www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I've spent countless hours reading crt and ISG.I have not found the answer to my first question as of yet so thought I would just ask.

I want to go to cr reallly really bad but,I have never been outside of the U.S.A. and I am both scared and excited.

question 1. how safe is it for a fat middle age gringo to go to cr alone?

I have read the post about the girls drugging the guys and not walking after dark but what about arriving at the airport alone and getting into a taxi to dr or sl?

I am thinking of going in mid september as that is my first available oppertunity

It's safe enough. If you are middle aged then it seems you would have some sort of street sense about you.

A good way to eliminate anxiety is to stay at SL and meet up with potential wingmen. After you take that first sip, all will be good with the world.

Cujo

_________________
"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

A fat middle aged gringo
you just called out a lot of members
If you have done some reading about safety you will be ok
The ride from the airport is safe just use a real taxi or a recomended transit sevice
bueno suerte

Literary genius right there.

If your first trip abroad is worrying you, you should follow “ Jadcujo “ advice. As SL is a great placed to find like minded guys, and also a good place to retreat to if every thing becomes to much to fast for newbie. BUT I will add this, do not hesitate about making a reservation, you need to call early, call do not email – my est 90 plus days out- to get a non-courtyard room. Even if SL is not available both Amistad and Castillo’s ( both are short strolls to SL) and then

Get the VIP map ,

Your post reminded me of my first night alone in Costa Rica. I checked into the Sportsman's Lodge. met some guys and arranged to go with them to the HDR. I had to make a phone call to the US and when I was finished I realized that they had left without me.

I was intimidated and nearly stayed at the SL that night. Then I came to my senses realizing my fear was of the unknown and not rational. I caught a cab to the HDR and caught up with the guys. Never gave it another thought.

Catch a cab to the SL and don't be shy about telling teh guys you meet there that you are new and looking for a little guidance and maybe a wingman. I am there most every night except Sun/Mon starting around 8:00pm. I would be happy to introduce you to some ladies and potential wingmen. Look me up near the pool table. Ask the bartender if Steve is in.

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

My bad amigo. I forgot that was your rookie trip. Hey, you know how we roll, by the seat of our pants sometimes.

I think since then you might know what's going on in CR

Cujo

_________________
"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

No pro'lem!

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

1st step, spring the $39 for a VIP membership. You will save at least the cost of a membership on the first trip. Plus ya get access to the pics, and trust me if that doesn't whet your ahem.

Book a room at SL.
Place to stay, bar , restaurant, and the chicas come to you.
Excellent free tico breakfast, coffee and fruit, toast etc !

You will not need to ever step out the door, except to head back to the airport. If so inclined.

Search "Interbus" on the site.
Saved ya $20 right there.
Average taxi to / from airport is $20/22 each way or more. Interbus is $9.50 each way.

READ READ READ READ CRT
Tampa

wow,thanks for all the replys!

Costa Rica is really really dangerous. If you look at someone the wrong way, frickin lazer beams will shoot from their eyes and cut off your nuts. I'm serious. Don't ever go there. Stay away...

Lets be specific! Pac sits at the SL bar on the left side of the bar about 6 feet from the pool table. For newbies, that is the opposite side of the bar from the glass cigar case. He also brings his own custom pool cue, so take care.

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

It is safe. Taxi versus bus, taxi faster to hotel but a little more than double the cost. Shuttle bus for night arrivals is pretty fast. Staying at SL or Amistad (1 block from SL) is safe. Talk to the guys at SL. I am sure someone will be going to a MP or HDR and would tag along. Since safety is your concern, go with someone until you feel comfortable. What's the worst case? You feel a bit uncomfortable going to a MP or HDR alone. Right outside your room at SL are plenty of beautiful ladies. I could spend the whole week just at SL. I would worry more about the withdrawl you get when you realize this place is actually real. I hope you didn't by a timeshare like I did 5 years ago (no comments, I already know I was an idiot). I am trying to figure out how to get out of it. If anybody has any ideas, please let me know.

_________________
my first wingman sent me this, how true

" most of the girls down here, lie as a self defense mechanism and to not have to face the truth, thinking most men couldn't accept them knowing the whole truth. Simpler, they may just want men to think they are as perfect as they want to appear to them, trying to hide what they consider to be the ugly truth about themselves. And I may be reading more into it than is there, but I do believe they consider the basis of the lies to be justified."

Certainly, to save money, take care of the VIP stuff ahead of time. The cost will be easily absorbed your first trip due to the savings you'll receive with lodging alone.

While the SL is a nice place, so too is La Amistad ( http://www.hotelamistad.com/ ) and Hotel Castillo ( http://www.hotelcastillo.biz/ ). Both have great staff. The discounted room rates at both La Amistad and Castillo are greater by far than the discount at the SL. What is the primary difference between La Amistad and Castillo?: La Amistad has undergone a major and most recent remodel and is more "pimped out" than Castillo. It has a better breakfast too....and the way the "eating area" is structured, you're going to undoubtedly find like minded guys to interact with every morning. Same with Castillo which is great value too....but it's furnishings are a bit older than La Amistad. Nonetheless, it is fine place and excellent value. It will be the least expensive of the three for the basic, standard, room. (I have personally found that having a fridge in your room is great and La Amistad has one in each room along with A/C in each room (which you're not going to be using all that much at all...)....but Castillo has rooms with A/C and fridges too....just not in the standard room. Castillo has a restaurant right on premise; you get a decent discount at the restaurant and the food is quite good. Now, while the restaurant is physically attached to the hotel, it is not operated by they hotel....the space is leased out; that space has a street entry bar and restaurant and then there is a back bar area which is pretty much used mostly by people staying at the hotel.

Now, La Amistad is about to open up it's own bar....sometime this week or next .....and soon thereafter, it's own on premises restaurant.

The difference relative to these bars is that the SL bar is very chica friendly; that is free lancers are welcome to come and hang out and "do business". The bar via Castillo is not....unless the woman is your guest and that shall be the same at La Amsitad. Different vibes is what it is. All three hotels are within spitting distance of each other.

THE main thing to prepare for is when you get out of customs and actually enter Costa Rica. It WILL SEEM to be a bit daunting: A ton of men hawking rides into San Jose; many holding up signs with names on them and every mother's son trying to get you to go with them. If you've pre-established your ride from San Jose to your hotel, just maintain your cool and look for the guy holding a small sign with your name on it. I use InterBus through this booking outfit: http://www.shuttlebus.co.cr/website/sho ... /index.php ($9.50 each way at present) because you can pay for the shuttle via PayPal (you CANNOT do this if you book directly with InterBus....they want a copy of your credit card via fax and their email replies can be spotty. The first outfit is USA based and the email response speedy if not better). They've never let me down....although once or twice I own I did have to go into the throng of hucksters looking for the guy with my name on the sign. This way IS a shuttle service, so there may be other tourists with you and they may very well be going to different hotels, so it's not as direct as a cab.....but the drive with other tourists allows you to calm down; talk a bit; and even rubberneck as the van driver goes his merry way. Keep your eyes opened for landmarks for future reference. It's really no big deal....but it can be intimidating if you let it....particularly for your first trip.

Not to worry.....once you get to your hotel and catch your breath you'll be "getting down" in no time.

Enjoy!

_________________
"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

This I'll have to see to believe Steve. It's been "opening sometime this week or next" for the past year. Not a knock on Matt but just the way things go in CR.