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I recently got to stay in both Hotel Castillo and Hotel La Amistad and thought it good to help any other Newbies with info, especially since Hotel Castillo is fairly new. I did somewhat of turnaround trips close to each other and stayed at each property and checked out the rooms and switched some to check everything out see which I liked the best.

I've basically got to see in detail both places and each have their own feel. I really liked the everything is new aspect of Castillo feeling and not worn or "dated". It felt very fresh and it's also much more open and spacious from the rooms to the bar area and front desk area. LA is much more "homey" and quaint. Castillo had some guys when I was there and I was able to mingle just fine and found at least one other guy to hang with when there to venture out. Same with LA, although the smaller bar area seemed more conducive to meeting some fellas but both provided that for me as a solo traveler with no wingman.

The food during my trip was much better at Amistad compared to Castillo. And it seemed the actual items listed on the menu weren't always available at Castillo. I liked the simple and straight forward Amistad menu where I was able to have a nice selection that always seemed pretty good. Castillo seemed to try to make the menu more complicated and "cute" then needed. I feel like have a good sirloin and pork chop at Amistad and then have a good chiken parm, sphagetti, and chicken wings at Castillo was all that was needed, but the two didn't really feed off each other well (no pun intended). I don't do breakfast only lunch and dinner.

Bartenders at each, awesome.

Rooms were nice at Castillo. I got a chance to stay in a Penthouse and the King with Balcony. Both were damn nice. The penthouse way better I thought but the price point way better for the King with Balcony. The shower is great in the penthouse i stayed in compared to the smaller one in the King Balcony. Not sure I liked paying the price for the penthouse (since I could pay much less at Amistad which isn't as new but solid). I checked out the other rooms at Castillo and there were a few king rooms with different layouts scattered throughout the property. So options seemed a plenty. As much as I'd love a penthouse, the price was a bit steep as of now for me when adding up food quality compared to Amistad and when the balcony arguably might be better in the King with Balcony room.

I did the same at Amistad and did a couple rooms each trip to see what I liked. The large penthouse one which was a hike but a nice room i liked for the price and what you get. I stayed in some larger King room near the front desk area can't remember the number which i liked. But I heard the breakfast people which I didn't like but would definitely stay there again. I wish I had an idea of the suites there but didn't get a chance to see any and nothing on the website. I like a slightly larger room to chill with the girls and have a drink and chat.

Umm..what else...staff were great at each property. The train is very annoying at Amistad but the penthouse and balcony at Castill had the birds chirping like crazy every morning. so, I guess whatever is your preference!

I liked the shorter walk to Sportsmens from Amistad. A little bit more convenient than Castillo. Especially since it was nice to head to Sportsmen to check out the gals and grab a drink, watch a game, and bite to eat if I wanted. But not some deal breaker from picking one over the other. Del Rey was easily accessible from each by taxi at any time of day or night.

My next trip, I plan on doing all inclusive (as I did past two times) and will try to book the King with Balcony probably at Castillo. Hopefully the menu may improve some if not I'll head to Amistad for lunch or dinner more often. Both had their charms and I'd stay at either any time. I think I just like having a more open balcony or slightly larger room space with newer feeling of bathrooms, beds, social spaces, etc....Still, something about the Amistad little bar area I really like in the evening and homey bed and breakfast type feel...

Hope that helps some..I missed a bunch I'm sure but lots to tell when been a couple times and got the lay of the land.

Good assessment.....i like the bar at Amistad better, but both bartending staffs are great.

To me, the generally open air concept of the Castillo is preferable and i much rather prefer to hear the birds chirping instead of the train!

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Entertainment purposes only, nothing posted above is true nor reflects reality nor my experience.

Very helpful. Thanks.

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If I was not in Costa Rica ever, I could have been still virgin.

Since this was written the Castillo has a new menu( and I disagree with the Castillo food comments in the original post as that was not my experience during multiple stays over 2017).
.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

I just spent another single night in Castillo on my way out to the Lodge (stayed in August, October, December 2017 and January 2018 also). Most of my stays are one or two night stays.

