San Jose - Hotel Recommendations

[Paxsie]

I am traveling with two other guys. And I'd rather not having to share a bed with anyone. Can anyone tell me a hotel that i can request a 3rd person roller bed? By the way, I will only stay for 3 nights.

[Prolijo]

If you're a light sleeper, I suggest you either bring earplugs or pick a hotel outside of downtown altogether. One thing that can make a big difference is whether the rooms, halls and other public areas are tiled or carpeted. Tiled hotels are easier to clean and thus don't get as grungy as places that have old carpeting, but they also are a lot noisier. Some are worse than others. The Del Rey a perennial favorite, particularly amongst newbies but also amongst a few vets, as I recall has carpeting but is still one of the noisier places to stay as it has an opening above the casino that rises up through all the floors, channeling light down but also all the casino noise upwards. The Presidente has tiled floors which reflect all the noises of banging headbords, slicking shoeheels etc., but some of the worst noise comes from the street vendors on the pedestrian mall out front. So you might find it slightly quieter in one of the back rooms.

The Sportsmens Lodge has been extremely positively reviewed by many vets. Perhaps part of Veterano's problem was in being so close to the reception desk? I wouldn't necessarily recommend its location for newbies who don't know their way around downtown, but if you do know your way around it really isn't any farther from ground zero than many other popular downtown hotels such as the Amon Plaza, Gran Via or Hotel Europa. Its extremely chica friendly (e.g. unlike the Pres. it allows more than 1 chica and unlike the HDR has no chica fee). Its bar is becoming increasingly popular for both gringos and chicas alike, though admittedly it is WAY more laid back than the BM (that can be both good and bad). Its also only about 2 blocks away from New Fantasy and a short walk to some of the better restaurants in SJ including Cafe Mundo, Bakea, Atomic Diner, La Palma and JR's Ribs.

[Veterano]

I stayed last week for a few days first at the Sportsman's Lodge, and then for a few days at the Presidente

I had a great room at the SL but it was very noisy, particularly in the AM when the reception gals started talking on the phones. The SL is also out of the way and a little hard for the taxis to find. Qualities include a friendly staff and a pretty good breakfast (which is not included)

Presidente was also noisy (from construction), but very convenient, plus I had a great jacuzzi bath. I also liked the proximity to the News Cafe.

Veterano

[Prolijo]

For extended stay rates in the Gulch area itself, your best bet may be to see if any of the hotels have weekly rates. I know that the Gran Via (www.hgranvia.com 506-222-7737 rates???) and Castillo (www.hotelcastillo.biz tel#506-221-5141 weekly rates are 20% off their regular daily rates) both do. I think the Hotel Europa does too. The Rincon de San Jose (www.hotelrincondesanjose.com 506-221-9702 $290/wk+tax) also has an apartment that has gotten some good reviews (the hotel itself is not purported to be particularly chica friendly, but the apartment has its own entrance.

Apartamentos Sudamer on the corner of Calle 7 and Avenida 14 (no website or known tel#) and Scotland Apartments on Calle 27 and Avenida 1 (www.hotels.co.cr/scotland.html 506-223-0833 $250-350/wk) are both pretty close to downtown.

If cost is a factor, you might get better rates if you're willing to go a little further from downtown. The Linda Vista Apartments (http://vistalinda.webcindario.com/frame.htm Tel#506-399-8904 $125-145/wk $375-425/mo.) is one that is very popular with "mongers". It is a little far from downtown, but easy to get to. They basically have small one bedroom apts. with a full kitchen/living area. They are very chica friendly catering almost exclusively to fellow "mongers" who often hang together in the common area for coffee, stories, etc. At the extreme end of Calle Blanco about 1 mile north of downtown. Taxi ride to Gulch for 550 or bus leaving every 10 minutes on the corner for 90 colones.

Some other apartments that have been listed on various forums are Apartotel La Sabana (www.apartotel-lasabana.com) and Aparthotel el Sesteo (www.sesteo.com). Both are about a 600c cab ride from the Gulch in the Sabana Park area. They're supposed to be very nice but they're not cheap either.

