www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi guys,

Just got back from CR. Was there March 6th till 15th.

First night was at the Hotel Nuevo Johnson. At $10/night it's cheap but not the sort of place I'd take a chica to. Very very basic and very thin walls. If all you want is a place to sleep but not hang out at all this could be for you.

Second night was at the Hotel Plaza. $36 plus $6 or $7 to bring a chica. Definitely a BIG step up from the Johnson. I stayed on the fifth floor and found it quiet enough. They have the card type key system. Hold it about an inch from the plate above the knob. Once inside, insert it in the holder next to the door to activate the electricity. The room was small and quite simple considering the fancy card-key entry. The one chica I took there wasn't impressed at all and commented on the size. Checking out the Presidente the next morning I can see why she was underwhelmed. What a lobby that place has!

Third night found me in room 4 at the Hotel Castillo. $46/night including tax. It's a nice place and chica friendly (no extra charge). The walk from reception to the back is very impressive I think. Really really nice tile floor and top shelf decor (walls, furnishings). I doubt anyone would be embarrassed bringing a chica there. The place looks to have been redone fairly recently. My only gripe, which I mentioned to Darren, the manager, and Art, his assistant, is with the dim lighting in the bathroom - and the way you have to close the door to it to stand directly in front of the mirror. Talking to two other guests I am not alone in disliking this. I don't know how they'd fix it easily though. I suppose fix the doors to swing outward for one. The sole lighting is from the ceiling though and the cabinet style mirrors are small and out about six inches from the wall - diminishing the effectiveness of the lighting. But hey! If you use an electric you're fine using the full length in the bedroom. I shine one of the spot lights from above the bed into the bano and angle the mirror to avoid the door. Wet shave then touch up with electric. Heheh. I'm fussy can't you tell? Oh yeah... the free internet computer can be SLOW SLOW SLOW. Darren has it set up with just one login so anyone can download and install anything.

Fourth till seventh nights were also at the Castillo. I paid for a week to get the 20% discount but left two nights early to stay my last two nights at The Sportmens.

The eighth and ninth nights were at the Sportmens. In hindsight, all of them should have been. I don't know why I didn't call them before going to the Castillo. I'd been there to eat; knew what the place is like; had met Bill and Ray. I guess I didn't expect a vacancy in one of the few standard rooms they have. MY BAD!

Anyway early Sunday afternoon found me there licking my wounds. I'd had a great time with China at Kamur and managed to piss her off - so she didn't come to my hotel after work as we'd arranged. I actually went to the Sportmens to ask Ray to listen to her message taking service as I couldn't be sure I was leaving any messages. (It seemed to be the type that required a confirmation after speaking). Heheh... Ray... no doubt seeing my desperation, tried to help but when he called, as luck would have it, a girl (probably China) answered, listened a moment, said "wrong number," and CLICK! Hey! I've gotten off track haven't I?

So at about 2 PM I'm sitting chatting with Bill and Ray and notice that Amor is vacant! Turns out it's available for both Sunday and Monday nights? My last two in CR. I express my regret to them both that I'm paid up at Castillo till Tuesday's checkout. Bill calls Darren and works out a deal and voila! I moved to Amor. It's one of the two standard rooms (Paz being the other) that have their own bathrooms. There are two other standards that share a bathroom and so, are the cheapest. A definite downside to them - but they are in the quietest part of the Lodge so maybe worth consideration.

What more can be said about the Sportsmens that hasn't already been said? Bill is always friendly (and treated me to a desert on my birthday - as did the staff). Ray is ever helpful and pleasant to chat with. The bar staff is great! (Tell me now, who ISN'T enchanted by Violetta?)

I have to do some reaching to find weak points. Ummm. Until I mentioned the 25 Watt bulb above my bathroom sink that was a sore point. I thought I'd bring a brighter one if I actually return April 30 (till May 10). Heheh. Why didn't I just ask for a brighter one? I forgot that this is the Sportmens! If you've a problem and they can fix it, they will.

Ummm. I'd like to see a bigger menu. The food is great and not expensive but not much of what's on their card appeals to me. Probably you could ask for a special meal but I didn't bother. Oh and the free breakfast is good if you like a choice of several fresh fruits; orange juice; coffee; and muffins. (Castillo's breakfast pretty much sucks for me - what with one type of fruit). On my last morning there Gpez (Greg) arose late and commented to another guest that he was going to grab some breakfast. No doubt he didn't realize that, being 11 AM, the free breakfast had long ago been put away. Ray overheard and immediately had a plate of fruit brought out for Greg. Nice.

