San Jose General Reports

[Mudpie]

Hey, sorry for not giving more details. However I don't think anyone's report can really 'blow mine out of the water' as my report is my experience. I wouldn't label myself a newbie in the scene. I just happen to think that the scene is CR is not so cool.

I've read reports where people ask - should I go to CR or BKK, CR or Rio, CR or DR - and in my opinion I'd give CR a wide berth.

I'm sure no tears will be spilled by the girls, fellow mongers or the country by my departure.

I stayed (am staying) at Del Rey - a little run down but passable. I've gone to: Blue Marlin, Key Largo, New York, IDEM, Miss Caribe, Arcadas, Molino Rojo, La Bella Mansion, Alcasar, Zona Blue, and The Dungeon, so far.

Maybe I'm just into cute Asian girls - but I will say I had a GREAT (fantastic) time in Rio, BA, and a good time in Havana, DR.. So it's not just the Asian thing - I've found the girls in CR to be really really low-class and out of shape, and the city is just foul with druggies.

The locals I've come in contact with (at least in the Gulch) - hotel workers and the like - have invariably just been rude. (I'm surely not a rude guy)

I guess my point in posting - was that some posters make CR sound like heaven, and it may be to them - but there is another side as well - it is not a beautiful city (Rio, BA) by any means - it is closer to a gutter (aesthetically), and for the money 'I think' more fun can be had with the girls just about anywhere (DR, Cuba, Argentiana, Brazil).

I am anxious to try Columbia, Panama, and Venezuela. But first I'm off to Asia (Cambo, Thai, Philippines, Indo & China) for two months - which is really my first love.

[Mr Jetsetter]

Mudpie,
Just where exactly did you hang out? Where did you stay? You do not mention any specifics whatsoever in your post to buttress the credibility of your opinion or to give prospective newbies a valid perspective.
I do agree there are definitely superior mongering destinations around the world (I am a big fan of Buenos Aires), but you can have a pretty good time in San Jose if you take the time to read the boards and know what you are doing. Heck, just perusing Dodger Bulldog's pictures and posts kind of blows your "argument" out of the water.

[Mudpie]

This is my third trip to Costa Rica, but my first with the real intent of mongering. Previously I'd been here with girlfriends to head up to the hot springs and just chill out.

Having mongered in several destinations (Cuba, DR, Brazil, Argentina, Nicaragua, Thai, Cambo, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, parts of Europe, China, Japan) I'd have to put Costa Rica at the very very lowest place on my list, and it's probably the only place I'd never even consider returning to.

I found the city unforgivably filthy, just trying to go to some of the Tica bars at night was a downright fright - (almost got run over as a driver aimed for me, got surrounded by crack-heads while trying to flag a taxi). After dark much of the city turns into some bizzare nightmare out of a zombie video game - with people literally staggering around out of their mind. It doesn't appear to be a safe city in the least.

The chica prices are competitive, but overall I was amazed at the low quality - compared to Brazil or Argentina. While everyone's opinion of 'quality' is different - I guess I'm just not into the fat 25+ gals that seem to abound in the nightclubs and god forbid the girls at the tica brothels.

The guys I met and watched were sort of an eye opener as well - In Asia (where I spend most of my time) one does run across a certain type of low-class westerner, but in CR I found this magnified - guys from USA who probably are into NASCAR and high-fiving each other while drooling over fatties, snapping pics and dancing samba at club. Some scary sh*t.

Wanting to have something good to say about CR.. Not sure - it's a short hop from the US I guess.

Overall - I was hugely surprised at the difference 'I' found from reading this board prior to the trip - to what I saw on the ground.

I'm posting a negative review, not to start a flame - but just to give some new guys another perspective. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

[DR Monger II]

I'm just curious. How does this happen? Do they secretly steal stuff from your car? Are these guys carrying weapons? Why don't you just beat them up? I mean you knew what was happening?

My friend and I were in San Jose for the 5th time. It really has changed. Alot of street crime. In fact we were bumped from our flight by TACA and had to spend an extra day in CR. We rented a car and did not know we were followed from the airport. In Escazu we stopped at a light and they punctured our tire while standing at the light. We drove a few blocks and then had to stop and try and fix it. While doing so they stole by Backpack from the back seat. It had my wallet plane, tickets, computer and camera. Also my passport. What a horror. So be aware of your surroundings. Also there were quite a number of muggings in Parque Morazon while I was there Honestly I feel a lot safer in Colombia. Lots of Police and Military on the streets.

[Npaul1]

I never saw any muggings on Morazan park. I was there for about a week. However, I did see Travestites at night around morazan and the streets near INS building. Be careful. They were shouting at cars and such. They also usually travel in threes. I'm not sure if you guys could handle 3 tranvestes at the same time? I walked around and never got pick pocketed. However, I might have been lucky.

