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Message |
    
magmasystems
Citizen
Username: Magmasystems
Post Number: 308
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 9:09 am: |     |
I have been hearing a lot about Costa Rica as a great place to vacation.... certainly, a great alternative to Mexico and the Carribean.
Has anyone here been to Costa Rica? Any hotels to recommend?
It may be too late, but we will try to get there for Xmas vacation.
Thanks. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1087
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 12, 2005 - 11:08 pm: | |
Several years ago my family and I went to an all inclusive resort in Costa Rica and really enjoyed ourselves. Sunscape Punta Cana Grand was the name. Friendly staff, nice beach, big pool, good food. Not the Ritz and not Motel 6. Somewhere nicely in between. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 3889
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 12:09 am: | |
... never been, but I understand it's a great place for vacations. One of our new chef's is from Costa Rica. I'll check with him on Wednesday and get back to you. |
Cubeless
Citizen
Username: Cubey
Post Number: 161
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 3:24 pm: | |
Was in Costa Rica last month for work and pleasure. Stayed primarily in San Jose area (didn't venture down to Puntarenas area).
If you want any specifics or my opinions, feel free to PL me. |
amschwartz
Citizen
Username: Amschwartz
Post Number: 7
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 5:00 pm: | |
My wife and I went 2 years ago for our 10 yr anniversary. We spent a few days lounging in the rain forest and white water rafting and then a day on an island. We had the trip planned through Costa Rica Experts based in Chicago. Check out their website for ideas on things to do. We could have probably done the trip slightly cheaper on our own but they made every thing simple and have a lot of info about the country. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 1104
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 6:27 pm: | |
Please disregard my previous post. As usual, I was very confused. I went to Costa Rica on my honeymoon for two weeks and it was wonderful. Friends of our just went over April break and had a great time. I'll try to get the name of the resort. One of the places that we stayed, which we really like best, was called Si Como No, in Quepos. That's just a short trip to Manuel Antonio state park, and Playa Blanca, a beautiful beach with warm water and Iguana's hanging out. Another place I liked was Aguila de Osa, on Drake Bay on the Osa Peninsula. A bit of a trip to the southern part of the country, but very pretty. It's just a short boat trip from there to Corcovado National Park and Cano (pronounced Kahn-yo) Island National Park, and some great snorkling.
For some reason I was thinking of the Dominican Republic, which is where I went with my family serveral years ago. I NEVER know what I'm talking about any more.  |
Elzi121
Citizen
Username: Elzi121
Post Number: 56
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 8:37 pm: | |
We just got back from Costa Rica this week. It was our second trip. Feel free to PM me with any questions. We obviously love it. Christmas is a very busy time, though, and you might have trouble getting reservations.
If you go to the Fodor's website, they have a great message board- very active and people are really helpful in answering questions. It helped us a great deal with trip planning. |
E
Citizen
Username: Scubadiver
Post Number: 59
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 9:09 pm: | |
I went there 6 years ago for my honeymoon. It wasn't one of my more favored places of travel (not a whole lot to do there). But the hot springs at Tabacon were great and really made the trip. And if you're lucky, you'll get to see Mt.Arinal (active volcano) do it's stuff
http://www.tabacon.com/home_i.html |
tulip
Citizen
Username: Braveheart
Post Number: 2576
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 7:53 am: | |
I went many years ago, on a stopover to Panama. Spent a few days in Puerto Armuelles at Xmas. It was hot, muggy, the sand on the beach was so hot it was really like walking on coals. The ocean was warm, which I dislike immensely. The air was stifling. Maybe Costa Rica will be better. I did like the way the inhabitants put lights around the windows of their cars, and it was amusing to see that in the little grass huts, called chosas, they had TV antennas coming out of the thatched rooves. It was fun, but dreadfully hot, if you like that sort of muggy climate. |
magmasystems
Citizen
Username: Magmasystems
Post Number: 314
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 7:43 am: | |
Thanks for all of your advice.
We are staying in Costa Rica for 9 days/8 nights. We could use some advice on hotels/lodging.
Here's our tentative trip:
1) Drive from San Jose to the Nicoya Coast. I have heard good things about the Malpais area. This area is referred to as the "Hawaii of Central America". Spend 4 nights.
2) Drive to the Arenal Volcano area. Stop along the way at the MonteVerde Cloud Forest. Spend the night. Someone on Fodor's mentioned the Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Resort.
3) Arenal for 2 nights. See the volcanos and use the Hot Springs.
4) Drive to San Jose and spend the night. Fly out the next day.
|
Elzi121
Citizen
Username: Elzi121
Post Number: 60
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 9:35 pm: | |
I personally think that might be ambitious for 9 days. I would skip monteverde- 1 night is not going to be enough time and the trip from moteverde to arenal is virtually undrivable. Most people who go from monteverde to arenal do not self-drive, but do part of the trip by boat and get a ride by jeep for the other sections.
We skipped monteverde because of the travel time and instead went to the Los Angeles Cloud forest- lesser known, but much more accessible and is a cloud forest and very impressive. I think VillaBlanca might actually be near the Los Angeles Cloud forest, so maybe that's what you're thinking of?
I would definitely stop off one night between driving from Nicoya to Arenal. We stayed at this inn in the central valley on both our trips and loved it:
http://www.cafetal.com/
Try and stay in the new building down by the pool. We stayed in the "bungalow" with our two kids and it was fantastic- huge king bed with two trundles, big bathroom, kitchenette, and private balcony. The owners are wonderful and it is on a coffee plantation- we even brought home coffee.
I have also heard great things about this place, which might be a better halfway point for you:
http://www.costaricafinca.com/index1.htm
Just keep in mind that distances are deceiving- we probably averaged speeds of 40-50KPH and that was on good roads. Once you get off the beaten path, you will probably be lucky to go 30mph.
Have a great trip- sounds fabulous! |
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