www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hey, I know it's early to post a roll-call, but i had to cancel labor day weekend (grumble grumble) so I thought I'd go ahead and set my next trip.

'll bump this thread when the time get closer, but meanwhile for those of you planning around this time AA has some killer deals. just got ORD-SJO for $189 r/t.

If anyone is staying at hotel M during these dates, please be sure to PM me. I'm booking the poker rate and I'll be interested to see how others fare in the interim.

Will be in town Friday the 30th with a newbie. Staying at SL and plan on doing happy hour at the BM. Would be glad to hook up, have some drinks and compare notes.

I will be in town the 27th thru the 3rd, staying at the castillo

Cool I will be in on the 30th with 2 other newbies.... maybe we can run together

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If you can't feel the bottom..then beat up the sides!!

never been to CR but have been to amsterdam many times. thought i might stay at DR since i've read that it is the right place for first-timers. if you guys are going end of november, maybe i would meet up with you. thanks, newyork

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newyork

I'm not exactly a veteran (just 1 trip and 2 cancellations) but I did manage to stay at 3 places when I went out there, and I spent a LOT of time at the DR/BM.

I'm not sure I would want to stay at the del ray. It's convenient as hell, but every night is like running a gauntlet. I can't really comment on the rooms, but I imagine it's a bit chaotic. And, at least for me, it wasn't the sort of place I wanted on my credit card receipt.

Of course I also stayed at the ZB hotel, which sort of blows my previous argument (although at least the ZB isn't listed in trip advisor). I liked it there, but I felt some (self-imposed) pressure to 'get my money's worth'. If the $99 rooms become available, I might try it again.

I think sportsmens is the best all-around place for first-timers. It's big enough that it has it's own bar and restaurant, everyone speaks english, and you can easily hook up with some CRT buddies and head out for fun and games. There is also a pretty consistent (although not huge) flow of talen through the place mid-evening, so it's convenient as well.

I stayed at castillo one night. It was a decent place at a reasonable price. The restaurant next door (the gardens) was actually pretty good in my view, but YMMV. I beleive Amistad (where I was supposed to stay over labor day) will be fairly similar, and both places are within two blocks or so of Sportsmens, which really is a good feature.

Right now I'm set to stay at hotel M on my upcoming trip, which is a tiny chica-friendly super-high-end luxury hotel (and is also the site of regular CRT-invite parties). I'm going with the M because (1) HolaB said it knocked his socks off when he visited, (2) it has a kitchen, a chef, and a great bar with single-malts, (3) all the staff speaks english, and (4) there is a nightly poker game.

I figure the whole point of this excursion is to relax, be comfortable, and do what I want. Since I want to play poker anyway, the $50 rate is an excellent deal for me (and will just about make up for the sure-to-be-uppriced drinks).

Anyway, my two cents. Happy to meet you guys. I get in kind of late on Nov. 28, so if anyone gets in earlier and want's to set up a debachery itenerary for tha evening, let me know.

The back or garden bar, at the Gardens next to the hotel castillo is open at around 2 in the afternoon, If I can break away from ZB or NF, you can find me and my wingman there after 2. Just look for the freaky guys with the long hair.

i'll be in town dec 3-20

Castillo, Sportsmans, Amistadt are all close together, a few minutes walk from either to ZB, NF, BM. I just prefer the Castillo, although I have never stayed at the Amistadt, Might have to check it out this trip

ok, my wingman screwed up and wont be down until a day after me, so anyone around on the 27th, Lets meet up.

Ok, so who is going to be around 11/27 to 12/3? seems like we've got the start of a posse. If anyone is particularly into poker, drop me a line.

I don't think i'm going to bother with the jaco/sailfishing/volcano sidetrip option, but who knows.

Got flight arranged. Now looking for hotel(s). Judging from what I am learning from this board and others the Castillo, Amistad and Sportsmens sound like good places and locations.

Do I just make a reservations say for 2 nights at SL and then play it by ear after that? Or is that too risky trying to get a decent room on the fly? Or too much hassle moving luggage etc? Might be interested in a day or two to the coast, might not.

Any recommendations on just reserving first two days versus making a reservation for all ten days at once??

Got flight arranged. Now looking for hotel(s). Judging from what I am learning from this board and others the Castillo, Amistad and Sportsmens sound like good places and locations.

Do I just make a reservations say for 2 nights at SL and then play it by ear after that? Or is that too risky trying to get a decent room on the fly? Or too much hassle moving luggage etc? Might be interested in a day or two to the coast, might not.

Any recommendations on just reserving first two days versus making a reservation for all ten days at once??

I am looking for a room suite. I will be there Dec 1st through the 5th. Anyone want to charter and fish? Bring chicks on for bj's tell we get fish on?

Would you guys read this: https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16357

You are asking questions that have been answered many many times already.