www.CostaRicaTicas.com

First of all let me say I stayed at the Sportsmans Lodge a few weeks ago and it was a far better experience than the Presidente and the Delrey.

Staff- Bill (The owner) and his staff are extremely professional and make you feel more like you are staying with a friend rather than at a hotel.

Rooms- The rooms are comfortable and quite.

Working girls- are attractive and friendly and not all of the continuous pressure like the Delrey.

Bar is great to hang out in. The food is outstanding and there are plenty of nice TVs to watch sporting events. (Bill does show a lot of the pay preview stuff).

I travel a lot with business and stay in hotels at least once a week (Hilton, Marriott...). The SL is a very nice hotel and just a couple of blocks away from all of the craziness so you can get some rest and recuperation time after a long day or night.

More importantly, when you are in another country and are unfamiliar with the area it is imperative you have someone you can trust for help and advice. Bill and his staff at the SL are reliable and will go out of their way to assist you. This is as they say= priceless!!!!!!!!!!!

First, I want to express my deep appreciation to Bill Alexander, his lovely novia Karina, Ray and Wanda behind the front desk, the wonderful bartenders - warm and friendly Margie, mischievous Heidi, vivacious Patricia, and of course, the beautiful and sweet Violeta (my fav) - and the entire maintenance and service staff for making my stay there completely enjoyable and memorable.

The hotel is a beautiful older building with great character, rooms are comfortable and well-appointed, and the courtyard and bar area are lovely and very comfortable to hang out in. Moreover, Bill is a great host who will go out of his way to meet your needs. The place is also becoming more popular with the local working girls - saving you the hassle of a trip to the Blue Marlin if so inclined (more details in my upcoming trip report).

Nowhere is perfect of course, and in the interests of full disclosure I will mention a couple of things. I wouldn't want them to change a thing about the courtyard, however, with all the hard surfaces, sound is amplified, and can be a little intrusive when trying to catch a midday nap in your room. Also, the hotel remains largely unknown to most of the chicas and taxi drivers, and if you come back after the bar has closed up, it may look a little dark and forbidding to them. If private sessions with Blue Marlin girls are your primary objective, this may not be your best option.

But these quibbles pale in comparison to the numerous positives. How many places that you've ever stayed at make you feel like you have a home away from home? This is that kind of place.

Carry a Sportsman's Lodge card with you. It has a map and directions on the back. As far as private sessions with Blue Marlin girls, I brought one back after SL closing time almost every night and never had the least problem with them balking at the darkened doorway. Trust me, this is not a factor.

do any of you hunt at SL and take your prey to your respective lair or is this frowned on?
just want to know the rules.