San Jose General Reports

[Zeos1]

Doing a search, it leads to the Hotel Del Rey website. I wonder if they're changing names. That said, there is no casino there at present and few girls go there anymore.

In fact, it's somewhat of a dump now.

They have changed the name, and there is no casino, and chicas are not allowed in on their own. Whether they would allow them as guests if you stayed there who knows.

[Nixonbd]

Me and a group of guys, on the job will be visiting this month for a few days at that luxhigh hotel and casino, question is the place chica friendly and are there girls hanging at the casino?

Thanks.

Doing a search, it leads to the Hotel Del Rey website. I wonder if they're changing names. That said, there is no casino there at present and few girls go there anymore.

In fact, it's somewhat of a dump now.

[JustWatching69]

Me and a group of guys, on the job will be visiting this month for a few days at that luxhigh hotel and casino, question is the place chica friendly and are there girls hanging at the casino?

Thanks.

[Diving]

I am a first time poster to the Forum but have been an avid reader. I appreciate all the guidance from the members. I arrived in San Jose on Saturday the 6th of January and thought I would give an update.

- Elected to stay at the Hotel Castillo. Registration is very "simple". No issues with guests. They were friendly and helpful all the time. The room is pretty tired and could use a new mattress. You roll to the middle and sink in.

- Used Shuttlebug for the airport pick up. Valerie is friendly and had great advice. This is the only service to use when in San Jose.

Now on to the nights activities. I visited 3 places.

- First place was the bar at the Hotel Castillo. It was dead. One girl was there sitting at the bar. Three loud gringos berating the monger scene. I had one beer and left. The bar tender said very few people go there.

- Second place was the Sportsman Lodge. There were maybe 6 women there. What they lacked in looks they made up in years. Definitely a hang out for past prime talent. One thing I would like to say. Please put your pants on when you have a room on the hallway when your "date" leaves. There are just somethings a person should not have to see.

- Third and final place was Hotel and Casino Taormina (thanks to Valerie). They have a great bar and both the bar and casino were packed. There was a girl for every taste. The music was great and the bar was well decorated. Beers were reasonably priced.

That is it for now. I will try a few of the other standard places and let everyone know.

[Gavin]

I think they have a $30-$40 guest fee though, unless that has changed.

[MikeMark]

Or.

https://hotelcastillocostarica.com/

Sister property Hotel Amistad

VERY sincere thanks for the suggestion. On it!!

[Nixonbd]

Little Havana is dated but guest friendly, cheap, and walking distance to Taormina.

The Dunn Inn is across the street from the Taormina and is guest friendly.

[MoneyShot]

WTF? The guy's supposedly in charge of the assassins for the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, a Mexican cartel, and he's attaching a notarized certification from the Public Security Ministry of Costa Rica saying you owe 700,000,000 colones? That's around $1. 3 million USD. Who would fall for that?

I got it before, scammers, Told them to Fuck off. 😂.

[MoneyShot]

Little Havana is dated but guest friendly, cheap, and walking distance to Taormina.

Or.

https://hotelcastillocostarica.com/

Sister property Hotel Amistad

[Kbdb2488]

I haven't been to Pension 360 or Monicas in awhile. Glad to hear they're open. Might stop in and see what's going on!

On another note, I probably will never stay at Sportsmens again (after going there off and on since 2008). Booked two nights 2/9-11/2023. Received a "confirmed" reservation. Booked 5 nights for Super Bowl at Cocal beginning Superbowl Sunday. Received an email today cancelling my 2 day reservation and asking if I would like to book a 3 day stay because its Super Bowl Weekend literally a week after receiving the "confirmed" reservation. Called spoke with a guy named Flores. Taoromina is booked for the weekend. Cocal has nothing for the 9th and 10th. The only place I've ever stayed in San Jose is the Del Rey, Sportsmens and Taormina. Any suggestions for 2 nights in San Jose or Jaco?

Little Havana is dated but guest friendly, cheap, and walking distance to Taormina.

[RealJust]

You can walk pretty much anywhere during the day where there are plenty of people out and about. If you don't know where you're going and are seen alone and standing while snooping out sketchy areas; you may find yourself a sitting duck. I know many regular visitors to the "Gringo Gulch" area, myself included; who will walk between the Taormina to Sportsman's and Hotel Del Rey during the day, but wouldn't risk it at night.

Agreed. Was just in SJ a week or two ago. First night, walked back to my Airbnb from Taormina at 3 am thinking it wouldn't be an issue. Saw two guys chase down someone in the middle of the road and beat him down. I ran to the street workers and even they moved quickly around the block.

I think by sundown, anytime after 6-7 pm, you'd be better off taking an Uber even if it's a short distance. Oh and if anyone asks you if this is your first time in CR, never say it is your first time.

