BangBang57 wrote:
Just a couple of comments concerning netgem's and Sirlm's posts.
(1) If the rooms at the REY are ALWAYS full why did they cut the price in half during the US depression and STILL have not raised the price back up? Why is it that even when other popular venues are full you can still get a last minute room at the REY?? A very reliable source has stated that over the last 2 years the REY has averaged less than 60% occupancy!!!
(2) The REY and Sirlm"s "business model": It is a Gringo owned business dealing (mostly) with Gringos! If it had been aimed towards the Ticos from the beginning it would have never succeeded nor lasted. JMHO
I've been coming to the HDR since 2004, every year except 2007 thru 2009 when I lived here, the average rooms were around 45$ or so a night back then and they are about $55 a night now, I never saw them above this amount except for December and early January which all hotels raise their prices I believe.
I doubt HDR occupancy is as low as 60%, I'm no expert but every time I'm there and hanging around the front desk, sitting and watching the cavalcade of chicas, guys are constantly checking in, it's always bustling and busy.
I will say I once decided to stay at SL and called two weeks in advance and all the good rooms were booked, the girl taking reservations tried to trick us into the noisy rooms in the front but I caught her lying

, then called HDR and got our normal rooms. One time my crew decided on short notice, 3 days, to head down, the HDR was filled then, we ended up staying at Presidente, a beautiful hotel but liars on chica visitation policy, everyone stay away from them !!!!
It's a hoot if you love being in the belly of the beast, tripping the light fantastic and seeing and having access at all times to the most chicas possible, but if you like quieter, classier surroundings in nicer neighborhoods (although Zona, Mona and Scores neighborhood is just as suspect to me, SL and Amistad are nicer) with friendlier more personal staff, the other places are better choices. The majority of guys who stay at HDR are repeat visitors as opposed to the "theory" it's all rube newbies, I talk to many of these guys every visit, they don't know or care about CRT and the "prevailing wisdom". They continue to stay there, have fun, get laid and party down...
