San Jose General Reports

[Zeos1]

How is the pension, bar, casa scene these days? Are spots like New Fantasy still around?

New Fantasy is a pile of rubble.

[Orgasmico]

How is the pension, bar, casa scene these days? Are spots like New Fantasy still around?

[SportMongr]

I visited there for 2 days over the weekend. And, some of the women are now delusional. 2 top women were asking for $200 and now even the average ones are asking for $200. Maybe they think they are in Jaco. But, please. Never pay that crazy amount around here. And, yes I know they can ask what they want. But, in over 6 years. I have never heard of these starting prices. Maybe I am just older now, LOL.

Was thinking about a visit in a few weeks. Right around the most $$ weekend of the year. Is the the average price of a session $100? Heard it was getting to $150. $200 could be a NYE supply and demand premium.

[Zeos1]

If the delrey is dead, where did all the girls go?

Surely they didn't all get $3 an hour jobs at stores!

Are they all in Jaco' now? Or. ?

Some have $2 or $3 per hour jobs. Better than nothing for the year or two when stuff was shut down. Many of the Del Rey gals were too old for the business any more so lots of "retirements". And many work at other venues such as those mentioned in other posts here. Jaco is an option for a few of them, many go down for weekends or multiday stints, but they can have a bad week there and spend money to get down there and stay there, and not get enough business to cover their costs.

But in a more general sense the ho business is not as compelling as it used to be. The hundred dollar ask, which has been around for a long time, buys a lot lot less than it did say 10 years ago. And while a few more may get that hundred dollar paycheck when they do get a customer, it goes half as far as it did about 8 years ago. So they find other life options.

[Huacho]

If the delrey is dead, where did all the girls go?

Surely they didn't all get $3 an hour jobs at stores!

Are they all in Jaco' now? Or. ?

Some went to Taormina.

[Johnny Sax]

I can confirm this. I went to the Del Rey yesterday, my first day in CR. The only people in the lobby were the people that worked there. The bar in the lobby near what used to be the hotel was completely dead. When I asked the lady at the front desk about room rates, she began the hard sell. I guess it is the same in CR as it is in the USA. "always be closing. " I had a beer at the Blue Marlin Bar, it was about 7 in the evening. It was just me and the bartender, who spoke no English at all. So I guess they are not planning for an American clientele. Completely dead. The cost for a standard room, according to their website, was $79 per night. Taormina is about $100 and you can get a basic room at Sportsman's for $75.

A decade and a half ago when I first came to CR, you could not move in the Blue Marlin, it was that packed. I met a woman at Key Largo who was drop dead hot. She looked like a super model. She wanted the standard $100 but dropped it to $50. I went to the Blue Marlin to get a internet connection one morning and there bar was full of hot older ladies cleaning up guys with the early morning hornies. Those were the days.

If the delrey is dead, where did all the girls go?

Surely they didn't all get $3 an hour jobs at stores!

Are they all in Jaco' now? Or. ?

[Pulled Pork]

With no casino or girls of any quality; I wouldn't stay there for free. With the casino gone, so is the currency exchange. In the last two years I've stopped in the HDR to see how the Blue Marlin Bar was doing on occasion and was not overly surprised to see some of the same girls that were regulars in there 10 - 15 years ago still there holding up the bar. All the good looking bartenders have aged and been forced out. For anyone who has been to the HDR the past 20 years; the good looking bartenders were well worth visiting the bar. I still have a couple of the yearly calendars of the HDR bartenders. Over the years the overall quality of the HDR has been in decline; from the letting Ticos into the bar, the decline of the sister property the Key Largo Bar, the contracting out of the casino, etc. The HDR will likely die a long slow death until the loans disappear and lack of maintenance accelerates. A sad but fitting ending.

I can confirm this. I went to the Del Rey yesterday, my first day in CR. The only people in the lobby were the people that worked there. The bar in the lobby near what used to be the hotel was completely dead. When I asked the lady at the front desk about room rates, she began the hard sell. I guess it is the same in CR as it is in the USA. "always be closing. " I had a beer at the Blue Marlin Bar, it was about 7 in the evening. It was just me and the bartender, who spoke no English at all. So I guess they are not planning for an American clientele. Completely dead. The cost for a standard room, according to their website, was $79 per night. Taormina is about $100 and you can get a basic room at Sportsman's for $75.

