www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I am planning my first trip to CR, Sep 14-17. I've done a little reading and it seems Morazán is a budget friendly option without chica fees. I plan on mongering and playing poker at HDR.

I was wondering how the walk is from HDR to Morazán? I hear its right across the street, but I do hear there is a lot of riff raff in front of HDR. I will be walking back and forth with large amounts of cash (gambling) and locking cash promptly in a safe... but is it risky to be spotted in the casino with money, and potentially followed as I exit HDR to go to Morazán?

I am also debating getting the VIP membership and booking SL... but I am reading that for first timers, enjoying HDR is a must. Would safety be improved if I were to stay in SL, and only cab to casinos? I am looking to play texas holdem so I would be travelling with atleast $500 US cash at any moment (more if I win).

1. Get a VIP membership and read everything in the VIP section.

2. Budget? La Amistad is the best deal in town. Queen room (basic) with the all inclusive (meals, booze, laundry). You gotta eat. No fees.

3. SL is a great environment. I'm staying there 28 Aug - 1 Sep. Zona II is also good and the 3rd floor rooms at Taormina are probably equal cost-wise to the Morazan and probably nicer. All have no fees.

4. The walk from the Morazan to the HDR is a block. The riff-raff are there but don't bother me (after the clamoring crowds in in the markets in Kinshasa and Kolwezi, I am an expert in projecting 'no mas').

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

Also don't understand your last paragraph.

You can stay at SL and 'enjoy the HDR' - there's isn't a rule that SL guests can't 'enjoy the HDR'. They do all the time.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

Stay at the HDR. Morazan and HDR room prices are similar.

All very helpful, thanks!

By "enjoy HDR" I mean that HDR will be a daily destination as I will be playing poker. I am mainly trying to cut down on chica fees, and most importantly stay safe.

SL seems to be the hotel of choice for the experienced, and I would be taking cabs door to door, which may be safer than walking the block to Morazán late at night.

HDR rooms are priced way above Morazan unless you call them and specifically ask about discount rates. Otherwise they charge 79-109 for the base rooms.

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

The one block walk from HDR to Morazan is perfectly safe 24 hours a day...unless you're drunk-silly!

The HDR charges a chica fee.

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Any opinion or observation in the post above is purely presented for entertainment purposes and does not promote "sexual tourism" or "human trafficking". The laws of Costa Rica apply to all activities in Costa Rica. No warranty is expressed or implied. Void where prohibited by law. Your experience, observations or perspective may be different.

In exile in pu*sy prison

Thanks for all the tips! I think I will end up booking Zona II. The owner contacted me with a great deal and I think it is still close to all the good mongering spots.... rooms seem nicer.

My two cents. I'd book either Sportsmen's or Amistad and just taxi it down the short 5-7 min ride. I usually just walk during the day.

None of your choices are "bad."

Lots of "great deals" being offered recently at Z2...things must be pretty slow in the old gulch.

No.actuly things are really good
I just offered a brand new member to CRT the green season rate that he miss out on by booking 14 days late.
Is that a bad thing Brandon
Jim

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Living The Dream

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This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No "tourist or travel" promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided any compensation for this hopefully entertaining contribution. Any posts regarding any event or hotel item are just my humble opinions only.

It's actually great for our new friend...was just wondering how busy the season is...seems like all hobby hotels have excess capacity in the gulch at this time of the year; that even with the Dunn Inn off line for us!

We are just starting to come out of the green season that is traditional the slower part of the year for us but that being said looking at my past 3 years here and speaking with Bill and Matt we all agree that this years slow season seems to be better then the past couple of years
As far as the Dunn inn I spoke to victor personally that is a business decision that was made by them and the direction they want to base their bussiness model after for now you can't fault them it's there bussiness hopefully thing will revert back in the future
We all try different things sometimes they work for the better other times they don't only time will tell
In general I think it's getting better then it was 2 years ago but it is no where close to where it was 10years ago I don't know if it will ever go back to that but there is always hope
Jim

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Living The Dream

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This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No "tourist or travel" promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided any compensation for this hopefully entertaining contribution. Any posts regarding any event or hotel item are just my humble opinions only.

Thanks for the seasonal update...glad to hear that in general it is picking up. Best to you!