San Jose - 2003 Reports

[KYJ]

re money-
Bring only crisp bills in pristine condition. No red ink, no marks, no tears at all... None. US $100 are OK but most places have inadequate change. Use a casino change booth. Hotels cannot change large amounts of money for every guest. I bring lots of ones, fives, tens and twenties to pay the taxi to and from the hotel (always quoted in dollars), departure tax, tip to bellman upon registration, tip the maids upon arrival for extra towels in the room, tip the porters at the airport, buy snacks at the airport and buy duty free items at the airport.
Note- It is almost impossible to change colonies back to dollars so change only what you need.
Negotiate deals in colonies for the best advantage. It is harder for a Tica to refuse X amount of colonies for some reason. But they know the exchange rate better than you, in their heads.

[Jaimito Cartero]

Originally posted by Tasty1
Across69

I read in a travel booklet that in CR you cannot use US$100 bill because of high number of counterfit bills. Is it true?

This is not really true if you are dealing with banks. I usually take a number of 100's and change them at a bank.

It might very well apply if you're trying to get a hotel or other retail establishment to change them.

Things to watch out for: Make sure that the bill is not torn, or have any writing or marks on it. Many banks will not accept these.

I always take the "new" $100 bills with the big picture of Franklin on them. I've had some problems with the bank not wanting the old style.

One thing to remember about banks. The lines can be a killer. Unless you're running through a lot of money, consider using an ATM to take $200-$400 per day out. I don't think that CR ATMs charge you any fee, just whatever your bank charges you in the US. You can find ATMs that dispense dollars or colones.

Many Ticos are now getting their paychecks deposited directly into their banking accounts. On a recent payday I saw 30 people lined up to use an ATM by the Burger King in Parque Central.

[WilliamWalker]

Tasty,

Interesting issue of US currency in CR. Apparently, according to the hotel desk people who make change and accept cash to settle bills, only pristine US bills of any denomination are acceptable by their bank. They do not like any tears or missing edges at all. And do not like any marks on the bills. They will not accept them at all.

One friend had a chica reject his tender of payment because the bill had a 1/8 inch tear in the bottom edge.

Only bring crisp new new bills of any sort.

That being said, the Costa Rican colons look like they have been in a cesspool in general. They are in poor shape as a rule.

One Hundred dollar bills are very acceptable if pristine, as are all other bills.

It is easier to cash dollars for colons than change colons back into dollars, except at banks.

[Tasty1]

Across69

I read in a travel booklet that in CR you cannot use US$100 bill because of high number of counterfit bills. Is it true?

[KYJ]

across69- Good report and summary of the situation. Stay relatively sober and be polite and you will get better mileage for your buck. Use common sense to get ahead...

lee- Good points. Only a fool pays the asking price at the Blue Marlin. We all know that prices for everything in Latin America are subject to negotiation. Same for most things in North America come to think about it.

Both posts have the same points. Use common sense, and use your big head to rule your little head.

[Tanager]

Lee,

Thank you for your insightful historic/economic analysis of the market in San Jose. It is interesting to consider how the gradual inflation of prices has shaped the quality, the geography (both source of chicas and point-of-sale for chicas), and overall availability. I imagine that you are right; an increase in price at the top of the range has resulted in an increase in quality at the top of the range, with a corresponding increase in choices at the middle and lower parts of the range.

However, I still agree with NYGuY and Ricker that we should generally try to hold prices down as much as possible (because I am now well satisfied with the available quality). I bet the chicas talk together about getting the prices UP. All this collusion on prices would be an antitrust violation by both sides in the U.S., but hey... we’re talking Latina America here.

I believe there are more of them (working chicas) than there are of us (mongers), and we can take our dollars to any one of several markets, whereas the chicas are much less mobile. If we don’t overpay, we can use these advantages to maintain a more favorable pay-for-play exchange rate.

I have overpaid on occasion in the past, and I’m damn sure going to try to avoid that mistake in the future.

