I wanted to go some place new between Christmas and New Years.
The place where I work closes down during that time, so I figured it was time to get out.

I had read a few reports here about Costa Rica...Got some good info and a great website (www.costaricaticas.com).
Did my homework...And off I went...

Left LAX 12/25 at 1:15am...Taca Air nonstop to San Jose...Took about 5 hours 20 minutes.
Since it was Christmas morning when I arrived, the airport was empty...Took about 10 minutes to clear immigration and customs...I'm sure it's much longer during a more normal time.

Got a taxi to my Hotel ($23)...
I stayed at Hotel Little Havana (HLH)...It used to be an MP called Zona Blue. I met the manager Eddie...Nice guy...native New Yorker...Took me out for a drive to show me where some of the hot spots were.

During lunch, Eddie explained how the girls operate at HLH. The girls that work at HLH are in the bar area...starting at about 9am, and working till about 9pm...Only the HLH girls can work in the hotel bar. You can bring back a girl to your room from outside without any problems...she just has to show her ID at the desk (weird, but you get used to it)

If you're staying in one of their hotel rooms (which I was) you take take an HLH girl up to your room for $25/hr...If you're not staying at the hotel, the same girl will be $60/hr. and you'll use one of their rooms downstairs (comes with a shower).

The HLH girls that I met were about 5 to 7 on the looks scale...But 7-10 in attitude and service...

An hour with an HLH girl always included bbbj and multiple shots during your hour. Many times, I was having so much fun that I'd roll over pick up the phone and tell the front desk to extend my session for another hour...At $25/hr., it was kind of a no brainer.

Even got a bit wild one night and brought three girls up to my room...We spent two hours doing all kinds of fun things...these girls were all very into each other as well...Two hours with three girls for $150...Try finding that in Amsterdam.

Another thing...These girls all love to have their picture taken...Don't even have to ask...They just tell you to get out the camera and then proceed to give you quite the photo opportunity. Got the visual evidence to prove it. I'd post a few of them here but I'm not sure if it's OK to do.

So, HLH was great for morning and afternoon sessions, but for the night time activities, I went out to do my research. For sheer numbers of available women, the Hotel Del Rey (HDR) was hard to beat. About 40 to 50 women working the two large bar areas. They are not allowed onto the casino floor...I would sit at a Blackjack table for a while and check out the girls...without being bothered...Find a couple of potentials...make some eye contact and a exchange a smile or two...then move to the bar...the potentials then divert directly over...a bit of small talk...a drink for the likely choice...a bit of negotiation...then a taxi ride back to HLH.

Most negotiations with the independents that work at HDR...start with them asking for"cien" for the hour ($100). I was told to counter with $60...This seemed to offend some of the nicer looking chicas...So I opted for a $60 offer with a $20 propina (tip) if "we were friends when we finished". That technique seemed to work very well...One very hot Tica even said that if we were "friends" she wanted only $100 more for TLN..."Todo La Noche"...We got to be buen amigos...$160 for the whole night with a beautiful woman that didn't need a lot of sleep!!! Damn...

I did do a couple of regular tourist-type things...Went to the Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfalls. Definitely check out the waterfalls...the volcano isn't that big of a deal. Gonna go whitewater rafting and zip-lining next trip.

And then there's the beach...Didn't make the two hour trip out to Jaco or Puntarenas this time...too busy making new friends...maybe next time...

Safety wise, San Jose is a lot like many other big cities...safe places and dangerous places. The area around the HLH and HDR are pretty safe at night. I never had any problems walking by myself the 1/2 mile between HLH and HDR. Althougth, I never walked late night back to my hotel...always had a girl with me so we took a taxi...which cost about $4 to get back to the HLH.

Bottom line...I can live like a king in Costa Rica without having a fortune. Everything there is cheaper than it is in the US or Europe...Sex, hotels, food and drink...Less than $1 for either Imperial or Pilsen at many local bars...Even the airfare is less for me from California...And the flying time is 1/2 of what it is to Europe from LA.

I never thought I'd find a place on this beautiful planet that would thrill me they way Amsterdam does...The five days I spent in Costa Rica went by way too quickly...And while there is no place quite like Amsterdam...Costa Rica is an amazing country...Can't wait to return!!!

