www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi CRT -

Planning a long overdue return trip for late Jan but had some questions based on some changes I’ve picked up reading through the board. This board and its members was and remains a great resource for myself and anyone taking the plunge. I joined VIP before my last trip, but let it expire and will again if I do pull the trigger on a return trip.

It’s been almost 6 years since my first and only trip to the gulch. It was a great one, and I have since made a few trips to DR and St Martin (I like to mix the beach with my mongering).

Last time down I stayed at HLH which it seems has now become Z2. I’ve seen some references to HLH on the board, but mostly as MP not MP/hotel. Is it the same HLH in terms of operations, including the discount for CRT VIP hotel guests who also partake in MP? Did that xfer over to Z2?

This trip my plan is to split hotel with 2-3 nights each at SL and HDR.

BUT - My last trip was pre-smoking ban, and from what I can gather this is a big change in CR both gulch and non-gulch. I’m a smoker and would really like to avoid a debate on the ban itself, but intel from the ground will really help me choose a hotel or possibly choose another destination.

Are any hotels/bars/casinos more friendly to cigarette smokers?

Meaning, is there a “smoking section” in/near the bar?

Are there any open-air bars with chicas that allow smoking? I thought I remember KL having an outdoor area, but it’s been a while.

For hotel rooms with balconies or sundecks connected or close-by can guests use them to smoke? Looking particularly at SL “El Rey” or “El Leon/El Puma” which are close to a terrace; have also read some HDR rooms have balconies.

Are the rooms at other friendly hotels with balconies?

Can you smoke in your room? If so is that only true at some hotels/rooms - which ones?

Are there safe/private areas outside SL or HDR to smoke if you absolutely can’t inside (like to avoid the trash that hang outside HDR door)?

Thanks in advance for any intel, glad to see the board is still up and active.



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I have not seen any smoking inside hotels, casinos or bars. Everyone stands out front

Thanks Hbosbru. Sounds like this is a pretty common thing then, like a bunch of people are outside and smoking and by and large are left alone by others on the street


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Actually you cannot smoke with a certain distance of an entrance (I forget how many meters) - the idea being that this keeps smokers from congregating outside a building on the street. Some places ignore this, others are death on it (the Sleep Inn security guys for example).

And the Hotel Little Havana lives again. They advertise here. Their website is a soup sandwich. http://www.littlehavanahotelandbar.com

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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 MM. That is a pretty ineffective website. Doubt I will stay there this time.

Found El Castillo, looks pretty good. I’m gonna go out on a limb and expect i can smoke on their roof/balcony.

Disappointed that it seems like no open air bars let you enjoy the views with a smoke and a drink.




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understand your disappointment
for the rest of us its a relief
used to be one of my least favorite things about CR w the cigars billowing everywhere
i know you said you didn't want to start the debate, just pointing out the other side of the issue
i enjoy open air bars that let me enjoy the view without having to inhale cig/cigar smoke
seems like the majority of society around the world is in agreement
and for that i am grateful
in the old days my only choice was to move so now its your turn

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

Sorry but we are no smoking inside the Hotel facility due to smoking laws.

Matt

Thanks Matt, and thanks for the call to clarify and confirm my reservation. Looking forward to it.


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My last trip was in early September. I was allowed to smoke in my room, but not in the bar or restaurant.

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Take The Highway To The End Of The Night...The Doors

While I never have minded the ZII girls smoking (cigarettes) there, as a serious cigar smoker I have to say cigarette smoke is acrid and nasty (even before I smoked cigars I thought cigar and pipe smoke smelled pleasant).

When I worked in a bar in my mis-spent youth I used to get home at 2 AM and tross my clothes immediately in the washer and shower to get the stench off.

I can't think of a better way to kill a cigar store than to have it full of cigarette smokers.

_________________
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

I think we are in agreement.

_________________
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