Without a doubt the worst decision I've made in years was to spend the weekend in Costa Rica. After two days of trying to find something vaguely interesting to do, I've decided to retreat to my hotel room, check on some email, write up some paperwork for work and hang out until my flight out tomorrow.

I arrived on Friday afternoon - after a typical 1.5 hour delay on American out of Miami. Kind of stupid to unload a widebody AA plane with about 275 people on board through external stairs and onto buses - I was sitting in the second row in coach and it still took 15 minutes to deplane and bus the 100 yards to the terminal, as far as I know people in the back of the plane are still deplaning as I write this.

I grab the hotel shuttle and head over to my hotel, the Marriott Courtyard. It's about a 12-15 minute drive to Gringo Gulch but really nice, with a high-end shopping center next door with some good restaurants, bank, ATM machine, Ferrari/Maserati dealer, that sort of stuff.

First night in I headed downtown and decided to try out Zona Blue. Costa Rica doesn't get a lot of play on this board anymore but there is a site dedicated to just Costa Rica which is really popular. The guys on that site don't seem to get out much beyond Costa Rica because their descriptions and the reality I found were not at all similar.

The Zona Blue is one of the biggest clip joints I've ever set foot in. $55 for an hour with an uninterested, ugly girl of your choice, plus you can hang out in the back bar and watch the wannabe mongers tell each other how studly they all are. Oh yeah, if you want a BBBJ, that's a "biiiiggg tiiiiiippp" - $10. I tried to interview a couple of the girls but after 10 seconds all they could say is "you want go room? You want good sex? You want company?". Gee, it was almost like........Tijuana?

Holy shit, I was in Tijuana South!!! The whole fucking setup in San Jose is like a mini-replica of the Zona Norte in TJ. Bums touting fake Cohiba cigars, putas with fat rolls hanging over their Wal-Mart jeans, wearing clown makeup, stinking of cheap perfume and asking outrageous prices for shitty service. Problem is, I couldn't even find a taco street vendor and at the end of the night I couldn't enjoy some fine Denny's food in National City.

Costa Rica is worse than Tijuana. I'm not afraid to say it. It's true.

So after laughing my way out the door at Zona Blue I walk over to the Del Ray. It is an interesting setup and I can see how it could be useful, except for the fact that the chicas are fat and ugly, the customers are mostly white Americans who probably think lap dances in a US strip club is the best way to spend an evening, and the general vibe from the womenfolk was "you give me money and look at my fake tits".

I ranged around Del Ray and over to Key Largo for a couple of hours. I interviewed a Colombiana at Key Largo and when she said $150 for an hour and I said how about $75, she just up and left. Hey, it wasn't like she was sitting alone at the back bar for about an hour, nursing a glass of soda. She was clearly a busy puta and I was taking up her time.

Then again, the other chicas I actually tried to converse with were equaly abrupt. "How long have you been working at Del Ray/Key Largo?" "Joo wan go roooom?" "Maybe later. What do I get with your standard service? BBBJ? Anal? CIM? Massage" "One hour baby $100." "Yeah, so how about that bareback blowjob? "Joo wan go now baby? Me busy".

I finally pulled a semi-decent looking Tica out around 11:30 for $80, we cabbed it back to my place. She actually had sat down and talked for about 15 minutes and I had made my expectations clear to her. We had an ok time, although I practically had to throw her in the shower. She had basically stripped down and lay down in the middle of my bed and just said "fook me baby" but her pussy was, IMHO, not as fresh as I would have liked it to be. The parallels to TJ were resounding and I half expected a member of the Marriott staff to come along in 20 minutes to knock on my door to tell me I was out of time.

After the shower she did mellow out and actually gave decent service. Strangely she would only do a covered BJ but was open to anal, which is good because per my Brasil rules, which state that in the incredibly rare event that a garota tries to give a covered blowjob, I will cornhole her with extreme prejudice.

Afterwards she hung out for a bit and then she left and I hit the sack.

Day 2 was uneventful. The beautiful weather continuted and I started my afternoon by roaming around the massage places north of the Del Ray. 70E is truly a dungeon, Jet Set was scary, Europa 2000 was equally shitty, Muses had livestock for chicas I believe. I was almost hoping to run into a ratero just to lift my spirits then I went over to New Fantasy. They did have a ton of girls but the quality was poor. However for Costa Rica, the quality was probably great as all the CostaRicaTica crowd that was there when I got there were crowing about. "Man she's got big tits. I been dreaming of something like that" "What, a fat girl with giant rockhard, bolt-on silicones?" "Yeah, them's big titties".

I actually picked a girl who gave a great massage and she gave a BBBJ. She asked for a tip and upon finish, I gave her about $4 and said the normal tip for a BBBJ was $10. Again my laughter echoed around the place - 18k colones and this chica wants another 5K for a blow? She was cool about though and seemed ok with my pao duro'ness.

