www.CostaRicaTicas.com
https://forum.costaricaticas.com/

Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
https://forum.costaricaticas.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=54245		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Tom Swift [ Sat Jun 03, 2023 8:56 am ]
Post subject:  Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
I was in San Jose 2 May thru 16 May. This was my first trip since the Pandemic. It was also my 1st time in the Taormina. A friend and I went in about 1230PM. I ordered a bottle of Imperial and he ordered a glass of generic white wine. You know, the kind of stuff that comes in America in a carton. I almost shit when we went to leave and the bartender said we owed her 7400 colones, which is nearly 14 dollars.

I'm not a cheap Charlie, but this was twice what we previously paid in the Sportsmen's Lodge.

Tell me Companeros, did she pull a slick on us or is this the going rate today? If the latter, I will do my hard drinking elsewhere, although the talent was first class!
Author:  Boynton [ Sat Jun 03, 2023 10:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
It's all those Cien-payers, Chuck.

(were the exchange back to near 700:1, it would have been $10)
Author:  Harddrive43228 [ Sat Jun 03, 2023 7:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
Drinks are very expensive in the Taornina bars. A local beer is 2600 colones. I wouldn't be surprised if a glass of wine was near 5k.
Author:  Paco [ Sat Jun 03, 2023 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
I won’t drink at toramina. They’re crazy expensive. I was shocked after a couple drinks….
Author:  SinCity [ Sat Jun 03, 2023 10:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
another fleecem trick they pulled on my group last year, 1 guy ordered a vodka/tonic, any other bar in the world would have served him the cheap house/well vodka. Instead, the Toarmina waitress brought him a Grey Goose/tonic, the most expensive they sell. What a ripoff!!!
Author:  Whitecat [ Sun Jun 04, 2023 4:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
They figure these guys are paying such crazy prices for the women that a few extra bucks on the bill is nothing.
Author:  Harddrive43228 [ Sun Jun 04, 2023 1:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
And if you order a drink with a mixer, like a rum and coke, they make you buy a whole bottle of coke with the first drink, kind of forcing you to order more to use up that very expensive coca cola. That is why when I do drink at the Taormina, I will just nurse an Imperial.

On a side note, I know everyone bitches about the current state of the Del Rey but drinks have gotten very reasonable (for a gringo bar) since they reopened after their shutdown. A local beer is only 2K as well as a Flor de Cana and Coke. If they could get some decent chica traffic, it would be my go to bar.

Also, the Sportsmens has a very good happy hour but only between 5 and 7pm. Beers and well drinks are very inexpensive. They also have two for one "fufu" cocktails for the ladies.
Author:  Ulysses [ Sun Jun 04, 2023 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
SinCity wrote:
another fleecem trick they pulled on my group last year, 1 guy ordered a vodka/tonic, any other bar in the world would have served him the cheap house/well vodka. Instead, the Toarmina waitress brought him a Grey Goose/tonic, the most expensive they sell. What a ripoff!!!


This expensive outcome is actually typical at most if not all high end tourist hotels in Costa Rica.

When the tourist does not specify the brand of liquor and simply asks for vodka or wine, then the bartender is trained to reach for the top shelf without question. The assumption is that anyone visiting our country has come because they expect to receive the very best. This is literally what has been taught in Costa Rica bartender school for at least 20 years.

Now, clearly this is not typically what happens in ye ol' gringo gulch. But, hey it sounds like the Taromina is working to attract a class of customer consistent with any five star casino and hotel property in Costa Rica.
Author:  Boynton [ Sun Jun 04, 2023 8:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
Ulysses wrote:
SinCity wrote:
another fleecem trick they pulled on my group last year, 1 guy ordered a vodka/tonic, any other bar in the world would have served him the cheap house/well vodka. Instead, the Toarmina waitress brought him a Grey Goose/tonic, the most expensive they sell. What a ripoff!!!


This expensive outcome is actually typical at most if not all high end tourist hotels in Costa Rica.

When the tourist does not specify the brand of liquor and simply asks for vodka or wine, then the bartender is trained to reach for the top shelf without question. The assumption is that anyone visiting our country has come because they expect to receive the very best. This is literally what has been taught in Costa Rica bartender school for at least 20 years.

Now, clearly this is not typically what happens in ye ol' gringo gulch. But, hey it sounds like the Taromina is working to attract a class of customer consistent with any five star casino and hotel property in Costa Rica.
One with hookers and ear-splitting tica music. :lol: :lol:
Author:  Ulysses [ Sun Jun 04, 2023 10:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
Boynton wrote:
Ulysses wrote:
SinCity wrote:
another fleecem trick they pulled on my group last year, 1 guy ordered a vodka/tonic, any other bar in the world would have served him the cheap house/well vodka. Instead, the Toarmina waitress brought him a Grey Goose/tonic, the most expensive they sell. What a ripoff!!!


This expensive outcome is actually typical at most if not all high end tourist hotels in Costa Rica.

When the tourist does not specify the brand of liquor and simply asks for vodka or wine, then the bartender is trained to reach for the top shelf without question. The assumption is that anyone visiting our country has come because they expect to receive the very best. This is literally what has been taught in Costa Rica bartender school for at least 20 years.

Now, clearly this is not typically what happens in ye ol' gringo gulch. But, hey it sounds like the Taromina is working to attract a class of customer consistent with any five star casino and hotel property in Costa Rica.
One with hookers and ear-splitting tica music. :lol: :lol:


I agree, their market segmentation may need some work. :lol

But, I am sure anyone living in Costa Rica for a while would not order a drink without first knowing the price.

Helpful advice from the original poster, but caveat emptor is as tico as pura vida and gallo pinto
Author:  grimeswilliam [ Sun Jun 04, 2023 11:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Were We Ripped off or is this the New Normal?
I am the least classy guy in the world. My ex has told me I look homeless. And I have many times sat in the lobby of Toarmina chatting with cheap whores. I have never been questioned by staff. I imagine it is because I look Gringo and they assume I have money to spend. I think it has nothing to do with class and everything to do with profits.
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/