Staying at Vista del Valle Plantation Inn with kids for 1 night?

Vista del Valle is a beautiful development, in a beautiful setting. I don't know how much there is to do for the little ones. It is a little isolated. I have always looked at it as a honeymoon kind of place.

It is in a kind of unusual location. Not close enough to the airport to be convenient, but the short drive makes it too close for a first day drive. By this, I mean that once you rent a car you are probably not ready to stop for the night after an hour's drive.

Are you renting a car to go to Arenal, or being transferred? If you are renting a car, then you could save a day's rental by staying closer to the airport and having a car delivered the next morning.

A good option is the Orquideas Inn. This is only ten minutes from the airport. They have a pool, and some paths through the garden. They have a good restaurant, and the included breakfast is second to none. Orquideas is about sixty bucks cheaper than the other hotel, and you will save a day of car rental.

But what really works for your situation is that they are close to Zoo Avenue. It is only a couple of miles from the hotel, and a cheap cab ride. This is a wildlife rescue and a zoo. They are rehabbing and reintroducing animals to the wild. Those that can't be reintroduced are cared for and on exhibit, or used as teaching animals. The last I checked, Zoo Ave was about $15.00 per person.

A more expensive option from Orquideas would be to take the afternoon, and drive up to La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Beautiful setting, and a lot to do for everyone in the family. Of course, their are several big waterfalls, but there is an orchid garden, hummingbird garden, butterfly farm, trout pond, serpantarium, (reptile zoo), etc.

But you will need a car, or pay for a van and driver. You will also have admissions to the park ($35.00 for adults, $20 for kids).

Hope this helps! Let me know if I can offer any more advice.

Warm Regards,
Pat Hewitt
Travel Professional

We stayed there. I really didn't like our room that much, but the grounds were beautiful, lots of lush landscaping and a nice pool that we had all to ourselves, also a good restaurant on site. Our room was dark and seemed a little dirty - very little lighting, and the bathroom had those yellow bug lights, the walls were painted with dark faux stones, had dark green bedspread, dark green toilet, dark green sink - just all around too dark for me. The pics on the website showed kind of bright illuminated rooms, and they just weren't like that. We also had huge spiders in our room, which I guess you can expect in CR, but we haven't seen them anywhere else, and they were as big as my hand. It didn't seem that well constructed. Our room didn't have any window coverings, and when I was walking along outside, I saw my husband sitting on the toilet which made me a little paranoid - lol. I just thought what if a maid or maintenance person was strolling by? The food at the restaurant was very good, but they only had one choice for the evening. They said, "We're serving shrimp" and luckily we like shrimp. They also had great drinks and bread that tasted homemade. Just wish we had stayed in a different room as I think they vary. Like I said, the grounds were really beautiful, and there's a big waterfall on site if you want to hike to it. It was really slick when we were there, so eventually we gave up but I've heard it's nice if you stick it out. I think if we had paid less, I would have been okay with it, but it seemed overpriced for the room that we got. I did like the location. Just didn't seem romantic without window coverings, etc. If your not looking for that, then you might like it.

Pat's idea to visit the waterfall gardens is a good one. Your kids would love it if you have the time to do it and can arrange transportation.

Hotel is nice sort of remote xandari.com better for me

with kids better vibe more to do.

waterfallgardens.com alos nice a bit too Disneyesque

for my taste but kids love it.

Orquideas pool rooms are nice but street rooms are mouldy

and noisy friendly folks nice breakfast not great location

I have actually left and stayed elsewhere due to shabby rooms

and mould there in the past.

landsinlove.com very nice on the way to Arenal.

cadabellarita.com Steve and Rita excellent BB

thealtahotel.com mybeaconescazu.com 2 nice hotels

with city acess for tours etc if you want to have

a look there before heading up to Arenal.

Happy Hunting,

casabellarita.com sorry for typo

they do free pickups very nice folks.

We've stayed at Xandari that gwo mentioned, and we loved it. Beautiful property with great grounds and views and a good restaurant. I think it's pricier than what you want to spend though.

Thanks everyone I think we are going to look into staying at the Orquideas Inn, and request the Geodome room. I appreciate all the help from everyone!

Xandari is beautiful, but I wouldn't pick it for a place with kids. Hey Volcano Girl, we stayed in the Mona Lisa several times, and those big boulders on the walls are real, not painted. But the toilet is green!

Orquideas is pretty popular and its famous Marilyn Monroe bar - hope you guys have fun.

Shooie, to me it looked like they had tried to enhance the rocks with dark paint. Sounds like you guys liked it there, so maybe the OP would too. It's the only place we ever stayed where my husband asked me not to book again. It just didn't click with us, and we felt like it was overpriced. Loved the grounds though.

No, those rocks are real. And it's changed some since you've been there. The rooms are a little more worn, but the restaurant is really enhanced, with a really extensive menu and everything is made from scratch. A lot of expats go there for the food. We have a place near there, so we eat there a lot.

Yep, the food was good. Glad to know they've expanded their selections.

VG, do you have another trip to Costa Rica planned yet?