General Info

[quote=stevewxly]there are lots and lots of farmacias - all over san jose. you can hardly walk a block in the business district without bumping into one or two of them. walk around and stop into a few of them and 'do some comparative shopping' for the 'stuff' you want.

one specific farmacia that i have bought the viagra pills in - is directly across the street from the morazon hotel on the north/south street that goes to the morazon park. i can not remember the exact price i had to pay - but i do think i purchased some there - so it must have been a reasonable price.

they almost all carry genuine viagra, cialis, and such drugs, as well as the generic pills. i like the generics for the low price........

i tried some of the generic cialis on my last trip - i bought a couple of them just to try them - but did not see any difference in them from the generic viagra - but yet the cialis cost perhaps 3 times more than the generic viagra.

i like to buy the generic viagra and usually get the 50 mg dose which i feel is right for me. some guys opt for the 100 mg dose - but i think that is too heavy for me... the 100 mg dosage tends to make me light headed and somewhat dizzy after......so it sort of scared me - as i thought i was having some sort of bad reaction from taking the higher 100 mg dose.


anyway the generic viagra is cheap, and there is no prescription needed to purchase it in costa rica.

best bet -
ask for the generic viagra - then ask if there are any 'two for one specials" - where you get a 2 pill pack but only pay for one pill.....or the 4 pill pack - which seems to be a very popular size.

the specific name for generic viagra is - sidenafil calox or sidenafil citrate - and i believe these two pills are exactly the same.

i have found the 50 mg generic viagra for about $ 1.60 -$ 2.00 per pill before - in many drug stores in san jose.

the touts outside the del rey will be selling it for $ 10.00 to 20.00 per pill.....but you know they are crooks- so stay away from them.

on my last trip this last october i bought about 20 of the 100 mg viagra pills because the 50's were not available at my first stop.....later i found some 50 mg viagra pills in a different store- so i told a couple of the touts i had them, and would sell them ( the 100 mg's) and did sell them my remaining stock to them (which i felt were too strong for me) for about $ 4.00 per pill.......so i made a buck or two off them.....and naturally they would be reselling them for the higher price - but i simply wanted to get rid of them at that point.

shop around for them (the pills) as the price will fluxuate from one farmicia to the next. the $ 1.60 to $ 1.75 price - per 50 mg dose is perhaps the cheapest that i have found in san jose.

if all you can find is the 100 mg dose - then you can easly break this pill in half and only take half at a time.

in smaller towns in costa rica you may have to pay more for them.

also i shopped around for them in panama city and found that the asking price there was double or more for the same pill as was the going price in costa rica. so naturally i waited until i got back to costa rica to purchase my needed supplies.

i have brought quite a few - say 25-40 of these viagra pills back with me on the flight from cr to the usa, and have never been asked about them or had any problems with customs on them.......although rush limbaugh the tv personality did get caught entering the country (us) with some of them - and he got busted for it....but in general i do not think you should have any problem bringing some of them back with you to the us......worst case scenario would be that they would perhaps confirep001e them at customs, but i doubt that you would face any criminal charges for that.....but again i am not advising you to do that - you will be on your own with that- should you get caught.

steve[/quote]i have purchased generic viagra in both the dr and colombia and brought back to the states as many as 100 pills at a time with no problems as i have a few friends that ask me to get them for them. i keep them in the original packaging and put them in my checked bags. i have gone through miami probably 20 times with them and no problems. i wouldn't advise carrying them on your person or keeping them in your carry on as i think that was limbaugh's mistake.

I to have brought back numerous pills from the DR and Costa Rica. They stay in the original packaging and in my checked bags. A couple of times I had some LaPella in my carry on and there was not problem but I had may be a dozen pills. I always carry on my US meds if I have to bring some. They are in their bottles.

Is there any reason at all to convert your $USD's into CRC's? I know that most chicas quote you in dollars and will take them as payment at the Del Rey and Key Largo, but what about taxis, mp's, restaurants, etc.? Is it better to use Colon's for these?

Is there a preferred place for getting Colon's? Believe it or not Western Union and the ATM's had the best exchange rates in Sosua...

I have always found that it is somewhat easier to pay with colones than dollars almost everywhere in Costa Rica.

