www.CostaRicaTicas.com

All of the hotels you mention are fine and Jazz gave you a nice differentiation between them. I have stayed at the Castillo 2-3 times and like the rooms, but hate (and I mean hate) the sucky restaurant including and in particular their super lame continental breakfast, which to me seems like management wants to give you motivation to order a "off the menu" breakfast.

I would book the Dunn Inn, if construction is complete, if not have them book you in a quiet area. for the following reasons:
1) The staff is particularly well managed and as responsive as you would expect at a good hotel in the states. The maids, the front desk staff, the restaurant employees, even Boyd(J/K) provide excellent service.
2) The continental breakfast is actually pretty good and you can augment it with off the menu items
3) The Happy Hour is every day and I believe it if from 4-6 or 7 (2X1)
4) The superior rooms have flat screen TVs.

I have not stayed at the Amistad, but will try it for a few days next trip down.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

From my reading of the board, the Castillo seems to be a more of a "rustic" place, with lots of variability in the quality of the rooms and few few modern amenities; some of the rooms apparently meet today's standards, but the whole place really needs a total renovation like that which the Amistad and Dunn Inn have done. I stayed at the Dunn Inn in March, and the new rooms there have to be the best value in their price range. Awesome high-quality beds, 32" flat-screen TV's, modern remote-control AC and bathroom fixtures, and a lock on the mini-bar/fridge. I was in a standad room (#21) and it had a small desk and a huge mirror on one wall. The CRT rate was $50 a night, tax included--what a deal! I only went to HLH for my fun so the smaller size was fine for me, no need to pay more.

Thanks, again guys!! I hope Ive also helped some others with the comparison here.

I've decided to book the Queen size Deluxe room from Feb. 9 and checking out Feb 16 ( 7 nights). Boyd quoted $60 after CRT discount and taxes. Perhaps it's a waste spending
$10 more than the standard room. I'm not sure. I suppose it depends on the Deluxe room quality, as apparently the rooms are all different. Maybe I can change to a standard room if I
discover upon arrival it's overkill. I guess I'd rather spend $10 more at the outset with no prior experiencing the rooms than be wishing for 7 days that I'd booked a larger room!
I'll report back and no doubt be in touch on this board. You've all been sooooo helpful, and I appreciate it.
Please let me know of you are there during my stay and leers tip a few and have some fun with the ticas!!

R

The Dunn Inn's standard rooms have a full-size bed, while the deluxe ones have a queen bed. The larger bed might be worth it if you plan on bringing chicas to your room; for me, the standard was fine since I didn't bring in chicas, I only went to HLH (I'm not kidding! ), so I was happy to save $10.

There's also two "wings" in the DI: The older section and what appears to be a new second section. The room I was in, #21, was in the new section. All the rooms in the hotel have been renovated, but there might be some differences depending on what section you're in.

I hear ya. It's one of those things where in retrospect I may have wished I'd gotten the standard room... or maybe not. I guess if I do find chicas I want to bring back, I may be glad I got a larger room. If I knew for sure, it'd be cool to save the $70 for the 7 nights. Heck, maybe if I get there and it's not so full that I can't change, I may still have the opportunity to change to a standard room after I spend a night or more in the Queen Deluxe.

It's hard making decisions when you haven't seen the room. Fortunately, it's a minor thing even if I have a little regret I didn't book the standard and I coulda used the $70 for chic fees!!

Thanks!!

Yeah, don't sweat it. It's hard to judge hotels and rooms based upon other peoples' opinions. It's all YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) anyway. What's one guy's "home away from home" is another's "nightmare"... and vice versa. I have my personal preferences, but no matter where I end up, I will enjoy myself. On several occasions while at Castillo and SL, I asked to be moved to another room; both places granted my request. I imagine Dunn Inn would extend the same type of courtesy based upon availability.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

Trust me when I say that for ten extra bucks you get a lot of extra room as IMHO, I believe the standard rooms at the DI are too small and the Queen ones are just right, however and always YMMV.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

Tim, I am confused with this post. The Castillo doesn't have a restaurant. The Las Palmas is next door, but it hasn't been open for breakfast when I've stayed at the Castillo. The breakfast provided by the Castillo consists of rice and black beans, boiled eggs, three or four types of fruit, toast, coffee, and juice. It's self serve, so you can eat all you want. I've found it to be a satisfying breakfast that kept me going well until lunchtime. I am not wanting to be argumentive, but I think someone who hasn't stayed at the Castillo my get the wrong impression from your post.

The Castillo "breakfast" is pitiful, the worst in the gulch in my experience. How much bread and fruit can you eat? I like gallo pinto, but there's only so much I can eat without some ham or scrambled egg.

Redfield10 you will like your Deluxe room especially if you are a non smoker. All the standard rooms are smoking that is why I paid the extra $10.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

Great!! I can't stand the smoke!! Have no idea why folks want to die 30 years early..and can't stand the smoke smell. If there is any, he wii be moving me as he agreed to a non smoking room!!!

Cheers!!