www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Heres the story;

Last year during the Anniv. Party I met Bill at the Sportsmans Lodge. I was staying at the Presidente and he invited me to try the Sportsmans next visit. A few months ago I booked on-line at the SL and received a confirmation number. A few days later I receive an e-mail from Johanna stating that they were sorry but they were overbooked and had not notified their booking site. I then booked a Suite in the new wing of the Presidente.

A few days later Mucho Gusto posts about a room he had room available over the Labor Day weekend for two nights. I responded to his post and he sent Johanna an e-mail with my name. I corresponded with her over the next few days and told her I needed a room for three nights, not two. Her staff eventually responded and told me that she could in fact accomodate me for three nights. I confirmed again about a week prior to Labor day stating that I had a Junior Suite in the new section for three nights. I then cancelled my reservation for a Jr. Suite in the new wing of the Presidente. I CONNFIRMED MY RESERVATION TWO TIMES IN WRITING WITH THE SL PRIOR TO CANCELLING THIS RESERVATION!!


I arrived as scheduled on Sept. 1st and stayed two nights in the El Rey room and enjoyed both evenings. The Sportsmans Lodge is a very cozy bar and good place to meet fellow mongerer's and CRT members. On the day of the Anniv. Party I woke early and chatted with Bill in the morning about the location of a Park I was looking for. He did not mention one thing about my room!

After spending the day walking around town and hanging at the Zona Blue I returned to the Hotel and met up with Ashford Jackson. He mentioned that he had arrived before I got there and found Bill and his wife packing my belongings and moving them out of the room. He told Ashford to tell me that he had moved me to a new room. At first, I thought he was joking but within a minute or two I had confirmed with both Bill and Johanna that they had overbooked my room by accident and had to move me. He actually opened my room safe and took my personal belongings out, put them in a ziplock bag, and moved everything into the room next to the Kitchen. I was really getting pissed at this point! I was in shock that they would screw up my reservation, move me to the shittiest room in their Hotel, AND open my safe without even a word! This was two hours befoe the Anniversary Party started and I was moved out of my room, all my stuff was packed toghether (clean and dirty) in my suitcase!!!!

At this point I had a choice,,, Raise hell and demand that he put me back in the room I had booked or deal with it. I decided to deal with it and went for a walk to cool down. The room they moved me to was completely unacceptable. It was right next to the kitchen, opens to the bar, and run down! I always stay in nice areas, nice rooms, and don't mind paying for it!

I decided to check with the Presidente but they were full. I then walked to the Holiday Inn and they had some newly remodeled rooms available that I actually went up to look at. I have stayed here before and really like the Presidente much better but the situation at the SL was unbearable so I booked a room and returnd to the SL to get my stuff. I was determined to confront Bill and let him know how phucked up this was. Upon arrival I decided to be peacfull and respect the fact that he was hosting a huge event in less than an hour so I quietly pulled him aside and let him know that I wanted to check out and how disaappointed I was with the way this worked out. I questioned him regarding how he and his staff could have such a problem. I also gave him a copy of my confirmation e-mail that I had received less than a week prior to my arrival. He apologized again and offered to drive me to the Holiday Inn. I then packed my stuff, and he drove me over. I told him that I was not going to ruin my trip over this and would return for the party (which I did).

I had a great time at the party, chatted with Bill a few times, and returned to the Holiday Inn.

The next day I ran into a few fellow CRT members who all agreed that this was Bullshit and that I should post my story. A few days after returning home I recieved a call from Mucho Gusto who had heard about the problem and called to apologize for the inconvenience.

Bottom line,,, shit happens in life and you have to respond! My biggest issue was Bill violating my privacy by opening my safe. He had a chance to bring this up early in the morning and surely could have waited for my return,,, I did have a room full of stuff, did he think that I was never going to return?

I have yet to receive any follow up from the SL on their mishandling of my reservation.


Thats the story!


On a better note, with the exception of my issue at the SL, I had a blast and love Costa Rica!

