skateboardmom2

I've searched and read and searched and read but thought I'd get an updated vote on the subject. Our flight is at 9:30 am and sorry to say I am not an early riser (and will not be beating the crowds at the MV Cloud Forest Reserve).

So, aside from the $200/night Marriott, is there a clean, quiet hotel in the $100-$150 range within 5-10 mins of SJO? We have reservations at Bouganvillea, but I'm beginning to worry about the drive to the airport in rush hour traffic (I hate being stressed before a flight!).

Thanks in advance!

skateboardmom2

Sorry, I should have said our flight OUT of SJO (going back to the States) departs at 9:30 am. I presume that means we need to be at the airport by 7:30 AM or so?

gannetmusic

Hampton Inn is 5 minutes from SJO.

Cheers

Jerry

P.S. Relax -everything will work out fine!

shillmac

www.hotelvillabonita.com

Humberto and Carmen own a lovely little B&B just up the road (5 min) from the Hampton Inn. It, too, would be a good choice--for about $50. Humberto will make sure you have something tasty to eat even though you will have to leave before the breakfast cook arrives. I'd be at the airport by 7:00 latest.

Hampton Inn is a good choice as well. I just hate to go to CR and stay in US chains! But it is a logical choice, of course. Enjoy your trip!

By the way, there are a couple of nice souvenir shops near the Hampton Inn. The Green Turtle is one; another has the word Iguana in it--anyone remember it? It's up the road toward Heredia where the car rental agencies are located. Humberto sent us there and we had a great time looking and shopping.

Melissa5

We stayed at Hotel Villa Bonita in Alajuea upon arrival, and at Hotel Bougainvillea in Heredia before departing costa rica.

Hi, Shillmac! Shillmac helped us out a lot.

Hotel Villa Bonita is a clean, basic, budget place just a 5-minute taxi ride from the SJO airport. Humberto and Carmen are nice. I think if you are leaving extra early you can have coffee and toast. The regular breakfast is cooked but you won't be there for that, I dont think. They have a tiny indoor garden which I thought added a touch of costa Rica. This is NOT fancy, keep in mind, but we knew that and were happy at $47 a room for a double.

Hampton Inn would be still within your price change, I saw it from the outside, still close to airport, would be more like a hotel in the USA.

shillmac

Hi Melissa, how was the wedding/honeymoon?

Melissa5

Shillmac, my niece's wedding was the most beautiful wedding I have attended! Thanks for asking. Her honeymoon in Costa Rica was a combination of awesome memories and those "Why did I get myself into this?" moments, I would say! I hope she posts a trip report, but a short time after returning home from her honeymoon she and new hubby moved out of state to new house, a very busy time for her. She is also job-hunting.

As she told the story to me, her honeymoon highlights were Arenal (they loved the Lost Iguana and saw lava flow too) and having their own private beach at...wait...Sugar Beach hotel? does that sound right? (I didn't help her with that part, have never been there.)

Their low moments were getting totally lost in their rental car! It took them 2 hours to find their way from the car rental place to the Hotel bougainvillea in Heredia, which isn't easy to find on your own, even though it's only 20 minutes from the airport if you know where to go! (We stayed there on our trip but we got a free ride from the car rental shuttle!) Also when they first arrived at their Sugar beach hotel, they were at first given a not so nice room, and my niece was disappointed...it wasn't too nice and not so clean. But she noticed there was a much nicer section of newer rooms, and when she asked for one of these they said yes, and she was happy with the new room and the rest of the stay.

They enjoyed the Villas Nicholas next to Si Como No in Manuel Antonio, but they didn't realize it doesn't have a TV, and this bothered her! I thought it was funny though, you aren't supposed to have a TV on your honeymoon, are you? Isn't that a rule?

It is difficult to help someone else plan a trip. Plus my niece was planning her wedding, working full-time, and trying to plan a honeymoon with the help of different people, none of whom knew what the other folks were doing! (Another relative rented the car for example.) I think all things considered it turned out to be a happy honeymoon. It was her first time in Latin America.

Thanks to everyone who helped my niece with advice on fodors! and a special thank-you to you, Shillmac.

shillmac

Wonderful! I'm glad to hear it all went so well; heck, even getting lost was probably fun. No one can drive in Costa Rica for the first time without getting lost--that's a requirement!

Ah, Hotel Sugar Beach. . . .we didn't stay there, but certainly hope to one day. We enjoyed their grounds and beach one afternoon last year--thought it looked like a great place, although somewhat isolated. Perfect for a honeymoon!

I'm sure they will be very happy! You mean SEVERAL people put the honeymoon together? Wow! Feliz Navidad, Melissa. Hope you are enjoying your nice balmy S.D. weather!