www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Left from Reagan National, AA to Miami (2 1/2 hrs) change planes for SJ (two hour wait expanded to four by mechanical problems, then another 2 Ѕ hours in the air). Total time nine hours, total cost with return US$619 (inclusive). Flight was packed, glad to see the airlines have improved their business model but the days of the US$310 round-trip airfare are probably gone forever. So are the days of finding an extra row to stretch out in.

The security hassle was not as bad as usual – the airport gnomes were giving priority to anyone one with flights departing within an hour – that works well but destroys the rationale for getting there 2 hrs plus prior to the flight. But most people hadn’t learned to game the system yet so it went very well. Wait till everyone starts showing up one hour prior.

With the new restrictions on all carry-on liquids the national low-IQ employment program (aka TSA) has hit overload and was actually letting people thru with less hassle. They did catch the tiny bottle of airline mouthwash I had buried in my carry-on from a long-ago trip in first class (ah, dem was da days). They dealt with this by the simple expedient of dumping the entire contents out, waving the offending bottle at me and then stuffing the mess (less miniscule mouthwash) back into the bag. Re-sorting everything gave me an activity while waiting in the boarding area.

Because of the long wait we arrived at SJ with two other flights resulting in a jam at the baggage area and customs but I got lucky and my bag came off first. Unlike last time no one was passing out notes advising tourists to carry a copy of their passport id page and entry stamp vice the actual passport (still a good idea). Because of the crush immigration/customs was perfunctory; they mostly just stamped the passports and waved us through.

Grabbed an airport taxi and had first hitch, the driver had never heard of the Hotel Castillo. Hemmingway Hotel? Lo siento, no. Fantasia Nuevo? Ah, that he could find so off we went. Took about twenty minutes, cost US$12 plus two buck tip which seemed to be OK with him.

This was my first time at the Castillo which is small, pleasant but VERY basic. It is also very quiet which is a huge plus for me since I like my sleep. "Delux" room approx 15x22 plus small but perfectly adequate bath (tile floor, no closet, clothes chest aka chest-of-drawers w/o mirror, one chair, no desk, small “double bed”, the usual tiny bathroom but with a shower and small tub, nightstands, cable TV (no remote), alarm clock and telephone. Old fashioned room safe w/key, too small to hold a laptop but otherwise OK.

CRT rates were a reasonable US$50 per for a seven night stay, even lower rates are available for an extended stay - US$40). NO CHICA FEE. In fact everyone at the hotel was very friendly. As far as I can tell the clientele is almost exclusively monger which gives us something to BS about, mostly good guys.

Laundry service is c 3000, not sure how its figured but it cost me a total of c 6000 for about five small bags of laundry spread out over a week.

Like everything else the free bkfast is pretty basic, hard boiled eggs, toast, melon, juice and coffee. I usually have the toast and coffee then later drift down to the Central Market for the desyuno completeo (C1100) eggs, cheese, bread, fruit, the inevitable black beans and rice, coffee and/or juice.

There is a free computer available which is more-or-less available, however, the wireless will not net with my laptop, another guy reported the same problem. FWIW spotted a couple of chicas using the hotel computer. After some conversation turns out they are lesbians and the smaller, cuter (fem one) wants to check her email from guys in the states but can't make the system work.

Attached resurant/small bar is, like everything else non-elaborate but the food is OK not great. An extra c 400 to deliver it to the room. No food service after 10 p.m.

Its a basic hotel for your basic monger and my favorita liked it OK so what the hell.

Thanks for the report Stoner.
Will be there in another week.
How was the bar scene there? Any action to speak of?
Later, SB

anyones thought on how they treat guests? Do they frown upon bringing girls or they cool about it? Any information would be nice. Also how far is it from delrey and SL. thanks

There is no problem bringing any chicas or guests into your room. The people at the desk are very friendly and are hip to the program.
It is about a 5 to 10 minute walk to the Delray, however take a cab at night.

Openup
pura vida

I believe it's about half a block to new fantasy and a block to SL.
Location, location, location. I'm
in the air in about 9 horas.
Later, SB

Re: How was the bar scene there? Any action to speak of?


The bar is small and so far as I could tell had very little action or anything I would call a bar scene. I saw one or two working girls in there in seven days and they might have been with somebody for all I knew. Was mostly old guys hanging out waiting for whatever they were waiting for. c 1000 for a Coke which is kinda steep for CR, IMHO. Bartenders are friendly but nothing special in the looks dept. Owner is a grump but has little contact with customers.

