www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I just received an e-mail from a friend of mine who wants to return for a second trip to SJ.He doesn't want to stay in one of the inner gultch horels. (DR,Presidente or Morazan) but close -by. I've narrowed it down to the Amon Plaza and the Sportsmans. I realize the obvious differences between the two. My problem about the Sportsmans is that I have been given WIDELY different reports. Gentlemen who have written here swear by it. In all honesty,most of these members have less than 10 posts and the hotel is about all they have shared with us. I know Bill and Wanda are fantastic at running the place. I have also spoken to 3 posters who told me that they moved out after one night because it was too noisy to sleep and the rooms were too hot with no air conditioning. The positives and negatives of the Amon are obvious. It may come down to whether he wants a large hotel or a small intimate place. All advice welcomed

I'm going down there this afternoon, and am staying at the SL. I stayed there my last trip.

I highly recommend it. The two rooms I had were not a problem noisewise. Much quieter than my rooms at the Morazan & Gran Via. They shut the bar down at 11 or 12pm so there is not alot of noise related to that.

As far as the temperature goes, it never bothered me and I'm a guy who likes to sleep around 70 degrees or so. I'm sure the rooms are warmer than that, but the cieling fan seems to mitigate it to the point that it wasn't an issue.

My favorite part about it is the free 24hr porn channel. I love porn going on during my sessions...it really gets the girls going into another gear.

Speaking of girls, all the girls I brought back there really liked it, and seemed to really feel comfortable there.

I doubt I will ever stay anywhere else.

_________________
"Jizz Long and Prosper!"

Though I live here and have not stayed there overnight...it IS my neighborhood bar and I tend to see the pulse of the place on a continual basis. I meet many of the guys who stay there and get their feedback. I would say there is 99.9% accolades for this place...the highest of any San Jose establishment to date.

I think it comes down to the guys preferances...does he like anonymity and a bigger business hotel ambiance...he might be more comfortabla at Amon PLaza, even though SL now has 2 free internet stations plus wireless easily assessible to the customers, and VOIP phone service back to the states. Amon...NOT. If he likes service, wants to meet good people, and have people waiting on him constantly, he wont beat the service mentality at SL.

I was talking to Goal and Hoserack last night who checked into the Amon Plaza yesterday. They immediately had a fight over the price they had reserved and commented how totally unfriendly the staff was. On top of that they were feeling reluctant or timid about taking chicas back there for potential hassle getting them in. While it's not usually a problem, you never know. These issues NEVER come up at the Sportsmens Lodge. In fact, there are a growing number of available chicas hanging out there daily now. Some of them you will never see at the Delrey...and a couple are outright knockouts.

As for airconditioning...especially this time of year, not an issue...and fans are readily available. DOnt think that is an issue at all.

Have to say, after spending 7 days in Jan '05 and 13 days in April '05. I will be staying at the SL on all of my future trips. Including 7 days in July....

CG

VB,

I've stayed at both hotels - Amon Plaza for three nights in November, and SL for six nights in February. I enjoyed both hotels, but have to give the nod to Sportsmen's based on the overall ambience and personal attention given by the staff. It can be a little noisy in the interior rooms during the day due to the way sound is amplified by the hard-tiled courtyard, but other than that, I can't think of any drawbacks whatsoever.

I also thought the staff at Amon was great and very service oriented (certainly more so than the Prez), and had no trouble bringing chicas back (even two at a time). It was a little unusual having to deal with the casino staff to pay the bill and get the VIP discount, but really no hassle.

I just checkd into the Armon, after checking out fo the Hotel Castillo after 1 night (see the "Hotel Castillo Review" post for how bad it was) , but the thing is, that the SL recommended and booked the Hotel Castillo for me , ( they where all booked up), so i have to wonder about SL now.
anyway the Armon is great, The Best in this area, no noise,great Breakfast, and the staff is ok too. no problems bringing back chicas.

Im going to go check out the SL bar tonight, I'll post later if anything good or bad happeans.

