www.CostaRicaTicas.com

We booked at the Gran Hotel since it was downtown and available. I am a newbie and have heard horror stories from places like Frommers.

Just a couple of quick questions:

Is it "girl" friendly?

Is the noise really that unbearable?

Will not having A/C for a trip in early March kill me and my friend?

TIA

Fallon

when i did a 'search' for 'Gran' i found lots of hits saying it is 'chica' friendly.....

maybe a $10 'chica fee' according to some, and 'no chica fee' according to others...


and, no it will not be unbearably hot


but, please, do yourself a favor and read as much/many of the forum posts that pertain to first timers and sections such as 'hotels'


i was 'taken advantage of' by some of the most vilest characters imagainable that lurk on such places as this board and given advice/lead astray into predicaments that would make a 'spartan sob'

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Sorry to disagree with the distinguished gentelman from DC, but in my humble opinion, March is one of our warmest months here in San Jose.
As to the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, it does charge a 10.00 chica fee - up from 5.00 when I stayed there some five years ago.
The hotel itself is an historical landmark that has recently gone under an upgrade in the lobby and its furnishings. About a year ago, its facade was repainted and it looks kind of nice. Its an old hotel but as mentioned, it has history. Outside, be sure to take advantage of the outdoor cafe/resturant which is a gathering place for many ex-pats who live here.
Also, venture into the "Plaza Cultural" and enjoy the sun and eye candy on thier way to work or around lunch time when many secretarys enjoy the fresh air.
Be carefull of the noise - be sure to ask for an inside room - not one that fronts the plaza or Central Ave.
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

The last I heard, if we're talking the Gran Hotel Costa Rica (the one on avenida 2, it is decidedly NOT chica-friendly.

If you're talking about the Gran Via (owned by the same people who own the Morazan), then yes, it's chica friendly.

Is the noise all that bad? It's a Costa Rican hotel. Bring ear plugs, but if not you'll learn to sleep through the noise pretty quickly. Seriously, I've never stayed there so really don't know...

Absence of A/C: San Jose is located in a temperate mountain valley at nearly 3800 feet above sea level. No, unless you're really hot-blooded, you won't be too uncomfortable.

There are a half dozen other hotels downtown that I can think of which are chica-friendly. Here's a short list:

Hotel Presidente. A/C. Casino. Restaurant. WIFI. Limit one chica at a time per room, except the Master Suite, limit 2 at a time.

Hotel Del Rey: $10.00 chica fee Casino. Blue Marlin bar

Hotel Gran Via: Near supermarket, balconies in some rooms (noisy), refrigerators in room, fairly inexpensive by Gulch standards

Costa Rica Casino Hotel Morazan - Great prices, half-block from Ground Zero

Hotel Castillo - Chica-friendly, 25% discount with CRT VIP membership if you pay cash, nice. A bit removed from the Gulch

Sportsmen's Lodge - WIFI, bar/restaurant/pool table. Informally rated best service of any chica-friendly hotel. Discounted rates for VIP's (correct me here if I'm wrong) are $49.00 - $250.00. Breakfast included.

Clarion (formerly Amon Plaza) - Discount through Nixon Netto at the casino, excellent facilities, restaurant, A/C

Did I leave any out? Sportsmen's and HDR also have A/C in some rooms. Don't forget that most hotel rates do not include the hefty 16.39% tax. Most Gulch hotels have safes in the rooms, others have a standard hotel safe.

Hope this helps. If anyone knows about the chica policy changing at the Gran Hotel,, or if I'm factually incorrect about this, please correct me. Irish Drifter, keep me honest!

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

El Ciego wrote:



Where in the world did you come up with that misinformation.

The Gran Hotel Costa Rica the hotel just west of the National Theater on Plaza Cultural facing Avenida Segunda (sorry for being so exact but do not want you to make a mistake) IS NOT CHICA FRIENDLY There is no chica fee they just will not allow you to bring a girl to your room. I know someone who tried....they got nowhere.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Which is what i said, right?

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Brother Fallon,

see, see the above posts....?....got "my head up my ass".....hahahaha.....please read all the posts under "Newbie" and "Hotels".....

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Gran Via is chica friendly. I have never paid a chica fee or had a girl turned away for her appearance or been charged a fee for TLN and I do not know anyone who has.

I understand that you are relating info from an email from Alvaro concerning that.

As far as common ownership between the Gran Via and the Morazan in my conversations with Alvaro he only mentioned the hotel near the central market (the name escapes me at the moment) as under the same ownership.



Not sure how you could misunderstand an email. Could you share with us what he said about the common ownership?

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I could, but I won't.

The fact is, I did:

1. Say that the Gran Hotel C.R. is not chica-friendly

2. Say that the Gran Via is chica-friendly.

The ownership was incidental. I'll try to find the e-mail again; the only reason I remembered Alvaro's comments regarding the fee for TLN and the policy refusing chicas of a certain (presumably low) caliber from the hotel is that I had quoted these on a post I made earlier, much eralier to CRT. If I'm wrong about the ownership, so be it. However, to answer Fallon's question, if he doesn't change his booking and wants to bring chicas to his room at the Gran Hotel C.R., he's screwed.

Good enough?

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

If it's good enough for you.....it's good enough for me.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I have been lurking here for some time and have been searching for hotels that would be "guest" friendly. I did book at the Gran Hotel which is not Chica friendly. I'll have to make a quick change. I was working through my travel agent and she couldn't pull up all of the hotels that you guys have listed, but the Presidente and DR are booked up for next weekend. I may have to try a different route.

We were able to get the clarion though, so I might fall back there. I believe it's the Amon at AVENIDA 11 CALLE 3. It looks like it's about 5 blocks from the DR. Is this too far to walk in SJ or am I in taxi distance. I am also not familiar with the parts of SJ I shouldn't be walking in. Any help would also be appreciated.

Obviously, this is my first time to SJ. I read about it in GQ. They had a big article on it some time back. My normal stomping grounds is Thailand, where I have been some 8 or 9 times (I go probably once a year).

Again, thanks everyone for helping a newbie out. If anyone ever needs any advice on the LOS (Land of Smiles) let me know.

Fallon

You can walk to the DR/Gulch area in about 5 minutes, ZB is about 30 seconds! Take the taxis at night for sure.

Best to read this site for more real info than that article. The Maps are a reall good key to your voyage around San Jose.

Fallon wrote:



Amon is a good choice but would be a benefit to join as CRT VIP and book your room through Nixon at the Casino. The rate will be better and there will be no chica fee unless you have TLN and want to have breakfast for her.

Walking in the day is fine. Recommend a taxi at night. Enjoy

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Clarion is not a bad walk at all during the day but you may want to take a taxi at night.Anouther plus is you are very close to Zona Blue, New Fantasy as well as several local places for day and night time action.rbc100

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In Search of Fine Kittens,
Please... Bring back the Muff

you are referring to. I have heard you guys talk about them so I guess I'll have to brief myself on your trip reports.

We are only going to be there for 3 nights for this first trip. What would be the key spots that I should definitely hit as a newbie?

Fallon