SassyPatty

Hi there!

We're making our 2nd trip to Costa Rica (yay), and one of our stops will be Samara, right around the middle of January.

We have found the perfect hotel for us but the room we've chosen doesn't have air conditioning. We have access to a room that does, and I simply cannot decide if we should go for the room with the better view but no air, or the room without such a great view with air.

Also, please tell me how important it is to have screens on the windows? With a non-aircon room, and the windows open wide to catch the nighttime breezes, would mosquitos and other bugs be a huge problem in Samara?

THANKS SOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!

raspas

All of Guancaste has bugs. Big bugs, little bugs, with no screen on the windows I would think you will be cuddling up with more than a few at night. Insect nets help, bug spray helps. It's funny I had myself so freaked out about the bugs my first trip I cancelled one hotel stay because of bad bug reviews and paid more to stay in albeit a nicer place but guess what they still had bugs. We really didn't have too much problems with mosquitos but the fire ants those little suckers bite hard. Always have bug spray with you especially at beach establishments. You kind of get used to them - part of the experience!! I'd go for no a/c every place we stayed that had a/c the units hummed so loudly we didn't get any rest until we turned it off.

shillmac

I'm just curious! We've spent a LOT of time (amounting to months) in Guanacaste particularly. There are bugs, sure, I'd expect there to be--we have them in Oklahoma, too! But I've just never stayed anyplace (budget, moderate, or luxe) where I thought, "Gee there are a lot of bugs!" Just haven't noticed all that many. Even though, sure, it's the tropics and that certainly calls for bugs and other creatures. A few ants (never been bitten) here and there, a beetle or two, a spider occasionally, but GENERALLY nada.

AC in January--think you'll be more comfortable with it.

SassyPatty

Hmmmm....

Bugs. No Bugs. Air. No Air.

I'm just as confused as I was before. haha ;o)

Here's where we're staying:

http://samarabeach.com/samaratreehouseinn/index.html

It's gotten some rave reviews, and they couldn't be more friendly:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...uanacaste.html

As you can see, it would be so much fun to be up in the treehouse. But no air. However, they told us the breeze is nice and cool and fresh and you only need the overhead fans.

The air con would be in one of the two rooms that are NOT in the treetops, but are around the pool. From what I understand, there's still a view of the ocean.

Hubby prefers no air. I prefer air ONLY if it's going to be super hot and humid.

Has anyone been to Samara mid-January? Just how hot and humid and unbearable is it?

Thanks so much for hanging in there with me while I figure this out.

SassyPatty

By the way, I've been to Costa Rica. I understand there are bugs. What I'm wondering is if you're in an area like Samara in mid-January, and staying in a place with huge windows that open up so wide that it feels like you're outside, can we expect a ton of bugs? The hotel has offered to put up screens for me (I know, I know, I'm high maintenance) but I would prefer to have NO SCREENS if the bugs aren't too bad in that area.

Whew! Thanks...

shillmac

LOL! I can understand your confusion! All I have to add is just more personal experience. With us, it is the opposite. I can do without the AC unless it is just TOO hot, but my husband can't tolerate hot temps/no AC. He has made me promise never again to book a beach location without AC. Very seldom have the fans done the trick. In other parts of the country, not so much of a problem. But the beaches during the dry season. . .hot, hot, hot! Personally, I wouldn't count on the breeze keeping me cool enough to rest well. Haven't been to that area in January--but the end of December.

As for sleeping someplace wide open, I'd say bugs would be the least of your worries.

shillmac

Oh my, did that last remark sound a little "caustic"? I didn't mean for it too! And you'll be up in a treehouse? Sounds wonderful! I was thinking of intruders of the human variety (not unheard of), but the height should discourage that. There just aren't too many places where I would feel comfortable totally open at night.

But my guess is that the treehouse will be lots of fun. And there probably will be breezes, and I wouldn't worry about the bugs. Just go and enjoy yourselves!

SassyPatty

Thanks so very much for your responses, Shillmac.

guanacaste

you should be ok in samara in january, pretty dry so no 'horrible' dengue carrying bugs.
buy some citronella and use instead of scent.
citronella screws up mosquitros sense of smell, scent- dior, ck1 etc- attracts them, don't worry though it's no big deal, no malaria or anything to worry about in samara.

http://costa-rica.typepad.com/playa_...ome/index.html