www.CostaRicaTicas.com

ya left out the arrroz with breakfast, Pro.....the arroz.....Castillo always has rice and beans....and if you just want white rice, they'll do that for you as well

also, I have never noticed the slippery area previously noted, either......one thing....is that there really is no "curbing" to speak about, so if you're exiting a taxi to and from Castillo....WATCH that first step as you exit the cab on the sidewalk side, or you're probably going to twist your ankle.....but that's pretty typical throughout San Jose....

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"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

Yeah, I left out their so-called "gallo pinto", because IMHO the warmed over rice and beans that they serve barely passes for it. Again IMHO, and with all due respect to the Castillo, which I consider an otherwise wonderful place, what they serve as breakfast could hardly be called a great meal. Like I've already said about the place, this is really my only complaint and one that is easily remedied if you want something better by taking a simple walk a block or two away to any number of places that serve great tico breakfasts for just a couple of bucks (La Criollita is just one example). Besides, even with paying extra for breakfast someplace else, your total daily cost at the Castillo will still be much less than you'd pay at most other hotels with fancier breakfast offerings.

I CONCUR, Prolijo (I hump my own food supplies...including butter (margarina is 1 molecule short of being plastic); my bread is 100% organic, freshly made whole wheat, brought in in my suit case; my peanut butter.....100% organic, crunchy....yeah, it's salted;, blah, blah, blah. Cut costs at all costs; like to count the dinero, not spend it..... New beds would be a major plus, though.....and I mean inner spring mattresses at the bare minimum.....not cheapass foam....

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"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

Steven1

You have used that term several times in this forum as well as personally to me at a La Amistad Breakfast :"You rather count your money than spend it" I disagree, I think it is more fun to spend money than to count it" But as your boy Muddy once said, "You can't spend what you don't got"!

I am here now in 16. The replies here and on other hotels breakfasts on Tripadvisor are confusing to me. Breakfast is fine here. The coffee is great, toast, pineapple, melon, juice are just that. The rice and boiled eggs are just that also. Would even be worth a couple bucks. To those of you who sent advice on this place many thanks

If you like it, more power to you. Buen provecho!

[quote="Prolijo"] You can nearly always strike up a conversation with someone at breakfast, and there is often at least a few people hanging around the bar at night (though it closes very early). quote]

I used to stay at the Castile a few years ago. The bar was full of friendly people and girls. It was the most fun bar that I ever experienced. I felt like I was in the middle of the old TV show "Cheers".
After the bar ownership changed and they banned working chicas, the bar became dead. I walk by and miss the "old days". It amazes me that the bar ownership doesn't realize how much money they are losing by their policies and attitude.

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Pura Vida

When I first came down I would stay at Barcelo Rincon De Valle. Bout 68.50 US per night 15 chica fee. Their breakfast included the cook preparing an egg to your liking. milk, juice, papaya, watermelon, toast, bagels? Cereal. That was about it! Castillo has watermelon, yellow mellon, green melon, bananana, mango, papaya, Tang, Powdered Milk, hardboiled eggs, gallo pinto, toast! I have seen the staff start preparing the gallopinto as early as 6:30 a.m. I dont have an opinion on how good their pinto is however, I have had gallo pinto in various sodas and restaurants throughout Costa Rica. There is really only about one or a few variations of it that I have seen. Theirs is comparable to most that I have eaten. It is not the most specatculur dish. I would not judge the Hotel based on their gallo pinto!

With or without red bellpepper is the only variation that I know of so far? Maybe some of yous guys know others?

Looking at some of yous guy you prolly should be skipping breakfast and going for a jog instead!


fiddy

Jimmy413 glad you are enjoying your stay! No. 16? Cant remember where it is, but im sure that it is all good. say hello to Marta will ya!


fitty

#16 is courtyard right across from the tropical fish tank

I agree that even, at the best of times, Gallo Pinto is not the most spectacular dish out there. And its not so much about the variations of Gallo Pinto out there. Its more about the qualitative differences, freshness of the ingredients, balance of seasonings, etc. Over the years I've had good, so-so, and disappointing Gallo Pinto at a wide variety of places in CR and have become enough of a connosieur to appreciate those qualitative differences from one place to the next and so can tell you that the Castillo's offering is even less spectacular than most other places. But I also agree with you that it would be crazy to judge a place based solely on its Gallo Pinto. Actually, when I was complaining about the Castillo breakfasts I was thinking as much about their only having cold hard-boiled eggs rather than an offering fresh cooked eggs in a greater variety of ways. But, whether you share my opinion about their breakfasts as a WHOLE or not, and even if you factor that into your assessment of the Castillo as a WHOLE, you should have noticed that I've ALSO been saying ALL ALONG that at worst it is just a MINOR shortcoming, is FAR from being a deal-breaker for me and therefore should NOT be a dealbreaker for anyone else either.

Jimmy tell everyone RED said hello. Even Terresa the maid. If you can, give her a kiss from me. Good luck

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Take a walk on the wild side.

Zunbake3:

Kindly excuse the delayed response and explanation which I provide via the infamous words of Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford and first recorded by one Barret Strong:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oNrreaCeDY

Once, I too *thought* I enjoyed a great deal the spending of money. However, I found the practice to be nowhere near as fun as COUNTING IT.....so I now spend what I need to, but in a most judicious fashion..... I now COUNT IT with RECKLESS ABANDON!

_________________
"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

Very well Steven1, perhaps I should end it with Sylvester Stewart's Axiom "Different Strokes for Different Folks!!

Hmmm... all this talk about the free breakfast but no mention of the full American breakfast for $4 available from La Palmas. Two eggs(any style), sausage, bacon, toast and melon. Very good for the price. They also have a variety of omelets available. As far as the Castillo goes, it's the best place for location and price. Great staff and clean rooms.

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"Guess what?! I've got a fever, and the only prescription... is more cowbell!"
Christopher Walken