Hi All:

Just joined this group in anticipation of my first CR trip. There's tons of info on this great site, and I hope to start contributing me content soon.

Will have a week to spend in SJ in early June, and wanted to bounce a few ideas/questions off the group:

1) Is the ice served in restaurants/bars safe to drink. I'm usually a beer drinker, but my buddies are not.

2) Looks like the place to stay is the Presidente at $45/night (TSM rate). Looked at the Marriott web-site, and the rooms were something like +/- USD $180 (ridiculous I think). Is the marriott worth the extra money? Do they discount heavily on a walk-in basis. Most of my travels are to SEA, and I often find good hotel managers discount heavily off of posted rates. Can I expect the same in the CR.

3) Any other good upper-end Hotels (chikka friendly) to consider.

4) The Blue Marlin appears to be ground zero for freelancers. Which other places are #2, 3, & 4 in your opinion.

5) What should the prevailing rate (in colons) for a chikka out of the BM run. Most appear to start at USD $100, and accept $50 - $60...... is this accurate?

6) It appears that most of the freelance action is oriented towards short-times only. Is that an accurate assessment? If you want a girl to stay well into the next morning (with additional sessions at night and in the am), is that readily available or an infrequent occurance?

7) What percentage of the freelances do bbbj? Will that request send the girl running away in horror? How do you say that in the local language/dialect.

8) Unlike their Rio sisters, CR chikkas don't seem to be willing to do anal. Is that part of the deal, or will that cost a ton of colons?

9) The Park lesbian show sounds like a fun (?) thing to see. Is that weekends only? Is it possible to arrange a private show on premises or off?

10) What is the preferred drink of the ladies? Do they drink tequilla, rum, beer.....?

Thanks in advance for any & all help and insights. Sorry if these are truly newbie questions...... I am after all a newbie.

Bob

I've only been to CR once, here are some of my opinions. Hopefully the regulars will chime in.

1) I drank lots of mixed drinks and never had a problem. I've never heard or read of ice problems in CR. However, I recommend against drinking any water except bottled when traveling anywhere.

2. Many hotels in CR have no guest policies or charge a significant fee. The Morazon comes up often as an alternative to Del Rey and Presidente. The latter are nice, I've never seen Morazon, but don't expect BKK's Grand Presidente or anything.

4. #2 Club Idem, some may argue it #1 but I say #2. After that, not sure. Seems to fluctuate, maybe 747, Eros, Monkey Bar, Key Largo...

6. I would say that's accurate w/o adding significant cost unless you pull late at night and negotiate well.

7. My percentage was 50%, but that was a couple years ago. I believe it may have gone down.

8. My CR friends that like anal no longer go to CR.

9. It's fun to see, but IMHO low quality of girls. I saw two I kinda liked but a couple buddies didn't want to return. Other friends go there all the time.

Don't expect Asia or South America service. A lot of my CR friends are solidly Brazil fans now. Enjoy CR for what it is and you'll have a great time.

BS,

I live in CR and would be happy to meet you at the Blue Marlin and go over all this in return for a beer. Presidente would definitely be my recommendation for where to stay, although if money isnŽt an issue the Del Ray itself will give you the easiest experiences.

Give me a holler via the hombre Inbox closer to the time youŽll be coming down.

If I had answered your questions, I would have given the exact same answers as d'Artagnan.

Gentlemen:

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I'd enjoy hooking up with anyone who'll be there or who cares to help me find my way.

My membersip doesn't seem to include the "Inbox" feature, so if you wouldn't mind dropping me a line on my e-mail account bobseller2000@yahoo.com I'd enjoy following-up.

If I may ask some further questions:

1) Looks like we'll have one week to spend in CR. Any good day trips or excursions to think about.

2) If we had a few more days, and wanted to explore and see more of the country-side, where/what do you recommend.

3) It seems as if most of the chikka scene is in SJ (right)...... but are there any worthwhile destinations for cheaper, "fresher" girls..... or should a first time visitor stay with SJ.

Thanks again for all the help. Looking forward to reporting our experiences.

Bob

1) Looks like we'll have one week to spend in CR. Any good day trips or excursions to think about.

Whitewater rafting.

One day and one night at Tabacon hot springs/Mt Arenal with a girl.

Two days/one night in Quepos-if you don't take a
girl, go to Layla's at night. Only strip club I would recommend going to in CR-also has nice rooms in back to take the girl.

Do a Canopy tour.

2) If we had a few more days, and wanted to explore and see more of the country-side, where/what do you recommend.

Hang out in the Quepos/Jaco Beach area. Go fishing.

3) It seems as if most of the chikka scene is in SJ (right)...... but are there any worthwhile destinations for cheaper, "fresher" girls..... or should a first time visitor stay with SJ.

Layla's in Quepos, Beatle Bar in Jaco, or stay with Blue Marlin, Bar Idem, etc in San Jose.
As a first time short term visitor you are not going to meet many "fresher" girls. You pretty much have to get to know people who will introduce you to friends, etc. As for cheaper, that is definitely available, just go to the clubs, etc. that guys recommend other than Blue Marlin/Key Largo-really the same thing, Bar Idem
and perhaps New Fantasy.
Hope you have a great time!!