[Volpone]

What about renting a furnishea apartment for 2-3 weeks?

Does anybody have a phone number or an adress?

[Nick]

P.S. the bar is open 24-7.

[Nick]

I agree with Bandy about Staying at the Hotel del Rey if you have not been to Costa Rica. For the 10 dollar room upgrade, it is worth it for the safety and convience. I may be lazy but the Del Rey had everything i needed. A small caffe bar,good cigars, a tour desk and cheap slot machines and many beautifull chicas. The rooms are not the quality Hilton or Marriot but for my purposes they were ok.

[Bandy]

.... You say the accepted definition of chica friendly is no joiner fee. Accepted by who? That is certainly an important factor but obviously not a deal breaker for those guys. Besdies, to say it is not chica friendly when there's literally a parade of chicas walking up and down the stairs is sort of ridiculous. ......There are also many other hotels that do not charge any fee as long as you've booked a double room but will only let you bring back one girl per day and often give you shit about doing that. Would you call that chica friendly?.....

Right on! Could'nt agree with you more. This convoluted definition of "girl un-friendly hotels" I have not seen anywhere. A hotel can only be girl-friendly or un-friendly. Girl un-friendly hotels will not allow chicas to join you...period! Whether a girl-friendly hotel charges a "joiner fee" or not , is a totally different issue. And as you said that to call DEL REY, the most famous Brothel/Hotel in Central America, girl-unfriendly is really mind boggling. I will disagree with you on one point though. For newbies, whose main interest is mongering, I would only recommend this hotel as a first option for one stop shopping(see my point below).

When i was going to Costa Rica,i always stayed at the Del Rey. I enjoyed the convience of waking up at 3am and walking down to the bar and draging a young chica back to my room.....

Another excellent point. This is the main reason I always stayed in this hotel. I can go down to the main lobby at any hour of the night without risking any encounter with muggers or TVs (outside of the hotel) and take part in mongering or gambling or simply having a beer in the bar and talking to chicas. It has its own perks also. After the first trip, the hotel manager Miguel became my friend. He introduced many of the girls to me and automatically I got special treatments from them. I never had to pay any entrance fee to Key Largo. Also, I always got a discounted price from the chicas since they don't have to leave the premises for a longer travel time. But I will agree on one thing that as a hotel it is nothing to write home about. It is at best a two star motel in the US. It is primarily geared to mongering and gambling.

Bandy

[Prolijo]

Jaimito Cartero,
I really don't want to get into a sniping war with you either. Like I said in my post, I generally respect your contributions to this board and recognize that the vast majority of your posts are highly positive. I even understand and agree with your general hostility towards tweedleD since I'm also familiar with the issue of his bogus photos and usually vague and worthless posts.

But A-Man was right when he said there was nothing really all THAT wrong with that PARTICULAR post and that yours itself offered little in return. Obviously, he wasn't familiar with tweedleD's history. Perhaps if you had just explained THAT to whom rather than turning on him too, we could have avoided the whole sorry series of posts that were going on before I entered the fray. They also had little to do with hotels and everything to do with sniping at one another and that was what I was responding too. You have your gripes and I have mine.

As for my "enlightening you" and pointing out what "lodging I was recommending" in my post, that sounds like just more sniping on your part. I'm trying to be respectful and explaining my views. It sounds to me like you just want to get into another pissing match. Not EVERY post has to strictly mention a hotel as long as it addresses issues brought up by others. One thing a post shouldn't do is make essentially unexplained sniping attacks on what at least appear to be basically innocuous posts by others. You say you don't like 2 line posts that don't offer info but only criticism and yet you've made a few of those yourself.

WHATEVER! You obviously missed MY point. And my post only served to revive the whole sorry exchange. In that sense I was wrong too. Let's end such posting NOW!

