www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Planning a family trip (mostly for dental work) at the end of June for one week and would like to know which hotels would be the best choice(s). With SL and HDR definitely out, what other places should I be looking at?

Is Amistad strictly a Monger's place like SL/HDR? How about the hotel next to it? I am shying away from Presidente but that may be my only choice.

Thanks

PS: This probably isn't where I should be asking this question but then again where else would I find a good honest advice

I'd stay out of downtown if I brought my family. It's only a short cab ride away from the hotels around Sabannah, alot quieter, swimming pool for the K*ds. Also, good chance your dentist is going to be in that area or close, though some like 90210 are located in the other direction. Take a look at Lasabana Apartotel website. I've stayed there many times. Quiet, kitchen, pool, free breakfast, very, very clean, laundry, sauna. If you want a big hotel, try the Barcelo's chain Palacio, also near Sabannah, magnificent pool, beautiful setting, mini health club, very nice, I'd say 4 stars CR standards, more $ but not killer $, I bet you can Priceline them.

If you really want to stay downtown, Sleep Inn, new construction, American chain, very quiet (rare downtown, especially 3rd floor facing the Colonial, ask for 308-312) free excellent bk, reasonably priced especially well in advance.

If you plan it out well with your dentist, you should be able to free up a few days and get out of Dodge. Not really alot of family things to do in SJ. Take the family to the beach. My favorite, Manuel Antonio.

Downtown, the Balmoral is pretty nice and is across the pedestrian walkway from the Presidente. Lots of eco tourist with families stay there.

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Voted San Jose's #1 Maripepino

As long as you are not looking for a monger friendly hotel your choice is huge. Just see if the hotel receives frequent positive reviews on this site and disregard it as a choice if it does.

Agree with DGD on the Apartotel La Sabana website apartotel-lasabana.com as a good choice especially if you have K*ds who would enjoy the pool. Parque La Sabana very close and is a great place for the K*ds.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Thanks a lot Irish, Seabreeze and DGD. I think La Sabana will be the way to go. Waiting for a decent price. Will finalize as soon as they start to speak English

Amistad has good reviews by fellow mongers so that definitely is out even though a 35% discount was mighty attractive. Then again, the wifee (who is at least an 8 on the Tica scale) would not like brother mongers offering her "Cien Dollars Una Hora" whenever she happens to cross the lobby

Infant K**do is 14 months and both will definitely love the pool. Gonna rent a car and drive them to the beach and all. Hoping that the Google Maps will work.

Now don't start judging me. I was a monger long before my 3rd marriage and y'all know that old habits seldom die

Surprised they couldn't get an english speaker. They're there. Luis was the GM, perfect english. They don't fudge much on the price. Email works, you can get confirmed that way. I prefer the 2nd floor N pool side rooms. The ones on the other side of the hallway that face to the adjoining property N have a crummy view and you get some noise, I think it is a police auto pound, but it's been a while. The S rooms (above the office) get a little street noise. Quit going there once they implemented a no chica rule. One of us messed up because I loved it.

Stop at Mas x Menos and load up on snack stuff for the fridge, beer, and coffee, they have an american type coffee maker in the room, but I don't remember them having coffee, nor filters, so throw some in your luggage. But free breakfast starts real early with great coffee, juice, eggs, fruit, bread, nice. Lots of restaurants near, some walking distance. Good choice, you'll like it.

Rental car: Budget, but do it on-line from the US for great rate, and as far in advance as you can for better rate. And their weekly rate is outstanding, the same as for 5 days. That would be my choice, they'll pick you up at the airport and bring you to their off site lot 1 mile away and save on the airport taxi. The hotel is easy to get to on the way in. You can return it there or to Paseo Colon office. If not, they'll deliver to the hotel but you have to arrange that there, not on line. Paseo Colon office # is 2436.2000. Or else just cab it from the hotel, the Paseo Colon office is a mile or so away. Take a zillion photo's of the car during inspection, and make sure they note every little ding, inside and out, on the wheels, wherever, on the inspection report. Budget is the least of the worst in this regard (Avis being the worst blood suckers in CR) but they will try if there's an undocumented dent.

Easy to get to the Autopista del Sol (Rt 27) and the beach from the hotel, you are very,very close to Rt 27 at the hotel. Then it's non stop all the way to Rt 34 (90 mins?) if you are headed to S beaches (Jaco, ManAnt., Dominical, Uvita), or a little further on the Autopista to the Caldera exit for N beaches (Guanacaste). About 4 tolls so bring like $6.50 dollars in Tico money/coins. Lots of speed cops on Rt 34. Car seat issue--might be better to byo, car rentaql will prob gouge you. Airlines usually let you bring it in as a cabin check as you probably know.

