www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I've been doing Costa Rica for about 10 years but have always stayed in Jose during prior trips. My brother has been asking me to take him along to a CR destination with a beach and P for Play so that pretty much leaves Jaco.

I am looking for recommendations for a guest friendly hotel, other than the Cocal, which seems awful pricey. Hotel Jaco seems to be about 40 bucks a night cheaper and has good online reviews. I would appreciate hearing the opinions of any CRTers who have recently stayed at the latter (or at any other good hotels) in Jaco. We are planning a 7-day trip.

Also, my brother is a big swimmer, but I have heard the nearest beach with pretty clean water is Playa hermosa and that Jaco is too polluted for safe swimming. Is Playa hermosa, for swimming a good idea?

Thanks for any feedback

Tom

I'm going to do some recon on the Hotel Jaco next month and I will report here.

I just came back and stayed in Hotel Jaco for 3 nights. I can confirm that it is guest friendly and oddly enough, also family friendly. During the day time you would see people with their family and K*ds. But when it gets dark. I observed people discreetly bringing in chicas.

Overall I think the room quality and service was excellent. My only gripe was that the restaurant on location isn't really connected to hotel. So you can't just bill your room. Also the prices for food/drinks a bit high. Generally everything in Jaco was expensive. The pool was excellent for a casual swimmer.

During the mornings, the iguanas come out and hang out by the pool.

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- KB

I have stayed at the Hotel Jaco a few times and it is nice, updated and very friendly. Good beach access and very nice bartenders and a nice place to eat dinner actually. It is owned by a fellow in Texas who redesigned the rooms with more modern TV's and beds, etc. Very nicely done and I highly recommend. I have stayed at Cocal at the hotel and in the condos, plus a few other condos down the way. For a single person traveling, the Hotel Jaco is great.

I would say though that while it is anything friendly (took a sugar baby there as well and they were so nice to her) it is a good distance from the Cocal/Frog/9 degree beach bar. So you will need to Uber back as walking would be tough with the heels most of the ladies wear these days.

Last couple trips to jaco i stayed at south beach(reasonably priced) with nice pool fair drink prices and breakwater point condos which are expensive but you can find deals..great balcony

Is that property chica friendly?

Cocal is the best

Most places on the South side are not chica friendly. I am sure there are a few, but most have been trying to keep the south side rather family oriented. I have a new condo on the south side now and while for owners you can bring anyone in, they have said no guests for renters. In that, when I was there earlier this month one of the owners had rented out theirs to someone and they were bringing in guests (with a little pushing the guard). The place is new and not everyone has finished purchasing their units but I would think it will lock down in the next few weeks as well.

I stayed at Hotel OZ in January and really enjoyed having a room there. There was a small fee but security with the girls was worth it. Walking distance to Cocal.

Did a recon on the Hotel Jaco last week. Awesome place. Ramon told me you can be chicas if you are discreet about it. I will book for May.

Do I understand correctly from your statement that Oz is not "free" guest friendly but for a small fee allows guests? How small is the fee?

Any issues with noise from the bar?