There are places like hotels, restaurants and such that will take dollars but I think you will get a better deal with colones simply because it is easier for the person or clerk to deal with them than figuring out what you owe in dollars.

Get your money into colones - make a simple chart that you can refer to and keep it handy in your pocket, when making a purchase, and go from there.

I have made many, many trips to Costa Rica and usually change most of my dollars with the cashier at the Del Rey Hotel. Their rate will be fair and up to date. You might do a little better at a local bank in San Jose but it takes too much time to go to the bank, stand in line, fill out forms, check your passport, etc just to get change in colones....much more convienent (sp) just to do it at any of the major hotels or casinos like the Del Rey, Morazon, etc.

[QUOTE=SavePros321]Is there any reason at all to convert your $USD's into CRC's? I know that most chicas quote you in dollars and will take them as payment at the Del Rey and Key Largo, but what about taxis, mp's, restaurants, etc.? Is it better to use Colon's for these?

Is there a preferred place for getting Colon's? Believe it or not Western Union and the ATM's had the best exchange rates in Sosua...[/QUOTE]The cashier window at the Del Rey gives a good exchange rate. I've also gotten colones through the ATM by the front desk, using my Bank of America debit card and got a good rate. Last, for a good wallet sized cheat sheet, go to "oanda.com". Use colones for the little things and meals as they will give you a lower rate than you'd get elsewhere in change. Also, if you go to bigger places, they'll give you the bill in both colones and dollars.

Hey Stevewxly and others, I appreciate all your reports and knowledge!

I'm taking my FIRST trip to CR next week, and haven't spoken any spanish since taking it in high school. I can "get by" with simple things like como estas, me llamo Beconn, and quiero un cervesa. I'm hoping that you guys could help me with some of the "negotiations". I've looked back a bunch of pages and havent seen anything like this.

How do you interview the ladies? How do you ask for things like price, bbbj, CIM, showering, etc. Any phrases or words to know would be great.

Thanks, or as you guys seem to say, Pura Vida!

[QUOTE=Beconn Reconn]Hey Stevewxly and others, I appreciate all your reports and knowledge!

I'm taking my FIRST trip to CR next week, and haven't spoken any spanish since taking it in high school. I can "get by" with simple things like como estas, me llamo Beconn, and quiero un cervesa. I'm hoping that you guys could help me with some of the "negotiations". I've looked back a bunch of pages and havent seen anything like this.

How do you interview the ladies? How do you ask for things like price, bbbj, CIM, showering, etc. Any phrases or words to know would be great.

Thanks, or as you guys seem to say, Pura Vida![/QUOTE]


If this is your first trip to Costa Rica....you will no doubt want to make the Hotel Del Rey in San Jose your 'ground zero'. Hell you may get there and stay in that place the whole damned time...... I know I was like that on my first trip. I didn't want to leave the place to even look anywhere else.....except maybe to take an hour break to go someplace else to eat.


So......have no fear.....almost all the girls working at the Del Rey, Key Largo (next door), the Sportsmans Lodge, or a couple of the more notorious massage parlors will speak enough English so you will not need to use much Spanish when conversing with them.

They will know what you desire, and you can easily bargain with them in English.....so really one can go there without knowing a single word in Spanish, and still have a good trip. Plenty of guys have done that in the past.

Just remember one rule - ' no cien ' - which in Espanol means - do not pay $ 100.00 to get laid.....bargain with them - and you will find that they will usually accept a lot less....like $ 50-60.00. ( And this would be with the gals at the Hotel Dey Rey.....they all want to make $ 100.00 a pop....but only stupid guys do this....newbies....who simply don't know any better.

And when a inexperienced guy does fork over a hundred bucks to a gal - this makes it extremely difficult for the rest of us - who are trying to keep the price down to a reasonable level. so when they quote you "cien" ( $100.00) - simply smile and say 'no thanks' - then you can began to bargain them down to the 'real price'.

If that does not work for you then find a taxi driver and ask him to take you to one of the many, many massage parlors where the going rate will be much less - like $ 25-30.00 a pop. The massage parlors are a much better bargain that ' getting take out from the Del Rey.

Really I hang out there ( the Del Rey) and 'watch the show'....window shopping - if you will - then when I am ready to 'do the deed' - I will hop onto a bus and head for one of the numerous massage parlors, where your money will go much further.

