www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Well it is official, me and two of my best friends are heading down to CR for 4 days in Feb. I have been reading a lot of post on here and I think I have narrowed down my hotel options.

My one friend is set on staying in a nice hotel with a pool and pool side bar. I did some research and first I decided on the Holiday Inn, but the pool is indoors , also the hotel gets mixed reviews on this board. Next on the list was the Radisson, but very expensive and it seems the hotel is very chica unfriendly. The only two choices left are the two Best Westerns. It seems the Irazu is a little better than the downtown one, nice casino, and they have a shuttle to downtown. So right now it looks like getting a room at Best Western Irazu is the best bet. Any comments? Is the BW Irazu too far away from downtown and the Gringo Gultch. Anyone taken a girl from out of the Blue Marlin or DR to a hotel this far away?

If I have missed a nice hotel with a pool please let me know.

Thanks for the advice.

Most of the downtown monger freindly hotels don't have pools.Also the climate in San Jose is a bit cool for outdoor pools especially with weather like the last few days.If you really want to monger you might want to look at places with out pools.Just my thoughts and by the way welcome to the board.rbc100

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

Apartotel La Sabana: http://www.apartotel-lasabana.com/
Pool outside, clean, classy, breakfast, chica-friendly, 10 min taxi (except rush hour).

Question Cuban; why do you want an outdoor pool? You're going to freeze your ass off.

Phuck, are these guys coming to San José to swim? What's wrong with this picture?

Damn rookies!

Dildo Man

I am there for one thing and one thing only. It is my friend who has the restrictions, I know next time to plan a solo trip. I guess I am oblivious with the weather in mid Feb. I figured since it was Central America it would be warm, but I just checked the weather, and it is colder in San Jose than it is in Miami!!!.

Thanks for the link to the Apartotel La Sabana, that is a really nice hotel with decent prices.

I think I can sell the no pool idea now, thanks for the advice.

I concur with the previous comment...are those guys going to CR to swim
in a phucking pool?! Get real! Anyway, I've stayed at the BW Irazu about 16 times. The casino sucks. The Dennys restaurant also sucks,
but it is open 24 hours. The rooms are OK, but they are really starting to show their age. I've never heard of their free shuttle to downtown. They
do have free shuttle service TO the airport. They do have a nice bar (La Cantina) with free drinks from 5:00 to 6:00 every night. The bar gets very busy (with many local Ticas and Ticos) on the weekends. A taxi
from there to the Gulch will take about 10 minutes and cost perhaps
$3 or $4. There is no extra charge for 'guests', but only one per day/night is allowed. The bartenders there (Eduardo, Minor and Daniel)
are the hardest working bartenders in CR, and are great guys. The hotel offers a discount if you have a AAA or AARP card.

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

Ok I get it the pool is a bad idea. I will try to plan a day trip to Jaco to lay in the sun or something.

Ok so does anyone know the girl policies for Apartotel La Sabana, or Casa Conde? I tried doing a search for Casa Conde and ony the post where I heard about it came up.

Someone please correct me, but I believe they have free shuttle to Best Western downtown. I am wondering, can someone ask for "parada" if the van approaches Hotel del Rey???

Hey Cuban,

If you end up staying at Best Western Irazu ask if they can provide you a shuttle to Jaco. They have a hotel in Jaco as well.

Dildo Man

As far as I know, the BW Irazu does not have a free shuttle to Jaco.
I've traveled from the Irazu to the BW in Jaco several times, and I've always had to use the Grayline bus service (or a rental car). The bus service only costs about $20.

I've stayed at the Casa Conde, and it is very nice. I would definitely recommend it. It is only a couple years old, so everything in the rooms is new. I stayed in a junior suite
that had a kitchen, a nice entertainment center/armoire, a jacuzzi in the bano, etc. The food is excellent there, and they do have a nice pool.
If you are a CRT member, they offer a discount. It is perhaps a ten minute taxi ride to the Gulch. There is no extra charge for a 'guest', but
only one per day is allowed, and she must sign in/register at the front desk.

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

I concur with gringotim that the Casa Conde is the best value for close to downtown with a pool and outdoor jacuzzi. Big suites for a value price...especially with the CRT discount.

FYI...The Clarion Amon Plaza has a large heated jacuzzi and spa...might serve the need for water sports

Get the master suite at the Presidente and tell your friend he will have his own pool in the room.

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ASTROGLIDE

Laugh, we saw that room on the website and immediately he wanted to book it. Now it goes for $250 a night. I remember last year it was affordable at around $150 a night, although I might have been seeing things back then.

Thanks everyone for the advice, I contacted Nixon at Amon Plaza for rates, so my final list includes Amon Plaza, and Casa Conde, it is up to my friends to make the final decision. Since the trip is only a month other questions will be coming and look for a trip report. First trip report from mongering activities, I ususally write trip reports for when I go to Vegas on other boards.