Good report man. I had a very similar negative experience with SL on one occasion. Not with them cancelling my reservation, but they ended up moving me 2-3 times during my trip because they had overbooked. I had booked a full week at one of the new rooms upstairs and somehow I never got past night 1 up there, ended up being in Paz and one of the rooms right by the kitchen.

That followed by the fact everytime I would come back the maid or whoever would have my door wide open but be totally done with my room for the day?? Not to say that theirs a huge security breach or anything but whats stopping someone from walking in and just snatching something and if I locked it on the way out, wouldnt you think I want it locked when I get back?

Oh well, the Presidente has always done good for me

He probably wasn't aware of the situation until later when new guests showed up to check in. But you do have to wonder how a place with what,, 12 rooms can "overbook"? So Ashford got your room? You should have thrown his ass out on the calle.
I've had to switch rooms at the Presidente a few times but always knew in advance, it is a hassle to get moved around like that regardless.

_________________

Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

I wonder if the problem has to do with how
reservations are recorded, i.e. that big Green book.
I had confirmed reservations from 24-30 Sep 2006
in the BUENA VIDA room, but when I arrived that
room was not available. I think I was placed in
the same room as you, right next to the kitchen..yuk..
I showed Johanna my confirmation, as well as my
update confirmation for my ride from the airport.
I could have moved twice to get the room that I
wanted, once the next day to a room next to the
bathrooms, then a couple days later to BUENA VIDA.
I decided to stick it out one night where they put me,
but I went to Amon Plaza and got a room for the
remainder of my trip. I talked to Ruby that evening
when she came to work, since she was the one that
confirmed my reservations, and of course she didn't
know what happened, but that she had put me down
for the BUENA VIDA room. Johanna did arrange a
taxi for me at no cost to Amon Plaza the next day.
I look at it like this, some other hotel is just around
the corner willing to take my money if I'm not happy
where I'm currently at.
At least I didn't end up at Hotel Del Circus...
ShyOne

Sportsmens has 21 rooms.....


Madhatter

El Jefe,

Really sorry to hear that this has happened to you...or to anyone for that matter. This is unacceptable for a hotel staff or owner to go into your room, removing all your belongings and including going into your safe deposit box and actually handle all your valuables (cash, credit cards, passport). You should have been asked to do that yourself. It didn't sound to me like you were moved but you were thrown out of your room.

Is this allowable under CR law to kick a customer out of his/her room without checking with the occupant of the room first and work out an amiable solution? In the US, usually when a room was overbooked, the occupant of that room is not move but the guest who have just arrived was given another room. The arriving guest would not have been inconvenience that much since he/she hasn't unpacked but it is very inconvenience for a guest who's already staying in the room and having all his belonging placed in the comfortable location.

From what I've heard..... that room wasn't overbooked but it was given back to the person who originally made the reservation and then cancel it. El Jefe, you're a better man than I am because I don't know if I could have remain calm and civil as you have done.

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Live today as it was your last day, for tomorrow may never come.

You said what nobody else wanted to say- that he was essentially thrown out because someone who is a "friend" of the hotel wanted to check in.

If someone would have gotten into my safe without my permission, and I don't give a flying phuck who they are, they would have MAJOR problems.

If they overbooked the room, it is managements problems and should not have any effect on the person staying in the room.

If what I read is true and in complete context, they made a major Phuck up.

When traveling, I expect professionalism from the hotel management and there was no excuse for this crap. I may have to have my chica slip on a sweater at the Presidente, but I have faith in the integrity of my security and the security of my posessions.

Hard to believe it happened and hard to believe you choose to remain so cool. Thanks for the info. I am not going back for even a cocktail after hearing that kind of stuff and i'll bad mouth that place every chance I get w this story---best way to do that is to tell his competition. I get at least 20 of my buddies visiting me every winter and began sending them there. Reviews were OK, not great, but now, no way would I send anyone to that jerk.

