This information is as of Late September, 2003

Another alternative where we stayed is the Hotel Capitan Suizo in Tamarindo. A hotel recommended by friends and now by us. Very pleasant, large rooms, AC on the lower floor. The bungalows are very nice, but, unfortunately, not air conditioned.

We had been told that we should stay at Arenal. Thought it was a bunch of hype, but actually the (edit: Tabacon Resort is excellent, Telephone: note Costa Rica Country Code is 506 256-1500, www.tabacon.com). To call Costa Rica from the U.S. is 011506-########) The separate hot springs just down the road were the highlight of our stay.

MonteVerde is nice, but not worth bouncing over 18 miles of roads requiring 1 1/2 hours in each direction.

Roads in Costa Rica are abominal. 4WD drive and acute vision recommended. This advice is from the guy who drives in Turkey, Thailand, Mexico and logging roads in Oregon and who once drove from Munich to Athens through Serbia and Kosovo. Costa Rica is the only place that I blew a tire in a pothole on a main highway. But, then again, age tempers the memory of driving in Brooklyn.

Our biggest Costa Rican disappointment was the lack of animal sightings. The high point was a river trip booked by our hotel in Tamarindo.

Should you wish I can e-mail by favorites from my Costa Rican research..

(edited to add: Costa Rica does not have many "up-scale" resorts or hotels. The hotels are nice and better than our expectations but they are not the normal definition of luxury. Costa Rica has been touted as an eco-tourism destination. As previously stated we were disappointed by the fauna-side of the "eco". The flora-side was nice, but so are the jungles of south-east Asia. There is much more upscale IMHO in Asia than one will find in Costa Rica.


[This message has been edited by opushomes (edited Nov 25, 2003).]

[This message has been edited by opushomes (edited Nov 25, 2003).]