My first trip to san jose costa rica was not all that bad. I found that the girls in the Blue marlin were very picky, I would set at the bar and their were a bunch of ticas setting around like they were in a daze. I would go to the bar at about 11:oo am alot of ticas not so many ticos, i just got the feeling that they were picky because most of them did not approach me,( i'm not the best looking guy in the world) but both times i did this less than ten minutes i had a tica to take to the room. The first one was a live wire, she totaly enjoyed here job and was very good at it, the second one was a dud. But i only paid her 50.00 us dollars. She was not worth that. I visted New Fantasy my first day, it was pretty cool, except the steam room, it was about 120 degree's in there hard to breath, no privacy another tica brings in another client while i was in there, when i turned my head i saw i fat guy lying on his stomach this was a total turn off. After the steam room was the shower, water was cold, then go to the room with the ac blasting, two days later i ended up with the flu. Take the shower and the massage in the room and sexo, but forget the steam room, too hot and no privacy. I was only there for four days and one day i had the flu. But all in all it was worth it. The security at the Hotel Del Rey is awsome. The ticas can not go upstairs without a guest signing for them and paying 10.00 us dollars to the hotel. The ticos standing outside the door can be bothersome, trying to sell cuban cigars sunglasses and just wanting tips for basically nothing like walking you to the door while its raining with an umbreela from the cab, (which is about twenty feet).This place can be depressing,if you let it be.POVERTY. As i was leaving a little boy not more than 9 years old, covered in filt no bath in awhile clothes filty no shoes, ask me do you have something for me mister, of course i gave him something. If i had time the cabby and i would have taken him to buy him some shoes and fresh clothes. The airport is another story al together, you talk about behind in times they are. They charge you 26.00 us dollars to depart there country, not like you have already spent a wad ther already, the customs is prehistoric, they have two fold out tables in front of the counter that two or three people open all your luggage and go through, this is very time consuming,( and you are not allowed to touch your luggage while these persons are searching, even though they are about to drop everything in the luggage on to the floor.)I had a can of foot spray, this was the first thing she pulled out, she held it up high and studied it for along time. I you have something that you do not want everybody in the airport to see dont bring it back through it away, thats why i through away my left over condoms that were to small away before i returned. If they charge a 26.00 us dollar to depart you think they would get modern customs equipment. But maybe thats why the place is like it is someone pockets 26.00 us dollars per person, thats alot of money. I will post photos of the live wire i spoke of earlier. i highly reccomend this tica, shes aim to please and she does, I beleive she treats all her clients the same whether your 300 lbs and bald or 180lbs and a head full of hair and a rock hard stomach. i forgot her name but she comes in at 10:00 am monday thru friday (yes she takes saturday and sunday off) at the blue marlin.Shes 28 years old but does not look it.

Yeh, be careful of the Cigar Salesman" all the ones on the street are selling counterfeit cubans at about a 1000% markup. Only buy cigars from a reputable shop.

I have never been stopped by customs, but everyone I have seen was searched there at the end of the X-Ray machine line. No fold-up tables.

Mikee, if you think Costa Rica's airport is behind the times, you need to travel more. That is a fairly nice airport It is only about 4 years old. I've been to a dozen 1st world coutries that were not as nice or efficient.

Oh, and you pay a departure tax in every country, it is just usually rolled up into the ticket.

One note: EAT BEFORE YOU GO TO THE AIRPORT! Their food court gets around $7 for a Whopper meal. This in an ecomony with a cost of living less than half the US. I only pay $5.50 or so for the same meal in DFW Int'l. I refuse to give them my business as it is a complete rip-off. In town (SJ) the same meal is around $2.50.

Yeah, I never knew that the chicas had to pay the hotel a direct $10 fee.
It used to be rolled into your hotel bill.
Airport is pretty new, besides waiting to pay my $26 since every other airlines happen to fly out at the same times.
Don't buy cigars from the losers out front. Really fake, I told him, I'll buy one at 500 colones.
Del ray security is good, I had them bounce a few loud chicas outta there on my last few trips.

I remember flying out of SJO a few years ago when Delta still used the old Terminal. They rolled in a cart and sold donuts and cans of Coke while waiting to depart, no duty free ( which is way over priced anyway) no place to buy a magazine...nada. Buy coffee in town at the supermarkets or Centro Mercado, not the airport.
Don't worry about customs pulling things from your bags...they've seen it all..Take the batteries out of your vibrator(s)if you depart with them.. Personally,I travel with a smile and try to laugh off the inconveniences of other countries, like squat toilets without paper.
B.Dog

There is an American Airlines Office one or two streets over from the Hotel Del Rey. I normally go there and pay the departure tax. You do not have to wait in a long line to pay the tax.

Ooooh, good idea James, I had not thought about that!

B.Dog. The new terminal now has Britt Coffee stands everywhere and a smoking bar on the lower level. The duty free is there, but is still no deal. The food court is an absolute rip off.

Valt,
If you're like me, and bring back >10Lbs of coffee, buy it at the local supermercado, its about half the price of the airport stores. B Dog

Oh yeh. I buy it in bulk at the SuprMora in Puriscal, not far from my house. Usually about 10 to 15 pounds each trip! I also own a small coffee farm up near Mercedes Sud, so I am never pressed to find good coffee

If you like Cafe Britt Coffee you can order some at 260-2748.There is a cigar shop ay Dianas Inn. 5th Street and 3rd Ave (506) 257-5021.

Cafe Britt is popular, has a fancy package, but is literally 5 times as expensive as many local brands which are just as good or better. Britt is really good stuff, but is one of only a few brands who have paid the huge bribes to be part of the monopoly on export. There are currently only a small handful of companies alowed to export, and a gringo owned company will never get a permit. It is a bit of a racket. Fortunately, nearly ALL CR coffee is good so it does not really matter

You can also buy cafe britt coffee online at www.cafebritt.com. I have done this and it is all good stuff. Ever since going to CR I cannot live without good coffee. If you are there you can also buy it in the local markets much cheaper, like they say. I can also recommend 1810 coffee, but I think any CR brand is good.

Btw Mikee, I am surprised to be reading recent posts of bargaining at the DR. When I was there last year they were hardball at $100. Now I didn't walk away, and maybe that is the secret, but I did stay away from the DR because of the prices. I also heard of colombianas charging $100 for 15 minutes of crap service. No thanks! However I definitely got from the chicas that a lot of gringos are happy to pony up $100.

(Message edited by HornyMike on June 10, 2005)