Aftewards I headed over to the Del Ray to watch the Saints game and pulled a chica out for $60. Lame service, lame attitude but she had a nice pussy and low and behold, I didn't need to stop at a farmacia for a Massengil for her.

Times like that, I remember a line from a 2LiveCrew song. "Summers' Eve. Mass-en-gil. Clean that pussy. Bitch, kill that funky smell".

Good times.

Day 3 was relaxed, I headed over to the Sportsmans' Lodge to watch the Bears-Seahawks game. I actually liked the place, definitely an old guys place but everyone was nice and the food was ok. Then, a return to Del Ray to watch the Pats-Chargers game. I didn't even care to deal with the girls at this point in time, although I called a few numbers that a couple of the guys had given me. A boring day on the whole.

What can really be said about Costa Rica? San Jose is an ugly city. There's no charm, no noticible vibe. Other capitals in Central America I've been to had charactor. Panama City has the Pacific and the canal and the big casinos and good shopping. Guatemala City has the whole Spanish Colonial thing going. Mexico City is quite beautiful really, and a real interesting place to walk around in. Even Honduras is nicer.

San Jose, I honestly don't know what to do with your time if you were to spend a week here. The attitudes and service, the look and feel is pretty much Adelitas Bar. Some of the Colombianas make for good eye candy, certainly better looking than the Mexicanas, but the service level is just not where I need it to be. If I had never been elsewhere I would probably think Costa Rica is ok but it's a boring dump of a town filled with tiburona putas who's whole goal is to get your money and run. Flash the big tits and maybe the dumb, rich gringos won't notice the busted teeth, the fat rolls under the blouse and jeans, the general calousness in how the chicas ply their trade.

Places like this make me appreciate places like Rio even more. Hell, I think Guatemala, Honduras and Panama are much better destinations than San Jose. Maybe a few years ago, before the full gringo invasion, it was an ok place. I know enough guys from the Rio crew who used to come here, and a few who still mix in a trip to Costa Rica. But, most of you have moved on to Brasil or Colombia or Argentina. Smart move. You're not missing much these days.

This is a legendary report..even though its very shot. I havent laughed this hard reading a report in a long time. Too bad you didn't see any rateros to lift your spirits...lol

"which is good because per my Brasil rules, which state that in the incredibly rare event that a garota tries to give a covered blowjob, I will cornhole her with extreme prejudice."

ROFL

"San Jose is like a mini-replica of the Zona Norte in TJ. Bums touting fake Cohiba cigars, putas with fat rolls hanging over their Wal-Mart jeans, wearing clown makeup, stinking of cheap perfume and asking outrageous prices for shitty service. Problem is, I couldn't even find a taco street vendor and at the end of the night I couldn't enjoy some fine Denny's food in National City"

That is some funny shit

Thought about going to Costa Rica a couple times but sounds like the internet and word of mouth has killed another mongering destination. These PLM married or recently divorced Americans are killing our hobby with their big pockets and low standards.

Lots of geriatrics and married guys here. 2.5 hours to Miami and Houston and Dallas and whatnot, so the guys tell the wives they're going fishing for the weekend. Not a real mongering venue IMHO, same fucks who like to sit around strip clubs and clubhouses at country clubs and talk about the girls they've banged. These guys don't have the moxie to handle Thailand or the PI or Brasil.

I saw San Jose, Costa Rica before anybody on the Club Hombre board ever did--probably.

Spent three months there in Spring/Summer 1982 living with a famiy in Tibas.

Catocony, your report perfectly illustrates why I have never returned. The way it was and the way it is.

English speakers were few and far between 25 years ago--thank god. I don't think I'd have the stomach to see an Americanized, internetized, MTVerized Costa Rica.

Short, keen observational piece. Funny, funny stuff...

Forgot to mention, thanks for posting a nigh on "RealTime" report. So many guys, who used to be timely, reliable reporters, have adopted the technique of putting together trip reports after two and even three subsequent trips. I realize this may be a 007-like ploy to throw off potential suitors/problems.

Anyway, SJO was a wonderland back in 1982. Relatively speaking, from the quotes you're giving, I'd say everything is at least triple the cost that it was back then. Shit don't get me started on a 25-year-old trip report...

I love this report too. In many ways it's so much more informative to see a negative report and what's not great about a place rather than a self congratulatory recount of what a stud a reporter was with hookers.

We are blessed to have two funny great reports posted today that are ..... KEEPING IT REAL!

(Message edited by mongerx on January 15, 2007)

Between AZGuy's MDE report and Cat's SJO tale, CH has shown relevance and value beyond just pretty pictures and "self congratulatory recount of what a stud a reporter was with hookers" reports.

RT here. I'm sorry to read that you had a lousy time.

Next trip, may I suggest Iligan City in the Philippines? From what I hear, virgin schoolgirls are just standing around waiting to throw themselves at you, and they all beg for bareback, too! And all you have to do is just walk down the street.

Your friend,

RT

Cat, great report. you probably just saved me a couple of grand. I was planning on going there. Thanks.

