www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Thanks for the updated info VB. Let us know if they start scheduling any tourneys.

If they'll only have 3 tables, I doubt they'll run tourney's, maybe single table shootout, or at most 2 tables. They'll want to keep a cash game going at all time since it probably makes more money than a tourney.

I wouldn't mind playing a 1 or 2 table tourney ($100+10 or higher) early next week. I'm looking to subsidize my upcoming trip. If we can get a few guys together, maybe we can get a game going...

Yeah Orange, you are right. Not thinking about that being in the center of things. Funds are low right now so I'm having to do the cheapo tournaments when I have a chance.

DonCarlos:
If this global economy doesn't improve soon, then a quiet year in hotel rooms will revert to hotel room numbers from the days of old-like 2001.

I've heard tourist numbers are down 30%. costa rica's tourist board is saying 13%whem

Can you now show up to Del Rey Hotel saturday morning and be able to
book a room on a walkup basis for saturday night?

If your able to do something like that on friday or saturday morning then
that is something not seen since the early 2000's.

Holy cats , that whole town is flush with hotel rooms based your observations and what I encountered in the three hotels i checked out on my may trip

can anyone guess what occupancy rates are for these hotels are over 7 days. Sportsmen's lodge real high- know that.

thanks
fred757

DonCarlos:
If this global economy doesn't improve soon, then a quiet year in hotel rooms will revert to hotel room numbers from the days of old-like 2001.

I've heard tourist numbers are down 30%. costa rica's tourist board is saying 13%whem

Can you now show up to Del Rey Hotel saturday morning and be able to
book a room on a walkup basis for saturday night?

If your able to do something like that on friday or saturday morning then
that is something not seen since the early 2000's.

Holy cats , that whole town is flush with hotel rooms based your observations and what I encountered in the three hotels i checked out on my may trip

can anyone guess what occupancy rates are for these hotels are over 7 days. Sportsmen's lodge real high- know that.

thanks
fred757

I like the changes to the DR that have been made lately, I think Bob is doing good things in general especially the poker room coming in. I would guess they keep the rake normal to get the local players and the tourists that way they can consistently get three tables by retaining the locals and make more than if they just have one table of tourists.

Hmmm, I find this all very curious.

With the current economy I'm surprised the Del Rey owners would shell out the money for renovations and create a poker room, even with so-called VIP tables for BJ, Caribbean Stud and roulette (which no one should play).

Will they allow smoking? That could be an uncomfortable playing atmosphere without some excellent ventilation.

My understanding is poker is somewhat of a loss leader in the casino world. It brings players into the casino but most serious poker players don't play slots (the real money maker) or other table games. Of course things are always different in Costa Rica.

Until the boom of Texas Hold 'em (thanks to the WPT TV show) some casinos in Las Vegas were actually contemplating closing their poker rooms as they were taking up space that could be used for other revenue-generating endeavors.

Granted poker players might buy a few drinks but are they really adding to the bottom line? Are the tables at the Colonial, Horseshoe and Amon Plaza consistently busy? Do they really make money for the house?

I welcome other's insights and opinions on this.

Wit

I think they are doing whatever they can to just get people to play anything. Sometimes, you walk into these casinos andf there's nobody playing anything. The dealers all standing around looking at each other. While poker may not be a huge money maker, it's better than nothing.

Sorry this is a bit off-topic, but Don Carlos' observations prompted me to post this here.


This week, a longtime CRTV.I.P. wrote the Hotel Presidente to inquire about a standard room.

The reply he received was to say the least, astonishing.

He paid $56.00 per weekend night (plus taxes) last year for a standard room. The price this year? $111.00 plus tax for the same level room.

Muy tico...or do these hotel operators and casino managers kno something we don't? Are the dealers and desk clerks for instance, learning to speak Mandarin and/or Hindi?

_________________
Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

The rake has been established (for the time being anyways) It is basically the same as everywhere else. It is 5% to a total of $4 unless the pot exceeds $200.If it does exceed $200 then the house takes an additional $1 for a total of $5. this adjustment shouldn't affect the $1-2 game, but the higher games will pay a little more.It seems eminently fair given the money spent to make the room a nice place to play.

I didn't see anyone playing at anything except the poker tables last night when I walked through. They had one full table and another with just 3 players. (including Bob)I thought about playing BUT this chica from Limon with a body right out of Playboy distracted me. I had a better time for 25,000 col. than I ever had playing poker.Sorry about the incomplete report. hehe

I think in the del rey there was the whole area on the backside of the
bar being underutilized. they have alot of slots machines because the restuarant used to occupy the space to the side of the current bar.
the restuarant part got moved over to key largo.
the slots are not that busy when i see them. the colonial having the craps table helps bring in people. alot of their tables are busy.
sports book is real smallish. moved over to the sleep inn it might take off.
I don't know how busy the upstairs tables get at colonial. Anyone?
fred757

I was there last May and was able to book a room on a walkup basis TWO weekends in a row without problems.

cubhammer:

Alot of these hotels are flying around 30% occupancy. not down 25%
from the year before.

and if they are a franchised one- if the front desk quotes something

silly call the USA number and hand them the phone back with the lower

rate from the USA reservations people. I watched someone do that in MAy.

I felt I was in a space/time vortex that took me back to 2002 or something

when i was there in may. the crowds were not five deep at the blue marlin.
fred757

Continuing my reports on the new VIP poker + room at the DR. I haven't played yet as they had trouble getting a game going last night around 6pm when I was there. I did check out the blackjack game and I was right. The game is TOTALLY UNPLAYABLE. It was being played by some unsuspecting Gringos last night at a $10 minimum. I asked the dealer (an old friend) about the rules and she almost broke out laughing. They cut off 2 decks out of a 4 deck hand shufled shoe. The dealer hits a soft 17 (actually fairly normal) and you can ONLY double down on 9,10,or 11. (horrible for the player) I started to ask about doubling after a split ,but didn't even wait for an answer. In my usual try at some humor I threw a pile of money on the table,and told her to just take whatever she wanted and save me some time. I was wrong about one thing.... there were actually several guys playing roulette there. Maybe the game will stay. I'm going to try to play some poker there tonight for a while.

Went by there yesterday around 3pm, they still weren't open, but the place looks nice. It has potential. The Horseshoe has a good game starting at 3:30 daily. They have many promotions to get the players in early. I played for an hour and a half and did very well.

I'll probably be back today, unless I can find a good tourney.