www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Let's just say El Ciego is short of ca$h. Maybe looking for the low-priced option for accomodations. Please, no Hotel Asia or Nuevo Johnson discussions; these two places have been covered ad nauseum.

Does anybody have information about any of the following places? Also, does anyone know of a website that lists hotels usually only patronized by ticos or visiting Centroamericanos? TIA.

* Hotel Rex

* Hotel Doral

* Hotel Musoc

* Gran Hotel Centroamericano

* Royal Dutch

* Any others?

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

In all honesty, why not the Castillo? It's cheap with the cash rate.

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[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

Actually a good idea, Spanky. I won two nights in their Master suite at the last CRT anniversary party...I could parlay that with some cash and get overall, a cheap alternative.

However, there is a certain lure to stay at an out-of-the-way hotel that is not traditionally a monger spot. For one thing, working girls (I am told) often camp at these places.

And, I'm curious to hear from anyone who has actually stayed in any of these places.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I stayed at Doral a couple of years back and posted on it as I recall. It is a very decent local hotel just a couple of blocks from Mercado Central. As I recall rates were $26 no breakfast or $29 with breakfast. I might be able locate contact info if interested.rbc100

The royal Dutch isn't cheap, I think it's 40 a night.

Have any of you guys tried living in a hostel and trying to monger while staying at a hostel?

I stayed in a hostel in Jaco the first time in CR. If your in the shared accomodations to bring a Tica back is out. If seperate accomodations are avaliable then maybe. But not sure if hostels are Chica friendly. I was in a shared area so I did not even try.

Guess if you use the mps and short time rooms then this would be doable. The Pangea Hostal is 3 doors over from Muses Mp. Shared area is about $9 and room with bathroom $24.

For me hostals and mongering are not for me.

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CRTB

Nothing like stuffin tica muffin.........
Thai... Phili.... Viet....
Oh what the hell ever.......

Im staying at hostel Marrurcos at 26 per nite. Brought back a chica no problemas.
I have ny own room and a hallway shower next door, very nice, very secure.

dutch

I will be there till the 4th jan

I stayed at the Royal Dutch casino and hotel a few years back and it was so bad, I checked out as soon as the Presidente had a vacancy.
It was bad as follows:
The elevator worked only some times. Otherwise it was a stair climb.
No breakfast or even coffee.
Off and on hot water.
AC did not work in my friends room even after he moved twice.
They wanted to charge my credit card $350 upon check in even though my bill was $39 a night for five nights. I had to pay cash in advance each day.
No security or desk reception area.
Noisy as hell all night long. They have an all night disco on the 2nd floor.

I have friend who likes the Hotel Europa, but I have not stayed there.

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

How's the disco on the 2nd floor?

Our sponsor the inca real next door to the Amon plaza is 40.00 per night with no Tica fee. And of Course the Castillo where I stay has cash 38.00 Crt discount rates.

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Take a walk on the wild side.

Great feedback, all...

Royal Dutch, Inca Real and Castillo are all options, of course... as is the downtown Europa ($70.00/night last I checked).

No, what I was looking for was more cultural immersion and a price under $30.00/night. Again, this is mostly posted here for the sake of discussion and sharing of information.

Somebody told me that there's a hotel on the opposite end of the block from the KL (west side of block, calle 7?) called Hotel Rex. Supposed to be $10.00/night for a room with shared bath, or $18.00/night for a room with private bath. However, I haven't been able to find anything about it either here or by doing a search on Google.

Another hotel I see frequently mentioned is the Gran Hotel Centroamericano. A hotel list for ticos (which I now cannot locate) showed it as a 66 room hotel but gave little extra info.

Thanks again for replying to this topic. Much appreciated.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

El C,

There is a place called Hotel Alameda which is down at the far east end of Paseo Colon that I used to stay at when I was only in SJ for a night or two before embarking onward to Nicaragua or other points north. The first time I satayed there they charged me $12.00 a night, and from then on they only charged me $10.00. The rooms have private baths and carpeting, but they also have a slight smell of mildew. I brought girls back there a couple of times and each time the guy at the desk asked me for an additional 1,000 colones. No big deal.

I don't know if it is a place that I would necessarily recommend, but it was more than sufficient for what I needed at the time.

Sandino. I am curious as to the location of the Alameda, Seems like I may have seen it somtime when in the area but do not recall where. I might want to check it out.rbc100

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In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

Try picking up a Costa Rica Handbook. I bought one years ago and I guess they are called Moon Handbooks now. Mine has a hotel breakdown by city and then the categories shoestring, budget, moderate, expensive, and premium. The author is Chris baker. You may need to call to get updated prices. You can browse at Barnes and Nobel if you don't want to purchase it.

Also don't be afraid to ask for a lower price. Places like SL fill up easily so don't expect a bargain. However I used to pay $45 for the $60 rooms at the Presidente just for asking. I thought I paid $30 at Inca Real when they first opened. If a place isn't all booked up they may be willing to knock a few bucks off.

RBC,

Hotel Alameda is on the northwest corner of Avenida Central and Calle 12 (one block east of the big Panasonic billboard at the end of Paseo Colon). It is hotel for Ticos, but for an experienced budget traveler it is a great option at only $10.00 a night. Another benefit is that for only 300 colones you can take the red bus from the airport to the San Jose terminal, which is only one block south of the hotel. It is also only about a four block walk to the TransNica/Deldu terminal if you are planning on traveling north through Central America.