I had a group of 3 girls or TVs, I did not know which, they came headon to me and all put their hands in my front pockets to steal from me. Some money came out onto the sidewalk, but I beat them to it and then I ran to the Del Rey.

This was about 5 years ago. It was about a block off of the park, on the street out front of the Del Rey.

[Mudpie]

It's a shame Mel Gibson has fallen down so far.

Uh - excuse me?

How did he 'fall so far' - looks to me like he's just drunk at a bar with a bunch of girls. Sounds just like most of us.

Have we fallen too?

[Tiny 12]

In Escazu we stopped at a light and they punctured our tire while standing at the light. We drove a few blocks and then had to stop and try and fix it. While doing so they stole by Backpack from the back seat. It had my wallet plane, tickets, computer and camera.

This apparently is pretty common. We were warned by the people at Advantage car rentals that people would jack around with your tires, at service stations or whereever, and then have an accomplice rob you blind somewhere down the road.

[DR Monger II]

I never saw any muggings on Morazan park. I was there for about a week. However, I did see Travestites at night around morazan and the streets near INS building. Be careful. They were shouting at cars and such. They also usually travel in threes. I'm not sure if you guys could handle 3 tranvestes at the same time? I walked around and never got pick pocketed. However, I might have been lucky.

[Mr Jetsetter]

AlterdBeast,

Me thinks you didn't look very hard or very well. Go to their site, and click on "membership" at the top of their home page.

If you do become a member like myself, don't forget about the ISG. I generally post on both boards.

[AlterdBeast]

Thanks for the info shared. I have made my notes. My friend and I will be there Thursday by lunch! What is this CRT card? I did a search and see it a lot but not how to get it? Looks like something of interest?

[OldGringoBangs]

My friend and I were in San Jose for the 5th time. It really has changed. Alot of street crime. In fact we were bumped from our flight by TACA and had to spend an extra day in CR. We rented a car and did not know we were followed from the airport. In Escazu we stopped at a light and they punctured our tire while standing at the light. We drove a few blocks and then had to stop and try and fix it. While doing so they stole by Backpack from the back seat. It had my wallet plane, tickets, computer and camera. Also my passport. What a horror. So be aware of your surroundings. Also there were quite a number of muggings in Parque Morazon while I was there Honestly I feel a lot safer in Colombia. Lots of Police and Military on the streets.

[Dan D Dick]

I had a nearly similar experience.....Stopped off one time & there were only four or five gals. Not a one even cracked a smile & one even yawned. I did a 180, went around the corner to Sapphire & had a great time (though the slecetion there was awful as well). Based on my very limited experience I wouldn't go back.

Thanks to this board (& CRT) for knowing my options.

/Dan D.

[Noguera]

You made a comment about never having made it to Oasis when it was actually open. I thought I posted a report on my one and only Oasis experience back in October, but I can't seem to find the report anywhere herein. Suffice it to say ...... my Oasis experience was awful. It was maybe 12:30 in the afternoon. Only four girls. The only semi-cute one was Roxanna (or something like this). Killer body but really mechanical and definitely not into it. The place was clean, but only had massage tables. No smoking allowed. Now, who ever heard of a ***** house where you couldn't smoke? All-in-all, an absolutely terrible experience, Roxanna was worthless, and I would never go back to Oasis.

TGAM-Nog

[Tiny 12]

I was staying at the airport Marriott with a gringa girlfriend a couple of years ago (I know, like taking mud to a beach). Anyway, at about 1:00 or 2:00 AM she needs some medication for a yeast infection. So we head off to an all night pharmacy in the middle of the town of Alajuela. There were street walkers walking around close to some bars and a couple looked pretty decent to me. But my standards are low and it was dark. Masaje, I know none of this is going to do you any good, but if I were stuck in a hotel in Alajuela with a car and without a teenage daughter, I'd probably check it out.

I will be in CR in a few weeks. Since I arrive late at night I am planning on spending the first night in Alajuela. I remember reading in the forum that there are plenty of chicas available in Alajuela but I can't seem to find the names of any MP's or clubs. Any help would be appreciated.

[Prolijo]

I tipped 10k for girls, but this was negotiated for better service. bbbj or 2 pops and etc.

That's different. At least if you've negotiated the up front base price accordingly. Some guys like to work those items into the base expectations and make an all inclusive offer such as 30K colones por todo, chupar sin condom, muchos veces, hora completo, etc. Other guys bargain them down to 20K colones with a promise of a 10K tip if they provide all those things. What's really the difference in the end. I can see the merits of both approaches.