murphybrown

Greetings,

My husband and I and two kids, (13 year old daughter, 8 year old son) are planning a trip to Costa Rica in April. I have been debating the option of using a tour company for ease. (Austin Lehman or Thomspon family adventures). I am hesitant to do so, however, because our 8 year old has difficulty eating many foods as a result of an esophageal birth defect. Since meals are provided on most tours, I'm nervous about my inability to prepare things in case he is unable to swallow their selections. On most vacations we tend to select villas with kitchenettes and then do our own thing. I am having a hard time finding such lodging in Costa Rica and am unsure of planning this journey on our own.

Does anyone know of a family-friendly resort with kitchenettes that might also be helpful to first time travelers to Costa Rica?

Thanks so much!

BAJJ

I understand why you're nervous! What part of Costa Rica do you want to visit?

Kinkazote

There are lots of rental houses and resort/hotel complexes with kitchens. Look for instance at Costa Verde in Manuel Antonio. Rooms, houses, villas. Use VRBO.com to find house/villa/casa rentals, many with private pools. If you choose a tour company, ask them about accommodating your child. Most hotel kitchens ought to be able to oblige. We have done a guided/hosted tour, and it is my opinion that children might not be as open to the regimentation as adults. (I am mostly child, and I had some problems.)

volcanogirl

Check Tulemar Bungalows and Buena Vista Villas in Manuel Antonio.

mlgb

No reason to use a package tour. You can book your own villa and then separately book day tours.

Villasnicolas.com well located lodging in MA with kithens.

murphybrown

Thank you all for the great suggestions to research. I will certainly check them out. We had planned to stick to mostly the well-known destinations of Arenal and MA and perhaps the Los Angeles Cloud Forest. Since we are turtle lovers, I am tempted to try to get to Tortugueuro as well, but, I've read that April is not the time to see them.

volcanogirl

Yes, I think you'd have better luck seeing turtles Julyish through October.

BAJJ

In MA, you might also want to check out La Posada Jungle bungalows. We are going there in June and the reviews here and on tripadvisor are very good. They have two units that come with kitchens I believe, and the price is very reasonable -- although you don't get that amazing ocean view. But I would check availability because it books up.

TiltedFlipCurves

You could widen your options and provide backstop capability, whether for this trip or future ones, by purchasing a backpackers' set of cookware and an alcohol stove (Trangia Westwind is the name brand, or you can actually make them pretty easily from soda cans, instructions googleable). Each is appx. $20. Alc stoves are by far the best solution for off-grid or motel-room cooking after flying to a destination, because the fuel is so widely available (in CR, purchase high-concentration rubbing alcohol (etilico) in a pharmacy, or waste very-high-proof rotgut liquor), unlike propane/butane canister stoves and the like, and you don't wind up with fuel-tainted parts that aren't allowed on airplanes. Get that cheap equipment and you can cook or reheat food for your son and family anywhere.

murphybrown

Wow, Thanks all for the help. All of the suggestions look wonderful. In particular, I am looking seriously at the Buena Vista Villas for they seem to have the meal prep options we desire while still being in a resort setting where we can get help for tours etc... We only speak a tiny bit of Spanish, yet, plan to try to learn more before we go. Still, we are wary of trying to venture out with little ability to communicate.

Hearty thanks also to the member who suggested the travel cookware. Great idea that I hadn't thought of.

volcanogirl

You won't have any problems in Manuel Antonio; it's pretty Americanized there. I think we had more American restaurant and hotel owners there than Costa Ricans. Lot of baseball caps and greetings of "Hey guys" vs. hola or anything Spanish. Very easy to get around, things are close together, and most people will be fluent in English, although I think they appreciate it if you throw in the little Spanish you know.