www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hello to all my fellow members, I have been away for quite a while, but I never strayed to far mentally... I need some info, the skinny, etc.

In my many trips I have stayed at the DR & Morazan. I was thinking about changing up and have been offered a great deal from don Carlos as a casino player to stay at the Hotel Europa..

I was wondering if any of my band of brothers have any experience with don Carlos and this Hotel Europa property... I just cannot place it in my head, so I come to you for the almighty CRT knowledge and insight...

Should i stick with the morazan? try the europa? or even the Sportsman's Lodge, which I have heard great things about?

Lead me down the right path.

BigDrive

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Drive It Like You Stole It!

BD, Give the Sportsmens a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Pax,
Sluthog

If you are bringing ladies home, you may have trouble. Nearby there are Hotel Castillo, and many other places, like SL, Amon Plaza and the Dunn Inn that may be more chica friendly. Use the search engine. Barrio Amon is a nice place to stay, with lots of restaurants and several upscale MPs.

Hotel Europa is as chica friendly as you can get. No fees and is closer than Amon. Six blocks from the DR. It's a decent hotel for the money although I have not stayed anywhere else. I would stay there again.

Berk....

Hotel Europa is A-OK in my book.

I showed up at 11:30PM one night (long story)

My TICA had been redirected ( called her in her taxi as she was comeing to met me at another Hotel)

My tica was sitting in the lobby waiting for me.

I checked in.

I gave my bags to bell man.

went over to my Tica (GFE)

we all got into the elevator and not 1 extra penny was charged to me nor was ever a word said about my Tica staying the night. (TLN)

Europa is clean. Quite. Relaxing. And most rooms have small refrigerator.

Plus; NOW you are at Ground ZERO for sat. nite Water Buffalo Meeting.......

I stayed at the Europa once, rm 123 and compared to my usual room at the Pres, would call it a shit-hole. Well, ok maybe not that bad but...
Mine was right at the busy intersection on 2nd floor, the AC didn't work very well, a couple windows were broken out so the street noise was constant, the bathroom was exactly as pictured in the old pics in the lobby from 1930s, No fridge, and breakfast was not included. So I'm assuming the Europa has some nicer rooms, are some of them remodeled?
For another 4 bucks I'll stay at the Pres. anyday but then again, if they have some nicer rooms maybe on the back side I'd stay there again if I couldn't find anyplace else...

_________________

Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

Yea, I'll back Paco up on this one. I visited him on check out day and I must say the room sucked. There was no where to put your toiletries in the bathroom, there was a stale moldy smell, the room had not been re-modeled or upgraded probably since the sixties or early seventies. I do not even want to discuss the bed. Also the key chain they give you to carry around is about the size of a two by four. I guess you could be creative and stick it in your front pocket and walk around the DR to impress the chicas.

Bigdrive,

My buddy and I stayed at the Europa a few nights this trip and liked it. The room I had was great (it was larger than my buddy's room on the next floor - he said his room was similar to the Morazon). I was at the end of the hall on the first level up (rooms 100 to 1xx). This floor has access to the pool in the back. It looked nice and was clean, and I did see others swimming one day. My buddy stayed on the second floor up (rooms 200-2xx). His room was definitely smaller, even though it too was at the end of the hall. My buddy said that there was a free breakfast in the morning - but I rarely made it out of bed in time to partake. They have a small lunch buffet that many of the local office workers come to. The cost was 2,000 colones - and it was filling. I never ate there at night, so I can't give a review. They also have room service.

While we were there, they opened the casino and a small adjoining bar. They had the usual blackjack tables, roulette, and slot machines - but no craps table (darn). And the inside bar on the ground floor is where the new Saturday night (Park Hotel replacement) show happens - which is handy. They even have two computers located in the lobby for the guests to use - how did I ever travel without e-mail and Google? And the staff was very friendly and helpful.

Now for the important part - Chica friendliness. There was never a problem when I brought girls back. For the first one, they copied her ID when we came in, but never asked again for the other girls during our stay. And there was no extra charge on the bill (from what I could tell).

The hotel is about seven blocks away from the gulch, but during the day it is a nice walk. We even walked it during the early evening hours - but I would recommend a taxi later at night. It shouldn't cost you more than 600 colones (with tip). There is a Pops ice cream shop almost across the street - hmmm, I love that mente ice cream. And there is a large market about two blocks away. The room cost $45 (plus additional $3 for safe key) per night. That is a rate I can live with.

All in all, I will stay there again - but next trip, I want to stay every night at the Sportsmen Lounge. We were only able to get in there one night this trip (we didn't make reservations). Even though we were walk-ins, Bill and his staff made us feel like we were old friends. You can't beat that.

Hopefully, this might help you decide.

UncDanny