On a more pleasant note related to the REAL topic at hand - HOTELS, I happen to agree with you. I wouldn't recommend the HDR for most mongers either and I certainly can't enlighten you why so MANY guys are willing to pay their ridiculous chica fees, but they do, so it at least deserves some mention on this board. Maybe they feel the other benefits offset that particular disadvantage. You say the accepted definition of chica friendly is no joiner fee. Accepted by who? That is certainly an important factor but obviously not a deal breaker for those guys. Besdies, to say it is not chica friendly when there's literally a parade of chicas walking up and down the stairs is sort of ridiculous. Perhaps saying it is not monger friendly would be a more apt description, though, again, it seems many guys would disagree. Incidentally, the Morazon also has a small joiner fee (a much more reasonable $3), however given the fact that most mongers rarely take back more than 1-2 chicas per day it still comes out cheaper than many other hotels that do not charge chica fees. There are also many other hotels that do not charge any fee as long as you've booked a double room but will only let you bring back one girl per day and often give you shit about doing that. Would you call that chica friendly?

You may have slightly different views on this. Feel free to explain your side. I'll respect that, though I may disagree. However, whatever the case, there's certainly no need for either of us to get hostile about any of it.

[Nick]

When i was going to Costa Rica,i always stayed at the Del Rey. I enjoyed the convience of waking up at 3am and walking down to the bar and draging a young chica back to my room. I have been going to Colombia the last three years, so i dont know the quality of the hotel now. The hotel lobby was full of desirable latinas from all over Latin America.I still hear from some of the ladies.Several have married Americans and have had children and are living the American dream.

[Jaimito Cartero]

JC, I really respect your many contributions to this forum and all your knowledge and experience, but at least in these couple of cases I think you were wrong.

Perhaps you'd like to point out the lodging you recommended in your post. I know that there won't be one discussed in mine.

The thing I am trying to point out, is that the accepted definition of "chica friendly" is no joiner fee. I am also trying to firmly (believe me, my posts were not unfriendly) start off these new sections in the right direction. I've never stayed at the Del Rey, and don't generally recommend it to anyone who is interested in mongering. Perhaps you can tell me what value a monger gets out of being charged $10-$12 per chica they bring up. Please enlighten me.

So many members are trying to 'bump' their postings up by putting up small one line responses, and basically very unhelpful postings. "Yeah, that chica is very nice". While that's a compliment, it's a post that should be send via a PM.

I read about 10-15 different countries forums every day. By going through 2-5 messages each day in each forum that are non-informational I waste a lot of time. For guys who only read one forum a day, it probably doesn't matter to them.

TweedleD has posted a number of photos that weren't his in the CR forum, so you will find a bit of my attitude towards him reflected in the post.

I am far from perfect, but I will point to Chuponalgas post as one that is really great. He gives you links, prices and much more info. Since I live for a month or two a year in Costa Rica I don't look for the lodging info that others do, but do want to make sure these new sections start off on the right foot. This post and the sniping going on here is not good.

It is strange that many of the people who snipe and complain are people that don't post good field reports. Weird how that works out, eh?

[Prolijo]

Boys, Boys, Boys! Can't we all just get along.

La gran Via, Presidente ,Morazan, Sportsman Lodge, Europa, Hotel Asia, Apartmentos Sudemar, all chica friendly,some have joiner fee, some don't.

Yours is a mostly useless post. I do not consider a hotel that charges a joiner fee Chica friendly. If you can't detail specifics, then you're just wasting bandwith.

tweedleD's post may have been short on details but it was not completely devoid of info and, at only 2 lines, could hardly be classified as a waste of bandwidth. In fact, JC's post didn't really add much either besides negativity and criticism. And, while a joiner fee is certainly a strike against any aspiring chica-friendly hotel, one should remember that the annointed king of such hotels (at least by most newbies and a few vets) is the Del Rey which just so happens to charge a prety hefty joiner fee itself.

Thanks for the post tweedleD. You saved me 60 pages of research.

I'm guessing sarcasm. Waste of bandwidth? Definitely.

Well then lead by example master traveller. At least his post had some information in it. The Sportsmens' Lodge and the Presidente are both great however the nod goes to the Sportsmans as the Presidente is past it's prime, as reported by Chuponalgas and others.

A bit snide, perhaps, but an understandable reaction given the above two comments and his other arguments were completely valid.

