NeoPatrick

We're looking at a week for our anniversary in Cost Rica in February. Currently we're thinking three days at Tabacon at La Fortuna, then three nights at Andaz Papagayo Resort (where we have three nights free as a bonus). We haven't booked air yet, and are thinking of adding a 7th night, mainly because we can do non stops if we fly on Saturdays. Although we might want to fly into San Jose (non stop) but back from Liberia (one stop).
We're wondering if it is "worth it" to spend a night in San Jose or somewhere for a little more "culture/architecture/buzz" to contrast with the resorts? And if so, where should be stay? Alternatively, is there somewhere totally different that might be worth a single night?

Friends of ours have built and now run a day resort / adventure park called Cinco Ceibas in Heredia (?) which is NE of San Jose and East of La Fortuna. We're thinking of spending a night closer to there rather than the fairly long day trip from La Fortuna. Any thoughts on this?

volcanogirl

I think Xandari is worth spending a last night in. It's very close to San Jose, but is up in the hills and has beautiful views and really cool architecture - it was built by an architect and his wife who is an artist. They have hiking trails, a few small waterfalls, a spa, and a good open air restaurant. If you wanted a city hotel, Grano de Oro is a neat spot, built in an old mansion, and they have a fantastic restaurant on site.


Have you checked out Nayara or The Springs Resort and Spa in La Fortuna? To me, those are more romantic than Tabacon. Tabacon was crowded when we were there because all the tourists bus in to use their hot springs.

alkaro

I didn't like San Jose very much, not a lot to see...if you really want to go there you can have diner in the Grano de Oro /they have rooms too
The restaurant is excellent, the rooms are old-fashioned but it's a nice small hotel
this year we will go back to Costa Rica, some special places Oxygen Jungle villa hotel, Bosque del Cabo in Corcovado, Royal Corin in La Fortuna, a very good one is Casa Chameleon, nice villas in Malpais, and a very good one hotel with great food --) Tango Mar in Tambor, it's a Belgian owner, really nice...you can tell her my name vercammen sandra
a good restaurant in La Fortuna is Don Rufino.

NeoPatrick

Interesting comment about the day tourists at Tabacon, volcanogirl. I didn't think about that. The Nayara Springs is frightfully expensive for our dates. And the Nayara sounded pretty "meh" especially when it comes to food -- probably our #1 priority at a place we're staying. Although the comment about Don Rufino is interesting. I kind of had the idea that wherever we stay, we'd be pretty limited to dining right there.

Meanwhile it looks like we'll want to arrive at SJO where we can get a nonstop flight on Saturday only, but it will be much easier to return home from Liberia -- nearer the Papagayo Resort. So not sure about actually spending a night in Costa Rica. Maybe a single night somewhere between our two resorts? I'll check out Xandari, though.

About driving. I see people say "absolutely don't, it's horrible" and others who say "it's so easy". I'm already looking at costs of something like $500 just for transporting to and from the airports and between the two resorts. It seems having our own car (or jeep?) would be so much less limiting that worrying about shuttles and so forth. What do you think?

volcanogirl

I'm surprised that you thought Nayara sounded meh - it's a really nice hotel that gets great reviews. The food was very good when we were there. Did you read some bad reviews about the food? It's been a couple of years since we stayed there. Overall the food in C.R. is very basic, and we thought Nayara's was some of the best we've had - better and more creative than the casados and more basic foods you usually see. We've eaten at Don Rufino too and thought it was good as well.

The Springs Resort and Spa is the other one I mentioned - they have a Groupon now running for about half the normal price. It may not coincide with your dates there. We stayed there on a Groupon deal, and it was fantastic. Food was good; they have 5 restaurants on the property. You might love Tabacon; it's just that bus loads of people go there every day to use their springs - the springs themselves are fantastic but can get crowded. Their food gets pretty mixed reviews.

NeoPatrick

Duh, above I meant "not sure about spending a night in San Jose" not Costa Rica.

Meanwhile I'm thinking. Wouldn't most of our two days at Tabacon be spent out somewhere -- kayaking or exploring, so in the late afternoon when we return to the resort the crowds would be gone and we'd have the hot springs more to ourselves? Did you stay at Tabacon, or visit as "day trippers" yourselves?

volcanogirl

I think the driving depends on where you're going. Personally I would never drive between cities at night, and you can't leave anything in your car unattended since car break ins aren't uncommon. Some roads are in excellent shape and others are long, bumpy, and full of big potholes or gravel. Around Arenal the roads are in pretty good shape. Sometimes you can encounter heavy rain or fog, and things aren't always well marked, but a lot of people drive in that area without problems. You have to watch your speed, and I think a GPS comes in really handy.

volcanogirl

We went to the hot springs, but we went in the evening - that's when a lot of people like to go because it's nice to enjoy them when the temps cool off a little; to me it's a little hot during the day to use the springs. We arrived in a big bus along with two other big buses. At the time we went they offered a discounted rate for people to come in the evenings, but that may have changed. We've stayed at Nayara, The Lost Iguana, and the Springs Resort and Spa, have not stayed at Tabacon, just used their springs. I agree with the comment above about San Jose - a lot of the city isn't that attractive - bars on the windows, razor wire, fast food joints, etc. There are some museums that you can go to and the national theater.

chapla

Architecture/culture - sad to say but hard to find in San Jose!
The airport is really new/nice!

mlgb

I don't think it's worth a night just to see the center of San Jose. But you could stay in Alajuela (or Heredia) and drive up to see the crater of Poás Volcano (you need to get there REALLY early to have the best chance of avoiding cloud/fog), visit one of the coffee plantations nearby (Doka has a good tour).