DGD - Many Thanks for the useful information. I'll take many pictures of the rental car. I have rented a few times from the counter at Del Rey which was a royal pain and the car was a clunker so I stopped doing it as it was just too much work getting the car. The airports, even in the third world tend to be easier.

I should be all set as long as the Google maps work and if not, I'll download some other App for my Android.

Do you normally stay the whole trip in SJO and make day trips to the beach, forest and volcano or do the check-in, check out?

Pura Vida

Just got an email from La Sabana, they don't have a place for three out of seven nights. I am open for other suggestions.

Thanks

There's Apartotel Christina, same area, almost as nice. Otherwise as I mentioned I like the Palacio very much. You are going to be gone alot on your dental days so I know you want her and the baby to be in a nice place.

For me the beach is a little far for day tripping although not ridiculous if that's what you want to do. Jaco is the closest, 2 hours with the baby in the car? but the least rep of CR pacific beaches. Playa Hermosa another 5 miles south is alot nicer beach wise. Check out this webcam on that beach and I know this is a pretty nice hotel, surfer themed, but OK. http://surfinnhermosa.com/#livecam

I spend as little time as I can in SJ. I am addicted to ManAnt. and my novia is near, but I have had the dental stuff and the medical stuff and so sometimes I have to be there. If you decide to go to the beach and spend a night or two, that would be my destination, 45 mins further S than Jaco but a magnif world class beach. I know Apart Christina will allow you to store a bunch of stuff there assuming you are going back to SJ and not direct to the airport. PM with your email if you have further q's and I'll be glad to help. This board has helped me many times and one must repay if one is knowledgeable, and I know that SJ to the beach thing as well as anybody, 15 years of multi yearly visits, but mainly Quepos/ManAnt.

To answer your q, I usually check out and head to Quepos and upon leaving drive directly to the airport. If that is your option, let me know and I'll direct you to my posts about doing that from the Autopista del Sol to the airport---you don't want to go all the way back to SJ, there's a much shorter way.

By the way, please post your dental experience when you get home, alot of guys are always interested.

Doubt you'll find a less judgmental group than here--strictly "Run what you brung" barring, natch, violence and young'uns.
As a clickthru, Brother ID's mention: http://www.apartotel-lasabana.com/
BTW, anymore since they essentially barred Our Crowd, The Presidente is not a terrible choice, but for the reasons mentioned, there are better closer to the medicos/dentistas. Here's for the Barcelo San Jose Palacio: http://www.barcelo.com/BarceloHotels/en ... ption.aspx
And another good one: http://www.tryphotels.com/en/hotel-tryp ... -rica.html
BTW, if your beach trip is gonna be a 1-day thing, consider hiring Brother PuraVidaTransport:
http://www.puravidatransport.com/

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Jazzbo - Thanks for the pointers to the places for staying

As for your saying:
I beg to differ. I'll simply let you be the judge from the quality of the replies I got and there were some PMs as well. There is a reason I have been watching this board since its inception and gotten a wealth of information; be it mongering or general in nature

I was a die hard Presidente fan until I experienced the commotion in person. Now Balmoral and Presidente are my choices after I exhaust all options.

Pura Vida

Don't know if this place fits your requirements but - it's new, Sabana-located, and an American-style hotel: http://www.tryphotels.com/en/hotel-tryp ... -rica.html ... I see Brother Jazz mentioned it in his post already.

If you're open to points farther south and west, try the Marriott Courtyard, Intercontinental, or Beacon in Escazu.

Re: La Amistad, I don't care if your wife looks like Kate Upton, no one there is going to try to pick her up. HLA is frequented by both regular tourists and mongers. Mongers staying there typically keep a low profile and the hotel staff does a great job at keeping things quiet for all guests.

Now if they could only do something about that train....

mh

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mh

Miamiheller,

Now you got me Googling for Kate Upton. I have no idea who she is what she looks like but shall know in a jiffy . I only know about Kim Kardass's butt that seems to be here, there, evrywhere I look

Wouldn't this be a thread where people SHOULD be recommending the Presidente?

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I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries. Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!

Not really new. Either new owner or new mnagement of possibly both. Was formerly know as Hotel Centro Colon.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine