www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I hesitated to post this review since I like the people at Sportsmens Lodge but I believe it's only fair to be truthful about the places we frequent.

My room (Vista del Sol) at SL was below the President Suite's living room. The sound system in the Presidential Suite is outstanding UNLESS YOU'RE IN THE ROOM BELOW! Then it's a bit much, especially if they're are trying to hear the music over the jacuzzis which are located out on the patio.

Also the "band" could be heard in my room as it was above the bar.

VISTA DEL SOL, is a nice room and I realize that a hotel room price also includes the extras that the hotel has to offer, but, it was somewhat overpriced in my opinion.

It is about 10 ft by 14 ft except for the little alcove where they've placed a small table and 1 chair. The bed is king-size, which is nice, but it takes up about 80% of the room. The furniture (combo chest of drawers with TV rack and night tables) is very nice. The bathroom is nice sized but the shower/tub is almost a hazzard for little people (like me or a chica) to get in and out of safely.

The room comes with a stocked fridge (a nice touch) and digital safe. In 5 days I used 2 bottles of water, a mini of Jack Daniels Red Label and a MAXX. One chica helped herself to a package of Oreos on her way out. I mention this to show that it's not a big priority with me but it is a nice amenity. For $10 that's not a bad deal. Hell, in Vegas the mini JD would have been about $7.

I can't even comment on the TV channels since it was only on for 30 minutes as my date watched a movie while waiting for another couple to get ready to go out.

There was no way to tell how to call the other rooms since they have no room numbers. I dialed '0' to get the front desk but got no answer. I did find out there is a list of telephone numbers available but my room didn't have one.

There was a roach on the wall in the bathroom when I checked in and some sort of microscopic bugs on the bathroom floor from time to time.

There was also an occasional smell coming from the drain between the sink and the toilet.
On the plus side the maids were nice and I always had 4 large towels without even asking. Maybe the 1500c I left each morning helped.
My first morning there they did knock and start to come in around 8:30 even with the "Do Not Disturb" sign on my door.

The high-speed internet access in the hotel was very handy to check my mail.

All of this came to $80 a night plus tax. I may have gotten a CRT discount but I couldn't find it on the bill. Unfortunately I didn't review it until I was at the airport. My bad.

Here is the breakdown for 5 nights (based on 513c = $1):
Room.........................205,456.50 ($400.50)
Restaurante..................20,040.46 ($39.07 - not just breakfasts)
Local Calls (3 or 4)..........3,234.88 ($6.31)
Mini Bar.........................5,130.00 ($10)

I.S. (service tax 10%).....1,983.72 ($3.87)
I.C.T. (tourism tax 3%)...6,163.70 ($12.02)
I.V. (sales tax 13%)......30,089.48 ($58.65)
Total..........................271,895.49 ($530.01)

For $85 (plus tax) I can get a Jr. suite at another downtown hotel which includes a jacuzzi. That price also includes a complete breakfast (which I prefer), not just coffee, orange juice and fruit as is provided at SL.

Also as much as I like the ambiance of the Sportsmens Lobby and bar I don't like having EVERYBODY knowing who you are "entertaining" as you have to go through the bar if you stay in any of the new rooms. It is convenient to have a small cadre of young ladies available right in your own hotel, sort of a small-scale Del Rey without the 24X7 uproar.

Sportsmens Lodge does not have a dress code for "guests" or a 1 chica rule and those do make it a better choice for some but that usually doesn't apply to me.

I did not see Bill in my 5 days but I know from past experience he's a great guy. The girls were all very nice. Unfortunately one evening I was sitting in the lobby (about 10 feet from the bar) waiting for my date to arrive and watching a ball game when she called looking for me after she got off from work. Based on not being able to find me she went home. She said she called the bar and the reception desk. If they made any inquiry as to if I was there I didn't hear them. The "band" might have kept me from hearing their calls. I did receive a note in the message box outside my room but by then I had not only called her but she had arrived from her house.

While the location is much quieter than some, it is more inconvenient to have to take a taxi to get to/from the gulch at night. It also cost me $20 to get to the airport from there. That might have been a mark-up from the driver as the receptionist told me it is usually $15. He was NOT driving the SL van although he is a regular there.

I have the utmost respect for Bill and think he's doing a great job. I wish him all the success but I think the SL may be out of my price/value range.

Did I enjoy my stay at SL? Yes.
Would I stay there again? Not at that price for that room.
I believe $50 would have been more reasonable but then again prices seem to be escalating all over Centro.

Wit

Witling.....good nice fair honest report. Too bad Bill wasn't around so you could express your concerns to him.

