San Jose General Reports

[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.

[Charm City Dave]

Each taxista in SJO may hold only one medallion, so if you write down the number of your cab, you have probably better traceability than with Uber. And all the taxis are metered. So taxi ripoffs are less of a factor in SJO than in many other places.

Perhaps mostly, but coming out of the Del Rey at night they try to rip you off. And again I just like how clean it all is, no tipping no cash. Also found myself after a hike in the middle of nowhere and was glad to have an Uber there in less than 3 minutes. And finally you have no communications issues if your Spanish is shit poor like mine. Put in the name of your destination or address and the driver knows where you are going before they even pick you up.

[Dickhead]

Each taxista in SJO may hold only one medallion, so if you write down the number of your cab, you have probably better traceability than with Uber. And all the taxis are metered. So taxi ripoffs are less of a factor in SJO than in many other places.

[Charm City Dave]

Just got back from SJO. Don't have much to add to what is here except to shill for Uber. I used Uber to take a taxi from the airport to La Amistad for about $12 US a third of what I was told is the going rate. Around town used it often, never paid more than a buck or two to get around down town and felt safe that I wasn't going to get robbed (or gouged) as Uber would have a record of who the driver is. Here in the US use it for transfer to and from my local airport again for about 1/3 of the cost of a taxi.

[Eduardo49]

This weekend I had a group who requested I find a private house in San Jose that could be used for lodging the group together. I found the Presidential Mansion, the best place I have seen in San Jose to host a wild party. It had 6 bedrooms, three with king beds, 3 with queen, a large common area with stereo system and big screen TV, huge bar, and kitchen. It is perfect for group privacy, security and centrally located in the Gulch. It is within minutes of hundreds of women, casinos, restaurants, strip clubs and the Del Rey. It was a perfect place for a bachelor party or crazy Superbowl party. It was as good a location as the old Hotel M, only more conveniently located. The group enjoyed the location but failed to take advantage of its potential. They were content with the talent at the local mps. For anyone wishing to throw a great party, PM me for details.

[Lion Killer]

Flying out of San Jose on Monday, coming in from Jaco on Sunday and want to stay somewhere near Del Rey. Have narrowed down to Hotel Presidente, Balmoral and Holiday Inn Aurola. Whats the "guest fee" at each? And which do you recommend? All are within $10 of each other and seem to be 2 or 3 minutes walk from Del Rey.

Or do you recommend another? Appreciate any advice you can give a newbie.

Why would you not stay at the Del Rey?

LK.

[Dickhead]

Thanks I called each and Aurola is $80 per girl. Balmoral $40 per girl. And Presidente is a no go. Amy other high end hotels near Del Rey that you can recommend?

I don't personally think that any of the hotels in downtown SJ are at all high-end. The Presidente wants to think it is, which is why they banned hookers several years ago. The Sleep Inn isn't too bad, but isn't inexpensive at all and has some kind of a chica fee. You'd probably do just as well to stay at the Del Rey. Or, get one of the nicer rooms at Sportsman's Lodge.