Since I own a house in Costa Rica, it's rather difficult for me to accurately recommend a hotel I have never stayed at. And if you'd bother to peruse my reports in the CR and other sections, you will find plenty of factual details, photos and other meaningless stuff thrown in as well.

Seeing as you only have 2 or 3 posts a year, most only one or two lines, I don't think you're quite qualified to start rock throwing.

First part a perfectly reasonable explanation. Second part, basically irrelevant. I don't know how qualified he might be to add informative posts, but any of us here are qualified to evaluate the difference between a post that attempts to offer information and one that simply criticises another member making such a post, which is what JS did.

That guy's a dick. All he ever does is criticize. He's even got the nerve to correct the spelling of the owner/operator of this board who gives him the opportunity to post to the forum. Sheesh! Some people.

Now it gets really "nasty" with name-calling. I reviewed AMan's post and found nothing that could be constured as criticism up to the moment he came to tweedleD's defense and no spelling corrections of anyone let alone any post at all addressed to Jackson. So I'm not sure where NastyBoy was getting those delusions. If anybody is guilty of criticism it is NastyBoy and JC (who recently did the same thing in the Restaurant thread by criticising someone without offering any useful info of their own)

All this seems pretty obvious to me and perhaps to many others reading it. A-Man was quite understandably put-out by JC's and NastyBoy's posts to him and responded accordingly. I understand his reaction but it sort of brought him down into the verbal barb throwing with the others rather than trusting others to see it all for what it was.

JC, I really respect your many contributions to this forum and all your knowledge and experience, but at least in these couple of cases I think you were wrong

Senior Members, we all post here in our own ways. As long as someone is not actually stealing or plagiarizing or flaming or even just mildy attacking another (assuming that attack is not just a response to an attack on himself), we should be prepared to cut them some slack. You may not like their style or content and can offer contrary opinions or CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, but saying their posts are a "Waste of bandwidth" or calling them a "Dick" has no place here at WSG.

[QuackUp]

I would like to add my recommendation for the Sportmen's Lodge Hotel. It is located close enough to the gulch to walk and even though it is not recommended to walk at night, I did. As far as service goes, top notch. Everybody from the top down wanted to ensure everything was going okay. If there were any problems, they made sure it was taken care of immediately. All the workers I spoke to were happy to work there. That's a testamony to the owner Bill and it shows. Not to mention all of his female staff were hot. I was in the junior suite which is a good size room and bed. Cable tv and if you need a computer to work on, I believe there were four that you could use day or night.

As noted before, later in the afternoon and at night, there are usually girls in the bar area. Like everything else, it's all about the timing. Everytime I went to the bar, the best looking girls were already hooked up. The girl policy for this place is very good and no extra fee to bring them back.

The front desk will arrange any tours you need, taxis and just about anything else you may need. Plus they make you feel like you are at home and not a hotel. Like someone wrote before, this is a place where everyone knows your name.

Q

[Dinoman]

The Hotel La Gran Via in my opinion is the best buy in San Jose. A great location, $40-45 a night tax included no guest fees. The rooms are big and the front rooms have balconies.
It can get noisy in the front but the back rooms are quiet and big. The rooms could be updated but are very clean. You can make weekly or monthly deals and carry over unused days. example make a two week deal stay for one week leave for the beach for two days come back to San Jose and you still have a week. And if you leave and have 3 days left they will credit you 3 days for the next time you are in San Jose. http://www.hgranvia.com/ing/index.htm
phone 011-506-222-7313

[Chess Cat]

The Hotel Inca Real, 1 block from the Clarion (Amon Plaza) in Barrio Amon may be considered. The price is about $50, they charge a $10 chica fee. Avoid the rooms in the basement floor, ie, next to the breakfast room, just refuse to stay there if that's all they have. Even the rooms on the entry level or other rooms, you might want to check out your room and make sure it's the best location for you. The staff is friendly, there is computer access, hot water and clean rooms for a reasonable price. The Barrio Amon is a nice area, there is a zoo and some restaurants, nice to walk around, yet close enough to the gulch. An alternative that should be considered.