www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I ask because if I can just add everything to my room bill and just pay it with my cc when I checkout, it just means the less cash I have to carry around.

Yes and Yes
Regards, 911 Driver

_________________
The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

So what's the exact procedure? You get a bill and you sign it with your room number or something? Or do you present your room key?

Actually, the first thing to do is find out what room# 911 Driver is staying in and then after that you sign the bill each time with HIS room number. That should work as long as you check out before him and before he has a chance to see all your charges. In fact, that sounds like a great idea. BTW, just curious, what room number are YOU staying in.

@ the bar or restaraunt they will ask you to sign your bill. The last night they close it out and add it to your room charges. I have always done it this way. I don't shout out which room I'm staying in since that could lead to some erroneous charges, but they seem to come from the crew I run with while I'm there, we buy each other rounds and meals and it can get mixed up, but Asta seems to keep it pretty well straight.
Regards, 911 Driver

_________________
The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

Pro,
I resemble that remark
Regards, 911 Driver

_________________
The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

I thought I was the only one who did that!

_________________
mh

Wow, they keep tacking items onto your bill until they close it out on the last night? so i wont really know if there are any discrepancies until checkout time? maybe i have to rethink this.

But thank you for your lightning-quick responses!

Don't worry, I have stayed there and you will have no problem being charged for charges you did not consume. In fact, the best thing about the SL is that there is no phone charges and there drink and food charges are very reasonable considering the chicas available at the bar. My last trip I thought I saw more top level talent at the SL than at the HDR. I would say that from 3-7 pm hang at the SL and then head on over to HDR and Key Largo after 10pm

for my first trip of 4 days/3 nights, i plan on doing pretty much all of my eating at the SL. is their food good enough and varied enough that i won't get sick of it?

Depends, the food IMHO is good at the Sl, however do a little search on food, there are some great places to eat nearby. Besides you will want to get out and see daylight once in awhile.
Regards, 911 Driver

_________________
The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

As you come into the country, you can buy at the Duty free shops comming in and leaving the country. Only place that I know of so get your bottles and smokes at the airport duty free. Last trip Smirnoff vodka was $5 a liter at the airport and cigs $11/12 a carton for example. A pack of cigs is a nice little tip to the chicas ( $2 a pack at the SL bar.

The food at SL is pretty good. Keep in mind that it is a monger friendly hotel, so the food is geared to us. I never had a bad meal there, ymmv. Cafe Mundo is only a block away.Great food but USA prices. Grab a wingman and go to the central market, for lunch. At least a dozen places to get a "local" tico meal/\. And if ya need to buy almost anything that is the place to get it. Try Soda (cafe) Peru also excellent tico food. And yes you can drink the water in San Jose Not that it sounds like you will get outside SJ, all bets are off, if ya get outside the capitol city bottle water only, It IS a 3rd world country.

At the Central Market..........................

1/3 to 1/2 the price of the airport shops, tee shirts, carved wood, leather goods. The only thing I did not see for sale there was cars, I sh*t you knot. BUT shop around, one tee shirt shop on a outside corner is a turrist rip-off. Have fun and spend a couple of hours there. That couple of hours will be well spent. And only offer 1/2 the posted/offered price to start just like the HDR cash talks and bullsh*t walks.
I only speak a tiny bit of spanish, and even I got by ok in the market. At least learn the money, quick and dirty, is if it is 4,000 colons it costs you $8 USD actually a little less than that. Bank rate is about 566 to 1USD
Tampa
READ THE NEWBIES SECTION READ THE..well ya get the idea

Yes I believe if you charged it with your credit card dude

I didn't do it this way the few times I've stayed at SL. I would put drinks and food on my tab, then at the end of the night, I'd close it out and keep note of what my total was. I would also tip in cash even though there's a small percentage added in for service.

SK

While the food at SL is pretty good, the variety (for me) isn't great. You can't eat the chicken burrito (their best item IMO) every day.

And why limit yourself to just one place? There many good (& different) places to eat in SJ.

Some of CRT'ers favorites are:
-Soda Peru (great seafood & soups)
-Esquina de Buenos Aires (steaks)
-Princesa Marina (seafood)
-JR Ribs (guess... )
-Hamburger Factory (another tough one...)
-Cafe Mundo (everything)
-Del Mar Restaurant (everything, great ceviche)