www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I just booked the flight for my first trip to San Jose and now I am looking to book my hotel. After some research and recommendations in this forum I decided that DR is off the table due to safety reasons. So now I am looking at HLH, SL, Dunn Inn depending on availability. It seems like from those three only Dunn Inn has a reservation system on its web site where I can book online and they have rooms available. So if I book at Dunn Inn, would it be safe to walk during the night to SL and HLH, which are just a block away? And to extend that question would it be safe to walk to DR?

If you read the numerous posts here, you will learn NOT to walk to the DR, or at least not at night. Walking between the other 3 you mention is ok.

Even though SL & HLH do not have on-line res system it does not matter. Email works just as easy. Have used it myself. Do not let that be the factor that determines where you stay.

SL is great I have stayed there. HLH I have not stayed at but would, it's a very fun place. Dunn Inn I hear is nice but quieter, I have no first hand knowledge of it.

hj


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Keep your mouth closed and men will think you are stupid; Open it and remove all doubt!

If you read the numerous posts here, you will learn NOT to walk to the DR, or at least not at night. Walking between the other 3 you mention is ok.

Even though SL & HLH do not have on-line res system it does not matter. Email works just as easy. Have used it myself. Do not let that be the factor that determines where you stay.

SL is great I have stayed there. HLH I have not stayed at but would, it's a very fun place. Dunn Inn I hear is nice but quieter, I have no first hand knowledge of it.

hj


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

_________________
Keep your mouth closed and men will think you are stupid; Open it and remove all doubt!

since you seem to be asking directly about walking between the hotels at night i would say that it is NOT a good idea for a newbie to walk between dunn inn, hlh and sl at night. i have done it many times and during the day its not a big deal. its worth the two bucks for the taxi until you get your bearings.
if you are in a group i really don't think its that big of a deal to walk to dr or anywhere else for that matter. but you should know your way around and not be or act intoxicated. jmho

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Done Inn and HLH on same block no problem walking at night. Catch a taxi to and from the other venues.
There is too much that can happen especially if not traveling with a group. Most of the time you are picking up a chica when heading back to room so might as well ride. During the day I walk all over San Jose.
If I go to calle 6 MPs . I always travel with a buddy. Always keep your eyes open. I have been confronted
a couple of times with a smartass tico ,best to just say nothing or no comprende and keep walking.

Hotwheels, another hotel option you should check is the Hotel Castillo. It is close to the SL, so you can walk between the two at night without a problem. I suggest you visit the HLH during the day. I'm pretty sure there are no chicas there at night that aren't there at happy hour. IMO, it's safe to walk between HLH and Castillo up to around 7pm. At night, always use a taxi to and from the HDR.

Watch out for the trannies that hide up in trees and shoot gringos with arrows dipped in SUPER AIDS!!!

cmon 8, those can be easily fended off w an arm shield and a pellet gun. its the ground trannies that present a problem but fortunately there are large enough branches on low swinging trees. hard to be tracked down in a brisk trot with a 2' poker although that amistad buzzer at the front door can be a problem.

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

What a JACKASS thing to tell a guy who just joined the message board.....but why should anything other than JACKASS remarks come from an Eight Ball?

Welcome to the message board/forum Hotwheels! Walking between, to and fro, the Del Rey, Key Largo, and the hotels you list has become a point of security obsession on the message board. Basically, YOU have to determine what you can and cannot tolerate and there is only one way to establish same: DO IT; GET ON THE GROUND and find out for yourself. 6pm is different than 2am. Are you drunk? Easily distracted? Etc.? I dunno. Don't live in fear is my suggestion but safely assess your abilities, fears, and strengths vs. weaknesses.

Don't let the message board/"forum" dictate a level of fear that is not warranted. Are you walking alone? Do you carry a weapon? What time is it? Are you three sheets to the wind? How old are you? You fat and in shape....or fat and out of shape?; blah, blah, blah.

I used to walk between Hotel Castillo/Amistad and the Del Rey at all hours of the night and day. I allowed this message board to put the fear of God into me and really don't leave the hotel that much at night.....even to go to the Key Largo! (Bluntly, it got boring and I have a telephone and numbers to call.....nothing like ordering in....eh?). I do it (leave the hotel for a night out at Panterra Roas or wherever) every now and then....sometimes I take a cab...other times I do not. But that's just me and truth be told, I get me mines; I DO bring the ruckus, again, blah, blah, blah.

The walk between HLH or Dunn Inn is different than the walk between Castillo or Amistad due to that big ass hill you have to climb. The preop transsexuals about the corners and as you enter the parks: Just walk briskly and avoid....do not engage, unless that's your thing....whatever. The "younger" ones approach you in a group and do make efforts and what may seem like groping....but they're really efforts to pickpocket your bad self......

Crime against perons HAS increased in "our area" since 2007.....but don't let it rule your world. Do what you're comfortable with; if you have the money, cabs ain't no big things.....; if you like COUNTING your money more than you do spending it, don't be so afraid to walk....just be cautious and walk with a degree of dispatch.

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Thanks to all for the tips. I'll make sure I bring my bulletproof vest to protect against the AIDS arrows
I booked the Dunn Inn, as HLH was fully booked and couldn't connect with SL. I guess I'll just take cabs everywhere I go in the evening, even to HLH and SL. Indeed is not worth risking for 1-2 USD.

Could you explain this?

Bear in mind the taxis in front of the SL are NOT running off the maria (meter): They charge 2x as much as the metered rated. Same with the cabs at the entryway to the Del Rey: They are NOT running off the meter.

To catch a cab after being at the Del Rey: Go out the side (actually main entrance to the Blue Marlin and hail a cab off the street. Or course you confront the mas rapido maria......a jacked up meter that has a switch on it the speeds up the metered rate....and how....

To catch a cab outside the SL: just walk a few feet to the intersection and hail a cab from there......

The cabbies in front of the SL are all "OK" guys....they just like to charge 2x and 3x as much as their meter will get them. I wouldn't doubt if the same is true out front of HLH or Dunn Inn. It is NOT the case at Amistad. You can either hail a cab out front of Amistad on your own, or the desk clerks (Rudi or Carlos) will call a cab for you with a legit meter.

Once again, welcome to the message board and don't hesitate to ask questions. The only dumb question is the one not asked....

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

Agree upon a price before you get in. $2 from the HLH, Amistad, SL to DR is acceptable. Too lazy to walk that far day or night.

exactly. most places like SL i turn to the right and walk half a block to hail a taxi. the guys in front will def double down on you. goes for any hotel pretty much. if you look up the block or around the corner there is a busy street with a lot of taxis not mercenaries.

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Couldn't agree more. I got robbed less than a block from the DR at night. I wouldn't walk anywhere at night....pay the two bucks and take a cab..... And when you take a cab I always look for an older guy.....