I liked the Presidente, the only thing they screwed up was the wake-up call – it never came. Luckily I have a good internal clock and was up at 5:50am sharp. I looked around the room one last time, settled up the bill downstairs and had one last breakfast. I was amazed at the amount of foot traffic at 6:30am, they start early in San Jose. I got a taxi right outside and $12 and 25 minutes later I was checking in at Continental. The flight home was quiet. I cleared immigration and customs quickly in Newark and was at a family BBQ just outside the Meadowlands 15 minutes later, eating hot dogs and ribs. Three hours later I was in my apartment.

For me San Jose was a great weekend getaway. It seemed like I was away for much longer than the 3 days I actually was. I found the place to be friendly and would go back again. In fact, I already booked my flight for the July 4th weekend. I’m going to try a couple of different things next time and will be sure to report back.

Via con dios!

Wallstreet,

Great reports. You write very well and give the rest of us very useful information. I have read in some of your other posts that you like to golf. Where it's warm (like CR) there is often golf - any information on the golfing scene down there?

Platinum,

Thanks for the compliment - I get so much good info from this board that I feel it a duty to give back. And speaking of golf, funny you should mention that. There are only a handful of courses in the San Jose area (and I think a total of 6 in all of Costa Rica) After looking over everything, I saw two reasonable options. The first is the Melia Cariari Golf Club, located midway between the airport and downtown San Jose. It’s cheap to play there - $40, but you have to stay at either the Melia Cariari Hotel, which is very expensive (and has no direct web-site) or the Hotel Herradura www.hotelherradura.com which is a little more reasonable (about $115 per night). They have a package for a single golfer that includes three nights, 3 rounds of golf, cart and caddie, breakfast buffet, transport to/from the airport, and other stuff for $400. It looks like a pretty nice hotel and they do allow guests at $20 a pop. I was close to reserving there for the fourth of July, but instead decided to go back to the Presidente and play at the Valle Sol Golf Club www.golf@vallesol.com , just on the outskirts of San Jose. It’s $70 per person, which includes cart and they don’t use caddies. I emailed them about reserving tee times and they said there would be no problem for Friday, July 4th and if I wanted to play solo on Saturday to come after 11:00am. I plan to play on both Friday and Saturday probably sandwiched around sessions at New Fantasy. You can be sure that all the details will be in my next report.

Great report Wallstreet. You got me thinking about CR again, the friendly people and the beautiful gals and other natural wonders. I had some great times there before I got infatuated with other hobby destinations. You should definitely check out the great touristy things next time, such as the volcanoes and the beach cities such as Jaco and Quepos. Some of the best ocean sportsfishing is out of Quepos. If you do go (like on a slow sunday), you should take a girl with you, the best time I had was taking a chica friend to Lake Arenal and going to bed with a stunning view of the volcano. Another time, I had a companion go fishing with me for sailfish. We had a blast, definite GFE. Merlin

Thanks Merl,

This next trip over July 4th, I plan to get some golfing in, but I would love to do a day of fishing, but everything over the internet is very expensive. How did you get to Quepos? Do you just show up and find a boat or are reservations really necessary? I've always wanted to try sailfishing, and having a nice chica in the boat wouldn't be so bad either.

Wallstreet, CR fishing is a bit pricey, but we had three guys share the expense and it wasn't too bad. We used Ticotravel.com for the lodging and fishing about 1 year ago and they were good, but expensive. There were some skiffs and boats for rent but they didn't look very reputable; most of the nicer boats were booked well in advance. You may not have good luck finding a captain during the summer months when it's busy.

Also, we rented cars both times we went to Quepos and it was great, awesome scenery. San Jose is difficult to navigate, but once you get out in the countryside it is wide open

Thanks Merlin,

I sent out some price inquiries - to boats that operate out of Quepos as well as the new 250 slip Marina at Playa Herradura (where the Marriott has a nice resort and golf course). I was planning on driving also, probably taking the Interamerican highway down and then the winding scenic route back up. I'll report back on my findings. By the way, if you ever head out to Costa Rica for a long weekend, let me know. I'd like to hook up with you - think we'd have a great time. Of course, when I can put a whole week together, it's back to Thailand.

All:

Here's a link to the guy I used to set up a fishing trip in Quepos the last time I was in CR. He was very knowledgable about all aspects of CR, not just the boats. We ended up on a newly renovated boat that was an awesome time. We caught lots of fish, sailfish, marlin, dorado, tuna. Brought some back to the hotel and had the freshest suishi ever. Plus the Dorado in white wine cream sauce and mushrooms was incredible.

www.richardkrug.com

By the way Wallstreet, we stayed at the Sicomono Hotel, which judging by your previous posts, you might enjoy. Its a luxury, eco-friendly hotel with an amazing pool/bar.

http://www.sicomono.com/

Also, Quepos is a place where you might be best served importing your own talent from SJ. Action is hit and miss there, but the rain forest is awesome.

Ix

Ixtoc,

Thanks for the great advice. I emailed Richard Krug for info on fishing and he emailed me back within 5 minutes asking me to call him on his toll-free number to discuss everything. I called him and you weren't kidding when you said he was very knowledable on all aspects of Costa Rica. Richard used to run the fishing desk at the Blue Marlin but has been out on his own for a number of years now. He booked me on the Bobcat, which was more money than I wanted to spend, but I'd rather spend a few more bucks for the best rather than be cheap and settle. We worked out a great itinerary - Arrive San Jose Thursday night, check in at the Presidente, party, then the rent-a-car place will pick me up Friday morning, bring me to the car, where I will drive to the Valle de Solle golf club, then after a round of golf, I'll drive down to Jaco Beach and check in at the Copa Cabana, check out the Beetle Bar and other sites, get a good night's sleep and head out on the Bobcat for a full day of sport fishing, then drive back to San Jose late in the afternoon for more bedroom acrobatics throughout the night and head to the airport in the rental car on Sunday morning and hop the plane back to New York. Richard was very personable and not pushy. Definately a good guy to know in CR. A full report will follow.

Wallstreet, I'd love to hook up with you sometime, if not CR, then BKK or RIO perhaps.

Ixtoc, great info, thanks.

Wallstreet and Merlin:

Glad the information was helpful. After all the support I've had on this board I'm glad I was able to provide something useful in return. Especially to a quality reporter like Wallstreet. I've never been to the land of (vertical) smiles, but after reading your reports its on my list of required adventures.

I'll be in Rio in the first week of December. I know its a long time from now, but it would be great if either of you were going to be in Rio then. Something tells me that a VIPS festinha and Wallstreet were meant to be.

Have a great trip to CR.

Ix