www.CostaRicaTicas.com

In 2 words: A Dump.

I needed a place on short notice and wanted to be in Barrio Amon and wound up here for just 1 night, Thank God. It's really too bad because from the outside it looks like this place has charm. Even the lobby area and small seating area where the bar is is passable. But the rooms? A very different story. It's OK if all you need is a bed for the night but let me say: I think the mattresses are made of straw. The quality of the furnishings is as cheesy and cheap as can be. JUNK...absolute JUNK. Now the shower: I dared to take a shower. Turned on the warm water 1st (which typically tends to be lower pressure). Then I turned on the cold water and BANG!!! The entire fixture flew out of the wall and just barely missed my head. The sink was a loose fitted sink placed on top of a stand and wasn't fixed to anything. You could just pick it up and move it. The armoire in the room was a piece of cheap junk with doors so stuck I couldn't open for fear of breaking them. I have nothing against cheap if your only objective is being cheap but I thought I would write this for those that may be contemplating a stay there. Again, it's unfortunate because it seems like a place that if someone were to invest some $$$ could turn it into a really charming B&B or something like that. Cost, as I recall was $60.

They are no longer chica friendly so none of this matters much to most of us on this board....Bill

Surprised anyone that has on this board for at least 6 months would even walk in the place....no reviews...no advertising....nothing...the 1000's of times that I have walked past the place ....I never seen anyone go in or out ...looks like a dump from the sidewalk ....at $60 ....wtf ...did u look at the room before u paid

it's a hostel. I've seen young people and groups of 'real tourists' come clamoring out of the place.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

also, the last chump that ran the place named Calvin, ran off with lots of unpaid bills. He had a history of screwing people around the gulch including Bill at the sportsman, when he tried a real estate fair about 7 years ago. He collected advertising money for a brochure and then took off with the dough and never produced the fair. He also ran a small hotel near Zona 2 and took off with the money there as well but managed to move right up the hill to Hemingway

Un fortunately he dodged the wrath of the CRT army on this one too.

He can now be found in Medellin....I imagine working on his next scam

We can only hope he gets what's coming to him there and gets eaten alive.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

One trip I foolishly arrived an evening early on a night flight without phoning ahead and to my surprise, my reservation at HDR which started the next day couldn't accommodate me. SL and numerous places were booked and I saw Hemmingway was only $35 or so, I figured save some money since I would be in and out in the morning. BIG MISTAKE.

The room smelled like 5 guys had been chain smoking in there for 3 months non stop, I gagged. It was weird, 4 beat up twin beds that all smelled like giant cigarette packs and sweat. It was about two steps up from a jail cell and equally depressing, the tico at the desk could care less and informed me that's what you get for $35, by then I was willing to pay anything to upgrade but all their other rooms were taken. I seriously contemplated crashing on the couch in the HDR lobby by the check in desk...

I walked across the street to a really nice classy hotel called Don Carlos, they are not chica friendly but I just wanted one nights sleep in a civilized environment. Thankfully they had a room for $50, I booked it and went back to Hemingway's to grab my bag and run, the punk at the desk told me I would have to talk to the manager to get my $35 back the next day, he kind of gave me the impression it would be futile, I didn't bother and now tell every one I know never NEVER go there...Old man Hemingway must be spinning in his grave knowing that sh*t hole is named after him....

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

I had a feeling some of the CR "businessmen" would be refugees migrating south to more fertile hunting grounds.

I find this report interesting.

Over Halloween a couple CRT members had to spend a couple nights at Hemingway and I saw their rooms. While not in the Sportsmen's or La Amistad or Dunn's Inn area of quality I thought they were livable for a night or two and didn't hear any major complaints.

I believe there was a chica fee if you talked to the front desk girls but by talking to the new owner or manager before you pay your bill (he is a Gringo, seemed like a standup guy) that can be worked around. He said he would make sure the guys were taken care of as long as they kept it discreet.

Thanks for the report.

Wit