There isnt a bigger turn-off than to hear a girl in bad broken english say some of the standard lines. Why do they do that? Ugh! Although now that I think about it fat rolls, bad hygiene, and over-stuffed tits are right up there.

I will have to remember the CBJ/anal thing my next trip, although I dont think a Brasilara would be too upset about it.

I know Rio has changed a lot over the years, but it sounds like some of the guys going there are really fucking it up by some of the stories I have heard lately. Thanks again Cat, AZ

Azguy, even if Rio in the tourist areas gets fucked up, all you have to do is move away from them.

Hunter

Sounds like you had a run of bad luck -- you shouldn't write off Costa Rica so quickly. Admittedly, I've had similar experiences. One night I ran a mini-survey in the Del Rey, asking every "9" or "10" I ran across if she'd kiss. About 20% would. Compared to Colombia or Panama, it's definitely harder to find GFE among the best looking women in the Del Rey. I think there must be a hooker's union or something there, where they decided they'd charge $100 and be cold.

That said, I've had some great experiences with 6's and 7's, in the massage parlors, IDEM and Del Rey/Key Largo, women that would at least act like a novia. And among the hotties I've pulled from Del Rey, I've gotten what I'd consider good or very good service from about 50%. One of my all time favorites works out of the Del Rey, although only once or twice a week.

Regarding things to do, while San Jose doesn't have a lot of charm, there are some really neat things to see not so far from the city.

Excellent report Cat. I hate to admit it, but I used to monger in CR in '02-'03. It was as bad back then as you describe it now; but at that time, I had not been elsewhere to be able to do any serious "reality testing". Obviously, the Colombianas in CR are of a diff't species, battle hardened pros totally unlike their counterparts in Colombia. We still check out CR once in a while, for the fishing and scenery -- it's really beautiful outside of San Jose. But I wouldn't go to CR for the hobby, I'd probably swing by Panama or or hit up CTG an hour away.

Tiny,

I didn't see too many hotties at all, and while 50% is perfectly good odds at the craps table, when I'm mongering it's shit poor. I'll stick to Brasil and the 99% first-time success rate there.

I will admit, the mountains are nice and Imperial Beer was actually pretty good. I'm sitting at the airport now and the joint is about 90% American and busy. I've seen more bull dykes in the last five minutes that I have in a long time, these psuedo-hippie "eco-tourists" need haircuts and baths. And, for all the old guys here with their "Blue Marlin" t-shirts and "Del Ray Hotel and Casino", grow the fuck up and try to not advertise the fact that you were here mongering. Fucking idiots.

Great Report , Hilarious


Thanks

Well, I didn't think it was quite that bad when I was there a year ago. Funny report though.

I stayed at the Sportsmen's Lodge and they had a fairly good selection of chicas coming thru. I got all my girls without having to leave my hotel. Strange. I did check out Del Ray and I agree with your assesment completely. I didn't see one specimen that I wanted to spend time with.

Having been to Thailand, Brazil, and Colombia, I will never go to CR again, but I still had a pretty good time.

Clearly you could have used the services of a hired local guide.

Catocony, When I say good or very good, I mean better than my average mongering experience. I've been to Costa Rica four times and Brazil (Foz do Igaucu) once. Each time the mongering was as good or better in CR than Brazil. Does that mean CR is better than Brazil? I don't think so, based on the garotas I've been with in Buenos Aires and reports here and elsewhere. I just happened to to be unlucky with a couple of choices in Foz. Which is my point. While undoubtedly you're right that, say, Rio is better than San Jose, I wouldn't write off San Jose based on a single weekend. Especially if you live in the U.S. and factor in the travel time and expense to Brazil vs. Costa Rica.

And respectfullly I'd disagree about the hotties -- Based on the times I went, I'd rank the cream of the crop in Del Rey as high or higher than La Dolce Vita in Cartagena, Black in B.A., or Le Palace in Panama. Admittedly, though, the average in Del Rey isn't as good.

I enjoyed your report, however, Although you have to look there is talent to be found. I found with places like Zona Blue and New Fantasy as well as Idem and Oasis if the selection is poor, come back in a few hours. Zona has a few cuties and some excellent performers. Oasis often has young and very cute girls, but no beds. The Del Rey is really hit and miss but there is treasure there. I began my mongering career in TJ , probably will never return, and have graduated through San Jose into Thailand. Always looking for new adventures when time and coin permits.

Although I don't pull from LDV in CTG anymore, I still like hanging out there. Interestingly, many of the Colombianas at LDV used to work at Del Rey or Panama (they seem to deport the hotties first). I think the odds of seeing more cream of the crop hotties at LDV is greater as there are usually over 80+ gals there on weekends vs. Del Rey's 20-30 Colombianas (best looking IMO) and the rest Central Americans and Dominicans.