In hindsight I'd say I was a fool not to stay the whole time at Sportmens. I hesitate to give it such a glowing review only for fear of driving the price up or finding it hard to get a standard room there. Bill says they've got expansion plans in the works though (all of six months after opening) so I suppose we need not worry.

Check it out; check in; enjoy! And don't pay more than 500 colones to the gulch!

http://www.hotelnuevojohnson.com/index.html
http://www.hotels.co.cr/plaza.html
http://www.costaricauncovered.com/san-j ... idente.htm
http://crtimes.com/hotels/hotelcastillo.htm
http://www.sportsmenscr.com/ - Check out the video!

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Chica Chaser

Hello again,

I forgot a few details:

About the Castillo: the birds seem to either party all night or get up very early. This would have been a problem for me had I not found that I could sleep with my ear enclosing headphones on without them coming off. At the Sportsmens I didn't hear any birds. For the two nights I was there it was muy tranquillo from midnight till, well, till well into the morning.

Oh and Lisa, the night receptionist at Castillo, seems to be a part time pimp. A fellow named David, who'd come down for A Foreign Affair (which, by the way, he found worthwhile) was subjected nearly every night to urgings to make use of her friend, Rachel. Heheh. The first night Rachel said to David that she wanted $50 for an hour's massage with no sex!? I'd already aquainted David with New Fantasy and Zona Blue so he laughed in her face and said he'd give her $10 for a thirty minute back rub. She took it and did a good job said he. She's not much to look at so that's all he was interested in. Funny that she didn't pimp her out to me? I don't know whether to be insulted or relieved.

Also, at the Hotel Plaza I lost the key card - which can't be left at the desk. They charge $7 to replace it, a piece of plastic. I inquired at El Presidente as to what they charge for lost cards... nada.

The internet access at the Sportmens is decidedly better than Castillo's. The bar has a system with a 19" LCD. It's easily the best computer I used in CR - counting January and March. You can also use the one by the reception desk, though it's not as good as the bar's.

I guess that's all now.

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Chica Chaser

I don't spend much time looking in the mirror, so the lighting in the bano didn't strike me as very important. What is important is that you can read in bed there better than anyplace else I've stayed in CR. In the land of the 40 watt lightbulb, they actually have bright reading lights. Other places I've stayed, I always buy a brighter lightbulb.

I'm surprized that there was only one type of fruit with breakfast. They usually have 2 types, and I usually bring some other stuff that I got at Mas X Menos or from a street vendor, to make it more interesting. The hard boiled eggs do get repetitive.

I read that they closed down most of the street vendors, so that part might have to change.

Your girls must have some really wordy tattoos down there.

Just placed a rez at Sportsmens for june. Thanks for the info, mates.

Hmmm. The only thing I read while down there is menus.

I try to read the chica's minds, but they probably lie to themselves too! Ha ha.

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Chica Chaser

Staying for a month at a time, there have to be things to do, other than monger. I often do a lot of work in CR. I like to have some form of a kitchen and still be able to walk to most things. Fortunately, I am usually in CR during the rainy season, so I can get a decent room/apartment someplace. With more action available around Paseo Colon, the aparthotels near La Sabana might be a better choice than they were a few years ago. There may have been MPs then, but I didn't know about them. All in all, Hotel Castillo has been the best fit for my needs.

Vista Linda does sound interesting, since it seems that the apartments have a more full kitchen than a fridge, toaster oven and mircowave, and are cheaper. The map on their web site is a little confusing though. They have a road, with a supposed bus line, going right through a concertina wire fence down a cliff. Some stuff must be missing there. I would be much less likely to go into town if I have to take a bus or cab than if I can walk 3 blocks. It doesn't sound like there is anything nearby to do, where Hotel Castillo is right in Amon, near several MPs, the Sportsman, numerous restaurants, and only 3-4 blocks from the gulch.

The bus to Vista Linda is the Calle Blanco bus. It starts at just around the corner from Auto Mercado and passes 100 meters from Vista Linda. The cost is 90 colones and the buses run from early morning to at least 11 pm. It is very convenient. A taxi for the same trip is between 600 and 1000 col

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NON ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM

DG

How far Nuevo Joshnson, Plaza and El Castillo from NF and ZB ?

easy walking distance, the hotel nuevo johnson is the furthest, maybe 5-10 minute walk. all the downtown sites are within walking distance or an inexpensive taxi ride.

at night, even for a 2-3 block walk, a taxi ride is reccomended especially if you're drunk and most certainly always appreciated by the ladies accompaning you.

if you can afford the higher rates, I suggest the Sportmans Lodge.

for cheap, cheap, cheap, the Hotel Nuevo Johnson is clean and safe but worn.

the presidente, castillo, etc..are all good options too.

if I was just hitting the MP's and clubs like Kamur, and wanted to save money, I'd stay at the hotel Nuevo Johnson.

never had any chica refuse to go there, spartan as it is.

