www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Sounds like Denia's been dealing w/ no shows. I recommend the Tangieri though and would stay there again.

Dude. How was the stay? thinking of booking there.

Well, based on searching for and reading all the posts concerning Jaco Hotels on the board, I've emailed three hotels to see what they can do for me the week of July 2-8. The three hotels' and their emails are: Copa Cabana barbaramac@copacabanahotel.com, Paradise Hotel info@paradisehoteljaco.com, and Canciones Delmar info@cancionesdelmar.com .

We'll see how long it takes them to get back to me. I'm getting in arround 9pm Sunday at the San Jose airport. I'm planning to spend two nights at the Del Rey (they reply to email very quickly) after arrival, and then move on to Jaco. However, I'm wondering if it would be practical to take a shuttle or cab straight to Jaco from the airport at 9 p.m.? Would the cabbie or shuttle balk at the late hour they'd be getting back to San Jose? They probably wouldn't get a return fare at that time of night.

I think it'll be fun to spend a couple of nights at the Del Rey anyway, so I probably will.

I need to be back at the San Jose airport on Saturday at noon, to catch a 2 p.m. flight. Do I need to book Friday night in San Jose, or is it practical to catch a shuttle over from Jaco and really depend on getting to the airport by noon?

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--RexDog--

Well, Canciones del Mar got right back to me. The email bore the owner’s name, but it might have been a staffer that actually sent it.

I've not heard from the others (Copa Cabana, Paradise Hotel), with whom I mentioned CRT VIP membership. I didn't mention CRT VIP with Canciones del Mar, because they don't participate.

Canciones del Mar did send me the annoying form requesting a 50% payment commitment in the event of a no-show. As mentioned by others above, this is negotiable. 50% of the first night seems reasonable to me. The owner is on-site, so there is someone to negotiate with.

By way of comparison, Del Rey in San Jose wants 100% commitment for the first night for a last-minute no-show, but the Del Rey does honor advance cancellations (I forget the detail of how many days in advance is required for "free" cancellation at the Del Rey).

Canciones del Mar offered me $59/night for a one bedroom suite. Photos and descriptions are on their web site. I'm left with the impression that -- relative to US or Bangkok standards -- that this "suite" is at the high end of a normal hotel room and the low end of what one ordinarily would consider a suite. Since it's oceanfront, and since the other oceanfront competitor (Copa Cabana) wants $99/night (per their web site) for a room, the Canciones del Mar seems to be a bargain.

Canciones del Mar and Copa Cabana seem to be equidistant from the Beatle Bar, and so equal on that count. See Jaco map at http://www.cupotico.com/maps/Jaco%20maps.html .

At this point, I'm having second thoughts about going to Jaco in the off season, but Canciones del Mar is high on my list for a high-season visit; Of course the rates will be higher then.

What impressed me the most was Canciones del Mar's arrangement to have a driver waiting for me at the airport with a sign with my name, just like limo drivers. That makes it possible to go straight from the SJO airport to Jaco, if you want to, without booking your first night in town.

Copa Cabana offers a “free” van ride, but the price is obviously built into the nightly rate. So, you pay for it whether you use it or not. What’s this deal with a “30 minute free massage” at Copa Cabana? I’m leery of that. Life has trained me to be cynical about “free” offers and I’d expect some “surprise”.

And, while no one has replied to my post publicly, I thank the several people who sent PMs with valuable details and insights.

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--RexDog--

I stayed at Copa , but didn't inquire about the massage. Does anyone know who would be giving it? There are a couple of girls working there that look pretty good.

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller

Well Paradise got back to me also, but I never heard from Copa Cabanna. Paradise offered a small suite for $85.00 per night, including taxes and guest fees. Backing out the taxes, that's about $73 a night, with no chica fees. I'd inquired about a mid-priced room, saying "not the cheapest and not the most expensive." So, I'm sure they've got something cheaper. FYI.

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--RexDog--

Hey Rexdog, I am working on a trip report but I will give you a preview on this topic. To call the Paradise hotel a dump would be a compliement it looks just awful, and its for sale. The Copacabana and Canciones Del Mar are close but they are down alley like streets with bad housing. The Tangeri is a two minute walk down the main street, located off the main street, with a guarded gate. The guard will check the girl and will lock up her purse. This property also has direct access to the beach. Quality is not great but not much is in Jaco. I would stay here again. Oh yeah no chica fees

That's an excellent deal for Canciones. If I didn't live in Jaco, that is without a doubt where I would stay. The rooms are really nice. The owner is not a friend of mine, I think he is Dutch. But I do know he has an excellent reputation for doing good business.

TheDude and Thirdworld, Canciones it is, then. But, does it make sense to go to Jaco for 3 nights of a 6 night trip July 4th week? I've heard it can get pretty boring there in the rainy season. I'm booked six nights at the Del Rey now, and don't want to give up three days unless I'm sure. My current plan is to do day trips with some of the tours (ATV, volcano, etc.) out of the Del Rey, and I'm sure I can find something to do in the evening .

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--RexDog--

No more than 2 Rexdog, 48 hours is plenty to do canopytours, atv, fishing, and relaxation. Trust me here, I just got back , I loved it but for 2 days only.

The guide books like to make it out like it rains all day everyday in green season. Usually in July the weather in Jaco is similar to where I came from, the Gulf coast during the summer. Usually there is sun most of the day and you can count on that afternoon shower to cool things off. It is possible to get lots of rain, but the summer hasn't usually been bad since I've been here, 7 years.

I think I'll keep the Del Rey room for the duration. I'll head over to Jaco for a day if I find an opportunity to share a shuttle. I can always get a second room if I feel compelled to stay for one night. Jaco is sounding more and more like a separate trip altogether. You think I'd have trouble getting a room for one night with only a Xerox of my passport?

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--RexDog--

I would not try to make the trip there and back in one day. Thats a long journey up and down moutains At least stay one night if you go. Interbus is only $19

Check out the Amapola on the south side of town. They might have great rates in the off season. It is a time share place and they may cut a deal. It is a very really nice place to stay better than the Copa if the rate is right.

The Rojas family(one of the founding families of Jaco) at the Tangeri are very accommodating. I will be down next week and Denia is not charging upfront $$ to me(I have recently adopted this as my central hotel of choice 5/6 times a year). Although I have been by the Amapola several times, I consider this somewhat detached from the action(still only 500 colones away). My guess is that if I pushed the Tangeri, they would offer a better rate-- I got it for $45/day a year ago in the off season