San Jose - Hotel Recommendations

[ApostropheMan]

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.

I'm not sure where you are getting your information. When and where was I correcting spelling here? I quess if you consider posting accurate and potentially useful information critisism then I'm guilty as charged. Sorry if I interrupted the little boys club. By all means return to your very interesting discusion of roofing materials.

[ApostropheMan]

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.

What can I say? Atleast my posts are based on fact and personal experience. Your comment was just to bash someone when you had know firsthand knowledge yourself as you made abundantly clear in this post. I post here only occasionally as there are other boards, where I have thousands of posts, that I prefer apparantly with good reason. What you, or I, have posted in the past and how frequently has little to do with the value of the posts. Just like your living there has little value in certain areas like your knowledge of hotels. Don't let your ignorance stop you from posting.

[Jaimito Cartero]

My house has a combination of metal and some sort of clear vinyl sheeting for the patio. It's basically a cost savings thing. There is a big difference in price once you go up to plastic or actual clay (Mexican style, I'd say) roof tiles.

I painted mine so they look fairly nice, but it's all a personal preference. I know when I first came all the bars on everything was weird. Heck when I bought it, I even put up some cyclone wire on the top of my walls too.

[NastyBoy]

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.

[NastyBoy]

What's with all the metal/aluminum roofs down there? They look so bizarre. It really does give the place a third world look. Strange. I heard they're really noisy when it rains. Thank goodness my hotel doesn't have one of those. I need my sleep. But all those homes, except of course where the Germans and Americans live, (they have tile roofs), they look really shanty.

[Jaimito Cartero]

Well then lead by example master traveller.

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.

[ApostropheMan]

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.

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

[H Bush]

I agree with chupo, Sportsmens Lodge is the place to stay in San Jose. I spent eight days there this month. It is 100% girl friendly, in fact, there are numerous working girls that stroll in throughout the day and you are not limited as to how many "guests" you care to entertain in your room. The atmosphere is very laid back and you will get to know everyone staying there.

Highly recommended for first timers or guys going solo. Walking distance to the Del Ray and massage parlors. The staff is top notch and will arrange any day trips outside the city for you. I'm already planning a return in September.

As for the A/C, It's not an issue. San Jose is at a high elevation and it actually got chilly at night.

[NastyBoy]

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

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

[Rabo Verde]

NOTE THAT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ARE WITHIN 6 BLOCKS OF EACH OTHER, IN THE "GRINGO GULCH" AREA, WHICH IS WHERE YOU WANT TO STAY IN SAN JOSE, SO DON'T WORRY MUCH ABOUT LOCATION. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TO CENTRAL AMERICA B4, NOTE THAT NONE OF THESE HOTELS IS 100% UP TO AMERICAN STANDARDS OF SERVICE AND CLEANLINESS, EXCEPT THE HOLIDAY INN.

Sportsmens' lodge is absolutely the BEST, especially for newby's, but is often full. Make reservations in advance. They bought the place next door and are adding 20+ rooms. One of the best hobby hotels in the WORLD, IMHO. Run by a Gringo. $55-75. Sports bar, big screen, small restaurant, free internet, nice location on a quiet side street next to a park, but 2 blocks to action central. SUPER staff, always someone around to give you directions or advice or to translate. No guest fee. Only problem, fans instead of A/C and a little noisy but really LOTS of fun. If this is your first trip to San Jose, and/or you don't speak Spanish, DEFINITELY stay here, your trip will be 200% better!

www.sportsmenscr.com

Presidente is on the main shopping street in Gringo Gulch, with a good restaurant with view of the goings-on. Used to be good, now it's a dump. Good A/C, free Internet, breakfast buffet. No guest fee, one guest at a time, $65-$75 a night more or less. ASK FOR CORPORATE DISCOUNT!

http://www.hotel-presidente.com/rooms.html

La Gran Via, a block down the main shopping street from the Presidente, is $45 a night, no guest fee, run down but kind of charming, with laid-back staff, OK breakfast and is in a great location but no a/c and NOISY. Kind of like a hotel out of a Graham Greene novel.

http://www.hgranvia.com/ing/index.htm

Hotel Del Rey is a ratfuck, for drunk Gringos who don't know any better, but houses the world-famous Blue Marlin Bar.

http://hoteldelrey.com/

Balmoral, directly across from the Presidente, is nice, around $60, but they are targeting business guests and charge I think $15 guest fee, but if you talk to the manager BEFORE checking in she will generally waive it if you promise to be discreet and one guest at a time. Free Internet, good breakfast.

The Holiday Inn has an $85 a night special price, but you have to ASK for it, or they charge $120. They discourage guests, but you can often just walk thru with a friend. They have a nice indoor pool and breakfast buffet, great location.

[Jaimito Cartero]

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.

[Tasty1]

Presidante for classy but active folks, Sportmen's for classy but shy people. Everything else is "so be it."

[TweedleD]

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

[Admin]

Thread Starter.