www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi all Doc here.Thanks and props go out to Bill at Sportsman.Me and my amigos had a great time.The hotel has a Cheers feel to it.You know everyone knows your name.I think Bill goes way beyond the call of duty to please all his guest.The bar was very fun to hang out at.Food was great.The one problem that I had read about was the noise.Well I was in two different rooms.I moved from a double to a single.Both times I really had no problem with the noise.But I am in a hotel room over 250 nights a year.So I can sleep through anything.I found the rooms to be clean and comfortable.Check in and check out was smooth.This was my first stay with Bill and will not be the last.IMHO the Sportsman is a excellent choice.IMHO maybe the best choice for the single traveler.But still a good choice for a group.Thanks Bill from DOC and Hollywood Joe and our wingman StuntCock.

I, too, can't say enough about The Sportmen's Lodge. Bill is the ultimate host and has expertly assembled a caring staff to make your stay feel like you have arrived home! For many, home should be so good. I stayed in three different rooms during my comings and goings of a 15 day Costa Rican travel adventure and each room was very pleasant and the beds were a dream to sleep in. In addition to the wonderful food, the lounge/bar staff of Heidy, Violeta, Margaret and others became fun friends to be with. I can't imagine a more enjoyable, comfortable place to stay. I'll stay there again on my next trip but with the Sportsmens ever increasing popularity I'll book long in advance just to make sure they have an available room. Thank you, everyone at the Sportsmens, for making my stay so enjoyable.

I stay there so often that when I express interest on a certain date Bill calls me from CR to work out my trip with on the phone. I also had a problem with an airline and had to stay an extra day so I was mad and came back to the SL and Bill noticed me upset and he also knew I was out of clean clothes, So Ray just hands me a room key and says we will check you in later. 1 hour later I found my laundry folded on my bed. Can't beat the place.

_________________
Mongering builds character

Stop this! You guys are killing me!

I'm scheduled to spend 10 nights at the SL beginning Saturday. With this being my first trip to CR, I'm already over excited. Yet, all I keep reading is great reviews about the SL. Do you know what this is doing to me?

Do you have any idea how difficult it has been to labor through these final weeks; suffering through the daily grind, counting the hours, and wrestling with such silly issues as what to pack in my suitcase or what credit cards to bring with me? Huh? Any idea?

And now you guys throw into this emotional mix that I should anticipate more excitement, more pleasure, and extreme comfort -- all courtesy of the SL.

Enough already.

You're in for quite an adventure. Some people have compared it to
a k*ds first visit to DisneyWorld. Try not to be too excited when you enter the BM for the first time. Don't take the first hot chica that approaches you. Wait about 10 or 15 minutes and you'll most likely see another one even hotter. Have patience. The chances are pretty good that if a chica approaches you first, see is a pro. If you get sick of the BM, go across the street to the KL or the Monkey Bar, or even down the street to the NY bar. You may want to start your day off at ZB or Oasis.
Of course there's always the Kamur strip club or the Bar Idem at night. Decisions, decisions. So much to do and so little time. Try to pace yourself. You'll probably only get about four hours sleep a night, if you're lucky. Be sure to take as many photos as possible and let us know your
experiences.
Pura Vida indeed.

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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)

Thanks. Advice well taken.

80 Posts BEFORE your first visit? Ovreexcited might be an understatement!

Wish I could be there for your first beer in the DR. I'll warm up a seat for you tomorrow.

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SlickWings


Seems like I spend half my life drinking, gambling, and mongering. The other half... I waste.

Over-excited and educated.

For a first visit would you stay at the SL over the Presidente and why?

There are so many things right about the SL, that trying to list them all would be fruitless. Let's just say, I'm here now and Bill and Ray and his entire staff make you feel at home. Seriously. Every little thing is taken care of. If you need something, just ask any one. For example, this morning I discovered that I didn't pack aspirins (duh). So, as I was talking with Bill about going to a local grocery store to get some, he said don't bother. He then goes into his office, comes out, and hands me a bunch of them. Hopefully, I won't need anymore than what he gave me for the rest of my trip. (Note to myself: lighten up on the rum!)

Everyone at the SL is very friendly. The accomodations are top-notch. Internet access is everywhere, along with 24x7 sports/news on the large number of TVs around the bar and dining area. If you want just to sit and read a book, chat or whatever, there is great sitting area in the center of SL; a fountain and all. Very comfortable. The rooms are spacious and very clean. Actually, if you like mahogony and antiques as I do, you're going to like your room.

If you're concerned about the proxmimity to the Gulch, dont be. It's a quick taxi ride away.

Hope this helps.

Stop it!! JD your killin me
How long u been down there and when again do leave??

I agree.... Hands down SL is the cream of the crop in San Jose! The staff, food, rooms, host and hostess. It is SJ's gem that can't be touched. It is a must for my stays in SJ. You really feel at home away from home! Bill has a unique style and class about his establishment that is unparalled. See ya in May SL! Looking forward to it!

I can´t add much other than to be another voice of praise. The physical place itself is nice, and well located, but what makes Sportsman´s Lodge so special is the fact that Bill has absolutely indoctrinated his staff with the mindset to always go the extra mile in providing service for their guests. That, plus the fact that Bill absolutely understands and supports the market of us folks who go to Costa Rica to fish for pink snapper.