San Jose General Reports

[Marc Anthony]

I've never been to CR but I have been to the DR often. In the DR P4P is a pretty fundamental part of the culture. Every small town has if not a casa, then a disco tipico where a man can pick up a chica for pay. Foreigners pay more but are only a tiny part of the total business. Trying to pass a law against it would be pretty pointless.

How is the local P4P? Most of the posts are about the Del rey or a few spots in the Capital. What is the tica culture like toward P4P beyond foreigners?

[Thaijuan14]

i am looking into two hotels in the future. i will stay at the hotel parque del lago on my next trip, because i consider it my headquarters. i will ask the sportsmans lodge and the morazan if i can look at their rooms.

the location is ideal, but the area is not good at night. they are cheap and chica friendly according to other members reports. the downtown area is really happening.

i went into hdr (the pink castle), on a friday at 1pm. this was the weekend of the elections. there were a few (all good looking) girls sitting around, the casino was not open yet, the bar had a small crowd of gringos. i didn't really like the hdr guards with those hand-held metal detectors, sends a bad message.

i like hpdl because it is close to the hospital and a lot of the girls that work there eat at the many restaurants nearby. i love getting with the local girls. i just buy them lunch and ask them about their city, either i hook up with them or they direct me to someone.

one week before presidenta chinchilla became president, i saw her on al punto-to the point, a spanish politics type show. she basically said she was going to help women and children.

she did not go into detail, but i would not be surprised if she shuts down alot of places that she "feels" are exploiting women.

i am cuban and mr. fidel made speeches that won over the people and when he got into office, he changed gears and did something else. who knows what is on presidenta chinchilla's mind. i keep reading conflicting reports about cr. one minute, prostitution is legal (lawfully or over looked?) and then you read stories of places closing down, and hotels not being chica-friendly.

just my observation (and i intend to sit down with locals-men, and find out what they think) but i feel they are trying to clean up the city.

i love cr, the people were really nice to me, they drive on the same side of the road, one of the few places i would rent a car. crime wasn't prevalent during the day, most places suffer from night-time crime.

i don't know what the principle source of income is for the people of sj, but they appear to have an okay life. i would move there tomorrow, if i had a retirement.

i think if there is a movement to clean up the city, it will be done low key. i don't think they want it to be known as a concern. maybe they want to increase their tourist trade by being more upscale to foreign travelers. when i researched the hotels on the travel websites, a lot of reviews showed people complaining about the chicas and warned them not to go there.

editor's note: i would suggest that the author or another forum member consider posting a link to this report in the reports of distinction thread. please click here for more information.

[Bosschicago]

Looking for a fair-priced hotel with air-con, room safe, hot water, & clean. Hoping to find something near the Del Rey so I can bring girls back from there. Looking for a place that charges nothing for bringing the chica back or small amount.
A $50 per night place would be great. Is this completely unrealistic?

Also hoping to find brown-skinned girls from Nicaragua and Domincan Republic under 24 years of age. Is Del Rey my best bet for good looking girls matching this description?

I've RTFF. The forum threads don't seem to give good answers to these questions.

Thanks for any help or advice in advance.

[Fuddzie]

(Just a note for those who just began reading this discussion; the "She" in the above report is the new Costa Rican president, Laura Chinchilla.)

Very true, Fuddzie, but, IMO the sex industry will probably move "underground" to be less visible to law enforcement.

Many of the foreign sex workers will return to their native countries or "give it a go" by moving their trade to other countries and, for the SPs that remain in Costa Rica, will move to the streets or set up "sex apartments" and advertise on "Craigslist"!, LOL

I couldn't agree more with you. Same business just different owner.

[Macrino]

I don't know why so many of you find it unlikely that "She" will try to put a stop to the sex industry. She is a hardcore feminist!