Tanager

[Tasty1]

Anyone has phone numbers of semipros to share. Sometimes I may be too tired to hang out at BM etc. Please e-mail me. Any suggestion appreciated.

wow@socal.rr.com

[Panadero]

I am moving here tempory from ************.com I am having problems getting thru. Any questions on San Jose, just ask. I am at the Del Rey. Seahawk

[Across69]

Just returned from a week in CR... my family lives in San Jose and I have been going there since I was little. This was my first trip as a hobbiest. I ditched my 75 y/o aunt and had a long walk around San Jose.
First thing... Do not do what I did and walk around alone in downtown at night . I am hispanic, speak perfect spanish and weigh 230lbs. Downtown is FULL of unsavory types and not all of them are Americans! Several tourists have been mugged and/or beat up in the last few months. Taxis are dirt cheap and all interesting entertainment venues should be less than 700 Colones ($2) from any downtown hotel and 1000 Colones ($3) from most outlying resort hotels.
Prostitution is legal and well established in CR and has always be so, so you are less likely to be ripped off than in the US or Tijuana.
The easist fixed point to navigate from at a distance is the Downtown Holiday Inn. Most Hobbyest points are within 10 blocks of this reference point. The main problem for navigation is that San Jose has never had the need for numerical addresess or street signs, so addresses are hard to find. This map posted by others is invaluble for getting around downtown:
http://lumpsluvscostarica.homestead.com/map.html

The tall Holiday Inn Building is #40 on the map and is visible from just about everywhere.
Went to Key Largo last Sunday and Tuesday. Generaly quiet. Sex rooms are available upstairs but the 15-25 girls were only from a 4-7 so I walked to the Del Rey/Blue Marlin only a block away (south then east past a small casino so relatively safe).
Del ReyHotel/Blue Marlin Bar was full of women of every shape and size both nights. From a 3 to a 9 were available. Stayed for several hours both nights. More then 50 women from all over latin America.
Did not find what I was looking for either night (my Aunt would be unhappy if a brought home a pro, I think) but talked with lots of women in Spanish both nights. They are mainly students, secretaries or whatever and alot of them have a sad/ mechanical attitude about what they do. The thing they seem to hate most is the drunk loud guy. A few of them said that guys have gotten mad with them because THEY had whiskey dick and acted like it was the girl's fault. Those women told me they will run away from any intoxicated Gringo from now on.
I twice saw security gently remove drunk 20-somethings and deposit them outside. Talked with several guys and was able to negociate $100, $100 and $80 for the whole night until 9am for three of them, with the girls they were interested in. The hardest part for the guys seemed to be from them to tell me what they wanted me to ask the girls to do!
The only 10 I saw both nights at BM was a tall WAITRESS with blonde hair. She dodged my question when I asked what she was doing after work, so I am unsure about her working status. The best Pro I saw was a ~33 y/o Columbian brunette named Laura who sits at the corner of the bar under the big boat for sale. She had a great attitude, smile, tits, brains and class with an awsome body for her age. The guy I fixed her up with ($100 all night) sang her praises the next time I saw him and ended up getting her for a second night.
IDEM/Eros are across the street from each other one block east and 5 blocks south from the DR/BM through a very tough area. Both were closed at 10pm on sunday and tuesday when I went by. But went by an awsome asian restaurant called Tin Jo 100 yards from IDEM/Eros that has food from every asian country (India, Japan, Thai, China, etc.) with high class decor (at normal American prices, however)
Finally, the strip clubs in San Jose allow you to get VERY thorough lap dance with fingers/tounges anywhere for $10- $20. Olympus was the best when I was there 4 years ago. My, soon to be married, Cousin is going to have his bachelor party at either Babes or Pitufos strip clubs but have not seen them personally.
As to the issue of price...In all the countries I have hobbied in, (6 of them) a polite, to the point guy will be able to negociate cheaper, longer lasting sessions than the loud obnoxious Gringo, any day. Places I have visited with heavy tourist traffic, St. Petersburg, Russia, Tijuana, Mex and San Jose, CR are ruined pricewise by juvenile assholes as much as overpaying.
Remember be safe and Taxis are cheap in CR!

