San Jose General Reports

[Lion Killer]

For rookies and nosepickers. For example, nobody who lives in SJ goes there. To say it requires "significant time" to find women outside the Del Rey is absurd and is something only a rookie or a nosepicker would say.

Dickhead. Spot on name you chose Mate.

LK.

[Dickhead]

The Hotel Del Rey is the center of activity in San Jose.

For rookies and nosepickers. For example, nobody who lives in SJ goes there. To say it requires "significant time" to find women outside the Del Rey is absurd and is something only a rookie or a nosepicker would say.

[Eduardo49]

I agree. It is a great place for first timers. Too cookie cutter, less bang for the buck if you well.

The Hotel Del Rey is the center of activity in San Jose. You can find women outside of the Del Rey if you know where to look and are willing to invest significant time. It is no where near the place it was five years ago. What you can find there are women 24/7. How much you pay depends on your negotiating skills. The pensions (MPs) run anywhere from $25 for a half hour up to $65 for an hour and you have to negotiate extra services on top of these prices. The high end prices are as much as I generally pay for independents at the Del Rey that I would take to my room, not a cheap room at an MP. Drink prices at the Del Rey tend to be higher than you would expect at the corner ex-pat bar. The bartenders tend to have teeth at the Del Rey. You can go and get drunk cheaper elsewhere or you can go to high end restaurants and bars and casinos and pay more for a drink. The Del Rey has it's advantages and disadvantages as a hotel. I prefer the Sportsman's and L'Amistad for their atmosphere. Others prefer the convenience of the Del Rey. To each his own in that regard. You can bash the Del Rey, you can bash Costa Rica but until you can tell me any place better in the states you will have a hard time changing my opinion that it is a great destination to visit and enjoy.

[Fuddzie]

An even better solution is to avoid the Del Rey, which is a clip joint for rookies and nose-pickers.

I agree. It is a great place for first timers. Too cookie cutter, less bang for the buck if you well.

[Eduardo49]

An even better solution is to avoid the Del Rey, which is a clip joint for rookies and nose-pickers.

I suspect you picked the right screen name if you refer to fellow gentlemen who pursue the hobby we enjoy as nose-pickers. Where anyone chooses to seek women is their choice. I choose not to pursue the women that hang in the doors of the pensions nor the transvestites who frequent the streets at night. You are free to enjoy them if you like. You say that you prefer to be a bottom feeder but most who come here want something above the crack addicted women found walking the streets in the states or the biker chicks at the strip clubs. The Hotel Del Rey leaves much to be desired but there are plenty of quality women to be found there. Some pension prices are as high as negotiated prices with independents at the Del Rey. It all comes down to finding the right girl and the Del Rey is just another place to look among many.

[Lion Killer]

An even better solution is to avoid the Del Rey, which is a clip joint for rookies and nose-pickers.

I happen to love the Del Rey, that is the only place I stay & the only place I will ever stay in San Jose

Just got back from there for the 4th of July Weekend, have 3 great reports to follow

Cheers

LK

[Dickhead]

The solution to this at the Del Rey

An even better solution is to avoid the Del Rey, which is a clip joint for rookies and nose-pickers.

[Eduardo49]

No. If they are licensed (have a "medallion") red taxis, they have to use the Mara or reloj.

When you exit the Hotel Del Rey you will frequently be directed to licensed taxis parked at the curb or to pirate taxis, just plain cars by people outside the door. The licensed taxis as well as the pirate taxis will charge you 2000 colones and not use a meter. The guy putting you in the taxi gets a commission. Both the licensed taxi and the pirate taxi are operating illegal. The licensed taxi is stealing from the passenger and the owner of the cab. By not running the meter there is no record that the trip took place. The solution to this at the Del Rey or the Sportsmans on occasion is to walk away from the door and flag down a moving taxi then ask if he will use the meter. The cost from the Del Rey to the Sportsman's or L'Amistad should be less than a thousand colones ($2).

[Lion Killer]

No doubt the safest course of action is to stay home, something I choose not to do. All those things happen in Uber and in Taxis in the US and in foreign countries. And there is no hard data on which is more dangerous in the US or other countries. For me convenience with Uber is main driver. Economy is the second. I believe it to be safer but that is just a feeling. Certainly my expediences with them have been newer cars and courteous drivers (each driver gets a review post ride) all of whom are following traffic adjusted GPS for the most efficient routing. I do feel have have some recourse with Uber corporate if something happens but who knows.

Pre-Uber my experience with cab drivers in Latin America has been mostly positive. In my last trip in MDE they where all very nice as were the Uber drivers in SJO. But have had enough hassles with taxis over the years to stay with Uber until it disappoints me.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technolog...n-uber/386207/

Dave,

You are correct, to each his own & I prefer to use the taxi's & not Uber.

Cheers.

LK.

[Dickhead]

You need to negotiate the fare. Not positive about this, but I believe this is actually legal and "above board. "

No. If they are licensed (have a "medallion") red taxis, they have to use the María or reloj.

[Mr Jetsetter]

A agree with you on that brother. They tried to quote me a fixed price of 4000. Then they came down to 2000 quickly. I didn't even try to negotiate to use the meter, just pulled out my phone. My Uber was there in two minutes and was 800. Perhaps if enough people do that, the taxis will just use the Meter.

Taxis both public and private that pick up passengers in front of hotels will frequently feel no obligation whatsoever to employ their marias. You need to negotiate the fare. Not positive about this, but I believe this is actually legal and "above board. " This situation applies to taxis sitting outside the Sportsmens as well, not just the Del Rey. Quite simple to walk a few feet to avoid this problem. And if the taxista doesn't turn on his meter, immediately ask him to do so. Taxis in San Jose are ubiquitous and generally very reliable.

[Charm City Dave]

How? Make them use the meter and either know where you're going or act like you do. But the Del Rey is a rip off all around, so I guess it's not too surprising.

A agree with you on that brother. They tried to quote me a fixed price of 4000. Then they came down to 2000 quickly. I didn't even try to negotiate to use the meter, just pulled out my phone. My Uber was there in two minutes and was 800. Perhaps if enough people do that, the taxis will just use the Meter.

[Dickhead]

Perhaps mostly, but coming out of the Del Rey at night they try to rip you off.

How? Make them use the meter and either know where you're going or act like you do. But the Del Rey is a rip off all around, so I guess it's not too surprising.

[Charm City Dave]

Uber has thieves, sexual preditors & murders, that's here in the United States, no way in hell will I ever get in any guys personal car here, much less in a third world country to save a few dollars.

LK.

No doubt the safest course of action is to stay home, something I choose not to do. All those things happen in Uber and in Taxis in the US and in foreign countries. And there is no hard data on which is more dangerous in the US or other countries. For me convenience with Uber is main driver. Economy is the second. I believe it to be safer but that is just a feeling. Certainly my expediences with them have been newer cars and courteous drivers (each driver gets a review post ride) all of whom are following traffic adjusted GPS for the most efficient routing. I do feel have have some recourse with Uber corporate if something happens but who knows.

Pre-Uber my experience with cab drivers in Latin America has been mostly positive. In my last trip in MDE they where all very nice as were the Uber drivers in SJO. But have had enough hassles with taxis over the years to stay with Uber until it disappoints me.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technolog...n-uber/386207/

[Lion Killer]

Uber has thieves, sexual preditors & murders, that's here in the United States, no way in hell will I ever get in any guys personal car here, much less in a third world country to save a few dollars.

LK.