www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Andrea is the blond Cubana. I have an email to a friend who was with her. Nice girl and very sexy. I'll post her name when I get it.

She's brunette now, but yeah.

Hi all, I am new here and have been browsing for a couple of days now.

Hotel Zona Blue sounds great and practical....why walk if you don't have to?

Is Hotel Del Rey more economical?

I looked at the HZB website and the pics were nice, but I see no listing for rates. I think the lead post listed $100.00 per night, but I don't know if that is constant, varies with the season, or type of room. ect...

Also, I would be glad to hear any other pro/con comments on staying at HZB - (yay...using abbrv's).....

Thanks in advance

It is about $195 a night. It's more economical then to stay at HDR except charges at HDR add up also. There are more economical hotels than either like Castillo or even Sportsmens lodge and are very convenient to ZB. ZB is extremely nice though.

Doom;
I will get flamed for this I am sure (bfd), but I would encourage you (if you are going) to stay at the HDR your first night. The room will cost you $80-100 (plus tax) and each girl you bring to your room will run you $10 extra to the house. The casino (for gambiling purposes) is a hustle and I would not encourage you to play there. But the Blue marlin Bar (right off the casino) is something unlike anything you may have ever seen.
The next day, after you have seen all the wildness and stayed at (IMHO) the biggest brothel in Central America (the HDR), move on over to the Clarion Amon Plaza. But first pay the $39 to become a VIP, and then book the Clarion through Nixon. Or try the Sportmen's Lodge. No casino but excellent service and a lot of fellow enthusiasts. Plus good food and a Golden Tee Machine. Either place is very convenient to ZB and NF.
Having said that, if you are like QBF (or many of our other members) and are a sexual all-star who plans on many daily session (often involving multiple girls) then stay at HZB. I personally have been wrestling with this issue the past couple days, as I am bringing two buddies on their virgin trip to CR next spring. I intially thought (space permitting) that HZB would be ideal, but after some thought decided their first night should be at the HDR. Then off to the shore for a day of fishing or two, with a final night in SJO at the Sportmens or the Clarion.
Keep in mind as you plan your trip that HZB is not very large and sells oout fast. The Sportmens as well, especially on popular weekends. HDR is also popular too, and there are only so many rooms available for CRT VIP's at the Clarion (discounted and chicka fee waived).
So do your research, plan and book a trip, and have a blast.

With the exception of staying at HDR, this is all sage advise.

I'm not a fan of HDR. Rooms are overpriced, loud, and I can't stand paying a chica fee.

Thank you, Mr. Fox. If I ever get hooked on Viagra or Cialis like I am Miller Lite, Camel Lites, and ....
Let's just say then I may be ready for a stay at HZB. If I were not coming with those 2 newbies in the Spring I would strongly consider staying at HZB one of my next two trips.

This is definitely a YMMV situation.

Some people love the HDR/BM, and some don't. But I'd be willing to bet - that if you did a poll for 1st timer's in the gulch - that the majority of people would recommend staying in the belly of the beast - HOTEL DEL REY. Granted, after you've been to SJO a number of times, the "shine" of the HDR eventually wears off, and you come to realize many other options.

BUT FOR A NEWBIE ??????? IMHO............. HANDS DOWN - STAY AT THE HDR!!! You can stay somewhere else on subsequent trips. But on your 1st trip to SJO, you'll be so overwhelmed by staying at "ground zero", that you're not going to be bothered by loud rooms or $10 chica fees.

Just my dos colones.....

Mucho Gusto

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

My first trip I stayed at SL and HZB...

If we're talking "belly of the beast", I don't think you can get better than staying IN a brothel...


I admit, staying at HDR is an experience not to be missed (although I am glad I have), but I think you can get caught up in the expensive pu*sy, and the huge crowds...

HDR and BM, are for foreigners who come down who've never seen anything like it, and are amazed.

I'd rather go down and not pay cien, 80, or even 60, and have a phucking GREAT TIME.


I'm a firm believer in this joke:
young bull saying to an old bull, "Look at the all the cows, Pop. Let's run down the pasture and Phuck one." And the old bull said, "Let's walk down the pasture, son, and Phuck them all."

Interesting that this subject came about...

OK so I started this thread and it was about my first trip to CR. It was just a two-night deal. I stayed at the HDR one night and the HZB the next.