A decade and a half ago when I first came to CR, you could not move in the Blue Marlin, it was that packed. I met a woman at Key Largo who was drop dead hot. She looked like a super model. She wanted the standard $100 but dropped it to $50. I went to the Blue Marlin to get a internet connection one morning and there bar was full of hot older ladies cleaning up guys with the early morning hornies. Those were the days.

[Nixonbd]

I am headed to San Jose in a couple of days. I got on the Hotel Del Rey website and it appeared that I could book a room. Is the hotel open and is it back to business as usual?

With no casino or girls of any quality; I wouldn't stay there for free. With the casino gone, so is the currency exchange. In the last two years I've stopped in the HDR to see how the Blue Marlin Bar was doing on occasion and was not overly surprised to see some of the same girls that were regulars in there 10 - 15 years ago still there holding up the bar. All the good looking bartenders have aged and been forced out. For anyone who has been to the HDR the past 20 years; the good looking bartenders were well worth visiting the bar. I still have a couple of the yearly calendars of the HDR bartenders. Over the years the overall quality of the HDR has been in decline; from the letting Ticos into the bar, the decline of the sister property the Key Largo Bar, the contracting out of the casino, etc. The HDR will likely die a long slow death until the loans disappear and lack of maintenance accelerates. A sad but fitting ending.

[Sammon]

The Morazan was shuttered when Covid hit. It was a " cheap Charlie" hotel for those who didn't want to pay Hotel Del Rey prices. No big loss; it was a dump. Though it did provide "short time" rooms.

There are decent rooms at Morazon when I stayed. Room included breakfast. Not any star level hotel. Casino downstairs was decent. Plenty of people at the bar in the evening. Mostly locals. I did hook up with couple of them. There were no chica fees like at Del Ray. I guess the place died along with Del Ray. I used to stay at Hotel Presidente around the corner till they got strict and would not allow any lady visitors. Initially they would allow anyone as long as they kept the cedula. Afterwards they allowed only one girl per day but I used to sneak in many because on the second level there was a way from their casino to the elevator bypassing security.

[Huacho]

I am headed to San Jose in a couple of days. I got on the Hotel Del Rey website and it appeared that I could book a room. Is the hotel open and is it back to business as usual?

When considered just as a hotel or place to stay, the Del Rey was never a good value and I can't imagine it is now either.

[Zeos1]

I am headed to San Jose in a couple of days. I got on the Hotel Del Rey website and it appeared that I could book a room. Is the hotel open and is it back to business as usual?

Wow. You can book a room, but the Del Rey is nothing like the past. No women on site, no casino, nada. But on the 15th there is a concert of some kind introducing the new era for the Del Rey which is as a cultural centre.

[Pulled Pork]

I am headed to San Jose in a couple of days. I got on the Hotel Del Rey website and it appeared that I could book a room. Is the hotel open and is it back to business as usual?

[Huacho]

I eliminated Columbia from possible countries based on the fact I couldn't even spell it so I was way scared

Fixed that one for you.

[Nixonbd]

When I say it's on the other side of the street, I don't mean literally. My bad on explaining. If you exit del Reys main larger entrance where all the hookers and blackjack tables were and walk left, you would go down that street a few blocks and it was on the right side. Street lights were minimum at the time. Dark area at that time. This was probably 15 years ago. BTW, what happened to morazon.

The Morazan was shuttered when Covid hit. It was a " cheap Charlie" hotel for those who didn't want to pay Hotel Del Rey prices. No big loss; it was a dump. Though it did provide "short time" rooms.

[Nixonbd]

Thank you for the information. Safety proves essential when traveling, so that comes first. I eliminated Columbia from possible countries based on all the safety concern expressed in ISG and other travel forums. I am familiar with inner cities in the US, but it seems like the inner city of San Jose might be more challenging based upon what others mention. Hopefully the inner city of San Jose improves during the day for things like finding restaurants, etc.

I am too old for the bar scene and never really go to it in the DR or even Thailand when visiting there. I really don't care much for the massage scene, so it may be best to find another location to visit other than Costa Rica. The great thing about this forum is forum members and reports help eliminate things one doesn't like.

I looked at Cuba, but it's in the midst of a huge crisis, so back to the drawing board.

If Brazil wasn't four times the price of Costa Rica for tickets and twice as far, it would be an easy choice.

For me from the USA; the trip to Pattaya is well worth the long flights. I've been going to Pattaya twice a year for the past 10 years. That place puts most all others to shame.