Tiny,

If you've only gone to Iguacu Falls then you haven't in any way, shape or form mongered in Brasil. Go to Rio or Sao Paulo or Porto Alegre and then tell me what you think. If I had gone to Jaco Beach only and wrote this report then it would be ok to debate the facts, but San Jose is the mongering spot for Costa Rica and I hit the major places - except for Idem. Considering my experience in and around Central America, not even comparing Costa Rica to South America, Asia or Europe, it ranks poorly in the two key quality aspects - looks and service/attitude. IMHO service/attitude is much more important and that is where what I saw really turned me off. Just going on looks, I would say perhaps 15% of the chicas I saw in three days were attractive, and most in that category had the strip-club definition of attractive.

Cat.

Thanks so much for the report, especially funny how you related CR to Rio and TJ(Adelitas). Personally, I think you call things as you see them and they are usually dead-on to a consensus opinion. When you see shit, smell shit, you call it shit.

It is unfortunate hearing about the complete demise of these places by pussy-whipped American men who piss money away.

Thankfully, outside the Copa scene the Rio establishments are primarily frequented by a majority of Brasilieros who keep the girls in check. The centro termas are still reliable for services.

Cinco,

I imagine that Help will be equal to Del Ray within a couple of years, except for the fact that San Jose was about 99.99% American and in Rio we're still a minority of the visitors. But, the hardness and shit quality we've seen taking over Help and TA over the past couple of years will grow to consume Help 100%.

But there is a massive difference - Rio's sex scene is really geared to Brasileros and we're a very small part of it. The apartments and small termas and agencies and independents and massage places and everything, they'll stay geared to Brasileros which is fine by me, that's the style I like.

Cat, thanks for the "dose of reality" about CR. I've been thinking about hitting CR because of the short flying time from IAD, but after your report, screw it!

cat, finally you have posted something revelant and based on recent experience. your rantings however are amusing, i told you not to go and you went, now you vent here. for the rest of you CR is aa ball, cloombia aaa, brazil is the majors. news at 11.

One problem is you missed some of the best CR has to offer, It is getting overun with gringos but if you get off the beaten path there are still good times to be had. Best MP scene is in the Paseo Colon area on the west side of downtown. About a half dozen MP's out there with better prices than the gulch but good service and Pantera Rosa is good at night as well as Molino Rojo a bit of a dive but late night gems wander in who didn't get business at high end clubs. I agree CR is minor leagues compared to some South America destinations and SE asia destinations but for a short trip can be fun and lots of tourist opportunities for those so inclined.rbc100

having been to Costa Rica 2X in 2005, I do agree with you with the poor attitude & service of the girls, in the Gringo Gulch. Especially the price factor and what you get in return for your money.
having moved my mongering to Thailand and maybe possibly AC in the future, I couldnt see my self going back to Costa Rica.
good report and it's 100% accurate !!

The Paseo Colon looked like a fucking shooting gallary with the drug heads in the streets, garbage strewn everywhere and every building battened down like a Cat 5 hurricane was about to hit. I passed through there each night on my way back to the hotel and cab drivers made sure to never come to a complete stop and one asked that I roll my window up just in case. The chica I was with the first night mentioned a few of the clubs - one was on the top floor of a building with loud music and plenty of lights - and said they were Tico clubs, primarily for old guys.


Sweet, I know, but I feel the need to hit some of the spots in the Caribbean and Central America while I'm staying in South Florida. The airfare was about $420, my hotel bill with some meals and everything was around $400 for the three nights. I spent $80 and $60 on the two girls from Del Ray, and spent $45 at New Fantasy. Some meals and beers and stuff at Key Largo/Del Ray, plus taxis, amounted to about $100, so I spent right around $1,100 for the weekend. Sure, I would have been better off just hanging out here and going to the beach, but then I would not know what I know now. Knowing authoritatively where not to go is just as important as knowing where to go.

I also disagree with the CR bashers here. I find CR still enjoyable, for a short trip especially, and it's still great as a beginner destination. If you speak some spanish you can broaden out a lot from the del rey routine and make better selections as well; If you've never been to the Blue Marlin, it is especially a blast. Each of the places I've visited, from Asia to South America, holds it's own charms and challenges. Granted, I don't hit CR as much as before but I'd be lying if I told you that I don't consistently pull top shelf talent from Key Largo/HDR, when there. And if you're not so cost conscious, for 3 day bender from the northeast US, you put yourself up in the Del Rey and you will be hard pressed to find many more turnkey places to drink, screw, smoke and eat yourself to excess. Maybe one of those resorts in the DR, but Sat night 9pm in the Blue Marlin really is a site to behold.

"Muses had livestock for chicas I believe"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Awesome report. I got my start in CR and used to love it. My first trip in 1999 was great, and CR was a great place to learn my lessons and have what was overall a good time. Over the next 4 years it slowly deteriorated, and it sounds like that trend has continued. Now, I wouldn't go back of my own pure volition.

Thanks for the contribution.

LM

---

quote:

Sat night 9pm in the Blue Marlin really is a site to behold.