EJ,


Sorry to hear about this. After hearing nothing but good about SL since the day it opened, this story is a complete turn-around. I've never heard of a hotel moving guests around like this and certainly not emptying their safe. Shuffling customers from room to room like this is disreputable and as for opening the room safe, thats disgraceful.




So MG had booked two nights in that room, you took over his reservation and were then moved to a new room after those two nights? Sounds as if you were not warned that you had to move as the room was booked?

Thanks for posting your story, it's good to know that they are not as reliable and praiseworthy as has been believed up to now.

If I ever go back to SJO, I would have stayed at SL, but not anymore, I stick with the Presidente.

Gentlemen,

First off I offer no excuses for the way El Jefes situation was handled by our staff.
I explained this to El Jefe during my many apologies to him.

When I saw him the morning of the day we needed to move him I was uninformed that he was scheduled to move rooms according to our system (which should not been in the system due to El Jefes confirmation) this is why I personally did not inform him. I moved his items into his new room in the late afternoon after being informed by staff that he was to move but had left for the day and nobody had seen him since. I personally removed and sealed his items from the safe myself. El Jefe did not report any missing items from the safe to me. However I do get the point that this is a breach of personal space for some people.

We have learned as a staff from this incident that communication with guests as they check in about a possible move during their stay informs them so that they can prepare for the move or choose to stay at another hotel at that time.

In our Mission statement we state that we want to provide comfort, fun, a hassle free environment, excellent service and value to our customers. This was not our finest hour. We will continue to strive to improve our property, amenities & customer service daily.

El Jefe I again apologize, you are a fine gentleman and would like to buy you a drink at our Sports Bar next time you are in San Jose.

Best Regards,

Bill Alexander
Sportsmens Lodge

Bill,

Thanks for the reponse. In a perfect world, incidents like this one with El Jefe wouldn't happen, but we all know it's not a perfect world. Sometimes bad things happen, and all we can do is try to make the best of a bad situation and move on.

I've never stayed at the Sportsmen's Lodge, due to loyalty at another nearby establishment. I have visited numerous times though and was quite impressed with the place. I can assure you this incident would have no effect on my decision making process in regard to staying at the Sportsmen's Lodge.

One day, several years ago [??] I wandered into the Sportsmen's Lodge after being told by someone [who obviously didn't know] that it was a new "massage parlor." At this point, you were several months away from your official opening. I met both you and your dad, and you both graciously took me on a tour of your hotel. I was really impressed with this fine hotel and both you and your dad.

Should the occasion come about where I need a place to stay while in San Jose, I wouldn't hesitate to stay at the Sportsmen's Lodge.

Zebra

I have only stayed one night at the SL.

But I did throw a party there that Bill did a great job of hosting for me.

And I have used his staff as drivers. Juan Garcia and Hazel as a Baby sitter for my daughters.

I also liked the 3rd party held there.

It is not the Presedente in presitation. But I beleive it is safe and the staff is trust worthy. But it is not the type of place to have non working guest. Or Ch*ldren. If you want to have that option then I think you should search elsewhere. But if you come to CR to have three chica's in your room and have lesbo shows with chica's screaming and yelling then it is a great spot. With no chica fee.

_________________
Take a walk on the wild side.

An apology and a free drink--hotel manager of the year!

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New here not there

I'm sure Bills apology is heartfelt and most of us understand el Jefes discontent with this situation. I have a feeling that will never happen again there...

At the same time, any of us who know well Sportsmens Lodge would not question the integrity or honesty of the place...even in this "honest" mistake. Nothing was missing and they were probably caught between a rock and a hard place pleasing an incoming guest while hoping the existing guest would understood. There are sometimes circumstances that dont come out in the telling, though not neccessarily in this case.

Personally I wouldnt hesitate to stay at SL. Every business in Costa Rica have had dark moments, bad employees or made mistakes. Its just if they are continuous or malicious that they will affect the long term business.

I feel for both sides of this circumstance...

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All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...