I see it as a very likely scenario in an attempt to remove the stigma associated with Costa Rica as a sex haven. As someone else suggested, the game will be played underground, but who the hell wants to go to Costa Rica if places like the del rey, new fantasy and S. L. Close down. I don't want the hassle of having to worry about walking the streets with a girl at my side.

Start looking at Colombia and/or Domenican Republic.

[Paddy]

I read on the Costaricablush.com website that the Margaritas Night Club (a well known strip joint) in San Jose was raided and closed by the Costa Rican Investigative Police (OIJ)two days ago. The owner was allegedly "pimping".

This could be interpreted in many ways I guess. Perhaps it's just a random occurance unrelated to the new Presidente. On the other hand, it may be the shape of things to come now that Laura Chinchilla is coming on board. Regardless, it's an ominous sign and I, for one, will be watching developments very closely before I buy plane tickets to SJ.

What are your thoughts???

Paddy

[Lexb]

Let's imagine it does happen; She declares that prostitution is no longer legal-men will no longer pay for sex in Costa Rica! What will they do? What will they do? There's always a supply and there is always a demand. Business is business.

(Just a note for those who just began reading this discussion; the "She" in the above report is the new Costa Rican president, Laura Chinchilla.)

Very true, Fuddzie, but, IMO the sex industry will probably move "underground" to be less visible to law enforcement.

Many of the foreign sex workers will return to their native countries or "give it a go" by moving their trade to other countries and, for the SPs that remain in Costa Rica, will move to the streets or set up "sex apartments" and advertise on "Craigslist"!, LOL

[Fuddzie]

Very simple, they change the law first then shutter the businesses, duh.

It won't happen though.

Let's imagine it does happen; She declares that prostitution is no longer legal-men will no longer pay for sex in Costa Rica! What will they do? What will they do? There's always a supply and there is always a demand. Business is business.

[Manizales911]

[QUOTE=Fuddzie]

Prostitution has been around everywere forever. Some cities/countries where it is illegal, there are red light districts permitted to contain and protect the activity. Costa Rica, ie, San Jose is well contained and protected. To have any government remove the " fence" would allow discontrol which other places find beneficial. I continue to support my thinking that there is too much money and legal jobs generated to shut down the establishments carte blanch. Just my ideas like everone elses. Fuddzie

Very simple, they change the law first then shutter the businesses, duh.

It won't happen though.

[Fuddzie]

[QUOTE=Paddy Also, I have read that prositution has been LEGAL in CR since 1895. How can you shut down a private enterprise for allegedly doing something that has been legal and acceptable for over a hundred years???
QUOTE]

Prostitution has been around everywere forever. Some cities/countries where it is illegal, there are red light districts permitted to contain and protect the activity. Costa Rica, ie, San Jose is well contained and protected. To have any government remove the " fence" would allow discontrol which other places find beneficial. I continue to support my thinking that there is too much money and legal jobs generated to shut down the establishments carte blanch. Just my ideas like everone elses. Fuddzie

[Lexb]

Does Chinchilla or do people in her administration have the ACTUAL legal or constitutional power to simply shut down a private enterprise without due process? I mean, does she have the legal authority to issue an executive order to shut down a privately owned business like Del Rey on a whim?

Don't believe the Costa Rican president can do this as the procedure is initiated and carried through by votes of the Cost Rican legistature(probably by the president's own political party either with legistation initiated at the president's request or just from within her party, with the full knowledge of the president's position).

Also, I have read that prositution has been LEGAL in CR since 1895. How can you shut down a private enterprise for allegedly doing something that has been legal and acceptable for over a hundred years?

Simply stated, YES, by changing the law to make what was legal, illegal!

I'm sure it is general knowledge that elected representitives, in a democratic republic form of government, have the ability and power to make, eliminate and change laws(even those that have been "in place" for many years!). It is no secret that this is done, in most situations, it is perceived to be "in the public's best interest" and/or as a reaction to "public pressure"!).

