www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi guys,
El Maragato? Just got my VIP and will be in country on the 1st through the 8th. Not all mongering but got a couple nights at this place. Have not stayed there before. Mostly I've done nice hotels and then partied at Marruecos (don't judge me).
Anyway, any feeling about Maragato?

Since I can't recall the place ever - ever - being mentioned on CRT, nor are they a sponsor, I had to google it.

Assuming you are for real - and I'm not sure - strangle handle, 1st post about some obscure place, no one is likely to have ever heard of - I will answer your question in the spirit of helping others, because the question of friendly hotels comes up often. Frequently, its about places far from the gulch, where a guy - not a true monger - is looking to burn some Marriott reward points, and wants to know if the place is chica friendly - sometimes, it is, but the fact you can take a girl is different than not getting the looks - whatever.

First, do a little research.....yes, that's right - even in this "entitled" era, sometimes you have to do it on your own, and take point on something you want answered. How do you find something out - you ask - its not rocket science, but its important.

Along those lines, you simply call the hotel and ASK what their guest policy is - believe me - 99% sure they will tell you if:
a) they allow guests (many hotels do not, or charge outrageously for the "privdlege")
b) they charge a fee and how much it is - don't scoff - this is important - Holiday Inn downtown last I heard charges a guest fee of $75, and Sleep Inn $35....hell, even whore central, the Hotel DelRey charges $10 - and remember the 13.??% tax on the whole deal
c) I don't know about you, but I will not give my business to places who merely "tolerate" me

Overall - and not always - if the hotel is never mentioned - like the place you have in mind - nor is a sponsor - chances are they don't want our business (you don't want to learn the hard way how little of Costa Rica caters to sex tourism, but its a fact.

Now, based on a lot of trips over a lot of years, and putting 2 and 2 together, I'd guess its a really poor choice, and they don't seek out type of business, and parading whores through their lobby is not what they had in mind - but I'll freely admit I could be wrong - but I don't think I am.

Have the courtesy to check with the hotel, and post back what you find out - although I'm not holding my breath on a new hotel alternative

Scuba: "First, do a little research.....yes, that's right - even in this "entitled" era, sometimes you have to do it on your own, and take point on something you want answered."

Ought to be a sticky here, especially with the power of google, etc, or searching even with the diminished search data bank we have now inherited. And too many of them are one-and-done guys who are never heard from again. Shoot, everybody has an a smart phone and google shit like cunnilingus--they can't google this hotel and then call them?

We need new guys and alot of CRT guys offer generous amt's of time welcoming newb's , answering essentially "spoon feed me" q's. But I quit helpin the feeders unless I believe they ain't going to find the answer on google or by reading and searching the board and I just happen to know about that part of the country or the answer to the unique equation.

Remember the K*D that supposedly had a chic he wan't sure about in Quepos? Or the guy a few months ago that was stuck in a fancy resort near CoCo miles from any action for a gringo wedding wedding but still wanted to play? A number of guys responded to both these feeders. Never heard from either of them again. Not even thanks, or even that it was shit advice.

Ought to be an auto email-response to newb's posts regardless.

I hear you, 'D

I've long since thought the sites search function is difficult, so I seldom recommend it.

I'm not sure the OP is not the "T" word, or a sock puppet - but I could be wrong, plus this type of question comes up frequently (mater of fact, thread about one of the Marriotts going on right now).

I've also learned that what seems like common sense - uh, lets see.....no mention of the place ever on CRT, or other such sites, they are not a sponsor, they are near the most monger non friendly hotel in town, the Hotel National......

Lets see.....should I call or e mail them to get the correct response since no one is likely to know jack about this place - nah, that would make far too much sense - lets see if we can get a thread going where a bunch who really don't know for sure respond and the OP right in the same position he is in now.

Call the place and ask - but again, I'm betting they are not "friendly"

Hi guys,
Scuba, thanks for the feedback. Obviously stumbled onto some hard feelings about postings from "newbies" on here. "Yawp" comes from a Walt Whitman poem about living you life on your terms (http://www.bartleby.com/142/14.html).
I will call the hotel etc but in terms of entitlement and research that's why I joined as VIP so I could get feedback from guys that had been there- not just about policy but how's the hotel etc. I did use the search engine here and it came up blank so I posted a question.
I have not been able to log in to forums as a VIP. I understand there is sometimes a delay. I emailed ADMIN and understand that this is a busy time of year but have not heard back. No worries, but I signed in with the name I got when I got divorced last year. Yawp2012.
Again, thanks for the the insight as far as this site and I will let you know how my stay goes.

Reply:Shoot, everybody has an a smart phone and google shit like cunnilingus--they can't google this hotel and then call them?