---

Merlin, re: deportation, in Panama some of the hottest Colombianas, who work at Golden Time, Le Palace and Elite, are there legally. Or at least I was told that by two of the women. I believe they tend to return to Colombia when their work visas expire. The freelancers, who on average aren't in the same league in terms of looks, typically come as tourists and overstay. So they can stay as long as they avoid or pay off the police. I was traveling with one Colombiana there when she was busted by the police for being in Panama too long. They just told her to come into the station later and pay a fine. She had come and gone to Panama several times, and would just pay a fine before she left when she overstayed. Anyway, I guess that could explain your observation that the first stringers don't last as long in Panama. I don't know how this works in Costa Rica.

Sorry, I'm getting off topic here.

Thanks for your perspectives. I came so so close to going to CR last week. Maybe fate and Karma fused togeather for me this time.

Tiny, that sounds right. The "recruiters" obviously target the hotties for short legal stints in Panama/Costa Rica and even Japan. I kept in touch w/some of these gals (some met in Colo and some in Panama), but their exposure to the "outside" seems to generally spoil them.

Hi Cat

I complety disagree with your post, I began going in 1995 and made three to four trips a year always had a good time, stayded away for 20 months and went to Brazil and Bangkok, both great, then went back to CR, did 2 to 3 girls a day, only 1 columbian the rest tica's and I don't think any were less then a 7.5/8, all were gfe, bbbj, and didn't want to leave, probably beacause I had a Jacuzzi in the room which they all loved.

Went to zona blue twice once with stephanie who was fantastic didn't ask for a tip, came to the hotel the next day and spent 4 hours, the next day went with a friend of stephanie's, name escapes me, 23 year cutie who was even better then stephanie

In conclusion i have been to costa rica 30 times and went with many girls at a 95% success rate, I do interview and take my time.

Robert,

After 30 trips in 11-12 years you should have the procedures down. My viewpoint is of a first-time visit by a veteran monger who's been to a lot of other places. As a lot of the guys who I've talked to or been email/inboxed from, the "I told you not to go" crowd was/is 100% accurate. Many guys keep going back to TJ even after going elsewhere, just because for them they like TJ.

When I started my brief report the other night I was thinking about Smirker's trip to Medellin last year, when he had a shitty time and left after a couple of days. His report devolved into an argument over the merits of staying at the Medellin Mansion or not, but his point in the first place was compared to Rio and Thailand, Medellin wasn't intersting to him. However, I know Sandman and Cubanut and some of the other guys who have been all over the place and they like Medellin. To each their own. My purpose for this was to provide my real-time feedback on what I saw the situation to be.

You have to admit, a guy going to Costa Rica for the first time is not going to get a 95% success rate. That's what you have after going there for 12 years. However, places like Rio and Pattaya and Bangkok and Angeles and Buenos Aires, a newbie will hit at least 99% if they've done their reading here and are prepared. Does that mean that every guy should just go to those places? Hopefully not, because then those places would really suck.

The reason I don't see the CR as a good place for a vet is that the action is very easy but very low end. You can check into the Del Ray and never set foot outside for a weekend and just keep taking chicas up the elevator. However, the return on investment is not there for me and probably a lot of other vets. If the service were better and the chicas better looking then the prices themselves would be ok, but what I saw in 4 days would not be enough to put me on a plane to go back.

Great report Cat. Excellent dialogue from the members as well.

CR is a good SHORT trip destination. The flight from the US is comparible to LAX to NYC. I truly view SJO as a one bar town. I have always had fun at the Marlin and agree with you 100% in regards to the massage places etc......The Marlin has always proven fruitful for myself though it get's somewhat repetitive.

Personally, I prefer Sampa over Rio but would choose either in a minute over SJO if I had the time (2 overnights on a plane) to burn.

I view SJO as a stepping stone whereas people test the international waters and after experiencing, decide to look further to Brazil, Thailand, etc...

Again, a great overdue report and awesome dialogue!

Cat -

Point right on. Being a SME on Panama I can understand Robertj's point, but you make an even more interesting point that a first-timer to SJO or even PTY, for that matter, could have a difficult time finding the highest quality...regardless their experience level. I believe quality can be found in most mongering destination "if" the new-comer knows where to look...and what places to avoid.

Though I have not mongered in SJO, I know or met plenty of good looking women in Panama who either had been to SJO or were planning to go there. Therefore, the SJO gems are probably in the rough...but where is the rough?

IMHO, if Costa Rica Suject Matter Experts are finding quality in SJO, they apparently are not sharing that info within the club...evident by your unremarkable trip.

AJ

From what I've seen over the years, this board has changed a lot. Five years ago it was primarily about Mexico and there was quite a bit on Costa Rica. People decided to start up free boards about those subject areas and most of the guys who followed those areas either migrated to other locals and stayed on Hombre, or left Hombre for the other boards.

I logged into the primary TJ board this afternoon. My last login was Dec 20, so an even month ago. There were over 10,400 posts since my last login. So, in 30 days, over 10,400 posts? About fucking Tijuana, where nothing new has happened in years? That's over 300 posts per day.

