Congratulations on your anniversary!

The above is sage advice indeed - once you get off the Panamericano, the road is pretty awful. My husband, who loves to drive, was initially upset about my insistence on not renting a car and getting transfers from point to point. As we were getting off the Panamerican, our driver turned around and said that the upcoming massage was free. When he dropped us off at our hotel in Monteverde three hours later, my husband quetly thanked me and said that he was very happy to have someone else drive him. I don't know what your plans are for traveling from place to place, but considering the costs of insurance and rental, the transfers made sense for us.

We stayed at Silencio del Campo while in Arenal and loved the individual cottages. Lots of hot springs nearby (you have to pay an entry fee but otherwise its a quick taxi ride).