FUZZY

Hey VB,

For the purpose of full disclosure to your friends, here are as many facts as I can think of:

Pros

1. Customer service is extraordinary for CR.
2. Atmosphere is warm.
3. Common areas and rooms are country ornate
4. The pool table is great.
5. Food is above average.
6. Internet stations and wireless internet work great.
7. Phone calls are cheap and little effort is made to 'nickel and dime' you.
8. No chica fees

Cons

1. I think drinks and food are rather expensive.
2. Half the professional taxi drivers can't seem to find the place.
3. No chica registration, leaving the onus on you for security (petty theft) and chica age issues.
4. Quality of the prowling girls on the premises is mediocre.
5. No air conditioning (at least our rooms).

While the list shows an 8-5 advangate for the pros, in my opinion, the weighted average would be more like 10-1.

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SlickWings


Seems like I spend half my life drinking, gambling, and mongering. The other half... I waste.

Slick,

Agree with most of your assessment of SL, though I consider #3 of the Cons to actually be a Pro - I really don't like the hassle of chica registration, preferring to accept the responsibility myself for whom I choose to bring to my room. I also don't feel the AC thing is a big deal in San Jose most of the time.

It is strange though, how taxi drivers don't seem to understand "Calle treinta, un poquito norte de Avenida nueve". You would almost think they didn't know Calle 13 even existed!

Based on what I saw in February, I would agree that the on-prem selection was mediocre; however, there's lots of reports lately (and coroboration from Bill) that things have taken a turn for the better. I really hope this is true - with the NBA Conference finals starting next week, it will be really convenient to be able to grab a chica right there at halftime and then come out in time to catch the 4th quarter.

Isn't thirteen "trece"?

Just seeing if you were paying attention...

See Review Posted 1/14/05

https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/vi ... highlight=

I won't stay at the Amon Plaza anymore. An extra $30 charge appeared on my AEX bill. When I brought it to the attention of the hotel in person they claimed the Casino added the charge. Nixon never got back to me after I left repeated messages for him.

I am at the SL right now....last night had a pretty good atmosphere for the playoff hoop game. There were 6-7 girls hanging out, nothing too exeptional though a couple of them were serviceable.

I had my first negative experience here. Apparently, there was a group leaving the SL this morning for a rafting trip. You know the type, hungover and not realizing how loud there were being up by the front desk. This shit went on for 30 minutes, and one of the guys kept knocking on my door. I finally got out and them to shut the Phuck up. I was pretty pissed and was gonna shut them the Phuck up had they continued.

It's 11:20 now here, and a little hottie just showed up. Very doable.

But all that being said, I still love this place and will be staying here again.

_________________
"Jizz Long and Prosper!"

For what it's worth, most taxi drivers I used while in CR were able to follow the map on the back of the SL business card. For the one who wasn't (he was probably a former NYC taxi driver), I just mentioned Maryln Monroe's wall portrait and he was able to set his taxi in the right direction.

Last Nov-Dec?? I was the first one to post a review of SL. I went back in Feb for a week. I am going to be there over the Memorial Day holiday and again for 13 days late aug-sept including the Anniversary bash over Labor Day. Bill's crew treats you great, did then, and unless an awful lot has changed, still does. After 11-12, most noise stops as the bar closes. The water is hot for the shower, they have one day laundry service. The staff is as friendly as you could ever hope for. If they could take a hint in some of the places I stay here in the US, it would be great. The food and bev are a bit high, but so is the quality. Its only a ten minute walk to the gulch, and NEVER is there a chica fee. Overall, I rated it 9 on a ten scale and still would.

As far as finding the place, after the first time, I simply say dos cuadras oeste Hospital Calderon, entonces izquierda, y viente cinco metros en el derecho. (2 blocks west of Hospital Calderon, then left, then 25 meters on the right. Using those directions, the cabbies get it right. Sorry, but Bill's map for some reason doesn't sink in for many of the cabbies. You can also get back pretty easily if you go back east from ZB (avenida 9) to calle 13, and going the wrong way (sort of) up the one way street and its on the left. So many people go up this street the wrong way, thats its just accepted and is turning to a 2way by default.

2 more days and Pura Vida.........
3P

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CR LOS or PI Come horny, Leave Happy
Being 'over the hill' is damn sure better than being under it!
I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.