Speaking Espanol or Not -

Not knowing Spanish - is one side of the coin....the other side is that plenty of guys can speak very passable Spanish and can do well with it with the ladies. But it is not at all necessary to know much Spanish to go and have a good time in Costa Rica.

Just get the money conversion right....make a little chart to keep in your pocket.....and use your head......the 'big head' and you will do OK.

Others may say that you need to speak some Spanish to have a successful trip....but from my experience I don't think so...... Speaking and understanding Spanish is desirable, but if you don't - you can still have a great time. It might help to buddy up with another seasoned gringo once you get there....maybe you will make the acquaintance of another CR veteran who will 'show you the ropes'.

I did this on my first trip.....I ran into another fellow who knew the drill. He helped me a whole bunch....guiding me around, telling me what to expect, how to do it, where to go, etc. ......now after having made several trips 'down South' for about 7-8 years I can speak enough Spanish to get along fairly well.

If you decide to move there (CR) and set up residence you will want to learn the local language...but for trip uno - don't worry too much about it - you will do fine.

Steve

He doesn't have to make hotel del ray his prime destination. He can go to hotel little havana, New Fantasy or IDEM or any of the other numerous massage parlors. Most of the time its cheaper than Hotel Del Ray.

[QUOTE=DR Monger II]He doesn't have to make hotel del ray his prime destination. He can go to hotel little havana, New Fantasy or IDEM or any of the other numerous massage parlors. Most of the time its cheaper than Hotel Del Ray.[/QUOTE]


Hola,

I agree fully......one can go anywhere and most everywhere in San Jose CR - time permitting - to sample the 'local delicacies”. '

I was merely pointing out the obvious - and that is that most guys especially if it is their first trip to CR will no doubt find their way to the Del Rey Hotel - and will want to stay around there just to take in ' the floor show '. And they may find it hard to drag themselves away from the place - once they get there.

I have a friend who goes to San Jose a few times a year and he alway stays at the Del Rey, and eats most of his meals across the street at the restaurant owned by the Del Rey, and perhaps does not move more than a block away from that location for the duration of his trip....except for coming from, and going back to the airport for his trip home.

I on the other hand have been to CR many, many ties but I have traveled around the whole country - which I think is a more viable alternative to just stay in San Jose for the whole trip. I feel that I have seen more and done more things than others who simply get into the 'gulch' and seldom leave to check out other areas.

It - the HDR does not need to be their headquarters - as they can do that anywhere - like differing hotels to stay in. My point was that a newbie will perhaps find it difficult to leave the confines of the gulch and venture forth to find other interesting spots. Many do, of course, but also many, many guys get into the Del Rey - find it to be a paradise and don't want to leave.

I love to go there ( HDR) to look around....see and be seen - but seldom will I take a gal from there just because I know lots of other spots like - Hotel Little Havana - formerly the Zona Blue MP - New Fantasy, etc. where the pickings are almost just as good, and the prevailing price is usually less.

To each his own.

I've been going to CR for many years and avoid the Del Rey.

The meat market scene ain't my cup of tea.

I know that these questions have been asked before and I do sift through the forum but I only find parts of the answers. Here are my main questions.

Which Massage Parlors are the best dollar for dollar and looks ones to go to? And will all taxi drivers know these spots?

I think the whole forum gets that Del Ray is the spot so no need to talk about it and Sportsman Lodge. Are there any other places with girls inside waiting around like anxious puppies at pet store to be picked up?

Is there a street walker scene in San Jose? If so. Which streets? And How much to pay.

What is the general cost of a taxi to run you around town?

What is the cost of a taxi to take you from the airport and the Del Ray area?

Sorry to be bold, but these are the questions I would LOVE to know the answers to. I have talked with a few guys via PM and they are very very helpful but maybe a big post like this would help a few of us out. AND I will be there jan 20 to jan 25. So if anyone else is a newbie. Come on lets grab a beer and figure it out. If your a seasoned monger of the area. I'll buy you a few beers and you show me your knowledge. And of coarse. I'll come back here and report all the goodies.