Check out the main Costa Rica board. It's huge, and I can't imagine what the guys are talking about. However, there is a massive amount of posts to sift through to find relevent information.

Free boards attract some good guys but you get a lot of garbage and arguing and flaming. Which is why some of us here bitch-slap newbies who post garbage and argue and flame.

Just came across your report as I was in Rio when you wrote it, and happily had no time for CH.
I couldn't agree with you more abour San Jose. CR might have been OK if I had never been elsewhere, but after Brazil it just didin't cut it. Besides the lack of quality in looks, the business-like attitudes and the lack of passion were a real turnoff, particularly with the Colombianas who all seemed to also have large hard bolt-ons (which I am not fond of).
I did decide to try it because if was less than a 3 hour flight but would never do it again.
With 20+ trips to Brasil these last 3 years, I still only feel like I've skimmed the surface of the possibiliies there.
I love Foz do Iguacu. In fact I think it might be the true Garden of Eden. While there is some very modest hobbying to do there, I would only go with someone to play with.

> So, in 30 days, over 10,400 posts?

Means nothing, could have been a series of bitch wars with lots of back-and-forth about nothing, same as happens here.

I did San Jose about 10 years ago. There was a place run by gringos called BBC and it was the nearest thing to a Brazilian termas I've seen outside of Brazil. Unfortunately it didn't last long. The brothels disguised as massage parlors were ok if you made good choices. I'm not much for playing rent-a-girlfriend, and I rarely bring girls back to my room, which I did a few times there. The sessions were ok and they did a good job, but they behaved as if it were a job: I'd appreciate a little more in the way theatre.
But I have to admit one of my top-10 all time best fucks was in one of those massage dumps.

Ben,

The comment about TJA was my point - you really have to sift through the enormous number of posts to find any real information. Lots of guys with a lot of time on their hands writing and re-writing about the same girls in the same bars over and over and over again.

You could take Brockton O'Toole's guide from the 90s and adjust the prices up just a little bit, and it'll tell you all you need to know about TJ. The place never changes, which is good in many ways - you know what you're going to get. Still, I'm amazed at the amount of traffic.

Cat,

As always, a great report that makes me want to make a reservation to Rio.

What I don't quite understand is why do you always suggest I book a three month trip to Costa Rica if it's so bad? Just wondering.

Jag

This is truly a YMMV and IMHO type post. I have, in the past five years, done 12+ trips to Costa Rica, three trips to Brazil, four trips to Amsterdam, one to Germany, one to the Philippines and will be going to Thailand in the next month. Oh yeah, I forgot the many trips to TJ. I live in San Diego and I know that Costa Rica beats Tijuana hands down. You just have to know how to work the country.

You have many things to do in Costa Rica. The beauty of the country with eco-type tours are fun to do. I loved whitewater rafting, zipping through the canopy of the rain forest and the various other things to do.

You missed the fun at Zona Blue. The cost, for other board members, is $45 and the girls are there to please you. You stay in their hotel, which is beautiful, and you can have as many girls as you want at $20 each per hour. My wife and I had three girls for three hours for a whole $180.

I believe that guys who visit an area for a very short visit of four days or so should not post such a negative report as they can not truly experience the country and what it has to offer.

This is my opinion and I respect others. Please do not flame me for my opinion.

Have a Great Day

(Message edited by Evades on January 31, 2007)

Evades,

It doesn't take a vet 4 days to figure out if a place is good or not. Some people like Costa Rica, but most of the guys I know who have ventured further afield to Brasil or Thailand or the PI generally state they wouldn't bother going back to Costa Rica. My bar is set high and if the service isn't there, then the price better be low or something interesting better be available.

I'm not flaming you but whenever someone says "you have to put in time to learn the scene, you need to put in time to get good service" and in your words "you have to know how to work the country", I always ask why. I'm not going to places for an anthropology lesson, I'm going to have fun. Why spend precious time and money dumpster diving for lobster when you can just go to a good seafood restaurant and pay for it and enjoy yourself? Unless I'm going to Brasil, I have at most a couple of days to sample a particular location. I have neither the inclination nor the patience to work through every bar and massage place to find the small percentage of girls who are any good. I want to land, get setup in my hotel and go have a good time.

I've found fun, and can accept the fact that Brasil is tops in the world, but that does not preclude me from visiting other places with lowered expectations. I was simply not prepared to lower my expectations and my required levels of price/performance to the level that Costa Rica is.

"I believe that guys who visit an area for a very short visit of four days or so should not post such a negative report as they can not truly experience the country and what it has to offer."

I totally disagree with this viewpoint. Most people only have a short time for their trips. Long trips are the exception, not the norm. In that short timespan, a destination needs to prove itself, and prove it fast. If it can't deliver, it gets a low grade. We're talking about mongering here, not fossil hunting. Experiencing everything a country has to offer is not what this board, or these trips, are about.

