www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I reserved my room at the Del Rey and now it seems that a lot of people are saying its not a good place to stay and also I found out about the $10. tica fee. So I'm looking for somewhere else to stay thats pretty nice and in the same price range. I already talked to Presidente and they dont have a room available for the first day that we'll be there. Plus they only allow one girl per guest. You never know. So whats yalls opinion ? Please help I would like to stay near all the action were also going to go to the local bars and try to maybe pick up single women as well not just there for the Ticas (paying). but that is an extra. Any help would be appreciated.

Is this Kris from Tripadvisor? How'd you find this place?

Now that we can speak a little more freely, I can answer some of your questions. Where you should stay all depends. When exactly are you going? How many days total? I believe you said elsewhere 9/29-10/2. Whats your game plan? Lots of daytime MP's, some on premise strip joints in the evening and 1 chica back to your room to cap off your day or multiple room visits? How realistically do you think your chances are of picking up a free non-pro (greatly aided by longer time in CR to work them, decent spanish skills, dance skills, reasonable fitness and looks, and "game")? I believe you said you were a "young stud" but with no real spanish skills and no real time to "work it".

Like I told you at TA, if you really hope to pick up any non-pros, the chances are pretty good that they will not want to be seen going into the HDR. You could take them someplace else that night or go to their place, but it probably won't impress them too much if they hear you're staying at a monger palace like the HDR.

If non-pros are really not an important priority the other factors come into play. The more of the following that are true, the more it may be easiest to just stick with what you've got. After all, you can't get much closer to the BM action, aka ground zero, than by staying at the HDR and at least for a first-timer it is something to be experienced, sort of a rite of passage. Here are the factors:

You're going to do a lot of your activity at MP's and places other than your room and probably won't actually bring back more than 1 chica per day.
You only have to multiply that one chica by just a few days staying there
You're trip is coming up soon and all the other places are already booked (don't fight it).
You're trip is during high season and you can't make a reservation that you can rely on anywhere else.

OTOH, if one or more of those factors are not there, you probably will want to try to get in somewhere else. The Presidente and the Sportsman's Lodge are probably the 2 most popular places for CR guys to stay these days. If you can get in to either of those places great, but it might be difficult on either short notice or during high season or holidays.

The Morazon is running a great "special" for only $39/nt with either no chica fee or a $3 one depending on which report you read and how hotel mgmt happens to be feeling that day. Also, out of the various alternatives, they happen to be the closest to ground zero. The only real problem with them are their unreliable reservations. I believe they usually have vacancies these days so if you're going during any time during the next couple of months you're probably okay but if you're reserving for the high season or holidays you might want to stick with the HDR or try someplace else. Or you can use your "safe" reservation at the HDR for 1st night and, if you decide you don't like it, move to the Prez if they still have space or walk the 1 block to the Morazon to see if they have any vacancies on the spot for your last 2 nights.

The other alternatives are all further away from "ground zero", but that might not matter that much if your game plan is meeting girls at MP's, bars and strip joints and doing the deed either on site and/or arranging for them to come back to your hotel later. Being slightly less popular with CRT'ers they're also more likely to have vacancies (at least during the off season). In the area of the Sportman's Lodge and New Fantasy Massage there is also the Hotel Castillo. A couple of blocks to the west and near Zona Blue, there is the Amon Plaza. A couple of blocks west of the Prez, there is La Gran Via. A couple of blocks further west of that and a couple more going north towards a whole bunch of bars and MP's is the Hotel Europa. The Hotel Doral has been getting some good press here as of late but is probably to far removed from most mainstream action for most newbies.

Last but not least, seriously consider joining here as a VIP. You can pick up your card at Zona Blue and start saving money right away that could offset most if not all of the cost of membership. In addition to ZB discounts, you get discounts at various strip clubs and restaurants in SJ, a $49/nt rate at the Prez (if you can get in) and a hefty discount at the Amon Plaza if you book through Nixon. It also qualfies you for access to my website and the famous SJ Whorticultural Map featuring nearly 50 adult businesses and 100 other restaurants, hotels and places of interest. Also, since I referred you here, if you join CRT by clicking on the CRT banner ad at my website, I earn a small commission that helps underwrite my site and CR charity program.