Sounds like a good trip and a much-needed reward to yourself after a rough year. I like Nosara. There's a lot there, although it's very spread out. There's not a feeling of being in a town at all, so you do need a car to get around.

I want to make sure you're clear about one thing: There are two places called Playa Hermosa. One is a HUGE surfing destination, but that's not this Playa Hermosa. That one is on the central Pacific coast. If you're reading about "great surfing in Playa Hermosa," make sure you realize you're not going to that one. I like the northern one better, anyway, but I'm not a surfer.