[quote=george sims]which massage parlors are the best dollar for dollar and looks ones to go to? and will all taxi drivers know these spots?

i think the whole forum gets that del ray is the spot so no need to talk about it and sportsman lodge. are there any other places with girls inside waiting around like anxious puppies at pet store to be picked up?

is there a street walker scene in san jose? if so. which streets? and how much to pay.

what is the general cost of a taxi to run you around town?

what is the cost of a taxi to take you from the airport and the del ray area?[/quote]responding to q's

not all taxi drivers will know where these places are, and they may get a cut from the owner which will impact the fare if they do. i normally don't frequent these places so can't tell you which one is better than the other. suggestion: go to don gringo's web site and download his map of casas and mp's in the sjo area. it is a lot of fun to do a walking tour during the day since, if i recall, there are dozens of places on the map: from the low end to the high end, he even had a topless stylist at a barber shop that would give a bj in the back room for a rediculously low price, but not sure if she's still in business. quality of chicas will very, but half the fun is mining for gold right?

there is a street walker scene in sjo, but it's best to avoid at all costs. sw's fall into three catagories of which, in my opinion, are all bad. 1. ****. 2. a chica banned from the dr/key largo and/or the monger hotels for a host of reasons i. e. theft, loco attitude or disease. and 3. transvestite.

cab fare around the gulch and centro is not more than 1000 colones ($2). going further out to roemosuer, the university area or sabana park is around 3-4 thousand colones. further like escasu or the mountains negotiate before getting into the cab.

taxi fare from the airport to the gulch is around $20us or 10k crc.

[QUOTE=George Sims]I know that these questions have been asked before and I do sift through the forum but I only find parts of the answers. Here are my main questions.

Which Massage Parlors are the best dollar for dollar and looks ones to go to? And will all taxi drivers know these spots?

I think the whole forum gets that Del Ray is the spot so no need to talk about it and Sportsman Lodge. Are there any other places with girls inside waiting around like anxious puppies at pet store to be picked up?

Is there a street walker scene in San Jose? If so. Which streets? And How much to pay.

What is the general cost of a taxi to run you around town?

What is the cost of a taxi to take you from the airport and the Del Ray area?

Sorry to be bold, but these are the questions I would LOVE to know the answers to. I have talked with a few guys via PM and they are very very helpful but maybe a big post like this would help a few of us out. AND I will be there jan 20 to jan 25. So if anyone else is a newbie. Come on lets grab a beer and figure it out. If your a seasoned monger of the area. I'll buy you a few beers and you show me your knowledge. And of coarse. I'll come back here and report all the goodies.[/QUOTE]MPs, New Fantasy and Hotel Little Havana are favorites, not the best prices but still better than the Del Rey. Streetwalkers aren't worth the trouble. There are other pick up bars, Sportsman's is one of the best. My advice is go to the Del Rey and just talk to random gringos, you'll run into a vet eventually and he can perhaps even show you around.

Have fun good luck.

I think I will be fine bouncing around checking things out. Imma check out some of the things on that guys website that was referenced here. But it may be a little outdated. Who knows.

LAST QUestion. Which hotel to stay at? I prefer cheaper. But I will pay more if it is totally worth it. SPortsman or Del Ray? Or is there another gem I don't know about? Sportsman appears to be 30 bucks or so cheaper. Am I missing something.?

Things that are important are A/C, a safe, and general good location. And I'm not a big fan of paying extra money to bring a girl back. I'll be in town Jan 20 to 26 if anyone cares to grab a beer.

Hope to hear a good hotel recommendation.

[QUOTE=George Sims]I think I will be fine bouncing around checking things out. Imma check out some of the things on that guys website that was referenced here. But it may be a little outdated. Who knows.

LAST QUestion. Which hotel to stay at? I prefer cheaper. But I will pay more if it is totally worth it. SPortsman or Del Ray? Or is there another gem I don't know about? Sportsman appears to be 30 bucks or so cheaper. Am I missing something.?

Things that are important are A/C, a safe, and general good location. And I'm not a big fan of paying extra money to bring a girl back. I'll be in town Jan 20 to 26 if anyone cares to grab a beer.

Hope to hear a good hotel recommendation.[/QUOTE]


Hotel Castillo is where I always stay. Very safe and just a block from Sportsman and a short cab ride to the Del Rey. You can also walk to the two massage parlors close by in the day time.

[url]www.hotelcastillo.biz/[/url]