fright_attenadant

Hi Fodorites,
I've been lurking on the CR pages and have gotten some great ideas so far, but would love a bit more advice. We're 2 married couples (early 30's) flying into San Jose,CR Jan. 5 (arr @14:30) -15 (lv @ 0730) on a LOW budget. We plan on using buses, taxis and ferrys to get around. I'd like to see Monteverde, Arenal, and Montezuma. I know our friends have a couple places they're interested in too. Any advice/suggestions? Is it worth the $$$ to go to the hot springs @ Tabacon, or is there a comprable, less expensive place. Where the best place to view the lava flow at night? Has anyone done a night-time rainforest tour? Any guide suggestions? What should we not waste our time on? I feel like 10 days is too short for all we want to do. Our main goals - see volcanic areas, check out a cloud/rain forest, decompress on a lovely beach, eat at sodas, stay at inexpensive locations. We don't mind sharing rooms, are there extra charges for extra people? Anyway to get around the extra fees? Is the ISE student card accepted in a lot of places. Thanks for your help, I look forward to hearing from all of you!

volcanogirl

I would go to Eco Termales for hot springs; they serve a very nice chicken dinner too. They limit entry to 100 people so it's quieter than Tabacon. I think the best place to view the lava is from the Arenal Observatory Lodge, or you can do a night time volcano hike with a group like Desafio or Sunset Tours. Soda La Parada is a good cheap place to eat.

We did a great night hike at Hidden Valley in Monteverde. We saw some great animals - sloth, tarantula, agouti, coati, porcupine, raccoon, fox, and some cool birds.

fright_attenadant

Hi volcanogirl, I've been reading your trip reports, sounds like you've had some amazing stays (minus airport snafus). We'll definitely be visiting Eco Termales, thanks for the recommendation. I'm really interested in the night Monteverde hike. Right now we're thinking 3 nights in La Fotuna/Arenal, two nights in Monteverde, then 5 nights in waaayy southern Nicoya, Montezuma/Cabuya.
Did you find your driver (from SJO to Arenal) online? Searching I've been seeing rates of about $140 for 4 people. Just wondering if that's reasonable or if it's possible to get it cheaper.
Just a note, we are not normally this frugal, but right now I'm the only one working in our home while we both go to school. We couldn't pass up this trip, airfare was $609 rt for the both of us!

hipvirgochick

Nothing wrong with being frugal! There are plenty of great options out there both accommodations and eats. The more difficult part is tours, which don't tend to vary that much in cost from one provider to the other. In order to help you more though, what is frugal to you? Because this differs depending on who's talking. Like, what is your budget per day? A good place to start searching average hotel rates is on Trip Advisor. If those are too high forums like Thorntree are often helpful.

There are some driver rec's on this forum and your hotel can set you up, but if you're trying to save $ I'd go with Interbus. I've taken them many times, always without a hitch and they offer door to door service for around $35/pp depending on what areas you're traveling between.

volcanogirl

fright, I agree with everything hip says. Usually a private driver just charges a flat rate, so it's $140 if you have 1 person or 4. Interbus charges a per person rate, but it's cheaper and still reliable, kind of more like a shuttle service. Only difference is a private driver will stop at your whim, and with Interbus you go by their schedule and share the ride with other passengers. It's a great affordable option. Silencio del Campo is a nice place in La Fortuna/Arenal. We liked Fonda Vela in Monteverde. Not sure if those are in your price range or not.

hipvirgochick

Oops! I just see that you are 4 people, so once you add that cost up then a private driver is not so bad. There are usually just 2 of us.

volcanogirl

We usually book our drivers through our hotels when we book them. Here's info. on a good driver if you need one:

Carlos Bogarin
[email protected]
www.destinos-encantados.com

fright_attenadant

Right now we're looking at Erupciones Inn B&B, they have a get three nights for the price of two deal. In Monteverde looking at Sleepers Sleep Cheap Hostel. We'd like to keep rooms lower than $50 a couple a day so that we can do more tours. I figure we'll eat at sodas and cook for ourselves when possible. I'm leaning toward hiring a driver for the first leg, just to be able to get to Arenal area and do a touch of sight seeing on the way. Plan on the jeep-ferry-jeep to get to MV, then a bus to the ferry to the Montezuma area. We don't mind a little splurging here and there, it's just going to be a rustic style trip, which I think will be tons of fun!

volcanogirl

I know - the cost of the tours really adds up. We were talking to one guide, and he told us he makes $10 per day, and I was thinking that seemed very unfair based on what most tourists pay to do the tours. Sounds like you have a good handle on a fun, affordable trip. Desafio is a good group for Jeep Boat Jeep if you don't have one yet.

RAC

We did Arenal, Monteverde, and Montezuma in a trip in 2008. Since I'm feeling lazy, here's the links to the trip report:

pt1

http://www.fodors.com/community/mexi...-2008-pt-1.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/mexi...eport-pt-2.cfm

I'd recommend renting a car while in Arenal--you don't need one in the other two locations.