www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Would any of you gents in the know care to compare and contrast these two venues, regarding primarily atmosphere, available girls and overall mongering fun. I am fairly familiar with SL but wanting to explore the MDE scene (vis a vie, mansion based) in the near future. Thanks for any valuable insight!

The most obvious difference between Hotel M (aka Medellin Mansion) and Sportsmens Lodge is that the former is essentially "guests only" whereas Sportsmens Lodge is a bar/restaurant/hotel open to the public. Working girls are "invited" to Hotel M by guests or members of management as opposed to the Sportsmens where ladies, who have been vetted (and not banned), can come and go as they please. Hotel M has a converted garage bar that is open to guests and invited working girls. In the past, non-guests could pay a cover fee for the privilege of entering the Hotel M bar. I've stayed at SL numerous times, but only visited "the Mansion" twice as a guest, but never lodged there. With respect to accommodations, if I had to select between the two, I would pick Sportsmens Lodge.

Also, lets not forget the difference in owners, Bill of the SL being a great owner who cares about his guests whereas @@@@####@@@!!

There really is no comparison. They are very different entities. SL is a hotel, restaurant, bar with working girls coming and going at will, while the Mansion is more like an invitation only bed and breakfast. BlueDevil gave a good description. Since you seem to know about the SL, I'll try to give you some pluses and minuses of the Mansion as I see it.

If you've never been to MDE before, the Mansion would be a good choice for your first trip. Especially if you don't speak much spanish, aren't going with a group of friends, or you are not the type that is comfortable in new and unfamiliar surroundings. MDE in general is quite different from CR.

I stayed at both the Mansion and Castillo (or whatever they are calling themselves this month) many times during the first few years of going to MDE. You will pay a premium there over what it would cost staying elsewhere, but you are paying that for being in a controlled and more familiar environment. The staff speaks english, they will give you the scoop on things to do, there are drivers available, the girls are vetted, etc.

It is much smaller and there are many less people around the facility than the SL, and this can be a double edged sword. You can meet some really good guys staying there and have built in wingmen, and you can also meet some real douchebags. If you are going with a group of friends this won't be as much of an issue but if it is just you alone or with 1 or 2 buddies it can be.

I've met some great guys there that I remain very good friends with to this day, and will no doubt be life long friends. I've also met my share of flaming assholes. And because the common areas are not very large it is difficult to get away from the assholes. It's luck of the draw.

The other thing about the Mansion properties that also was a major negative for me was their internet was really flaky. There was not a single time I stayed there over the course of 2 years where the internet worked the entire time. Usually it was out for extended periods at least several days during each trip. Sometimes it was out for hours at a time. If you depend on the internet for work like I do, that can be really bad and is certainly extremely inconvenient.

They standard thing they would say when it went out was "it's Colombia, that's just the way it is" but quite frankly that's bullshit. Since I've been staying in apartments I've found the internet to be much more reliable than it ever was at the Mansion properties. And in all fairness I haven't stayed there in a few years now so they may have gotten that fixed, I don't know.

A big plus to staying at the Mansion is that one of the owners, ElCastilloJefe on this board, is a real MP aficionado and expert on the MDE MP scene. He is also a very nice and mellow guy. And he will give tours of the various MP's to the guests. If you like the MP scene this is a major perk. The MP scene in MDE is extremely extensive, varied and diverse. The quality for the price can be amazing at times. Way better than CR in my opinion. It's not even close. But it is not easy for a newbie to navigate. ElCastilloJefe will show you the ropes and get you off to a good start. However if this is important to you, you would want to make sure he's going to be there as he is in the US for extended periods at various times.

The last thing I would mention is that the actual accommodations at the Mansion properties were pretty worn and dated when I stayed there. The apartments generally offer a much higher level of luxury and modern amenities at a much better price. I heard that the Mansion is renovating their properties but I'm not sure when or how far along they are. But that's the trade off you make. In summary I would say that if you are looking to dip your toes into the MDE waters, the Mansion would a good place for your initial trip assuming you are good with the pluses and minuses above.

Skosh, your analysis of MM is excellent and from the perspective of a "vet."

Thanks a lot Blue Devil and Skosh for your knowledgable input...I am really looking forward to spending a few days in MDE. I'll be going by myself and will definitely base our of the Mansion!

There is no comparison.

One is a business whose owner appreciates your business and the other is a business whose owners feel that they are entitled to your business.

I think we all know which is which.

Orange +1000

I have never been to the Mansion but I have been to SL and Bill runs a first class place. I always feel welcomed and safe there.

YMMV.

Living in SJO, I've never stayed at the SL, but Bill is a good friend and perfect host to us expats who stop in for a brew, a bite, a game or a gal.

I've also stayed at The Mansion more than a dozen times, and Boyd, Roberto, Greg and their staff always been very friendly and attentive. Had to make two consecutive last minute cancellations. No problem whatsoever, no penalty-my deposit was just forwarded to my next stay.

Both places are great in different ways.

_________________
It's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money--Tom T. Hall
No man is a failure who is enjoying life--William Faulkner

"Aussie" Greg is no longer at the Mansion. A big loss because he was truly one of the guys!