www.CostaRicaTicas.com

well i wasn't really considering this guy could be an ass clown, but that sort of makes sense. yes matt has a train problem and no i will not need to look for another hotel in san jose because of it. he has treated me like a king for years.
thats not to say i wouldn't stay at another hotel but the huge pecentage of good things going on at amistad can not be outweighed by one negative. its your choice how big of deal you want to make it.

Granted, it is a really big stretch to say someone is getting a discount on their room in exchange for promoting a hotel rather than simply being a super regular customer, however, whatever the reason for any discount, the fact remains the same that such a discount probably does introduce at least some bias into one's attitudes towards that hotel.

Whenever one reads ANY review, whether its for a hotel, a restaurant or even a chica, it is important to be fully informed of that reviewer's particular situation, so that one can judge how well that review might apply to their own. It is not unreasonable to expect a frequent and reliable customer will be treated much differently than the less frequent or even first time one, both in terms of price AND service, and that in turn will color their attitude back towards that establishment or service provider.

Does that reviewer stay in the same sort of room that the average reader would be staying in or does he get an upgrade? Does the reviewer pay the same rate as that reader would pay? Does the reviewer's frequent visits and greater familiarity with hotel staff result in being treated with greater care and attention than just some schmoe showing up for the first time? And would the reviewer would be so willing to overlook or downplay the hotel's shortcomings if he was paying the higher rate that the one week per year schmoe has to pay?

These questions and others are all valid questions. Your opinion may be honest, but is it subconsciously biased and is it even really relevant to what much less regular visitors can expect?

And finally there are other aspects alluded to by others. Is the reviewer a light sleeper? Does he sleep in or rise early? And how does that differ from the reader of the review? Personally, I always stay at the Castillo which is a couple of blocks further away from the train than even the SL, though nearly as close to it as the Amistad and certainly a little closer to the HDR/BM. One can hear the train even from there though it certainly isn't loud enough there to rouse any but the very lightest sleepers. However, I can only imagine how loud it must be from 30 feet away rather than 3 blocks.

Speaking objectively, if the impact of the train really is severe enough to cause the building to shake, be heard through earplugs and make conversations temporarily impossible, as some posters have described, then it is hard to reconcile that with the claims of others that the train noise is nothing but a minor annoyance. Sure, some people may be really deep sleepers and can just turn over and go back to a drowsy sleep, but with the schedule running as regularly as every 15-30 minutes in the morning, there goes a lot of your REM sleep and when you do rise you're not going to be as fully rested. And even if they're "early risers" (how many mongers are in bed SLEEPING by midnight while in CR), they have to get up really early not to be disturbed by trains that start blowing their horns at 6AM. And then, once they're up, I can't believe anyone likes having their peaceful breakfast interrupted by noises loud enough to interrupt conversations. Some guys may be willing to PUT UP with this sort of thing because they're getting a really good rate on their room or because they've developed loyalty to the hotel and its management over the course of many stays there (much of which like those TA reviews probably predated the trains), however for those just considering this hotel now for the first time its not like there aren't other hotel choices with similar rates as they can acheive at the Amistad but without these drawbacks.

I'm a "regular" schmoe. But I can't give you my recommendation, because I get cheap rates at La Amistad for shilling. Boy oh boy... them SL boys are shameless, huh ?!??!?!?!?!?!

But if you want a nickel's worth of free advice ? Stay away from SL and La Amistad. After reading all your posts, IMO the Nuevo Johnson seems like it would be a perfect fit for you.

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

WP, you care to explain this comment and it's relativity to your post

I am a regular schmoe who likes the penthouse rooms at LA. I equate the train noise along with the other minor inconveinces that are a part of life in Costa Rica. The street noise at the Presidente is much worse than the train as it is constant. The SL to is to frathouse for me, I don't care to sleep in a brothel. This is why we all have options.

Exactly, and I do mean Exactly, what I was thinking.


PURA VIDA!

_________________
Livin' & Lovin' in Key Largo....oh....And the one in The Keys, too!

What the heck. Please stay at the SL. The occupancy rate is too high at La Amistad.

_________________
Hit them fast, Hit them hard and NEXT!
A good chica is like a good carpenter - No wood gets wasted!!!

Except the part about sleeping in a brothel......I don't mind that

PURA VIDA!

_________________
Livin' & Lovin' in Key Largo....oh....And the one in The Keys, too!

CC
I think you would sleep in a dumpster if it had a good location and chicas near by

NH

This is DIRECTLY FROM MGT of La Amistad

_________________
Thank you for supporting CRT!

I'm not sure why this issue necessitated 2 seperate threads. The upshot is, yes, the noise is a serious issue for some. For others all the other wonderful positives more than make up for the shortcoming in this one area. And, in any event, being the well managed placed that it is, management is well aware of the problem and is doing everything possible to alleviate it. Personally, I wish Matt nothing but success in his efforts as his hotel has been a very positive force in the neighborhood and a wonderful resource for many of us. Hopefully, something will be able to be done about this and it will once again become a non-issue.

I think you should talk to "westpalm" about that....


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"...

Wouldn't be a problem for me, but I can see it being a serious issue for most. I sleep with the TV on all night so noise doesn't bother me. I hope it works out for them though. Never met Matt, but like his style of doing business. From his posts on here addressing issues, he seems to be a straight shooter. Doesn't make excuses. Good luck...

We supply nice earplugs to all rooms, Matt may want to start doing this to help mitigate the noise.

BKTUNA
I amnever going home

For real? The moment Matt hands me a set of ear plugs, is the moment I will be looking to stay someplace else. I did not know the Dunn Inn had a noise problem.

_________________
Hit them fast, Hit them hard and NEXT!
A good chica is like a good carpenter - No wood gets wasted!!!