www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi guys,

It will be my first trip to San Jose in early June but i cant decide on a hotel. El Presidente seems popular. Del Rey seems to be where the action is at . But Sportmans seems like a place thats close to the action but gives you a chance to relax.

Which one should i pick? or is there another that i havent heard of that i should consider? Also what advice do you guys have for a first timer to Costa Rica?

What is your objective? What characteristics are most important when chosing a hotel? With that info, you will get much more feedback.

dapanz1

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Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!

Well #1 would be economic. But also comfort. Sequirity. I would like a place were it would be easy to meet fellow americans and mongers but that the girls would be easily accesible. I might be flying with a friend so his opinion also matters.

There are guys here that swear by all three choices you list.
Things to remember:

DR-Belly of the Beast,chicas on hand 24/7,Noisy 24/7, $10 chica fee everytime you go up the elevator,no in house restaurant.

Pres: 2 block walk to DR,no chica fee,only one chica at a time unless you get someone to sign second one in for you,free breakfast included,CRT discount.

Sportsmans: Need a cab ride to/from at night,no chica fee,classy rooms and nice people.In house food is good.

Amon-CRT discount,no chica fee,cab required after dark.

My personal choice is the Presidente but there are many guys that prefer one of the other choices.

Wherever you choose you will have a memorable time.

Given that info, Prez would be my #1 choice. Close to the action, no working girls allowed in the bar/restaurant area. Less than a 2 minute walk up the hill to the "belly of the beast." Very secure and you WILL meet lots of other hobbyist there. CRT discount makes it extremely affordable. But, don't hesitate to make reservations NOW for June.

I have not stayed at the Sportsmens....YET. So, I can't speak to what you will get there. Only info I have is what I have read here.

dapanz1

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Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!

What happened to the restaurant at the Del Rey? Have I been gone that long?
Lee

Lee,
The restaurant that was in the Del Rey has moved across the street between the Del Rey and Key Largo. It is the Del Mar. It totally sucks and is overpriced. The old restaurant area is now just part of the front bar area. The old restaurant area is kind of the "quiet" area of the place now. "No mas comido" in Hotel Del Rey.

As you probably have read, they added a few more slot machines back near where the kitchen would have been located.

dapanz1

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Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!

Dapaz are there any affordable resturants around Del Rey?

Coqui,
The gulch is loaded with affordable restaurants. To name a few, and this is a very incomplete list, but all within 1 or 2 blocks: Costa Del Sol, Chelles, Mariscar, NY Bar, Colonial (ask for the other menu). Morazon, Faros, food court in Plaza Avenida, etc, etc, etc. Sorry missed a few.

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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

I dunno

I like the Morazan too, and also think La Gran Via is not a bad place if you get the right room.

Everyone has their own answer to this question and their own personal favorite. The REAL question is what is right for YOU. So lets review the factors in your individual case. First time to CR, reserving 4 months ahead, during the off season, #1 is cost, but security and proximity to the "action" (both chica & fellow monger) and finally something that will satisfy friend.

Lets dispense with the last part first, your friend will probably be so impressed with the BM itself that which hotel you end up at will really just be an afterthought, but he and you won't be disappointed with any of the places mentioned.

As a first timer, there's certainly something to be said for being "in the belly of the beast" (namely the DR). For some, total immersion is a unique experience that should be sampled at least once. Most veteran CR visitors if they ever stayed there have quickly tired of it and at this point prefer to stay elsewhere (as is evidenced by the poll results), but thats not to say it would be a bad choice for a first timer such as yourself.

The problem with the DR really comes from other qualifying factors that you mentioned. It is pricier than some of the other options such as the Presidente or the Morazon particularly if you plan on bringing many chicas back to your room as those $10 charges can really add up. It is You also mentioned wanting a place where you can relax. The DR has the closest proximity to the action, but that can be a negative as it can be very noisy and theres almost too much going on there. Its nice to get away from. OTOH, it is arguably the most secure since you never really have to even go outside if you don't want to, though whenever you do you will certainly be accosted by the cast of street characters that camp out at its doors.

Amon and Sportsman's are much nicer than the DR. They are slightly more expensive, though the CRT discount makes them a better value. The problem for them as a first timer is that you will be farther away from the heart of the Gulch. Its a either a very short cab ride to the BM or what many consider to be a less than totally secure walk (at least late at night). This is not a major problemwith many vets who know their way around and feel comfortable, but could make those choices less thanideal for you and your friend.

This leaves the other two of what I like to call the original "Big 3" Monger Hotels, the Presidente and the Morazon. They are both within easy and reasonably safe walking distance of the BM, day or night, but far enough away from the constant hubub. They are both less expensive than the DR. The Presidente's special CRT $48/nt + tax rate is less than the $56?/nt rate at the DR. It includes breakfast and they don't charge any chica fee. The Morazon is cheaper still, though you need to make sure you're getting the $39/nt + tax rate. You're on your own for breakfast if you get up that early and unless you tip the night clerk the first time you'll be dinged a nominal $3 for each chica you bring back.

Given your criteria either of these two places would be a good choice for you. The only remaining factor are reservations. The only problem with the Prez is that it is so popular with board members it can sometimes be hard to get a room even in the rainy season. If you reserve now that shouldn't be a problem. The big problem with the Morazon again is reservations though for a different reason. They have been none to lose them. Again given the rainy season, they should have vacancies and that shouldn't be a problem, but even if they screw up you'll still be able to find a room at one of the other hotels listed above.

wow im all set to go to Del Rey and then i get such a great response from this thread im starting to lean toward presidente. Well whatever i decide it will be by the end of this week and I know ill have a good time.

"belly of the beast"

lol....well said.