Besides...My Spanish is much better than my Dutch


Salud,
-ale

Nice report my friend very interesting. Wonder how long the flight is from the uk. You wouldnt have a link to any websites with pics of the quality of girls hotels ect.
could be an option if i ever get pissed off with Thailand :-).

Alelover,

Thanks for the report- nothing like 5-7 days of Tica R n R in Gringo Gulch livin la pura vida. How much are the hotel rooms in USD at Hotel Little Havana ? I usually stay at the Presidente.

Stuarty1873 as Alelover mentioned the www.costaricaticas.com web site will provide you all the info you need on the scene in San Jose- hotel, restaurant,safety info, maps, massage parlors etc The web site is free, if you pay the cost of a supporting membership you will get access to the VIP section that has girl photos and reviews etc. Costa Rica is a nice change of pace from Thailand. Have you mongered in the Philippines yet ?

Here is a couple of suggestions for anyone visiting San Jose- in addition to daytime fun at Hotel Little Havana and the day shift at the Blue Marlin in the Hotel Del Rey, at night when you need a break from the Blue Marlin scene walk over to Key Largo to check out the girls or taxi over to club IDEM- prime hours at IDEM are 7- 11 pm

Havent ventured to the phillapines mate, heard its i bit dodgy and very lawless a bit like glasgow lol.
My friend is in sihanokville (sp) cambodia at the moment reckons its the buisness very cheap and plenty nice ladies.Im going to Pattaya in may might check out cambodia whilst im there its not that far. Have you done phillapines esp angeles city if you have what did you make of it?

Stuarty1873,

Yes I have made the rounds in the Philippines both in Manila and Angeles City. I like the freelancer scene at LA Cafe in Manila. The city of Manila is a zoo to say the least. I can handle the dodgy aspects of Manila but definately take a taxi everywhere after dark- same is true for San Jose Costa Rica. I have walked around San Jose after dark but it is definately risky to do so.

Angeles City is not nearly as dodgy as Manila but I definatley stick to the main streets. I had a blast in Angeles, it was a nice change of pace from Thailand. I like a little variety when it comes to Asian delights. Angeles certainly is no Pattaya but has some charms of it's own.

Alelover,

I found the room rates for Hotel Little Havana on the CRT site- Standard Junior Suite with Jacuzzi- $119 US. Standard King- $99 and Standard Queen- $ 89. Did you have a full suite, a junior suite or a standard room ?? Was the $ 25 per chica fee for the first hour or was the fee $ 45 for the first hour and $ 25 to extend ? Can you describe the rooms a bit at HLH please ? Thank You

www.hotellittlehavana.com

www.delreyhotel.com home of the world famous Blue Marlin Bar

www.sportsmenscr.com Sportsmens Lodge San Jose CR

Hola:

I stayed in the Cohiba Suite...At $150/nt. it's the more expensive of the suites.
Went for the Cohiba for a few reasons...The private balcony upstairs was very cool...Had a session up there as well.
The Cohiba is also only one room...some of the other suites have two bedrooms...I only needed the one.
The Cohiba also has a huge walk-in shower with an adjoining sauna...we had four of us in the shower...plenty of room for more...good clean fun!!!
And the mirror...This suite has a large mirror facing the bed...Awesome visuals!!!

The down side to the Cohiba...It is noisy as hell at night!!! On the other side of the vaulted ceilings is a corragated metal roof. When it rains at night, the sound is pretty loud.
Also, noise from the street seems to work its way into the room too. This may also be the case in the suites downstairs...Although I doubt the rain will be an issue in the other suites since they're one level down.

If you're a light sleeper, like I am, a pair of ear plugs seemed to solve the problem.

The $25/hr. fee is for guests staying in any of the suites...25 at the beginning and 25 for each subsequent hour...I was with one girl for three hours for $75...And I was with three girls for two hours for $150...I loved the simple math.

My recommendation...If you're flying solo...I'd opt for the Romeo & Juliet Suite...walk-in shower and a small private balcony. If there is more than one...The Montecristo suite looked pretty nice.

Hope this helps...

salud,
-ale

Thanks Alelover

Costa Rica seems in my plans for October 2009...so this information will be very helpful..

I thank you for posting it


Against my better judgement...

Did you find any decent brews that I ( or you ) would like down there ??