I stayed at the DR the first night because I got in late (after ZB closed), and I didn't see the point in going to ZB if I couldn't take advantage of the $20 sessions. Like I said before, I would not change my decision in an instant. Staying at HDR was a mistake. The rooms were old and crappy, like you'd expect in a major Central American country. At the HZB, the rooms were awesome. Reminded me of my last vacation to an all-inclusive fancy pants $600 a night resort. They're literally that good.

Also, keep in mind that the Del Rey is about a 3 minute walk or a $1.00 taxi ride from the ZB. So by all means go visit the DR, but do not stay there.

IMHO

First trip? You are way ahead of the game since you joined this site... Asking questions, doing your research, and making a plan of action set you far ahead of almost all newbies...

The HDR is HO House on Steroids... With 80-100 putas available for SF&D, it's 24/7 sexo... You will certainly end up at the HDR a few times a day and you should... But, I would personally not stay at the Del Rey since the rooms look dirty and dumpy and cost the same or more as SL, Clarion, or Presidente... Plus the HDR has a tica fee of $10.per... It's a great place to pick out your chica for the hour(s), but you need a break from the action sometime....

Hotel ZB would be nice to visit as an MP and take your choice among a dozen or more girls... Like any MP, the talent can be spotty depending on who is there when you're ready for playtime... I would not limit myself to just one place for poosie though, but you could always try one night there just for variety...

Whatever your choice, how about sharing your experience with a trip report and photos... We'd love to hear about your first trip...

You guys have given me a lot to think about.

I will research the options. I am planning my 1st trip for fall of '08, unless I can somehow make it happen February-March.

Thanks for all the info! Before I stumbled across this site, I had no clue where to begin.

The HDR is HO House on Steroids... With 80-100 putas available for SF&D, it's 24/7 sexo.(well said tony TC) The DR is the reason i go to CR in the first place.A newbie has to stay there at least for part of his trip (even if just for one night)The rooms ofcourse is not why anyone would stay there because they are average at best but the convenience for a newbie can not be overlooked!

Having stayed in several hotels over the past few years I can tell you that for a first timer , you should definately stay at HDR. If the "hotel experience" is more important to you than hot babes then stay at another hotel. If you stay at HDR try to get a room on the 4th - 6th floor..the higher the better. Alot of people comment on this hotel while admitting that they have never stayed there. You should get your advice from the guys who have. In numerous stays I have only been bothered by noise on one occasion. Some loud drunk gambling at 7am and screaming at the top of his lungs every 5 minutes. The rooms are NOT dirty. They are as clean as any other rooms I have stayed in. The staff has gotten a bad rap there mainly from people who think they should be recognized simply for mongering in the lobby..lmao! Sorry but I find that both funny and ridiculous. Most regular guests of the hotel ARE recognized by the staff and treated extremely well. When I call the front desk for something it is always handled immediately. A $10 chica fee in the place that houses the party is not much to ask. You avoid the hassle of having walk or ride somewhere else and the usual riff-raff along the way. You also have a little more bargaining power when you don't take the chica away from the office. One more thing... there is a hefty charge for ordering food in the room. Better off eating downstairs, across the street or somewhere else.

_________________
"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller

I have to agree with many of my fellow CRT's that for your first trip to CR the DR is the place to be. Granted, it's not a 4 star hotel, or even 3 star, but the experience can be enjoyable, non the less. To be right in the middle of the action is great. I know they have lots of up charges and they get away with it because they can. It's like staying at Disney World at Cinderella's castle. You pay extra for being there. If your a backpacker, there are other places to stay.

Because I have been there several times I prefer other places to stay like the Presidente. There your right by the DR and it's much nicer. Yes, there are restrictions, but no upcharges. The Sportmen's Lodge is getting to be like a little DR but is not in walking distance to much. Next trip I'm going to try to spend more time there.

My favorite place is HZB, very classy hotel, hot sexy girls, but after 8pm the place gets pretty quiet. You have to take a taxi to go anywhere. Right now the hotel only has a few rooms and those get grabbed up fast. So book far in advance of your trip.

For people traveling to CR for the 1st time, remember to relax. The hotels, resturants, bars, all work at TICO time. They will get to you, you will be happy, but don't plan to hurry. I have seen too many Gringo's at the BM complaining about how long it takes to get a drink. They start complaining and then nobody wants to be around them. So, stop, smile, look at the pretty women and enjoy.