www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Is internet access in Sportmen's Lodge pretty decent throughout all the hotel rooms or are some locations better than others? I've stayed at Amon bunches of times and have noticed that some rooms run smoother than others.

Also--do the rooms have safes large enough to fit a laptop in them?

Thx.

Internet access varies from room to room and from wing to wing. I think it is better in the new wing. I have stayed in several of the rooms in the "Clubhouse" and the internet access there is the spottiest in the hotel.

However, all said, the wireless works at an acceptable level, in my opinion but it has definite room for improvement. YMMV

The safes are NOT big enough for a laptop. It is what I would refer to as the "Standard" size room safe found throughout much of latin america.

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These are just the opinion pages and I am just submitting mine.

Poco a poco la vieja sube el coco.

I had no problems in the new wing in 2 different rooms both upstairs and down. And there is a thread on here somewhere about a laptop cable-lock contraption. I just put mine in my suitcase and closed it up. I realize I rolled the dice and was lucky, but out of sight out of mind works most of the time. Of course...YMMV

I don't be to be smart-mouth about this but if your budget permits, try traveling with a smaller note-book size computer. One of those should fit a safe. With the new TSA confiscation policies you might not want to travel with a laptop with everything on it anyway--just a stripped-down model for "business".

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

What new TSA Confiscation policies????? Can you elaborate on this since it's news to me. Thx.

I would also like to know what the new policies are.

Jazzbo made a similar statement a few weeks ago in another thread and never did explain his basis for the paranoia.
https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=25392

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

I wish the DHS/TSA laptop seizure policies were the product of my fevered imagination; unfortunately these policies are real. In sum, your computer can be seized upon re-entry to the U.S. with no probable cause expressed and no reason given. You also will have any passwords demanded under penalty of law. Google "TSA laptop seizure policies" and read any of the 37,800 references given, including such respected sources as MacObserver and SlashDot, and the DHS itself. I am not a guy to foster the FUD factor (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) and I'm not doing so now.

P. S. to all--I apologize for sounding like a broken record on this subject. It's just this is an important consideration and there obviously wasn't much publicity given it. I would dearly love to be proved wrong--but don't think I will be. There is pending legislation in Congress to more formalize what the DHS/TSA can and can't do with a traveler's personal property but as it stands now, all I've asserted about personal computers is true.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I mean, if you are asked to turn on your laptop, and your desktop has a girl with a mule on it, you might be in some trouble!

Much concern about nothing IMHO, unless of course you have something to hise on your laptop. I am NEVER asked to even turn it on anymore, which actually is a little concerning if you think about it, although it does go through the scanner.

As it was also reported, the seizure policy isn't new, but has always been on the books. Just a bunch of fear-mongering by paranoid types. I've done 14 CR trips and never had my laptop even turned on during the two times I had by bags searched by customs.

I wouldn't think about not taking my laptop to CR. So much better than relying on public computers or internet cafes.

Unless you need to use a computer in your hotel room, the "sweet spot" is a public computer and all your data and programs encased in Virtual Machine on a memory stick--they are availabe up to 16 GB which should be plenty for your useage. Call my attitude "paranoia" if you will but if the Feds can do something, I'm not chancing that they will--not to me leastways.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Before 9/11, they used to require me to turn on my lap top all the time. I must have fit someone’s profile. Even though I flew over 100,000 miles a year, they nearly always gave me a second screening. Since that fateful day in NYC, I have never had to turn on my lap top.

Sometimes you have to wonder why does TSA do what they do?

BUREAUCRACY is perhaps the best answer because much of it defies logic.

There is a new computer form-factor called netbook. Usually about 2-3 Lb's with a 9-10" display and come with built-in WiFi--perfect for the traveler. Look at the Dell Inspiron9 Mini or Asus Eee PC1000h for examples. List prices from $350 with Linux installed to $550 with a version of Windows.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

In the early 90s when I used to go through Hong Kong airport (when it was still in British hands) they always made me take the batteries out of every thing that used a battery.

Guys good topic on the laptops etc for TSA.. but can we make it a separate topic and not hijack the SL Internet topic. Thanks!

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Thank you for supporting CRT!