Best Regards


Smuler

Hey Alelover,

Sounds like you hit SJO on all cylinders! I have spent many days at ZB but never stayed at the Hotel.. Did you get a chance to meet Pamela? Congrats on your first voyage. Its a reasonable flight, cheap eats, and the Ticas......you got it!

Smuler,

Trying to find "Good" beer in SJO is like trying to find Kraft cheese in Holland,,,almost impossible.
I have been taking bottles of Crown Royal with me to enjoy at my hotel and while out in the Del Rey I stick to Imperial or Heineken. I guess one could bring beer with you :-)

Hi 420

You were reading my mind..

I was figuring which beers to bring

Best Regards

Smuler

Yes, the beer situation in CR sucks. I can not drink Imperial. I stick to Heineken, much cheaper than what the Blue Marlin charges for Corona.

Hit the Duty Free store at the airport for good deals on Centenario Costa Rican Rum and Flor De Cana Nica Rums- 7year, 12 year or 18 year.

Smuler- you still goin to Buenos Aires ?

Any info regarding finding some good smokes down there? What is the legal situation?

Thanks

Ganja is illegal but widely used- I have been propositioned by working girls, taxi drivers and street hawkers. If I wanted smoke, I would ask a Del Rey- Blue Marlin chica. If one was to encounter any heat about smoking one might offer a gift to clear up any uncomfortable circumstances.

Hey, guys, can one of you clarify this, as I am unclear after reading this thread ...

What is the typical range of fee for the SP ?

And what is the typical up-charge to the hotel for having a guest in one's room?

Somehow the amounts mentioned in the thread are sometimes one, sometimes the other ...

Thanks!

Re: chica prices ( YMMV )

Blue Marlin Bar Freelancers- Most girls start out asking for $ 100 US. You must try and bargain with the chica and negociate a cheaper price. It helps if you speak some Spanish. Read Alelovers post again as I think he had an excellent approach with the Blue Marlin Chicas. You will take the chica back to your hotel and check her in at the desk. Sessions can be 1.5-2 hours average, maybe longer if you really hit it off with a chica but after two hours she wants to probably go make more money. You can make her an offer for all night if you want ( Toda La Noche ).

You see the way Alelover offered $60 plus $20 tip he paid an average of $80 for two hours approx. Girls usually ask you for taxi money- If I like the chica and want to see her again I give her taxi money- $ 5 at most. If I do not want to see them again I give her one or two dollars taxi money. Some of the really hot girls are very good at sticking to $ 100, I always try and negociate down to $ 80 max but sometimes I agree to $ 100 because I do not want $ 20 to be a deal breaker and I do not want to get the chica in a bad mood before starting the session. In the future with the girls who will not come off $ 100 I am going to try Alelovers approach re the tip- so my approach will be $ 80 plus $ 20 tip if we are still friends- this will increase the chances of better than average service.

Key Largo Bar- Freelancers. They will probably ask for $ 100. Bargain them down- counter with $ 60, $ 65, $ 70 etc Should be able to pull a Key chica for $ 80. Tell her up front what you expect and get her to agree to two hours. Take the chica back to your room and check her in. Note the main reason not to stay at the Del Rey hotel is because they add a $ 10 fee for every chica you take to your room. Hotel Presidente does not have a chica fee. Do not stay at Holiday Inn- their chica fees can run $ 20.

Sportsmens Lodge- 420 can you let us know the rates to pull a SL chica ?

Club Idem- is a bar with approx 30 chicas available. You sit at the bar and have a drink while you make your selection from the chicas sitting against the wall. You tell the bartender who you want and go to an on site room for an hour session. Cost- approx $55 USD. You must taxi to and from IDEM, ask the bar to get you a taxi when you leave.

Hotel Little Havana daytimes- one hour with a chica from their bar will cost $ 55 and you will get a room on site included in this price. I walk to HLH during the day because taxi drivers expect the hotel to pay a comission when they drop off customers. Ask the manager to call you a taxi when you are ready to depart.

Hey 420- is New Fantasy still going ? If so let the guys know what it is, where and how much.

Pura Puta

No Chica fee at the SL...in fact, the talent level at SL has been pretty good. New Fantasy remodeled last year and is MUCH nicer then before. The rooms were clean, good AC, nice steam sauna, and clean towels. All for about $50 per hour, massage included.