[MikeMark]

There are pensiones which are more or less like what New Fantasy was. And there are still strip clubs, but I have not gone to any in a number of years. The pensiones are talked about in some previous posts but as the girls working in them change from day to day it is hard to say that any one is better than others. Monicas, Oasis, Pension 360, Muses, Relax, are a few of the ones that some gringos go to. They are a day time option and most are closed in the early evening. Most of the visiting mongers stay at either Sportsmens, Castillo, or Taormina, and there are various girls that work the bars in these hotels, and that would be the main way that visiting mongers hook up. The largest volume would be Taormina, then Sportsmens, then Castillo (it is smaller and often only a few chicas there at any given time).

I haven't been to Pension 360 or Monicas in awhile. Glad to hear they're open. Might stop in and see what's going on!

On another note, I probably will never stay at Sportsmens again (after going there off and on since 2008). Booked two nights 2/9-11/2023. Received a "confirmed" reservation. Booked 5 nights for Super Bowl at Cocal beginning Superbowl Sunday. Received an email today cancelling my 2 day reservation and asking if I would like to book a 3 day stay because its Super Bowl Weekend literally a week after receiving the "confirmed" reservation. Called spoke with a guy named Flores. Taoromina is booked for the weekend. Cocal has nothing for the 9th and 10th. The only place I've ever stayed in San Jose is the Del Rey, Sportsmens and Taormina. Any suggestions for 2 nights in San Jose or Jaco?

[Nixonbd]

I'm landing in SJ tomorrow night and was planning to stroll the city. I have traveled to other places and frequent Tijuana zona roja solo. So I understand how to operate, eyes on swivel, wear nothing flashy. I just watched a you tube video of a local Costa Rican with a camera who was fairly "shook" and "scared" walking past what look like a main popular street with traffic and normal people. He then said I believe he was near Calle 8 and stated getting very nervous. The guy spoke Spanish in the video and he said he would not walk further to Calle 13. He filmed forward and it did not look any more scary than any of the streets he had just walked down and not much different from the main drag. He said. Don't be stupid and walk down that street "alone" because 1 or more people will basically put you in "Grandma's padlock" that's how it was translated in English LOL. It appears all these day time spots " Monica's" or "Oasis" massage parlors. Require some walking and exploring. Is this dude overhyping the situation? The video was 1 year ago. If I explore I only plan on bringing enough for the massage $150 ish. But I don't want to walk back to my hotel Toarmina bare foot.

You can walk pretty much anywhere during the day where there are plenty of people out and about. If you don't know where you're going and are seen alone and standing while snooping out sketchy areas; you may find yourself a sitting duck. I know many regular visitors to the "Gringo Gulch" area, myself included; who will walk between the Taormina to Sportsman's and Hotel Del Rey during the day, but wouldn't risk it at night.

[Huacho]

Strange. For example Calle 8 and 13. They are a long ways apart because the numbering is even numbers going west and odd numbers going east from Calle 0 whatever it is called. Daytime you can essentially walk anywhere. Nightime or after dark I would not walk in certain areas, but not based on whatever that video said. Monicas and Oasis are not in the same area, and if you are staying at Taramina you could easily walk to Monicas but Oasis is a bit further. But I walked it recently. More like half hour each way and on a nice day it was great.

Yes, I am going to throw the bullshit card on this one. Any local would know that Calle 8 is not 5 blocks from Calle 13. I think that would be 11 blocks and of course you would be walking back through centro and out the other side. Calle 8 is kinda gnarly though.

[Zeos1]

I'm landing in SJ tomorrow night and was planning to stroll the city. I have traveled to other places and frequent Tijuana zona roja solo. So I understand how to operate, eyes on swivel, wear nothing flashy. I just watched a you tube video of a local Costa Rican with a camera who was fairly "shook" and "scared" walking past what look like a main popular street with traffic and normal people. He then said I believe he was near Calle 8 and stated getting very nervous. The guy spoke Spanish in the video and he said he would not walk further to Calle 13. He filmed forward and it did not look any more scary than any of the streets he had just walked down and not much different from the main drag. He said. Don't be stupid and walk down that street "alone" because 1 or more people will basically put you in "Grandma's padlock" that's how it was translated in English LOL. It appears all these day time spots " Monica's" or "Oasis" massage parlors. Require some walking and exploring. Is this dude overhyping the situation? The video was 1 year ago. If I explore I only plan on bringing enough for the massage $150 ish. But I don't want to walk back to my hotel Toarmina bare foot.

Strange. For example Calle 8 and 13. They are a long ways apart because the numbering is even numbers going west and odd numbers going east from Calle 0 whatever it is called. Daytime you can essentially walk anywhere. Nightime or after dark I would not walk in certain areas, but not based on whatever that video said. Monicas and Oasis are not in the same area, and if you are staying at Taramina you could easily walk to Monicas but Oasis is a bit further. But I walked it recently. More like half hour each way and on a nice day it was great.