Culture and other activities are quite ancillary to the main reason most of us are going to the destinations written about on this board. They are graded on mongering-related items, not their scenery, cultural ambience, museums, and boutiques. That's all icing on the cake after the really important stuff.

And people should definitely call it as they see it, good or bad. I'd be quite suspicious if I never saw a bad report published about any destination. Opposing viewpoints are refreshing when one is trying to discern the nature of a given locale.

Let's agree to disagree on what time it takes for a "vet" to size up a mongering site. I believe that you need to experience a place over time. For instance, when this gentlemen went into ZB and was not happy with the selection, it could have been the time of day or the fact that I had seven of the best girls upstairs for an orgy. (See below my report on it.) IMHO, you just cannot throw out all the positive postings of Costa Rica on other sites as well as here by one person's short two day adventure. That just does not make sense.

Have a Great Day,

Evades



Back about a year ago, I posted the following link about festas in Costa Rica. Today, I am here to tell you that a Zona Blue fiesta is much better than the festas I threw in Rio.

http://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6678&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Analysis of a great Festa:

7 Beautiful Zona Blue Girls (Stephany, Lorena, Camila, Kenya, Marcela, Tammy and Pamela)

6 Vibrators with extra batteries

5 Drinks per girl average

4 Virile "young" men

3 Hours of complete fun

2 Pairs of Sisters

1 Incredible Zona Blue Penthouse with a king bed (everybody fit)

After the interviews were done and agreements made, the party began with dancing and quickly, and I mean quickly, everyone was naked and just acting like animals. The bed, the balcony, the saunas, the floors, and the rest of the top floor was used to our fullest advantage and reminded me of Calingula (?). My friends were very spent afterwards so we played poker for a few hours and then grabbed a few more for actual massages. The night came and I ordered two overnighters and enjoyed life the rest of the evening.

It was a beautiful day at a beautiful place, Zona Blue, with beautiful people all around. I will be venturing back there in the next couple of days for a repeat but will have only myself to amuse. Maybe not seven will be picked but I will grab more than a few.

BTW, we did stay in the hotel and it was perfect. What a nice place to hang your hat. And, you cannot beat the $20 sessions.

Have a Great Day,

I agree with the gentlmen who said that a negative report can be refreshing when all you seem to here are positive reports. However, I do not believe that it has to go unchallenged. Now if I saw a YMMV or IMHO in the post, my opinion probably would be different.

Please check out this post about Zona Blue

https://www.clubhombre.com/discus/index.php and hit 3 - day post and then scroll down to 2006/10 Smuckin - Costa Rica No. 3

Have a Great Day,

I went to Zona Blue twice, the first time only a few girls were there so I gave it the benefit of the doubt and went back the next day. There were 14 girls there, none were doable. Lots of losers walking around the joint, it really screamed "clip joint" to me.

To each their own.

This surprises me. I had a great time down there. I did Zona Blue twice and got GFE both times. One of the girls and her friend went down my pants just outside of the waiting area. It was great until mamasan broke it up. Did New Fantasy 3 times and got GFE twice. Never did the Del Rey, but I did have some girls grabbing at me. The price turned me off and made me not want to negotiate. So I am with you guys on that one.

One of the managers of New Fantasy took my friend and I to some of the hot 'normal' clubs in San Jose. His date wanted me to nail her and to my surprise he told me it was OK. Did not end up doing her though, because I met another girl in one of the clubs.

In Jaco I had a girl from the Beatle bar give me a GFE then get really clingy, wanting to spend all her time with me. Her boyfriend later wanted to beat me up, then changed his mind when he discovered I towered over him.

Maybe I just got lucky down there. I don't know.

either Lucky or your definition of GFE is much different than Catocony and the rest of us.

I'd have to agree with this report. When I was in Costa Rica some years back, I just came off of a Rio trip.

Even though I did find a hottie, I had to stick with her because there were no other hot girls in sight.

I have never been back.

Now for tourist stuff, Costa Rica was great. Lot of white water trips, surfing in Jaco, an other cool places. But for women, no comparison to Panama, Brazil, Colombia, probably even some US cities.

Intresting Iam going to costa rica in a few months for the first time.Ive been to rio once last october and loved it and have been going to TJ for 10 years and still go because I live in San Diego 20 miles north of the border yeah there are things that suck about tj but things I like.I agree that you wont get the service of rio as easily in tj and Iam sure in costa rica either but its not as close to the us thats the problem and thats why many guys love tj and costa rica so much over asia and south america even though the service is better there.

I agree in tj you have many duds and have to work on it and it helps too know spanish.I went into rio after studing this site and had the best sex in my life I did nine girls and some repeats and they were all about service gfe I only felt rushed by one girl but that was my fault she said she was not gonna stay all night in my room up front and I still brought here back.

Iam going to costa rica to check it out but I doubt I will go millions of times TJ is my close mongering destination.I plan on making many more trips to rio though trough out my life.