I ate almost everything on the pre-January 2018 menu and never had a bad meal. A few teething pains and since I am in the "industry" maybe I see things other guests don't or might do something another way but its an excellent, welcoming place.

And the new menu is solid. Matt is pushing the envelope, especially in the perennial quest for decent beef here.

Since I am (usually) with mi novia, I don't engage as much as I used to at LA back in the day but I observe it. The staff is great.

Last night I offered mi novia her choice of any restaurant in San Jose and she said "I want to eat here" - and she's a Chepe foodie.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

glad to hear the food is good.
I eat there with a chica I know and the food was not very good. I had chicken soup and they never brought me any rice with is the way that dish is served in CR.
Also they charged my credit card in dollars at the hotel rate which is lower than the bank rate.
I recommend any one using a credit card have them charge you in colones and let your bank do the conversion.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

Softbob

Does the menu say "served with rice Tico style"?

There is / was a link to the menu on the forum, but just as the SL or LA is not a 'comida tipico' restaurant, neither is the Castillo. Neither place serves rice and beans with everything either.

As to the credit card charge, I have always been charged the dollar amount quoted. I admit I pay cash for mi novia's food and drink and usually (every time but one) in colones. The menu is in dollars so the price in colones fluctuates (570 to $1 today). Of course most (I would say all but I got dollar change once at Resort Martino) hotels, restaurants, MPs, sodas, and so forth don't give the bank rate when they take your dollars (which is why I pay in cash, in colones). Pay in dollars for a beer and check your colones change anyplace and you'll see what I mean.

If you think you were cheated talk to Matt.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

I did not feel cheated. The food was not as good as most places I go and no I did not look at the menu to see what it said so that could be the way they serve their chicken soup and I did not like it.
The conversion on the credit card is a fact. They asked me if I wanted to have them bill me in Dollars or Colones and I said do what you prefer. Later i found that I should have had them bill me in colones as they had converted the bill to dollars at a lower rate.
I am aware of what most restaurants and shops do with the conversion but did not expect that to happen at the Castillo which is why I used a credit card instead of cash.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

Sorry you had a bad meal. If you bring it up to Darren I am sure he will comp you a meal. As for the rice I am sure it was an oversight. Our menu is in dollars and all credit cards are converted to colons as we only can take credit card in colons. Credit card exchange rate is posted at the front desk or ask your server for today’s rate as it is constantly changing
Matt

Thank you for your concerns and offer.
I think like some others have posted, in early December the restaurant start up problems had not all been completely ironed out, and I did not not feel the need to complain.
That is why I was glad to see MM3s post about the food and service.
I have toured the hotel and find the rooms spacious and luxurious.
Thank you for a great effort in providing CRT members and all others with a new venue.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

How much do the cheapest rooms at Hotel Castillo cost?

Checked into the Castillo this afternoon. Leo at the front desk is awesome; very helpful and always gives a smile. I met Ernesto at the bar while I was enjoying my all-inclusive perks; today it was a few Imperial cervesas, the homemade tomato soup and chicken kabobs... EXCELLENT!

My room is nice and clean, but it's very windy today and the wind is absolutely howling through my penthouse. Winds should die down after sunset. I'll head over to SL in the evening. Hope to meet up with some of you. I'm a newbie and am trying to work up the courage to pull the trigger and get my feet wet, so to speak. Should I start my going to Monica's maybe??

There should be many girls at SL that will help you out.

I stayed at the Castillo from March 1-5, 2018. My bill was presented at checkout as follows:

4 nights in Penthouse 1 (Zoo) @ $189/night all-inclusive + 13% tax = $854.28

I signed my debit card receipt in that amount and headed to the airport.

I saw my bank statement today, and was surprised that I was actually billed $937.16
I sent an email to La Amistad/Castillo inquiring about the extra $82.88 I was charged...I will let you know if I hear back from them and how it turns out.

FYI I had no bar tab or any outstanding room charges or anything like that.

We convert credit cards at 610 per dollar to cover exchange rate and credit card fees. It is posted at the front desk and should have been explained at checkout. Unfortunately the rate has been fluctuating lately. I sent you and email an will have Darren contact you. It is always better to pay in cash as credit card fees are crazy in Costa Rica

Matt