www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hey guys!

I stayed at Sportsmans Lodge in San Jose several times between 2008 and 2011. Since then I began visiting Medellin and in more recent years Thailand. I want to take a trip back but have no idea what the scene is like now. A couple questions:

- Is Sportsmans lodge still a popular place to stay? If not then where?

- How much are the chicas charging these days for 1 hr?

ButtPirate

SL is still a great place to stay, and they now have a great breakfast buffet. Many of the girls are trying to raise the going rate but I never have a problem finding really good girls for $100. The selection of girls at SL is still hit or miss but it is a short downhill walk to Castillo and Toarmina to find that special someone. It is a cheap Uber ride back if you find a girl or don't want the uphill walk.

The reality is Manfred is running the place as he has been for a long time. It was a seamless transition after Bills passing. Bottom line is the place is still great and I believe it will remain so for a long time.

Still a great place, but with easy transport to Jaco, a lot of the nice ladies are going to Jaco for the weekend work and making more money there. So I do believe some of the quality may be a little lacking on the weekend from ladies working in Jaco. At least that is what it surely seems based on trip reports lately where the women at SL and other areas are not as nice as they were in the past. Obviously many women get cash in other digital ways, but there are still a lot of value for your time and money.

If you are okay with $200 for a lady and extra money for food and drinks, Jaco is hopping still down there. It is just a different vibe as they say.

I was in Jaco 15 years ago as well. It was a quiet town town. Sounds like it has changed a lot. $200 is too much. Id rather just stay in San Jose at Sportsmans and pay $100 for a girl. 15 years ago the girls at Sportsmans were charging $80 for an hour so $100 or even $120 sounds good.

Room prices at Sportsmans havent gone up much over the years either it seems.

How much for a beer at the bar?

ButtPirate

"How much for a beer at the bar?"

Ironic I just this afternoon going back through my receipts from my trip 2 months ago and beers from Sportsmen's bar 1500-1700 COL + the IVA (13% ?). Not so bad especially compared to the Taormina. If you want to keep a stash in your room can walk up to 'La Tiendita' catercorner from La Amistad and I believe those around 1100 COL.

I've gotten used to Thailand where everything is dirt cheap but still it seems like the prices are pretty reasonable in San Jose.

I'm reading in the forums that some people complain that the music at SL is loud late and they complain its tough to sleep. How is the Amistad? I stayed there years ago as well and maybe that would be a better bet for some peace and quiet when I am not busy drinking and mongering. Rooms are cheaper too.

ButtPirate

the rooms at Amistad are the same as ever except now some rooms don't get internet. They no longer serve food at the hotel and the drinks are much more expensive than before. There are no working girls there, but they still allow you to bring them in with no chica fee. It is very quiet except for the trains.

Does the Amistad serve breakfast or do you have to go elsewhere for breakfast?
Thanks for the answer

Why not check out the Castillo too ? Quiet with breakfast, all inclusive and many quiet rooms away from the bar and with girls dropping too. Round the corner from SL and no train noise like Amistad.

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

I think that depends entirely on which room you book and what night of the week it is. Certainly if you book a room that has a door opening into the bar area, it is going to be subject to noise. But last time I stayed there, I stayed in the section behind the back bar toward the back of the property, and it was perfectly quiet even when the bar was busy and noisy.

BTW, I, too, had been away for a few years when I returned and stayed at the SL last year. I was concerned that it might have changed after Bill passed away. But from my experience, it appears that Manfred has been doing a stellar job at keeping it maintained and going. I am planning to return there again later this year.

Spot on Bob!

I stayed at the Castillo in December Nice vibes actually spent 2 weeks there . Gonna be back mid June for a week and yeh the balcony room on the corner by the bar is nice and not to noisy i booked it a couple of months ago for this trip. Foods on point liquor not bad so its worth the all inclusive.

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Retired Haight Asbury Hippie

I was going to ask about the Castillo as well. I read positive things in the forums.

Did they give you a weekly discount?

All beer, liquor is included??

ButtPirate

Interesting comment on the $100 price point. I also recall $80 as being a common go-to number back 10-15 years ago, but $100 was a common starting point. And there are still many that will go for $100. But if you follow the exchange rates that $100 US gets them almost 40% less colones than it did just a few years ago. $100 was 68 mil around 3 years ago, now it is around 42 mil. And there has also been inflation in Costa Rica, although dampened a bit with cheaper imports. But for sure the buying power of that $100 US has dropped a lot. And the $100 idea gets maintained by gringos sticking with it. Of course the very attractive ones simply stick with $150, and some of them get it. Which as actually about the same as the $100 US was just a very few years ago.

One of the consequences of this is that many chicas have dropped out of the business. If they have any education or other options it is no where near as lucrative for them as it once was. And go back to the early 2000's as a comparison - the business was a way way more lucrative for the chicas. It is no wonder that they flock to Jaco where they can average a lot more, as long as they have the looks to compete at all.