www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This board has been an invaluable resource!! I want to thank all contributing members. THANK YOU!!

I am planning my first trip and I already have my plane tickets purchased and my Sportsmens Lodge reservations. I am staying 2 nights at Jaco but have yet to confirm the reservations. After searching posts, looking at hotel websites and e-mailing the hotels to find out current rates and if chica fees apply, I chose the Hotel tangeri. The Copacabana never returned my e-mail, which doesn't matter since they have changed the policy to a $10 chica fee. The Canciones Del Mar had a rate of $75 and $10 guest fee per Peter Van Hussen. The Paradise Hotel quoted me $75 for a crt member which I believe is high for the room quality that members have written about.

My question is this. Is it normal to have a hotel ask for %50 payment upfront? The Hotel Tangeri wants a 50% payment of the entire stay paid upfront. The rates are $96 for Sat. night and $ 80 for sun night.
These rates are inclusive of taxes and breakfasts. This is what they sent.


AUTHORIZATION OF CREDIT CARD CHARGE



I authorize TANGERI HOTEL to charge on MY CREDIT CARD NUMBER ( .. ) , expiration date ( ) , the amount of ($) as a deposit of 50% of the total amount for my reservation, indate ( ) / outdate ( ).



Signature


So tell me what you think, reasonable or taking advantage of the gringo.

The 50% policy is not common to all hotels, but I've seen it in a few places. Basically, if you cancel, even with a lot of notice, you probably lose your deposit. Right? Each hotel that does this is a little different. Hotel Parador in Quepos, for example, doesn't charge you before hand unless you cancel, then they charge you 50% of your total reservation. I PASSED ON THAT BULLSHIT!!!

About Jaco hotels... I stayed at Paradise Hotel once last year. I paid $40/night cash in June (rainy season). That's about what it's worth, in my opinion. They charge more during the high season. May-Nov, no more than $40.

Altho the 50% up front is a pain, I have never had any problem with the Tangeri, and I think you will enjoy your stay.

My two cents. I'd stay at the Canciones del Mar and pay the chica fee. For the rooms there, $75 is phenomenal.

I have heard the same thing and therfore am staying at the CDM this time. I can post more intelligently when I return.

The canciones del mar wants to freeze my assets. Here is what they want me to filll out.


HOTEL “CANCIONES DEL MAR”
CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION FORM


Date:_________ ________ _____________
Day Month Year

I:___________________________hereby authorize Canciones del Sesteo S.A
As appears on the creditcard

To charge : ( ) AMEX, ( ) VISA, ( ) MASTER CARD
Number___________________________Issue date :______________
Expiration date___________________ Bank code :______________
In the amount of : ___________________ for the following service:

Transfer In ( ) Date :________________
Transfer Out ( ) Date :_________________
Suite, one bedroom ( ) ck- in date___________/ ck- out_________
Suite, two bedrooms ( ) ck- in date___________/ ck- out_________


Signature:____________________________

I have read and accept the conditions of the reservations and agree to pay the amount here authorized, even though I have not signed the original charge note or voucher. I agree to pay this amount in case of “ No Show” or cancellation before 07 days of arrival.
I agree that Hotel Canciones del Mar can freeze 50% of the total amount as guarantee.
.
All payments are due upon check-out at the hotel.
If your credit card is an AMEX card, this information will be invalid without your bank code. This information appears at the right hand, the line before the card number. If your credit card is a VISA card, the bank code appears at the left side, before the card number.


Canciones del Mar/Tel (506) 643 32 73/ Fax (506) 643 32 96/ E-mail
info@cancionesdelmar.com/www.cancionesdelmar.com


I am working with the Tangeri at this point. I will let you guys know how its goes.

Oh yeah and the 7 day cancellation policy taking all my money, I thought airlines were the biggest pigs.

Listen, hotels are hoping and praying for business in Jaco this time of year. Tell any of them to go f**k themselves wanting half up front. After Semana Santa, there is rarely times when the hotels are full in Jaco.

The Dude: Was at the Copa 10 days ago for a couple nights w/ 10 other guys. None of us that were CRT members paid chicas fees. Its has been written many, many times by Admin. 1 and others to present your card at checkout and the fees will be waived. Possibly that has changed in the last few days, but it has never been a problem if you show your card at checkout. Wile Coyote

wilecoyote, Admin recently posted this


Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Spoke to Barbara & Here is the Deal for CRT VIP's at the Copa.. I will update the rest of the web site to reflect this....

10% off the flat rate which is all year.

Studios are $99.00 plus tax.

The one bedroom is $149.00US per night, plus tax.

Free VIP package
which includes a FREE 30 minute massage every 3 days, 10% off for food and drink at the bar and restaurant after 7:00 PM and free breakfast.
I hope this helps.

Plus 1/2 price for guest fees: $10.00 per registered guest, which they must register at the front desk.

Hope that Clarifies things and everyone is Happy!

Hotel Poseidon has cropped up as a possibility their rate are $65 with a ceiling fan or $75 with a/c. and no chica fees if you show your crt card upon check in, this is per Tim Odom. They do have a strong cancellation fee of 50% and an no show fee of 100% but they are not going to charge until arrival.

I sent this e-mail to Tangeri,



Hi Denia,

About the transportation, I am traveling by myself so I will use the interbus, but I thank you for the offer of the van transportation. As for the hotel reservations I would prefer to hold the room with a credit card as guarantee of arrival. The 50% upfront payment is not acceptable. Please let me know if this is a viable option.



Thank you

And this is the response I got,

I WILL MAKE AN EXCEPTION, I WILL HOLD THE ROOM FOR YOU WITHOUT A DEPOSIT, BUT JUST LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN´T COME 2 DAYS BEFORE OR CONFIRM IF YOU COME.



THANK YOU VERY MUCH



DENIA

So I will stay at Tangeri after all.

Amazing how quickly a hotel will back off a ridiculous demand if you approach them calmly with a reasonable counter offer.

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

Before I finally accepted the Tangeri I sent this off to the Paradise

Thank you for your response, but $75 is more than I wanted to spend. My budget is about $40. If you can accomodate me for that price let me know.

I wanted to share this reply from paradise with you guys,

I might have a standard room available by then. We are doing some work on those rooms and would hate to commit to you. These rooms are $50 but that does include all taxes. Sorry I could not help you

Roz Stevens


Sounds like they are renovating.

The Dude: Obviously my group were some of the last ones there before this change. Have stayed there several times and have always defended the place. Going back in late July with a smaller group and will probably consider other options as well. Wile Coyote

I am staying at the Copacabana 23rd to 27th May. No up front fee $99.00 per night for a studio including 2 free massages. No chica fee to CRT members