Forgot to mention - telephones, major drawback at least for me. The phones in the rooms will not reach a cell, only landline phone. That is a problem since all chicas of my aquaintance have cell phones and none have landlines. A cell phone can call into the room phone but you can't call out to one. Likewise I could not make the local purchase calling cards work from the room. Now, you can go down to the front desk and they are happy to let you use a desk phone which will reach celluars and accept the calling cards but that is a tad public for my taste. FWIW.

I wonder if that's a change from my visit in the spring. Like you, I could not call cell phones directly from the room, but could use a phone card they just happend to have for sale at the desk. That would be a bit annoying since, as you say, cell phone is just about the only way to get in touch with these chicas. What is it with CR and their goofy proprietary cell phone system anyway?

Have to agree with much of what was said; the place is basic and acceptable, but will not stay there again unless there are no other chica friendly hotels available as the place is just too basic. The rooms are about as well furnished as the average college dorm room (albeit from a better school) and the bar is actually Sonny's place that I think Stoner was referring to. There has to be a reason for Sonny's Place, but that is for another post.

Anyway, I believe the owner is a Tico, as most Gringos would offer a little more in terms of breakfast and the furnishings.

The owner of the Castillo is a gringo by the name of Steve. He's a former attorney from Florida. Nice guy. Darren and Art are the manager and asst. manager, respectively.....also great guys to deal with.

The Castillo works fine for me.....everything I need.

As always YMMV,
Zebra

I stayed at the Castillo 3 weeks ago for 7 nights. Basic room for 34 bucks total with cash and CRT discount. I liked the place so much it will be my hotel on future trips.

Berk......

No problems bring girls up here RAH, they don't even give you a second look behind the counter, they just act as if you didn't even have her by your side. Well they do ask her for her ID, however, they know the deal, i've stayed here a few times, great staff, the morning woman is really nice and speaks perfect english, and the night girl is real sweet and speaks perfect english. Then there is a Nica, that works at night, looks more like an indian, he is cool and speaks no english.
Lou

I just finished my fifth stay at the Castillo, and it meets all my needs when in SJ. Castillo is inexpensive relative to other lodging options, chica-friendly, security-conscious, clean with ample rooms, room safe, private bath, free breakfast, telephone and TV. The staff is friendly and efficient. I had a large load of laundry done before checking out last Friday and was impressed when all my shirts came back pressed and on hangars...a first for me in any SJ hotel.

I experienced no problem making calls to cellular phones from my room using an ICE card. I wonder what I did wrong?

For now, Hotel Castillo remains at the top of my shortlist for SJ accommodations. YMMV.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

I have stayed twice. The price is great. There is no dress code. The upper level has a great veiw. You can have as many guest in your room as you want. I had two at one time. No problem. I also had non working guest on two occassions and asked the desk not to do the ID thing out of respect for my visitor. Was told no problem on both occassions. I asked this before they arrived. Darren is straight up. About the ownership I know nothing.

Small, queit, great location, inexpensive. And yes plane! I can tell you I felt alot more comfortable there than I did at Hotel M. We get the CRT discount. So, far I have to say I like The Pres. for all the added stuff. News Cafe, Spa, Exercise room, And lobby type stuff. The Casttillo does not have the spa and exercise stuff. But has everything in attitude of the staff as the pres without some of the rules.

I am staying at ZB in January for three days only. There I doubt if I'd live for 4 days. And it ain't the room that I am staying there for. But I will say I have confidence that Eddie and Eduardo will present good service. But it ain't cheap.

I will stay at the Casttillo in the future also.

_________________
Take a walk on the wild side.

Was at the Hotel Castillo this week for 11 days, great friendly service by all. The ladies in front, Martha, Virginia very helpful in all aspects. The bar down below, a beautiful girl named Alexandra, keeps the bar stools filled. Bringing in girls day or night, never a problem. Kudos to Darren and Art for keeping things as great as they are. First place I would stay at, any time, when in town.

Stayed 2 nights at Castillo the last week in Sept, then for another 2 nights after being in Jaco for 3 days. I found Castillo to be more than satisfactory for $56/night tax in. My only beef (& it's minor) is that the bathroom is a little small. But the staff was very friendly & helpful & as someone above mentioned, don't even blink when you come in with chicas. Will definitely stay there again when I go back in December.