.They have breakfast in the morning if you get up early enough(till 9).Best of all the place is in a quiet area-you can actually sleep.Del rey was too noisy for me-with the slot machines going all night and horns honkin.Its also walking distance to Sabana park.They have a room with computer/internet also.Hope this helps you out.

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Lick It Before You Stick It!

A computer room? That's a plus, and new. I know a few long term residents who have their own machines, but a public computer is a change. Come to think of it, I heard that it was possible to do email there, but I never tried it when I stayed there. I just used their address for contact in case of an emergency. At the Castillo, I walk past the machine every day, so give it a look.

I used to swim laps the first few times down, and that keeps you warmer, but it is cold.

Do they still have a rotation for the breakfast entree? They always had gallo pinto, fruit toast, ..., the usual tico stuff, but each day they would have one extra item, be it pancakes, platanos or something else. We're not talking Eggs Benedict, or even a Prez omelet, but variety helps after 6 weeks.

One other good feature was that the laundry tokens were one of the cheapest ways to do laundry in SJ without using the sink or a rock in the river. They were high compared to a US laundromat, but cheap for SJ.

I still prefer Amon, but it isn't a bad place to stay. The courtyard is excellent.