Comments on: Hotels reported occupancy of 54% last year, lower than 2011

By: Gordon Lindley

Gordon Lindley — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:18:49 +0000

Costa Rica no bargain any more It started the slide in 2005. 16.25% tax on hotel rooms, airport tax departure $29.00. Our airplane ticket has rolled into it another tax we do not exactly see. Meals added taxes and tips another 22%. CR has taxed itself out of the bargain market. Cheaper in Los Vegas.

By: Bob Evans

Bob Evans — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:33:50 +0000

International Living keeps telling us that CR is affordable but hotel prices seem VERY comparable or above US prices. This after very expensive flight charges to get there.

By: Nicholas Frost

Nicholas Frost — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 15:33:33 +0000

And the CR tourist board are proudly announcing that new hotel construction this year will provide about 3% extra capacity! In the meantime smaller hotels are closing all the time. If CR is losing tourism it is maybe because it is sacrificing its natural charm to big buck multinationals.

By: Nicholas Frost

Nicholas Frost — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 14:33:43 +0000

I hope that CR does not try to attract the tourist that seeks “the bigger bang” and the margarita sippers! Let Them go an arsome place like Las Vegas!

By: Richard Philps

Richard Philps — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:48:35 +0000

A “bigger bang for the the buck” in other vacation destinations is the short answer for the lack of business in CR. Natural beauty is relative and only counts for so much, if you only have a week to lie on a tropical beach and sip Margaritas. The Margaritas taste the same anywhere.

By: Gordon Lindley

Gordon Lindley — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:18:33 +0000

Back in the 80″s and early 90′s at playa del Coco Claudio Rojas had a hotel on the beach simple with restaurant and disco.Price was like 20 bucks for 2, simple with cold water showers, fans, no TV in room. Some rooms you could cook in. Weekends Friday night bus showed up from San Jose and partied till Sunday afternoon and they all headed home. Tico’s working minimal jobs could save and afford a trip once in awhile. He passed away in 1996 the hotel was torn down by the government. being too close to the beach. Now all these LUXURY hotels charging $200 a night. I miss what was we had the beach air, warm sun the ocean simple food.. These big box hotels have ruined what was. Shameful!

By: Chris Thomas

Chris Thomas — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:18:34 +0000

They killed the goose that laid the golden eggs, expensive prices and little value in return, the country only thinks short term not long term, get as much money as you can today and worry about tomorrow later attitude, this is the most expensive country in Central America and one of the most expensive in Latin America.

By: Drago Hajdinovic

Drago Hajdinovic — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:18:33 +0000

To expansive!!

By: Fernando Gerdano

Fernando Gerdano — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:03:32 +0000

Too many places much better to take a vaca, less expensive, less dangerous, the reasons to come to CR are less and less.

By: David M. Lane

David M. Lane — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:33:41 +0000

The low occupancy rate in Costa Rica hotels seem puzzeling to me. Why is the rate so low? With all the advertising, and people considering relocation and vacationers interested in the country’s natural beauty you would think the hotels would have a much higher occupancy rate. I wonder what the break even point for the hotel business is.