www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I just spent the past two nights in what use to be the Mona Lisa. The place is a disaster. I would rate it worse than the average Motel 6. The room rate is probably too high considering the conditions. The new ownership either does not care if they keep the current clientele or has no clue about what they are doing. I suspect both. They can’t be this stupid. I left Costa Rica a month and a half ago and just returned. When I left it was bad but upon return I found that things that were working were the first things that they screwed up. When I left you could get food, gamble and comfortably sit around a nice bar. They shut down the restaurant completely. You can’t even get coffee. The poker game and casino were at least there if you wanted to play. They erected an ugly sheetrock wall four feet from the back of the main bar, making sitting on that side claustrophobic. They shut down the back bar. This they did before addressing the issues that should have received attention years ago.
Now the rumor is they plan to raise the price in June. If they do this they will enjoy the space they have to remodel. No customers will be in their way. I can think of three reasons to stay there.
1. Cheap but you get what you pay for.
2. Chica friendly
3. Friendly staff that tries to please with what they have to work with that need the job.
Here are the reasons not to stay in what use to be the Mona Lisa.
1. Absolute terrible management with nobody on the premises actually accepting responsibility for anything or with the authority to solve problems.
2. Continual problems with the building. One day the key system doesn’t work (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), the next day it is the hot water or air conditioning. The internet only works in a select few areas of the building. The cable TV did not work in my room over the weekend. It is rare if a safe or refrigerator works (neither worked in my room this weekend). Even if a safe worked, they are not fastened down.
3. The carpet looks to be over 10 years old. The drapery in my room was full of holes. Holes in the walls are common.
4. There are drop ceilings in many rooms that allow access from adjacent rooms. If you open a window and it is windy, the panels in these ceilings actually blow out of the frames causing noise in the ceiling above you and giving you the impression that someone has entered your room while you were gone. The closed circuit TV system has wires loose on the third floor and looks questionable as to if it is actually working. For sure nobody is monitoring it.
5. The idiots closed the restaurant. Now you can’t even get coffee or a cheap continental breakfast, or bar food in the bar. Motel 6 does a better job of customer service.
6. The casino and card game are closed.
7. A room there now costs $39 plus tax ($45). If their price gets within $25 of the competition they are overpriced. Check out the room prices at the Dunn Inn, LaAmistad and Sportsmans for a basic room. Actually for what the hotel offers at this moment, the Hotel Vesuvio is a better deal.
A month and a half ago, I was promoting the Mona Lisa as a good deal because it appeared to be heading in the right direction. I can’t say that at this point. I hope they get their act together.

so i take it you didn't enjoy your stay there?

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

I never understood why people raved about it before, a good friend of mine stays there for a month at a time two or three times a year. The girls there are average to below average, the food was lousy, management is sketchy neigborhood is shitty. I went there this past saturday and was talking to a guy staying there and he told me he was enjoying it even though the internet and card keys were'nt working. To each his own i guess....

The answer is PRICE!

For some folks that is the most important criteria…same applies to chicas and chica venues.

But other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

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Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an accordion.

Actually I think somebody there may have read my post. I had a new friend there over the weekend and actually observed coffee available in the lobby in the morning and a tremendous amount of work taking place. I talked with Guy Grand and if what he says are in the works takes place it may be move over Del Rey. The plans are to remodel all the rooms. The fourth floor is currently closed for complete room overhaul. I observed a crew installing new cables for the tv system today in the garage. In the past it was rare to see anyone working. My friend said the a/c worked great in his room. The restaurant is reported to be ready just waiting for final permits. The verdict is still out but it looks like good things are on the horizon. Add this to the remodeled Castillo and I suspect there will then be enough pressure that the Del Rey too is forced to upgrade. This could be stimulus enough to get the scene moving more in the right direction in San Jose.

Dropped by the ML on the evening of Wednesday, May 6, 2015. Outside, the street directly in front of the hotel was completely blocked off by the police (my taxi had to stop short of the hotel), who were investigating a crime. Inside, the place was dead as a dodo.

Yes and no. I spent the night there that night, and the next night. There weren't a lot of girls but I had one I met in the bar that took up my time for two days with strenuous demands for sex. Plus I was able to import one fromSL and another from KL during my stay. Very pleasant 48 hours.
The crime by the way was a murder in Morazan park at 430p that day (according to El Extra) and they caught the suspects near the Mona Lisa.

I stayed here twice and had to move out the second time because there was no internet for 2 days. After hearing from Helmut last week that the prices are going to be going up to the $70.00's soon since the new management has taken over, I doubt I'll be staying there again. BUT....I'll still be visiting the bar.

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I am NOT a Cien Boy!!

I was by there the other day and noticed the degree of construction going on. They were pulling wires for cable and internet, hauling acoustical tile and sheetrock debri out through the garage. I peaked into the casino and that area had been completely gutted and was in the process of being rebuilt the forth floor was closed and all of the rooms were undergoing complete remodeling. According to Sir Guy, the cost increase is not suppose to go into effect until the construction is complete and the needed improvements are operational (restaurant, internet, cable, security, safes, room renovations). Complete all of this and the rooms will be a good value at $70. Until then $39 is about right.

Just checked out yesterday. Initially 4 thumbs down but things improved. Ice cold air, hot shower, good maid service. Internet was spotty on the third floor but I just use it for music for the chicas. Gave me a fridge after I requested it. A few chicas 6-9's in the evening no fee. Nice bar and barmaid with a bangin' body, I could take a sip and look at that all night. Couldn't believe I got a delux for 50 bucks total with credit card.Wasn't looking to do Costa Rica on a budget, but a friend recommended this place me. It's definately gonna get better. I'll stay again next trip.

I've never stayed at ML, mainly because of the reviews and problems listed here over the past couple of years.
I am a mid-range budget person, so I am always looking for a good deal, but I honestly don't understand why someone would take their chances at a place that has consistent reports of broken or not working features in a room. Security issues are a non-starter for me. There are hostels with private rooms, including A/C and hot showers, that are located literally a block to a few blocks from 360 Paseo Colon and a couple other MPs that are in much better shape than ML is at this point!
I have stayed twice at the Dunn Inn. Although the rooms and staff are nice, I agree that Dunn Inn's room prices are on the high end, unless you book through Hotels.com. There you can get a deluxe room for $57, plus tax.

The last time I stayed at Dunn Inn a decent breakfast was included.
It is quiet and well managed. I agree prices are on the higher end of the scale but not the highest in the gulch.

Did the restaurant open as yet?

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I am NOT a Cien Boy!!

I was there yesterday and the restaurant had not opened. I would say that the current condition of remodeling will be in effect for several months in the hotel. The employees put out rumors that everything will be done in a month but looking at where the construction stands from the viewpoint of having done remodeling there's no way. I suspect the $39 room rate will hold until the fall. I remember being told the Castillo would reopen in April. Things don't move as smoothly here in Costa Rica as most people are accustomed to in the States. Things get done. It just takes time.