www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I remember the old tsm discount of $45 a night for standard room. They had an older section also

They made a business decision - we can debate endlessly whether it was a "good" one or not, but what is not in question are their policies over the last couple of years - elimination of the CRT discount, raising room rates, dress codes, bans - they were going the wrong way for many of us. That said, I think some overstate our importance and spending in CR; also believe its somewhat tough to cater to both markets - you can't be a little pregnant

Personally, I would not stay there ever again - and not so much b/c of the current policy, but because the way they have outright lied about it - if they were so proud of their decision, why not state it proudly up front instead of being so slimey about it - I honestly don't know what they are telling guests this week, but up until a week or so ago, based upon recent posts, they were still not owning up to it - and to me, that's just bad business.

Finally, their web site says rooms are $125 and up - in addition to liars, they are also out of the market as far as pricing.

I stayed there over the Memorial Day week and had some bad experiences. First, I checked with the concierge about my favorita; however, I found out later, I was spelling her first name wrong b/c of the way she spells it on her e-mail address. That night I arrived with a different chica and they spent an inordinate amount of time checking whether her dress was OK (it was a normal dress). They finally let her in. The next night, very late, I arrived with the favorita, thinking things would be OK, b/c of having already checked her out. They refused admittance, much to her embarassment. (It seems that she had been there with a guy, who brought her the same time his wing man arrived with another chica. They tried to get her (my fav) to be involved in a foursome. She refused and thinks the guy blacklisted her.) The next day, when I complained, they showed me the computer screen and it had various names like hers, which means they could have checked her out more carefully the day of my arrival.

Second complaint: the air conditioner in my room began dripping and really caused a mess. I reported it and all they did was mop up the water. I started putting a trash can under the drip. I never did complain further b/c I just didn't have the time and didn't want to bother. However, my wingman and I checked out the Sleep Inn and plan to go there next time.

Third complaint: the News Cafe is closed and was the biggest reason for staying there.

Also, the place was dead, very few hotel guests.

Finally, I ran into Mauro, working at El Patio across the street. He was a bartender at the News Cafe some 4-5 years ago, became a waiter at Del Ray and went back to News Cafe a year or so ago. He was very down on the Presidente and its policies. He also told me that Andrea, a very popular morning waitress at News Cafe, was starting to work at El patio the following Monday.

I'm not looking back. I plan to stay at the Sleep Inn from now on, meet up with my wingman at the Del Ray or the Colonial Bar and eat at El Patio from time to time to see some of my favorite servers in CR. I'm good; too bad for the Prez!

Miguel, thanks for posting and confirming what we have been reading and posting about the Presidente.

Your friend did nothing wrong - if they let a girl in they will refuse her admission the next time.

This has been well discussed in this and other threads - like you, I'm done w/ the place both for policy reasons and then lying about it.

Hope they like those smelly cocksuckers the ecotourists - b/c they are going to be seeing a lot of them.

The stupid fucks who own the place will be saying "I don't know what happed....we had such a great business for so many years....." as they are boarding up the place.

Maybe then it will be on a haunted San Jose tour - the ghosts of the girls who stayed there, wrapped up in C*m drenched sheets, wandering the halls at midnight, looking for a propina.......coupled w/ the asshole Americans who come in at 2:00AM and make loud noises - what the Phuck am I talking about - I experienced all this my last trip in January

I've posted a lot about the Prez, b/c I've stayed there many times and travel w/ a group who love the place - candidly, I've moved on - but this group loves the place and like you, the Sleep Inn seems like the best option.

(why the Phuck these assholes could not stay in a suite at the Morizon is beyond me - and they don't like the area the Sportsmans is in; since they have not progressed beyond going to the the DelRey and pulling out a $100 overpriced dollie, they want to be close - pathetic).

DON'T STAY AT THE PREZ

25.00 guest fee?

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Gg, you really need to get laid...

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Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Yup, unless it's higher now.

Scuba1, yup, the Del Rey Mongers should stay in their zoo, no good comes when the animals escape!

I've told 'em that for years, Tom, and they just will not listen - at least my crew.....

That's what they said in early May - but who knows - I think ANY guest fees are a huge rippoff - if you have other intel, post it please

PS The fools I travel with every Jan always said "the Prez' policy was good, b/c they keep out the riff raff, robbers, etc" - What a crock of shit - but you can't convince stupid

Scuba1
I use to feel the same was as ur Jan group because my wingman taught me the same. Now I know that was all bs. Many other options and the prez aint one of them. The prez is DEAD!

I hope my friends are as "evolved" as you and me as I'm done with the place too

(my problem was I had tons more experience in CR vs my friend, and they just refused to believe what was happening with that place - hopefully now they "get it")

It’s been fun to watch the Presidente’s pseudo evolution over the years… Remembering the Travel and Tourism class that I took one summer long ago ; here are my dos colones.

This time I think that Tico business sense (greed, over inflated sense of value, bad sense of timing) will do them in… or cause them to come back to CRT.

4-5 years ago when then started implementing their anti working girl policies they had an abundance of guests, not so many now. The economy now sucks and coupled with the fact Costa Rica is now considered a “C” destination by US travel trends…who is their target market?

It was Joe “B” Tourist’s loud, fat, complaining gringa wife that started this change in the Presidente back when the economy was good and Costa Rica was still a “B” destination. But Joe B is gone… been there, done that and/or is now is broke due to the economy. 4-5 years ago it was new and “cool” to say you went to Costa Rica for vacation, now we have moved onto the “C” tourists.

Joe “C” does not take chances with his sacred vacation time and dollars. He only goes to popular time tested destinations, with no surprises, that he knows will keep Mrs C happy… think Cancun or Bahamas. Joe “C” Tourist goes to Costa Rica for beaches, volcanoes and rainforests and does not want to stay downtown at old 3-4 star properties that are not affiliated with a known chain. Joe wants to get or use points from his preferred hotel chain or wants to be in a new modern hotel. There are more Joe “C’s” than other types of tourists… but again; economy, amenities and location drive his decision. Add on the fact that Joe “B’s” wife has gone on TripAdvisor and written all about all of the disgusting tramps being brought into the hotel … Joe “C” wants nothing to do with the Presidente.

But hey, I could be wrong…

Mendo

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You make some good points, Mendo - but I gotta tell you - I've stayed there MANY times over the last 15 years (last time this past January w/ the previously mentioned group) - and with the exception of a few ladies having breakfast (sometime none), really did not see a lot of evidence of "guest activity"

Did not really see them in the bar, hanging out in the lobby, nor often in the restaurant - basically, they came to the front desk, tendered their ID, and that was it - the HDR or HLH it was most definitely not

Prez will change their current policies are they will go under.
SL Gary should book bets on this.

I think we are seeing evidence of their bad business decisions coming back to roost; First they had the one only limit for working girls, then the onerous dress code for working girls; then they followed it with eventually baring all working girls from their premises. This followed for a few months and then suddenly, the News Cafe, arguably the best place to watch the street scene on the walking street (allusion to Pattaya). Not to mention, the short lived Sports Bar, the layout of which was very bad, I think that the Presidente is making a series of really bad business decisions that may well cause them to sell out. According to Bill, the city still has more demand than it can meet in terms of occupancy, so they may survive, but its sad that their business sense of the management is so poor.

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