October 18th, 2007 Alex
Why are celebrities like Mel Gibson and Angelina Jolie, among many others, heading to Costa Rica? It is very simple because is an awesome place to be! Costa Rica has amazing beaches, breathtaking volcanoes (with natural hot springs), the biggest bio-diversity of the world, friendly people and very accessible prices. For example, you can get a full Costa Rican meal “casado” that includes: rice, beans, tortillas, plantains, steak or chicken, salad and a drink for less than $2 (USD), I am not kidding! Of course that is not the most common price in San Jose, but is not uncommon in the coast locations.
Costa Rica has four million habitants and most of them live in the “metropolitan circle” which engulfs San Jose, some parts of Alajuela, some parts of Heredia and a little bit of Cartago. So obviously there is a lot of free space and a lot of beach-front property available (this shouts celebrities).
So next time that you are in Costa Rica, keep your eye out for some celebrities walking nearby.
If you need a  hotel reservation in Costa Rica, then check out San Gildar today. San Gildar is one of the top Costa Rica hotels, if you are searching for authentic Costa Rican charm.
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October 16th, 2007 Alex
In Costa Rica the traffic laws are often disrespected by both pedestrians and vehicles. This means that unless you are prepared in advance you can have lots of headaches. This survival guide will teach you how to avoid getting “caught” in the middle of insanity:
1. Costa Rica’s Potholes are Enormous. Exactly, they are not big, they are huge! It is not uncommon to encounter potholes that go for two or three lanes. In some locations you can find more pothole than road! So what do you do in this circumstances? You rent a 4 X 4. Honestly, in Costa Rica you will need a car that can sustain tire damage without getting a flat tire. In the event that you do get a flat tire:
- Pull over (be careful in this step),
- Search for a safe spot for the “gata” (Spanish for hidraulic arm) to lift your car (you definitely don’t want your “gata” sliding while you are changing your tire) ,
- Change the tire
- Drive to the closest gas station to repair it (because you may need it again ** Don’t wait until the end of your trip).
2. Costa Rica’s Accidents can be avoided. Costa Rica has one of the highest vehicle accident rates in the world. Speed limits are often ignored. You will see sections of the road that have a 25 km an hour speed limit (which is equivalent to 15 miles per hour). It is impossible to drive at 15 miles per hour in a highway. Pedestrians sometimes cross highways by foot and stand in the middle avoiding traffic by inches. Sometimes you will see farm animals moved by foot on the highways. Be aware.
In the event of an accident first (above all) write down the license plate number of any other cars involved in the accident; then call 911 (just like in the States). You should be able to speak to somebody in English. Explain to them what happened and ask for the traffic police(policia de transito). If you don’t know where you are, ask somebody nearby. If you are driving late at night, be careful of another car hitting you from behind. This might be a trick to get you out of your car and assault you.
3. Costa Rica’s weather is aggressive. Chances are that you will experience rain and fog like you have never seen before (or you can’t see it because of the fog!) Anyhow, inclement weather is very common in Costa Rica especially in the months of September, October and November. Sometimes it can rain for days. Make sure that you if you are traveling during this time of year bring your favorite rain coats. When driving be extra careful since the roads are not designed to deal with such large amounts of rain. If driving to and from the coast be extra careful since the water may have moved and soften the land next to the road. Landslides are very common in the road from Limon to San Jose.
Finally, try our traditional coffee. No matter what you do, you won’t be able to survive a day in Costa Rica unless you delight yourself in a cup or two of our golden grain!
We sincerely hope you enjoy your stay in the beautiful Costa Rica. For more information about accommodation reservations in San Jose, Costa Rica, please visit Hotel San Gildar’s website.
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October 12th, 2007 admin
When you are planning to visit another country one of the most important decisions you will make is where you are going to sleep. Your vacation can be the most amazing dream or the worse nightmare based on this selection. So we have come with a very short list of things to think about before selecting your hotel in Costa Rica:
1. Where is it located? Where in Costa Rica are you going to spend the most amount of time? In San Jose for business or in Guanacaste for a beach adventure? Are you shopping in Escazu or are you relaxing in Arenal? Make sure that your hotel is located in the right spot.
2. What do other people say about this hotel? Let’s face it, if 98 people out of 100 say that a specific hotel is not a good idea then take their word. Do a little research online if you can. Nevertheless be careful, almost all hotels have had bad experiences and those are the ones that you will hear about the most; that doesn’t mean that a hotel is not a right choice.
3. Does it provide free high-speed internet access? For many people this might not be as important as it sounds, but in Costa Rica anything can happen (good and bad). By having a reliable connectivity to the web, you will be certain that you can communicate inexpensively with your family and friends.
4. How close is it from downtown? Even though some hotels in downtown San Jose have done an amazing job in protecting their visitors, some haven’t. In Costa Rica downtown can be dangerous at night and you have to always be careful. It is best to stay in a hotel that is not directly in the middle of the city and that gives you peace of mind.
5. Does it have a pool? Obviously if you are in Costa Rica for business travel and staying only for a couple of hours, this wouldn’t matter. Otherwise, having a clean well-maintained pool in your hotel will prove to be excellent, especially if your plans change because of weather or many other things.
Now that you are ready to experience the excitement of this beautiful country in a comfortable Costa Rica hotel, make sure that you book your reservations directly through your hotel of choice, that way you will find the best rates. Remember that Costa Rica hotels are categorized by stars and not by diamonds; if you are into luxury you want at least a 4 star or 5 star hotel, on the other hand, if you are looking for cost-effective comfort check out some 3 star hotels as well.
We sincerely hope you have an amazing stay in Costa Rica.
For more information about our excellent transition hotel in Escazu contact Hotel San Gildar today.
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October 12th, 2007 admin
In the name of the Costa Rica Hotel San Gildar we want to welcome you to our blog. Here you will be able to find important news, promotional information, reviews and much more. If you have any questions please write to us directly at: info (at) hotelsangildar (dot) com. If you are new to our website we encourage you to visit our home page at: http://www.hotelsangildar.com and to discover what Costa Rica has to offer today.
If you have any recommendations or any specific questions please do not hesitate to contact us as well.
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