www.CostaRicaTicas.com

One issue we often hear something or other about is discounts. When I stayed at the Prez, I often heard people talking about their red snake, vip or other discount, only to hear that they were paying the same as I was. I first stayed at the Prez after getting mugged near the front door of Hotel Bella Vista. This convinced me that I wanted someplace with better security. ($20/night for a room 6 blocks from gound zero, with a private bath and a decent breakfast did have its charm, but if you stay there, be careful Sunday afternoon. Acoustically it was a little too much like a cross between Arte y Sauna and a tuberculosis ward.) I went to the Prez, on their advice, and was directed to Maria. I arranged a rate based on staying for 2 weeks. That was the shortest stay of the near half year total that I've stayed there. I was never a member of any group at that time, and I always got the same rate as the group members.

If you are staying for a while, you can probably get a much better deal than the list price at many hotels. Being a repeat customer doesn't hurt. The price you pay in any smaller place could depend on the season, how long you stay, how you pay and what your attitude is when talking to the person in charge. Somebody pushy, who pays with a credit card, during the high season and stays for one or two nights will certainly pay list price.

Many people who are in CR for the first time seem to have the idea that they are dealing with the same situation they confront when entering a large chain hotel in the US or Canada. This is not correct. Getting a deal at the HDR or Gran Hotel may be difficult, but at most smaller places, price is negotiable, especially during the "Green Season." I've been told that deals in October can be really good.

BTW, you may need to find somebody with authority. The person at the desk may not be permitted to charge anything other than the official price. Arrange things ahead of time. Many places have longer term prices institutionalized. Those may be the best prices you can get.

CRT rates are great when staying in big hotels and when arranging things from home, particularly for the first time. For a short stay, they may be the best deal available. I use my card often in restaurants and ZB, but I can't imagine spending as much as the official discount prices for lodging anymore, staying for a month at a time.

To answer the first expected question, I have no idea what the policy is at SL. I drink and eat there, but I stay too long to want to live there.