www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi,

I've booked my first trip to Costa Rica in June.

I was originally planning on staying in San Jose for a few days and then Jaco for a few days. My main reason for going to Jaco was for the beach and getting some sun. It turns out I have booked a really busy week in Jaco where everything is already booked or overpriced.

I really don't mind spending the entire week in San Jose but I was hoping to be able to lay around by a pool outdoors and get some sun. Is this possible in San Jose? I currently have a room at the Holiday Inn (points) and will book a room at Taormina but the pool at the Holiday Inn looks like its indoors.

Thanks in advance,

Rosycross

There are no pools in any chica-friendly hotels. I believe that Santo Tomas has an outdoor pool. But the hotel is named Saint Thomas, enough said. Holiday Inn is NOT chica friendly. If you try to bring a chica back to your room, they will charge you something like $70 or 80.

Thanks for the response.

I've gone ahead and booked at Croc's despite the price. Hopefully it's worth it.

Thanks,

Rosycross

Pools.

There's lots of hotels in La Sabana with outdoor pools. My favorite La Sbana hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn, but it's 14th floor pool can be windy.

Resort Martino, which is in La Garita de Alujuela has a spectacular pool.

Both of the above had no problems with mi novia as a registered guest*. Resort Martino says that they have a $20 guest fee (and guests are limited to rooms and the pool). But it's a long way out and most HDR chicas aren't going to want to go out there for normal rates / normal times.

There was a thread about La Sabana area "not chica hostile" hotels.

*Except for the one gringo security guy at the Hilton Garden Inn one night - it was hilarious the way mi novia put him in his place. Of course, she was on a roll that night - having consumed all the carne at Fogo Brazil (the manager came over to see where it was all going!).

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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

You picked the right hotel for a killer pool.. if you are going to be seeking female companionship, you will need to cab it ($4/2 mil at night) to the Cocal and then cab it back. If that is your plan, I recommend women who are dressed a little more 'classy' and a little less 'sexy/nasty'. Also, you will most likely be politely asked.. not to bring a 'friend' back before 6 pm. Croc's pool is the best I have seen in CR!!

I'm sure you will have a great time at Crocs. I've never stayed there but did stop in to look around during my last trip to Jaco. Very impressive.

As an earlier poster stated, the Hotel Santo Tomas has a pool. The hotel is not guest friendly but you can go there and get a day pass to use the pool and gym (outdoor). It is a short walk from most of the "gringo" hotels. I think the last time I was there that was about $8 though I am sure it is negotiable.

Thanks for the responses.

It turns out that there was space available at Cocal it just wasn't showing available on the website. Looks like I'll now be in the centre of the action!

Rosycross.

Cocal is a great choice. There are other good choices but I also like being in the center of the action.

The Cocal website is a bit confusing. The “Make a Reservation” link only lists the Condos at Vista Mar that are available, not rooms at Cocal? At least that is what I have experienced.

Dealing with Cocal reservations can be difficult. They promise to send confirmation by email and it never happens until a call back. Make sure you get a confirmation number and a statement Reservation Status: Valid ( Confirmed). They will make the initial reservation and assign a reservation number but it will be Reservation Status: Valid (Not Confirmed) until they receive deposit.

I’m used to assuming that receiving a reservation number is a confirmation that everything is done. With Cocal they have the intermediate ground of Valid (Not Confirmed). They will probably hold it until someone puts the deposit down and then you are out. So, don’t assume the Reservation number is enough, make sure the Status is Confirmed.