www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi everyone,
I'll be in Nov 11 - 13, as I am treating myself for my birthday. I'm thinking of hitting the del rey because that's what everyone suggest for their first time. How are the amnetities at this place? How are the rooms? The chica fee is only per hour? Or can i pay 10 bucks for an all nighter?

Sincerely,

BrendanOwens - Not my real name, in case u were wondering.

The HDR is not the favorite of many vets but for a first timer down to SJ for just a couple of nights it is not a bad selection. The room and amenities are adequate. You'd probably get a better value in that regard elsewhere but what you're paying for is location. The chica fee is per trip up the stairs whether for an hour, 15 minutes or all-night. Of course if you come down for something to eat or something and want to go back up with the same girl you'll have to pay again.

Another small tip. The minibar in the room can be pricey. You might want to stash its contents somewhere before you bring a chica back to your room in order to remove any temptation on her part to take something you'd later be charged for. If you want it is not a bad idea to pick up instead some drinks and snacks of your own at the nearby Mas x Menos.

I'd also recommend that you get out of the hotel as much as possible. Believe it or not there are some guys that go to SJ who never even leave the building from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. The HDR restaurants can be quite pricey too. I recommend you at least get out to go to eat. You will find several restaurants in the immediate area that have been recommended on this board.

Depending on how adventurous you are and how much time you find you have, I'd also suggest you try to go a little further afield. Zona Blue is arguably the highest "rated" gringo oriented MP to hit during the day that is not too far from the HDR. There are also less expensive tico joints such as Oasis that are further out. And, of course, any whorticulturist would recommend that you at least try to visit some of the non-monger sites (e.g. the national museum) while you are there in between visits to MP's, bars and nightclubs, though with so little time in CR that might be difficult.

Sincerely,
Prolijo (not my real name either )

Just a note here: while I was there, they have "keys" to the mini bar fridge. So if you wish to keep something cold in your room, follow the advise above and hide the mini bar contents and fill it up with your own. Or just don't get the mini bar fridge key and wing it with buckets of ice.
The only problem I see is where to hide the mini bar contents! I think it is better to just keep a bucket of ice available and leave the mini bar out of the picture. pura vida!

You still have plenty of time, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to RTFF. There's a lot of information here!
In spite of being your first time, you don't (necessarily) have to stay at Hotel del Rey. There are other (nicer) hotels close by where you don't have to pay a chica fee.
Just enjoy your trip and welcome aboard!
Gypsy

Pro, I have to correct ya on this one. She can come and go as she pleases however, she must leave her cedula or passport with security. I've stayed at the HDR before with my regular and rather than check in each time, just leave the ID w/security. Counts as one transaction, thus one chica fee. Oh, and you have to use the elevator on the Monkey Bar side of the building.

dapanz1

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Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!

I once hooked up with a girl from outside the gultch for a few days and while she was VERY reluctant to come back to the HDR when she finally agreed i just put her name on the room along with me for the 2 nights she was going to be there.

They did not charge me any more for this. I had a deluxe room with two beds. No idea if this made any difference.

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These girls are all virgins once you get past the used part.

Dapanz,
I stand corrected. You do have to pay seperately for each girl. And I guess if you KNOW you're coming back with the same girl she could just leave her cedula. I really don't know how that works since I never tried it (or how most chicas feel about stepping out of the hotel w/o their ID). Are you really sure about that though? It seems at the very least they would stop any gringo trying to go upstairs with a chica and check to see if she had checked in before. Also, re the stairs, its been a long time since I stayed at the HDR, but as I recall they have stairs to the right of the elevator on the Monkey Bar side (that actually go around the elveator shaft). I'm not sure if they go all the way to the top floor, but sometimes they're quicker if you're only staying on one of the lower floors (not too good w/chicas in high heels though).

Playtime,
That technique also can work at some of the supposedly non-chica friendly hotels. You just have to be careful that the front desk knows not to give your chica a key when you're not there. That can be a key difference between a registered and a non-registered guest. The other drawback to it is that you can only do that with one chica per day and if you want to change chicas you have to re-register again. That's no huge deal but it is a little more involved than just signing in a chica of the hour.

I concur, Playtime. My last trip (2 weeks ago) I spent the entire 5 days with my ATF Colombiana. I checked her in to my room when we got there, and they gave her a little card with her name and room # on it. They charged me an extra $10 for the room, I believe they called it a "room upgrade" on the receipt. It was worth it. She just showed the security guy her "ticket" every time we went upstairs. Piece of cake!

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Brendan,

You must make yourself get out of the del Rey at least a bit.

At a minimum, you must walk over to New Fantasy and to Zona Blue during the day. The service tends to be reliable at the MPs, whereas you takes your chances in the open market of the del Rey. If you don't see something you like at New Fantasy or Zona Blue, then no harm done.

Also Idem has been a consistent provider for years. Tell Roberto what you are looking for and he'll do his best to steer you in the right direction.

If you like the strip club atmosphere, Pantera Rosa is one of my favorites. Take cabs at night, of course.

Take your ear plugs too; if you are on one of the lower floors of the Rey it can be noisy.

And why not walk over and check out the Sportsmen's Lodge, and the Presidente for that matter? You may wish to stay somewhere new for your next trip.

It is true, I submit, that the del Rey can not be beat for the spontaneous twenty-four-hour convenience and selection, but follow the advice of the vets here (put 'em through the interview, get everybody's expectations in line, and don't pay up front). You'll have a great time.

Tanager

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Why own when you can rent?

The best advise hands down is to meet fellow CRT's at happy hour.

Enjoy.