[Lee]

Economics 101.
Time to put this $100 issue a way. I am a frequent visitor to San Jose. First trip 1997. Last trip February 2003. Have Economic background. I'm going to create you an economic model of prostitution in San Jose. To set the model first fact is in February 1997 Key Largo was the big place. Asking price was 100 - quickly down to lowest 40 with some negotiation. Blue Marlin was only one-half the size it is now. Starting price was 100 but would take 60 with no fuss. Quality of the girls at each the same. It was the same girls. Difference in price - customer expectations. Other than the Blue Marlin and Key Largo they were places like Bar Idem and the park Hotel. Prices at these places were 20 to $40. Quality of the girls did not compare with the girls and Key Largo and Blue Marlin. Yes that is an opinion.
Over time 'with the help of the Internet' the prospect of making up to $300 a night at the Blue Marlin attracted more and better looking girls. The Blue Marlin doubled its size and for a number of reasons Key Largo lost its prestige e. With more and better looking girl showing up at the Blue Marlin and the Key Largo losing its traffic that displaced the marginal girls. The displaced girls begin to show up at places like the Park Hotel and Bar Idem. Much improving the quality for the girls and the value of the price. There are other contributing factors such as the troubles escort agencies are having.
The driving force in my model is price. As the price rises the quality of the girls rises. If you disagree with me on the quality and price issue take a look at my site (http://groups.msn.com/adayatthedelrey). The girls from 97 ,98 and 99 or nice looking but do not compare to the girls of the last three years. Over that time I have paid the same price. The quality of the girls at the less priced places has increased the same. If it was not for the hundred dollars many of the girls you see at the blue Marlin would not even be in our economic model. So if you're $100 guy go to the blue Marlin if you're not do not complain you have many other markets in San Jose that will answer to your price.
Lee

[WhiteDog]

I do get it! The average worker in Costa Rica makes practically nothing in comparison to the girls. The issue is does that worker spread their legs for every old fat dude. It's all about supply and demand and if they can get the 100 bucks good for them.

Have fun in El Salvador or the other holes you may be talking about being uncorrupted -just make sure not to drink the water or walk the streets.

[Ricker]

Hope not to offend anyone but Whitedog misses the whole point of not paying the high prices and running up the price of pro-chicas in San Jose or any where else for that matter.
If he or guys like him don't "get it" by now, i won't even try to explain it. Trying to compare the price of a a chica in San Jose to his dates back home in the U.S. is ridiculous.
As for "vacationing" in San Jose, don't worry, i won't be returning and i think you and your over-paying pals have ruined that for quite a few others too.
Please - please - please !!!!! Continue all your vacations in Costa Rica though ... let's keep the rest of the world real. Thanks.

[WhiteDog]

I'm tired of hearing people ***** and moan about the price of tail in CR! Let's break it down to what it would cost to get a non pro in bed - dinner movie etc = 100+ several times depending on the girl and your still not guaranteed to blow a nut. Shell out 100 and your guaranteed a nut as well as a bbbj most of the time. If you can't afford the 100 you should'nt be on vacation in CR.

[NYGuY]

I agree with you Ricker. A lot of these clowns pay the high prices cuz they "can." Ruins it for the rest of us. They do it everywhere, not just CR...they do it in the States too. I have more to say, but I should stop before some of you really get offended.

[Ricker]

Was passing thru San Jose the other night and thought i'd check out the Blue Marlin for old times sake. Hadn't been there in a while (2 years).
It was a Tuesday night at about 11pm ... the quality was good as far as looks go ... but damn, most of these girls are "hard", personalities of ice.
Colombians in the Blue Marlin are nothing like the hunnies in Colombia and the prices ... GET REAL!!!!!!!!!!
Please! All of you that paid these ridiculous prices and ran the price up (even the ugly girls start at $100 now) ... PLEASE stay in Costa Rica and the US!!!!!! Don't go ruin all the other countries too!!
Unbelievable to pay a girl with the personality of a rock the prices they ask, I don't care how nice looking she is!

Remember ... south america is DANGEROUS!! DON't GO!!
Please don't go down and "gringoize" all the other hot spots.
STAY in COSTA RICA!!! YOU CAN HAVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!