Costa Rica - looking for a (resort) hotel with good day trips
Oct 20, 2015, 2:26 pm
#16
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
I stayed at the Doubltree at the end of my CR trip, in order to get acclimatised to Cancun (my next stay 
). It's OK, nothing super-exciting and I guess the kids will prefer the pool to the beach. Get yourself a mossy repellent, though, or stay close to somebody who attracts them more than you. This is not hotel-specific but CR-wide. By the way, the margaritas were also OK.
If you go to the Arenal area, spend an afternoon at one of those hot-water spas. Both you and the kids will love it, once you get over the first shock when you enter a pool where the water is 45 oC hot.
). It's OK, nothing super-exciting and I guess the kids will prefer the pool to the beach. Get yourself a mossy repellent, though, or stay close to somebody who attracts them more than you. This is not hotel-specific but CR-wide. By the way, the margaritas were also OK.If you go to the Arenal area, spend an afternoon at one of those hot-water spas. Both you and the kids will love it, once you get over the first shock when you enter a pool where the water is 45 oC hot.
Oct 22, 2015, 9:56 am
#17
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Originally Posted by Chelski
If there are any recommendations for cheap hotels in the Arena or Monteverdi area I'd appreciate it. Also, if there is a good location within close proximity to both that's an option.
Oct 25, 2015, 12:39 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 7
Back in March 2012, we rented a car and stayed at 3 different (budget) hotels.
The first one was in Arenal, called Lavas del Arenal:
http://www.lavasdelarenal.com/ which is not much of a budget hotel anymore, if I look at the prices these days. At the end time we paid about $50 per room
In Monteverde we stayed at the Sunset Hotel:
http://www.sunsethotelmonteverde.com
and for the last 6 nights we stayed at the Conchal hotel in Brasilito, which was our favourite by far. Really nice little boutique hotel with great hosts. Good place for day trips as well, to Tamarindo, Playa Grande, Playa Flamingo, Playa del Coco etc.
http://www.conchalcr.com/
The first one was in Arenal, called Lavas del Arenal:
http://www.lavasdelarenal.com/ which is not much of a budget hotel anymore, if I look at the prices these days. At the end time we paid about $50 per room
In Monteverde we stayed at the Sunset Hotel:
http://www.sunsethotelmonteverde.com
and for the last 6 nights we stayed at the Conchal hotel in Brasilito, which was our favourite by far. Really nice little boutique hotel with great hosts. Good place for day trips as well, to Tamarindo, Playa Grande, Playa Flamingo, Playa del Coco etc.
http://www.conchalcr.com/
Oct 25, 2015, 1:16 pm
#19
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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I've read some mixed things about that doubletree. I have a bunch of Hilton points so it'll at least be free. If the beach by the hotel is that bad then we will be more motivated to do a daytrip down to Manuel Antonio. I'm thinking a horseback ride in Arenal and the hot water spas sound good.
Drive south - stop at the Tarcoles River to see the American crocodiles (just before is Carrara biological reserve - nice forest walk, scarlet macaws). Don't leave anything of value in the car when it's parked, btw.
South you can find more to do - forest zip lines, a couple of towns with restaurants, etc. and on as far as Jacó, Quepos, Manuel Antonio.
North you can go to Rincón Corobicí where highway 1 crosses the Corobicí River near Cañas and use Ríos Tropicales for some excellent river rafting. Or if driving and visiting sites, stop by for a bite. I've stayed at the nearby lodging and seen (heard!) the troop of howler monkeys that hangs around and exotic critters like boat-billed herons. http://www.riostropicales.com/costa-...rafting-float/
Upland is a beautiful drive as well, lots of views, some places to eat and enjoy the views, see coffee growing (though there's a lot more of this near San José).
Feb 3, 2016, 8:08 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
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Beach & Monkeys
We are headed to Costa Rica in April and would love to stay somewhere close to Manuel Antonio, hopefully close to Ocean or within 5 minutes of walk and would like to see monkey's etc. We are travelling with two kids.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Any suggestions?
Thanks