Staying at the SL defininitely has many upsides but there are a few kinks that need to be worked out. I am sure Bill will make an effort to fix them.

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GG
"Last time I said no......I misunderstood the question!"

I would have to agree with the above post Wit, I as well stay at SL for ther comardarie of the borotherhood as well as the great treatment of the staff.

I have not stayed in Vista del Sol, but have stayed in Both Mirador at the top of the stairs next to the entrace to the Penthouse as well as Ilusion the 1st door on the left after exiting the bar area.

On both occassions I was awakend from naps by this so called band. I was not happy. Is there a possibility that those glass double doors when entering the new wing can be somehow protected from being left open at all times of the day and night (this does help with the noise a bit), but some kind of soundproofing is definitely in order for the new wing.
Maybe a key card to get past the double doors for HOTEL GUESTS ONLY would be in order, as the girls are constantly locked in the new sections back 2 public bathrooms

I was also there on an evening when the so called band was just standing around shooting pool with a bar full of guests unavailable to use the table if wanted.

Noting that Bill was not around during this time frame as he has been absent quite a bit on my 8 day June trip. It is my belief when you have ownership that is not there on a regular everyday basis, things do not run as smoothly.

I have stayed in several gulch area hotels and the main reason I stay at SL is for the distance from the volume all hours of the night from the Downtown hotels.

Wit, I believe you paid the CRT rate, there is no discount of any kind shown on the bill. The approximate calculation I came up with is $ 89 for the room (Vista del sol is rented at a Junion Suite Rate), less 10% -
$ 80.00 plus 16.39 sales tax, plus 2% hotel tax) is roughly $ 90 per night (CRT rate) Overpriced IMHO, compared to the rates of Castillo, a Jacuzzi suite at the Prez, the normal casino rate at Amon, etc.

I will have to be convinced the above issues will and have been addressed prior to my future stays at the SL.

One small correction. A hotel room has the 13% sales tax applied and then an additional 3% room tax which equals 16.39% effective rate. There is no additional 2% tax.

Example: $100.00 room rate 13% sales tax added = $113.00

$113.00 room rate with tax + 3% room tax added = $116.39

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Deleted

Would have to ask them about that. Maybe it's a monger tax

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

In May, I stayed in one of the $79 rooms.

Here's my bill (per night):

$79 (less 10% CRT discount) = $71.10 rate
Tourism Tax/ICT 3% = $2.13
Sales Tax/IV 13% = $9.24

TOTAL=$82.47 per night

I like to stay at SL, but I'm staying in Castillo ($50 for deluxe) for 8 nights in Aug/Sep because of the cost. That $250 saved will go toward my "entertainment" expense.

Maybe more of us should do this as well. I have spent 21 days at the Castillo for the same rate and have saved probably $600 on my last 4 trips and have been very happy there.

Maybe Bill needs to read this thread and get the prices back in line....

You caught a break

By applying the taxes separately to the base price the effective rate became 15.99% rather than the 16.39%which is normal. Don't tell anyone at SL as they may catch on to the proper procedure

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

How much is a taxi back to the SL or Castillo from the HDR after midnight?

I am glad we are talking about this. I didn't stay there last time, because the prices at the bar, the food prices, the rooms are very high for Costa Rica and very high for the noise level in there and very high considering a lot of other places are cheaper.

It seems we aren't getting much consideration considering the discounted price is still very inflated and yet CRT holds so so so many events there that rack up a ton of $$$$ for the bar and food.

I'll stay there if it is the only place to stay, but I hope I don't have to stay there.

I'm not in my room that much, but when there, I want to get sleep.

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Hankkh,
It depends on the taxi. A legitimate, metered taxi will run about 650¢. One of the rip-off pirate taxis parked in front of HDR want 1,500-2,000¢.

I try to hail a real cab in front of HDR but now with the coalition between the pirate taxistas and the criminals, it's becoming unsafe to do so.

I also stayed in Vista del Sol a few nights last time and my bill was similar, except for one important difference:

Room: Approx $240 for three nights
Restaurant and bar: Approx $75 for that time period
Minibar: I don't know - about $15?

Casually hauling chicas up to your room in your (cheating) ex-novia's place of employment: PRICELESS!!!

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Check out http://weluvlatinas.com/ for the web's best info on the latin american monger lifestyle...

Now that is priceless!

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The several times I've inquired about rooms at the SL all the new rooms were taken and I just could not see paying 70-80-90 bucks for a noisy room with no AC, (but maybe the free music from the band would make up for it.) For the money there are better options elsewhere like the Amon but that's just my preference. So the noise seems to be a problem in the new section too?

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Living well is the best revenge
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