www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This is a hotel for K*ds/young people on a budget. But Steve1 is dead center right as there is much to enjoy even with the lack of fancy stuff. IT IS ALL IN THE INDIVIDUAL'S PERSOANL TASTES.

OK, small $30 dollar room. But service was friendly as anywhere I have been here. It was as clean as it can bee and it could use remodling, but look at the price. It was not as nice as the other places, but I like the cheap beds (mine is foam)

The security is not acceptable to me as I travel with gadgets and goodie like laptops. Nothing has gone wrong, but I like the Hotel room safes at the Amon Plaza and the Sleep INN. But the differenc between $34 and $82.00 AND $123 for one night is quite different.

There are many problems with the Hemingway, but why go into them as all you are paying for here is a place to sleep. If you are going out to the rivers or jungles and have nothing but clothes then why spend for a room you won't use.

The worst thing about the hemingway for me is that you hear it all. Anyone talking near you can wake you up and I can see problems with that. I am listening to a few people in the hall now, but I am, on my way out. More as I experience more.

Again, for $30 this is the place! Also, this makes one feel they are in Costa Rica....third world charm...like Hemingway wrote about.

Are you at The Hemingway now? Must be a lot of room vacancies in San Jose. May as well try out The Castillo, since you're only 100 feet away from it.

Zebra

I too travel with goodies including laptop, iPod, headphones, et. all. Cash is kept to a minimum. I have found the incredible reality that many of the ATM's do not charge a fee of any sort, so I got my cash on a daily basis. I also preferred Scotia Bank.

I had no security issues of any sort at Hemingway. There is a room safe if you choose to use it, but since the laptop wouldn't fit in it, I didn't purchase that feature. I left that laptop open and on a chair for a solid week and it wasn't touched. Nor was anything else.

I'm glad you see the reality of Hemingway. The potential is there just as the savings are real. Turn the lights out....it all looks the same. Earlier, someone had written about bugs: Didn't even see one when I was there let alone have one in the room I had.

Some may find the Hemingway too far from "the action" and that's OK. My idea is to extend the perimeter of what's "safe" and not safe. I liked being able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the del Rey area. In one walk up the calle from Hemingway I just walked into a building and found it was Costa Rica's organization for film makers! There was an open cast audition and I was actually asked to audition as the part called for an older geezer such as I! What a hoot. The Art Gallery across the street from Hemingway was great, too. So was the soda down the street. (it's open Mon----Fri., no weekend).

I'm not a shill for Hemingway....I just like it. Sure, it's needing attention, but it's getting it. The del Rey was a joke to me. It doesn't need attention for the money it costs? Morazon is a 4 star facility? Not to this guy. Oh well, viva la difference!

It has been a long while since I've stayed at Hemmingway, but I do remember that their hot tub is consistently broken. I also saw some dangerously juryrigged electirc hanging over a shower. Still, it might be OK for those who want a cheap, basic accomodation. It is 20 seconds closer to ZB than Castillo

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Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.

had a shower like that rigged in Guatemala before, once I had my hand on the knob, and my foot on the metal drain cover and felt a shock while showering....not comfy. Sort like waterboarding, it doesn't hurt but it's mind torture using them things. For stronger men than I.

Off my radar, anyway. Mgr. Josh is gone and some "business woman" from the USA is there. Will NOT deviate from pricing and insists on chica fees, and essentially scorns "us".

I did drop in there on or about March 1 and in no way, shape, or form is it worth the money to stay there. Hotel Castillo, right next door is far and away a much better place. Much, Much better.

Hemingway Inn at this point is a "no review" joint.....

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

I am glad to hear about the Tica fee at the Hemingway. It was once a very friendly place. I will now avoid it. Can't stand a broad who won't negotiate room rates. I go to Costa Rica to get away from broads like that. Thanks again for the heads up.

Thanks. Business owners/managers come and go... and changes happen rapidly. Follow-up reports like that are much needed and appreciated.

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Blue Devil

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

This is a decent hotel, not overly luxurious, somewhat spartan but it is clean and the outside looks nice. Good place if you can get it below 50

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still going Strong!

My first hotel in SJO was Hemingway. I used to try to stay there but always worked a deal for around $30 a night with no chica fee. Why would I stay there for regular price when I could have just gone next door for $40? But then my connects there left and management wanted me to pay full price... see ya! Glad they are trying to at least fill rooms now and charging about what it's worth.

Any chica fee at $30?