My response to your initial post (by paragraph):

1. The ice is safe everywhere. The water is fine in all tourist areas except some areas on the Atlantic Coast - Limon, etc. Bottled water is relatively cheap and available everywhere.

2, 3. In June almost all hotels should offer substantial discounts or off-season rates. The Presidente is probably the best choice in San Jose, based on price, service, convenience, and service but there are plenty of alternatives.

4. The Blue Marlin always has action but don't overlook the other places mentioned on the board.

5. Many of the girls at the BM and KL will quote $100 or more short-time, and $300 for all night. Don't pay it. Offer $40 and be prepared to pay a little more, but set a limit of $75 or so. $100 to $125 max. for all night. Keep in mind that many of the girls aren't available for all night sessions. They have kids and families to go home to.

6. It isn't really hard to find girls to stay with you all night or for a few days, but it's usually better to avoid discussing it in advance. Wait until you've found someone you really want to spend that much time with. If she likes you and can do it, she will - usually without any advance agreement as to additional payment. Just treat her fairly and she'll be happy.

7. I'd say most (80%?) will do BBJ with someone they like and who isn't just a quickie session. For short-time sessions, probably about half will do BBJ.

8. Anal is relatively uncommon here. It isn't that the girls want more money for it - they just don't do it. If you find a girl who does anal, you shouldn't have to pay extra, assuming you are paying her fairly to begin with.

9. The show at the Park is Friday and Saturday nights only and is worth seeing once, but it gets old in a hurry. Don't ask to have "private shows" anywhere - you are just asking to get ripped off. It isn't hard to arrange 2 girls to come to your room, but most hotels won't allow it. (The Presidente doesn't and I don't think the Del Rey does either.)

10. The preferred drink is whatever costs the most. Don't fall into that trap! Buy them a beer or a regular mixed drink. Always ask the bartender (not the girl) what it costs before you order and NEVER run a bar tab - pay for your drinks as they are delivered. Rum and Vodka are probably the most popular liquors with the bar girls (although Scotch is by far the most popular liqour with Ticos, in general), but if you let them they'll order Bailey's, Grand Marnier, etc.

Pura Vida,
TG

PS. Also, look for my new CR update on the Chat Board which I'll try to post later today or tomorrow.

Tampagringo:

I'm eagerly waiting for your report.... has it been posted yet? Did I miss it?

Thanks in advance.

Bob

First time visitors coming to CR for 10 days in May. Question: we don't intend to make hotel reservations, not wanting to get stuck at places we know little about. Will spend first couple of nights in SJ, before heading to Quepos/Jaco for several days. Is this cool, will there be a problem at any of these locations just walking in and getting decent rates for a night or 2??
Thanks for any suggestions.

You shouldn't have any problems. Like many other places CR is suffering from a lack of tourists right now. May is a slow month for tourists anyway.

Agree with Costaricardo that youŽll have no problems with this strategy, but the consensus here for first-timers is Del Ray or El Presidente, and youŽll get a better rate at El Presidente (my recommendation) by making a reservation and asking for the TSM rate.

I appreciate the information. Will stay the first night at Del Ray and take it from there.
Any other ideas on places we should definitely check out, or stay the hell away from (massage parlors, clubs, bars, etc.) ?

I'm getting the impression that running a tab at a bar is not a good idea. Do you know if ATM's are convenient? Is it ever safe to leave ID/cash at hotels, I assume they have a safe or something at most hotels?

I enjoy reading all the messages here. I'm glad to see that you all seem to be willing to help new guys out. I'll be in CR in early June OR late July. I would love to have a beer or two with a couple of you pros. MY TREAT. I have been checking room rates and have found that the Presidente is running $48 for the TSM rate and that's only if you have a valid username. However, the Hemingway is about $25-35 depending on the room for weekly rates. Is the Hemingway a good alternative? My only concern is bringing girls back to my room.

Thanks for your help!
bigdan1173@yahoo.com

Since folks did not address upper-end hotels issue - I'll shed some insight.

Marriott will allow as along as you have a double room or you are atleast Marriott Gold SolMelia Cobrici (sp?) require that you have a double room or MAS Gold. Many eons ago I used to puddle-hop over from PTY to SJO over the weekends, and both these properties got to know me well enough to not question However the gals in the front desk displayed nasty looks at me.

Marriott in SJO is quite out of the way, but has in the last year made efforts to improve their retaurant.

Hey City -- RT here.

Thanks for the hi-end info. One more for you:

How about the Radisson in town re: chicas? They used to have a great rodizio dinner, but no more.

Thanks

(Message edited by rtgooch on April 20, 2003)

RTG: Never stayed in any Radisson property - Will they comp. me elite status if I fax them my Hyatt & Marriott status

The Radisson is perhaps the most chica UNfriendly hotel in Costa Rica. I have had many chances to stay there for free and didn't because of their no guest policy. Corobici charges @$30 for guest fee as does the San Jose Palacio.