CAT i agree with evades. i've been going to cr for 5 years now. yes the prices are getting crazy, but there is still alot of great talen there. Idem, new fantasy and zona blue have some real hotties from time to time, you have to be a little selective. and the country has a shitload of stuff to do with Arena, renting atv's, horses and the 1 day trip to tortuga island is great. the girls in del-rey are really getting nuts with there prices, but even if you don't take 1 out everytime, it's still a nice place to check out the eye candy. i've been to bangkok that was unreal but that long flight (from new york) for me was a killer. it's just so fast to get to CR, and you can still have a blast . don't give up on it. but this is only my opinion. ps.i'll be in cr next week for 8 days to see how many hotties i can nail. i try more for the quality than the total amount. but this is me.

CAT i agree with evades. i've been going to cr for 5 years now. yes the prices are getting crazy, but there is still alot of great talent there. Idem, new fantasy and zona blue have some real hotties from time to time, you have to be a little selective. and the country has a shitload of stuff to do with Arenal, renting atv's, horses and the 1 day trip to tortuga island is great. the girls in del-rey are really getting nuts with there prices, but even if you don't take 1 out everytime, it's still a nice place to check out the eye candy. i've been to bangkok that was unreal but that long flight (from new york) for me was a killer. it's just so fast to get to CR, and you can still have a blast . don't give up on it. but this is only my opinion. ps.i'll be in cr next week for 8 days to see how many hotties i can nail. i try more for the quality than the total amount. but this is me.

There's zero chance of me going back to Costa Rica.

I'll be in Brasil this weekend for 10 days, then I'll have a long weekend each month April-June, then back in Brasil for July. I'm thinking of hitting the DR just to check it out, then heading back down to Panama and then maybe Medellin for a weekend.

A buddy of mine is heading to CR soon...I'm glad he's checking it out. I made my reservation for Brazil instead even though the FX rate sucks! Hopefully, he has a good time and if not admits it was not so good. Thanx for the great info!!!

The high cost and low quality of service from the girls can be overcome. Learn to speak spanish, hang out with some educated ticos, and stay positive.
I have known CR since 1988. I have passed time in CR every summer since 1988. There was a time before Del Rey set up business and bought out or destroyed all the little gringo whore bars. With out doubt the grigo ghetto has changed emensley since the summer of 1988. So have I. Time does change all that it pertains to except what we refuse to recall.
If any of you pleasure seekers are thinking about a first time trip to CR heed my advice. The Del Rey is a blast. Stay patient, say a friendly hola to all the girls, and take the one you like.
Take her to your place. I recomend the Hotel Castillo. The rooms are less than $50 a night. There is no charge to bring a guest. The manager Darren is friendly and helpful. Friendly and helpful just like most of the ticas and ticos you will meet.
I will be in CR again this summer from June 6 to Aug 10. If you are in town stop by the Castillo hotel bar. Ask for Dennis the school teacher from the Hopi Reservation. I enjoy talking about and giving friendly advice about CR.

So after learning Spanish, kissing up to some of the rich locals and going there for 20 years straight I can get good service? Let me get right on that

Or, you can just go to Brazil or Argentina or SEA and start having good times an hour after your plane lands. See my point?

Cat,

This is my first post at Club Hombre and I was actually brought here by a reference to your trip report that I saw at CRT. While there is no question that CR does not compare to Brazil as a mongering destination, it sounds to me like you experienced incredibly bad luck on your trip to SJO.

I was particularly surprised by your negative experience at Zona Blue as that is actually my preferred choice of hotels when I visit SJO and I have had a wonderful time each of my last three visits. Certainly the selection of ticas at ZB can not hold a candle to many of the termas I have been to in Rio but there are a couple of outstanding choices there and to be honest with you, I have never had any of them even suggest that BBBJ was anything but routine. The guest rooms upstairs are relatively new and very comfortable with a dry sauna and steam room in each and guests in these rooms are entitled to unlimited $20 sessions.

I too enjoyed your report and found it well written but I have to believe that your initial trip to CR was not what most experience. In two weeks, I will be making my fourth trip to CR in the past twelve months which will be followed by four nights in Panama City.

Pura Vida!

Perhaps, and it was a holiday weekend (MLK Day) and in the middle of winter. Still, too much deja vu of Tijuana to get over.

(Message edited by catocony on April 22, 2007)

I would agree that having some command of the language makes for a better trip.I am going to CR in a couple weeks and i know i am going to have a good time.It's all about the attitude.I know it's not Rio or Sea but thats ok.

That report speaks volumes. I stopped going in 2003, yes the beaches are nice, jaco is a dump, but I cannot stand SJO, what an ugly city and of course cannot stand the mercenary putas. I only go to Panama, Peru, and colombia now. I am not even wild about going to Rio. Too many brothers running a muck down there.........

Leaving for SJO tomorro with a good friend. I love CR and always will. It's all what you make it in RIO, B's A's, CR etc. You want to have a good time you will! If you are burnt out on expectations than so it will be. We are all fortunate to be able to enjoy this life. See ya