As, I stated in my previous report, outlawing the Costa Rican sex trade, full or in part, would effect countless individuals economically(the workers) and socially(those who find enjoyment patronizing it) and serves no logical purpose except to attempt to regulate morality!

[Paddy]

Many goods points have been rendered by Lexb, Fuddzie, Sky Rider, etc. I could not disagree with any of the points they have made.

So, OK, this may be the key issue. Does Chinchilla or do people in her administration have the ACTUAL legal or constitutional power to simply shut down a private enterprise without due process??? I mean, does she have the legal authority to issue an executive order to shut down a privately owned business like Del Rey on a whim??? If you tried a stunt like that in the US the corporation would fight back and hang the government in court for 5 years minimum. I fully understand that we're talking about CR here and due process may be a novel concept.

Also, I have read that prositution has been LEGAL in CR since 1895. How can you shut down a private enterprise for allegedly doing something that has been legal and acceptable for over a hundred years???

Any CR legal scholars out there???

Paddy

[Lexb]

It's hard to predict what will eventually happen, if anything, to the sex trade in Costa Rica with the election of Laura Chinchilla as president!

This forum, from what I have been reading, seems to contain two "camps" of thought; that either nothing will happen and the "status quo" will be maintained or that there will be some negative intervention, but, to what extent, only questions and speculation!

These comments are directed to the posters that have voiced their opinion and believe that the new president will leave the sex trade "as is" as she MUST know that, if the sex trade suffers, the general Costa Rican economy will suffer and it is really not a good time for this to happen!

Guys, with all my heart and soul, I hope you are correct but, I believe, that social conservatism(I perceive Ms. Chinchilla to be a social consevative) and tolerance of a sex trade are, usually, mutually exclusive!

Unfortunately, it is an emotional "thing", and "logical" thinking, usually, takes a "back seat" as to get rid of a sex trade, labeling is as a "national shame" and/or against "family/religious values", usually becomes a "slogan of action"!(I welcome any information regarding ANY major city and/or country that openly encourages sex tourism in their of Dept./Ministry of Tourism's official literature!).

Ms. Chinchilla, I believe, was, in part, elected because of her perceived high "ethical" and "moral" standards and her political "base"/constituency, as well, is conservative and is expecting her to "do the right thing" and close down the Costa Rican sex trade, "once and for all"!.(Unfortunately, I believe, she knows that those who work in the sex trade, directly or indirectly, could and can not be counted as part of her "base"!).

Unfortunately, on many levels, the sex trade numbers are too small relative to the general Costa Rican population(and many of this group are legal/non-legal foreigners with a non-voting status) and just doesn't "give credence" to the fact that this is group she needs to maintain her power base!

Unfortunately, the argument that countless jobs will be lost is often "countered" by the opinion that these "sex workers" were employed in a "disgraceful manner"(in strip/p4p bars and MPs) and do not deserve the same consideration that people in "normal" jobs receive!

What may be acknowledged, however, depending on how strong the downtown San Juan hotels and restaurants are "politically connected", is the loss of revenue that they will suffer as a result of the lack of sex tourists. But, then again, I don't believe many social conservatives will "shed many tears" for them. either!

So, it's a real "crap shoot" and we can only hope that "cooler heads prevail" and our beloved opportunities for mongering remain the same as they have been since 1894(the year prostitution was legalized in Costa Rica!).

[Fuddzie]

[QUOTE= The one thing I am sure of, it a rare, enlightened gov't official that will look at the economic impact before taking action in this arena, let's hope it happens in this case![/QUOTE]

In addition to my diabtribe; how much money are the US airlines making off us? Mrs. Pres will be coming to see Sr. Obama in true Latin American style..her hand out. I can't imagine there isn't someone who know's someone in D.C. who might be able to have her see the consequence of she is serious.

[Dgfd]

The profession is far too ingrained in their culture. No Del Rey? Another place, and then another, or only on the street, or whatever, but finito? Nunca in CR.