Yep. I sure can. Not sure why I just paid for a membership.

OK, so let us know what you learned.

I'm staying there Wednesday and Thursday this week. I'll post immediately following on what I think of the place, bringing chicas back etc (and yes policies).

I gotta stand on my previous advice - I've never (and I've been a traveler to CR since the 90's and a CRT member for over 6 years, and I've never even heard of the place - which makes me think they don't want our business - but as I've also posted......I could be wrong).

Before I go to a place I know little about, if bringing guests was something I might want to do - I'd find out what their deal is up front - and as they have no rep on CRT, not a sponsor, well, I call them and ask what the deal is and if there is a cost for guests - I think using common sense, its not a place that is going to welcome guests, but I would want to know for sure. It would piss me off to stay in such a place, especially if I had other options, which you do - how did you learn about this hotel in the first place? Because unless I mieed something, I've never seen the place even mentioned on the board - it just seems an odd choice, when so many others who welcome our business are sponsors and talked about frequently.

(For example, as I mentioned, the Holiday Inn welcomes guests - at $75 a pop, plus tax )

Sometimes the phrasing of the question is the issue, but I try to share info whenever I can - some take issue with how its phrased - and we have had a spate lately of trolls. But I have zero problem with newbi's - just respond better when someone has done some research, then asks questions - but if you are for real - and I'm taking your word for it - welcome. And let us know what the hotel says - in fact, if you are up for advice, call them and let us know what they say about guests - you don't want to stay there if they are "unfriendly", and there are plenty of other places that would welcome your business



Remember the K*D that supposedly had a chic he wan't sure about in Quepos? Or the guy a few months ago that was stuck in a fancy resort near CoCo miles from any action for a gringo wedding wedding but still wanted to play? A number of guys responded to both these feeders. Never heard from either of them again. Not even thanks, or even that it was shit advice.

Yes, my friend, I do remember both of the situations above - I also remember when I pointed out the K*D as a troll, and the gringo wedding guy as wanting to something very ill advised, I took some flack from some of the guys - but I was right, on both counts.

You know, we can't mandate courtesy, and as its a message board, I don't get overly twisted when someone takes a shot, or they post an opinion that is just plain incorrect (not talking about an opinion).

Hey Yawp, just looking at their website, I doubt it, but let us know.

I'd say why take the chance and stick with the well known regular places we know like us, some of which are very nice.

Stayed there about 3 years ago but it was under a different name. Sorry but I don't recall the previous name. In a nutshell, I thought the place was awful. It's right on Avenia Central so you get all of that traffic noise during the day. It's also next to a plaza so if there's something going on there, you'll get that noise as well. Rooms are small. Beds are hard. And the water is not incredibly hot. Also, WiFi is slow at best. Since it's located mid block, you'll have to get dropped off at the corner and walk a bit to get to the entrance. I was so miserable ther, I made up an excuse that I had a family emergency and had to leave despite that fact that I had a reservation for a full week. Decided to go to the Raddison despite the higher cost. On the bright side, I entered with my Chica without question. If I can remember the old name, I'll pass it along. Of course, being 3 years and a name change, there may be new ownership and some things may have changed but I don't think you can do anything about the location issues.

Yawp, bail K*D bail. Get over to, in alphabetical order, Amistad, Dunn Inn, Mona Lisa, Scores, SL, Zona2 sorry if I left somebody's fav out which I may have w/out intent, but these mentioned are all better accommodations, and better location if your main thing is going to be chasing it in the gulch.

Or check-in there for one night and visit all the above and switch to where you like, but that is a pain and some of them fill up.

Anyway, welcome and let us know what happenend.

Didn't notice at first you bought into CRT which would give you a presumption of not being a "one and done" non contributer when their trip was over that has annoyed many of us. You'll see guys here bend over backwards to help new guys, even non CRT buyers, if they see see some contributions to the record.

Stayed there 4 different times. Decent place. It is noisey. If you get a room with a balcony facing the street get it on a upper level as the noise is a problem. The cab driver from the airport will not know where the hotel is. Have him drop you off at the Gran Hotel Costa Rica and walk around the back. It is next to the grocerystore I remember paying around $52 a nite but I had a friend of mine nog the price. There was never a charge for company unless they stayed all nite. At nite the taxi will pull rite up to the door. During the day they will drop you off on the corner. Always take their business cards with you as the taxis will NOT know where this place is. I enjoyed my stays there.

I must add it would not be my first choice. There are better locations.

I would take the advice of mongers like DGD and bail. Despite the good review on Trip Advisor, I would trust what is said on this site more! Why risk it? Just go to one of our preferred locations, you won't go wrong.