www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Netgems. there are two types of strip/night clubs (Actually 3 if you add in the non P4P places where the "hunt" is on!!). There are the places like Elite(De Pelufo Paseo Colon), Tango India, Hollywood (heard it was closed-can someone confirm?, Lipstick) that are worse than rip-offs!! Funny thing- many of these places (they have come and gone over the years) are Gringo owned!!! And there are the Tico owned clubs where prices are reasonable, service is generally good, chicas are a mixture from hot to cold, crowd is mostly Tico, and the facilities are not generally up to USA standards! I am now an Old fart and seldom go to these places anymore but a few years ago there was nothing more fun than going to le Grillon, Pandera Rosa, Arcadas, and others with a group of other guys!! Many, many fantastic memories. Actually my favorite night time place was the old Park Hotel-now that was a great place especially on Thursday night!!! I never have felt ripped off, never was robbed, never felt any fear from the "non gringo surroundings", and ALWAYS had a great time!!!

Once again I will say "most all who do have a problem on the streets here are DRUNK, wearing loud cloths which attracts attention and says "I am a dumb tourist", wearing expensive jewelry and carrying cameras, smartphones, and other costly gadgets that you don't need on the streets (keep them hidden away in your pockets), and, worst of all, they were being loud and stupid!!! Don't do things to attract anymore attention than being a gringo already does, and you are much, much less likely to have a problem anywhere in any country!!!

Now my comment "non Gringo surroundings" brings up another subject that has been alluded to in this thread and many others. At the risk of upsetting and even making some "mad" I must say many Gringos who come here are afraid of their own shadow!! I know it is human nature to be apprehensive of the strange, the different, the unknown, but God, there are a lot of (sorry) "pussies" who come here. My comment to those so afraid that they never get out and explore and enjoy the "out of the way" places, and never walk anywhere here - "Stay at home and spend your money on the Gringa and Asian (AMPs) prostitutes"!!!!

THIS IS A 3RD (or 2nd depending on who you believe) WORLD COUNTRY . Why in hell would anyone come here expecting (and only wanting) everything to be just like it is in "small town USA". No, it is not going to be as clean and sanitary as you might be use to-I have seen many places in the USA just a dirty as places here. No, it is not 100% safe in some areas and at some times of the day/night-Every major city in the USA has the same type places and the overall crime rates are higher than here. Yes, you might get sick eating in some places--The US over-protection programs are the culprit in this case-Gringos are so over protected that the "good" bacteria in their bodies have been destroyed!! I have been going to, and living in 3rd world countries since I was 20. I have always eaten in the local (street vendors and back ally) places, have drank the water, have gone to "shitty" places that most Gringos would never go, have had sex in some places that would make 6th street here look like Rodeo Drive!!! and I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN SICK ( sorry, once in Cancun in a very "American" 5 star restaurant) from what I ate, food or otherwise , Have never gotten an STD (only in the USA did that ever happen to me), and I have never been robbed nor even felt threatened (was pick pocketed once getting off a bus, but I was being very carless at the moment!! and that happens in the USA much more frequently than here!!!

I have been coming here for 20 years and living here the last 8. I walked thru Morazon Park very late every night I was ever here before moving here (and that was before they put in the lights). I walk from the SL to my bus stop a block down the hill past the REY quite often at night. I have probably spent more hours walking the streets of downtown San Jose than any other 10 Gringos combined. I have spent many hours (day and night) in 15 de Septembre de Hatillo and have never been bothered nor even felt fear (I know I am stupid -according to some here) . BUT, I do not go out on the streets drunk, I do not wear cloths that attract attention, I do not carry nor wear anything expensive. I do not act like a tourist, but rather I walk with purpose and like I know exactly where I am going, AND, most important, I am not loud and boisterous, I am not the "better than everyone else Gringo", I am polite and courteous, I speak to people I meet on the streets, even the trannies , and I HAVE NEVER HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM!!

Yes, I could have a problem today (I am going to 6th street alone!!!) but guess what? In my opinion risk is a part of enjoying life. You are more likely to die from a car accident in the USA than from a ladron on the streets of Chepe!!!! Would you tell a mountain climber he should take a helicopter to the top a the mountain instead of climbing it, denying him the thrill of discovery

The one thing that really upsets me is when I hear "Well I am on vacation and I am going to act and dress any way I want!!" God, but that is asking for trouble whether here or ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD!!! So what if you are an "AMERICAN" - they could care less!! And by the way here in Costa Rica (and in most other Latin 'AMERICAN' countries, most of these people (their families) HAVE BEEN 'AMERICANS' MUCH LONGER THAN YOU OR YOUR FAMILY HAVE BEEN! YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY "AMERICANS'

All this said, EVERYONE SHOULD DO WHAT MAKES THEM COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY!! But preaching fear because of a very small number of incidences relatively speaking, condemning a place with very little actual first hand knowledge (but a lot of hearsay), and telling people to NEVER walk anywhere in Chepe is just plain stupid! Advise them of what you think is best for YOU but do not tell them that if you walk you will get robbed, knifed, shot, etc!! And NO, I am not recommending that newbies (nor anyone who does not feel comfortable) walk at night here!!!! I am just saying that "life is a risk" and if you do not sometimes take that risk, is it really worth living??

Good post BB. I concur with nearly everything you stated. The Hatillos aren't too bad. Around 2000, I had a favorita who lived there (Hatillo 8?). Still, I don't think I'd walk around some sections of Desamparados or the downtown Best Western late at night.
Did you ever win one of the free BJs at the old Park Hotel? I'll bet after your first time there, you never sat in the front row

This mentality has served me well. I've done over 70 trips to CR (about 60), Colombia, Dom Rep, Thailand, and Europe, and biz trips to India and Taiwan. I may seem like a pu*sy to you, but to me it's just smart thinking. $2-3 cab ride is no big deal since it guarantees that I won't run into the wrong guy on my way back. I have not had any trouble anywhere. I dealt with enough violence growing up in Brooklyn to have any desire to have to deal with that shit again. All it take is one time, wrong place, definitely wrong time (10pm-4am), and you could be regretting your decision. On Friday, my CR brother-in-law found out about the dangers of the night. Attempted motorcycle-jacking turned into a bullet in the backside that lodged in the interstines and may now have to shit in a bag for the rest of his life. There's a reason why guys who have been coming here for years and years all (most) give the same advice. The streets are not safe at night. Period!

You have what about 4 trips under your belt and already you are telling newbies to walk back to their hotels at night? If you had been around in late 2000's, you would know what I mean by machetes. There was a guy on this board that used to brag about having no fear walking about from HDR to the Prez with all the gold and rings on after midnight. Well, one day it caught up with him. 2 guys with machetes came out from the shadows as he turned down the block from HDR and relieved him of all his fancy jewelry. Grant it, most guys'who walk at night don't flash gold, but it's a similar mindset. BTW, criminals still carry and use them. Even if you think you are not advising anybody to walk home at night, the mere fact that you mention doing it will give newbies, who don't know better, the idea that it's safe to do so; you don't have to explicitly state it.

I'm glad that the guys who walk at night have mostly not been robbed or hurt, I really do, I don't wish harm on anybody. But to mention it to newbies is a bit irresponsible. Why even mention it, just keep it to yourself. Don't give some wide eyed newbie an idea. That's all I'm saying.