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Californicationdude, thanks a lot for recomendations

Excellent, excellent reviews , CC!!!

This is the type of post I find very useful.

A couple of questions, comments. I haven't stayed there but I've poked my head into the Hotel Johnson to check them out and, IMHO, didn't think the rooms were that bad. I don't think they would overly impress any chica but I don't think she'd recall in horror either if you brought one back there. Have you seen where some of these girls live? And could they be any worse than the Hotel Asia, where they're sometimes taken? Personally based just on my quick visual inspection of the room I don't think I'd have any problem staying there myself. What I found most telling in your review was the problem with the thin walls which is not something one can pick up in a quick peek. And that would be a big concern of mine if I were to try them out like I was about to do. Now I'm not so sure. OTOH, I've stayed at other much more expensive hotels that were not so great in the noise department either.

The link you gave for the plaza didn't work for me but readers can also try this one to the hotel's official website http://www.hotelplazacr.com/ing/htm/home.htm

And while we're at it, the direct link to the Presidente's offical webpage is http://www.hotel-presidente.com/main.cfm and for the Castillo it is http://www.hotelcastillo.biz/. I won't comment further on the Prez or the SL because so much had already been written on each of them, but it was nice hearing your perspective. Plus my own personal experience with each extends only to the lobbies (both of which ARE really nice). The Plaza I know even less about.

However, I stayed at the Castillo on my last trip and would like to add my dos colones. I agree with much of your review. The place has been fixed up well. I have also heard the gripes about the size and lighting of the bathrooms from others. Personally I didn't find that to be much of a problem. The bathroom in my room was really only large enough for one person, but it wasn't like I was hanging out in there partying. The light was not great either but I found it adequate enough. Or at least it was with the door open. And I usually left it open anyway both when in the room alone and also while a chica was in my room and I was taking a quick shower (I always like to be able to keep an eye on things when I have a strange girl in my room). I didn't notice having to close the door to stand in front of the bathroom mirror but I was in the $50/nt rooms on the 2nd floor so that might explain our different recollections. For me my biggest gripe with the place was the breakfast like you mentioned. Personally, hardboiled eggs just don't cut it for me. I ate there because it was included but would otherwise have been happier with the typical $2 breakfast at any soda. Overall, however, I'd definitely recommend the place to others.

Probably because the review is almost 2 years old

Vista Linda does have full kitchen and in room safes unsual for apartments and the Calle Blancos Bus stops right around the corner. Takes about 15 minutes to town.
Prolijo, you are right Johnson is not that bad just your basic hotel but decent for the price and perfect location for me. Just about half way between Paseo Colon MP's and Gulch and close to Calle 6 brothels and Molino Rojo.
Another good budget option is the Doral around the corner from Johnson. It is fairly nice at $24 per night last I stayed there and I would have no hesitation bringing anyone back there. rbc100

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

Didn't notice that the newbie bumped an old thread.

When did you stay at the Doral last? I stayed there over Thanksgiving and they charged me $30/nt (tax included) plus an optional $2 for breakfast on their topfloor restaurant. I agree it was a pretty good deal. Much cheaper than the other hotels most guys stay at and only marginally not as nice. I thought the Nuevo Johnson looked only marginally not as nice as the Doral and was much cheaper still, which is why I was so interested in actually trying it out on a future trip.

BTW, in addition to checking out the Nuevo Johnson while I was in that neighborhood I also poked my head into the nuevo Park Hotel to see their new rooms. They were about the same size as those at the Doral, maybe a little bit smaller, and were the same price at $30/nt but I thought they looked a bit bleak. While the Doral and even the Nuevo Johnson had a lot of woodpaneling and pictures on the walls, the Park rooms were completely barren except for a fresh coat of light green paint. Maybe they haven't decorated or accesorized yet. It was certainly a 1000% improvement over the last time I was in one of their rooms a few years ago (for a free post-oilshow blow job) but still not enough to make me seriously consider staying there given the other nearby nicer options in the same or lesser price range. Of course, the bar hadn't reopened yet when I stopped in. It was due to open this month. Has anybody checked it out yet. Once that happens (and if they add a little something more to their rooms), the Park could once again be a place worth considering

Hotel Nuevo Johnson has a monthly rate of $240. After a quick tour of the room I decided not to stay here because the place was too spartan even for a codo like me