Bing,
You're being much too sensitive by taking this so personally. I don't even know who you are let alone that you stay regularly at the HDR (BTW, I like the HDR acronym as it avoids any confusion with the DR used for the Dom Rep. used on other boards). The only vet that I know with any certainty that stays at the HDR is Lee and I'm sure he knows his way around. I'm sure there ARE many others. Presumably many of them in turn have tried other places or at least know the pros and cons and have made their personal decision to stay there based on a more thorough knowledge of the options and their personal preferences. But a good number of those vets just stay there because they've ALWAYS stayed there. Its what they're comfortable with and they aren't willing to even consider other alternatives. How about you? Have you ever stayed anywhere else in SJ as a valid basis of comparison or have you always stayed at the HDR and return there every trip out of some comfort level with the familiar? If the former, you are proof that my comments were only a generalization, but if the latter, then maybe it is you that should be considering alternatives.
Regardless of your personal situation, look around you. In far greater numbers and IN GENERAL the typical guest at the HDR tends much more to be mongers down to CR for their first visit or first few visits, have stayed no where else, probably have not done much research on boards such as this and were at best only marginally aware there even were any viable alternatives for mongers other than staying at the "world renowned Hotel Del Rey" prior to their first trip down. Sure there are other vets there, but if you compare it to the percentage of that type of whorticulturalist that stays at say the Presidente, I'm sure you will find a marked difference. Use whatever measure you want: the percentage that are members of an intenet board with a CR section, the percentage that are regular visitors to CR, the percentage that are repeat guests, the percentage that know you don't HAVE to immediately agree to CIEN/HR or that there are places which don't charge you $13-15 extra on top of an already comparatively high room rate to take a chica back to your room.
The HDR benefits from its widespread (but IMHO superficial) fame or at least the fame of the BM. I say superficial because there are many guys across the US who have heard tales of the action in CR and particularly the BM bar, but know little in detail of it other than that it is located in the HDR. The HDR can get away with doing things other hotels could never do because it knows even if it loses some hotel guests on repeat visits, most mongers only come to CR for that one time visit and of those that do return some will still come back to the HDR and put up with its drawbacks for the (dubious IMHO) benefit of being literally right on top of the action.
If you need further evidence of this look at these last few facts. When was the last time the HDR remodeled? And I'm not talking about expanding the casino section so they can make more money or moving their overpriced restaurant across the street. The HDR charges more for everything, from the ridiculous $15 chica fee, to the higher drink prices at the bar, the pricey meals at the DelMar, lower payouts in the casino, exhorbitant minibar charges, and room rates $10-15 more than nearby hotels with much newer and nicer rooms. Sure many of those costs can be easily avoided, but what does it tell you about the attitude of hotel management?
All this in exchange for its principal benefit of being on top of the action. Is it worth it? Thats certainly up to the individual to decide. Is comparing hotels like comparing apples and oranges? If that means are they different, then yes, but there are still elements that can be put head to head for comparison. Do I wish that all members of the board stayed at the Presidente and pranced around the gulch pounding their chests chanting "El Presidente & NO CIEN"? Certainly not, but now who is really casting aspersions on fellow board members. Incidentally, I've stayed at the HDR as well as 5 other SJ hotels, so have some idea what I'm talking about. I've never stayed at the Prez, though I certainly would. I'd even consider staying at the HDR again, if there were no alternatives. But I think there should be, and are, many good alternatives to BOTH hotels.
Last edited by Prolijo on Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:14 am, edited 3 times in total.
|