Pura Vida has a good location for doing this day trip if you are looking for someplace not as costly as Xandarri. Be sure to book dinner there. It's like having a private chef.

http://www.puravidahotel.com/

http://www.puravidahotel.com/.

NeoPatrick

OK, I'm afraid we're becoming more and more lukewarm about Costa Rica. First is the issue of getting there. The 12 to 15 hours each way (from door to door) doesn't really appeal, and the references to the 3 hour drives (included in those times) to get to the resorts bothers us a bit too. We returned from Florida a few weeks ago discovering that Peter had severe reactions to either mosquitos or sand fleas or both -- still healing from allergic reactions including blistering welts which may leave permanent marks. References of "the bugs won't bother you if you wear socks, long sleeves, DEET, etc." are also a turn off, not to mention many references to "we found critters in our room (even in 5 star resorts. And to be honest we haven't found any places to stay that really WOW us. I think I'm pretty good at reading between the lines, but there are just so many reviews of mediocre food, service, and even facilities at every resort we try to research. They seem often to boil down to "that's the way it is in Costa Rica". Even friends who stayed at the Four Seasons (which is a little out of our class) said "don't expect to be like other Four Season resorts. And a little nature goes a long way with us, not repeated rainforest hikes and seeing countless monkeys and birds. I guess the whole thing is sounding like more of an adventure tour (as should be expected in Costa Rica, I think) than the relaxing and romantic anniversary trip we were thinking of.

So, don't laugh, but we're now back to looking at a complete change -- the new all inclusive Hyatt Zilara resort at Montego Bay Jamaica -- a simple less than 4 hour non stop from our house at a fraction of the price, and just lounging in a resort which is offering a half price grand opening schedule. Probably just go for 4 nights and only use 2 days of Peter's vacation!

volcanogirl

If you're not into nature, wildlife, hiking etc. then I think you're making a good choice to look somewhere else. You can get places with great service and no critters, but it will be pricey like Nayara and The Springs Resort and Spa.

NeoPatrick

Actually, vocanogirl, it was after going to the sites for those two places where I saw numerous references to the "critters", including a referece to "I guess you need to expect that in the rainforest". And even as good as those places "sound" overall, there were so many posts about dining there that made it sound pretty mundane -- especially numerous recent reviews that rave about the place but mention the "worst thing is the food" or "the thing that needs improvement most is the food".

mlgb

I think that sounds like a reasonable decision. Costa Rica is not a 'foodie' destination.

The attraction for me was also the wildlife, birding and of course monkeys.

I don't think it is a great value, if you are looking for the interchangeable beach resort vacation.

NeoPatrick

I think we're also looking for a change -- something different. We've done a lot of hiking, ziplining, wildlife hunts, etc. And I've stayed in rainforests before. Those things are all fine.

But we've never stayed in any all inclusive resort, in fact never stayed at any major beachfront resort.

At least for our second anniversary -- more of a quiet, relaxing getaway to somewhere warm from New Jersey in Febuary!

volcanogirl

We're foodie types, but definitely put that aside when we go to Costa Rica. If people weren't happy with the food at Nayara and The Springs, I'd hate to think what they would think of some of the other places. You might take a look at Belize. We loved Victoria House, and Ambergris has lots of fun restaurants to try.

chapla

Earthquake yesterday, west of San Jose, caused electricity to out and lots of shaking felt by all!
Bugs are ever present and after 2 weeks back in the States I was still recovering from mosquito bites.Even though my daughter has screens on windows /doors all sorts of bugs somehow get in.I taught my grandson to go around the house and stomp saying "Smash the bugs".
I absolutely agree about the food-mediocre is being kind!
Travel time by car takes twice/tree times as long because of the road conditions and it's all defensive driving.
Cost Rica is really for outdoor enthusiasts. Enough said.
Jamaica sounds wonderful-go for it!

suze

I think Jamaica sounds much more up your alley, NeoPatrick. Truly.

mlgb

Have you looked in to the beach situation at that Rose Hall hotel? (the old Ritz that has been sold and is being remodeled). I think it's not a very wide beach, especially in winter when the water is rougher. Perhaps telling that there are no photos of the beach on their website.

NeoPatrick

If I just wanted a wonderful wide white beach, I'd walk the 5 or so blocks from my Naples house. We're not much for lying on a beach anyway.
But yes, I had read that about the Ritz.