We've been to Eco Termales and Tabacon. I thought Tabacon was really beautiful, but overpriced, and it was crowded when we were there. Eco Termales is smaller and locally owned, and we loved having their chicken dinner. It's a nice setting, a little quieter than Tabacon, but also smaller. Tabacon is more elaborate with big waterfall, water slide, etc. Either one is great, just depending on what you're looking for. We've met people who have gone to Baldi, and they didn't like it, but can't speak from personal experience.

I was at Baldi as suggested by my guide in Manuel Antonio, he described it as being for everyone..families, couples, friends, etc. He felt the other resorts are for couples or families. It's a series of pools of different temps and types that you walk between, fairly nicely landscaped although some of the pathways toward the back are those concrete grid pavers which can be uncomfortable in bare feet. There is one waterslide with two chutes (both pretty fast, one is open and one closed). Several swim up bars, some pools are more private, others are more like a public pool with lounge chairs. Quite a few waterfalls. I didn't find it tacky except perhaps for the big tower at the back that people walk to see. There is no time limit on your ticket and the price was quite reasonable especially if you buy it in town at a discount (they had some good deals at La Fortuna). Although the buffet is only a small added charge, I didn't like it..cafeteria food!

PS I didn't stay at the Baldi hotel, rather at the mid-range La Pradera which is nearly across the street. The food is supposed to be good there..I enjoyed the breakfast and wish I had done my dinner there instead of Baldi.

I didn't go to any of the hot springs in Arenal because we didn't really have time with the other activities we had planned.

However, I did research them prior to our trip, just in case, and I decided that Eco Thermales would be the one I would choose. Tabacon was way to expensive and I also heard could be very crowded. We went to the gift shop at Baldi (DH forgot his bathing suit of all things!) and they had music blaring which is not my idea of relaxation. Eco Thermales limits the number of people, although I believe you have a set time limit to stay.

We stayed at Hotel Silencio del Campo and loved it. Great service, very comfortable accommodations and good food at a reasonable price. Plus they have their own hot springs on the property, just one pool (free is good), and it's an easy walk to both Baldi and Eco Thermales.

Loved EcoTermales and loved the Costa Rican Chicken dinner! Yummy! The grounds are lovely, uncrowded and the price is reasonable.

Probably, Eco-Thermales if you want the most natural setting in a low key environment. Baldi doesn't appeal to me at all and I haven't made it to Tabacon.

Deb's right - they limit the number of people who can enter Eco-Termales, so book ahead if you decide that's where you want to go. They do their drinks on the honor system which I really liked - has a nice feeling to it.

We had a funny experience at Tabacon. We heard they give a discounted rate if you go late in the evening. We thought the man at the entry gate said "seventeen" dollars to enter, so my husband pulls out 17 dollars, and the man started laughing at us and saying 70, 70!! The prices hadn't been that high when I was researching it, so it surprised us. We kind of had sticker shock!

We went to Baldi this past Aug but it was around 7pm at night after we hiked Areal during the day. So, you can imagine how much we enjoyed Baldi...it was quite nice and very relaxing.

We had 8 members for hiking tour, 4 (honey-mooners) got off at Tabacon and rest of us went to Baldi. Our experience at Baldi was pretty nice but if this is the main event for your friend, perhaps Tabacon or Eco-Termales, they looks more upscale and/or private.

Another option I don't see mentioned is The Springs Resort:
http://springscostarica.com/
I went for the afternoon and had a delicious lunch along with an amazing massage. I haven't been to Tabacon in a few years but I preferred The Springs. As mentioned above, the food at Tabacon was horrible, overpriced & the hot springs were very crowded. Besides the hot springs at The Springs Resort, they also have a wildlife preserve on site which was neat. They were running a 2010 special of $40pp for a 2 day pass--not sure about the rates for 2011 but might be worth checking into. (the rooms there are beautiful too)

I've also stayed at Arenal Kioro & Arenal Paraiso, both have their own hot springs. For someone only staying 1 night it might be better to choose a property that has hot springs on site.

Baldi is cheap but dodgy not my fav ok though

Tabacon is most beautifully landscaped my fav

lava view but expensive have stayed there through

the discounters for $149/nt like sidestep bookit.

EcoTermales smaller 4 pools but great food no lava view

www.thespringscostarica.com Los Perdidos is pretty nice

www.arenal.net has pictures on all of these

For me Tabacon the night admission or a stay

if I could get a deal.

Happy Hunting,

Good point, petite; all the reviews I've ever read of The Springs are great. It's still on our to-do list. Did you feel like it had a Costa Rican feel to it?

We greatly preferred Eco Termales for a relaxing experience with great mood and atmosphere. Plus, the food was the best we've had in the Arenal area.

ALL .... great feedback. Appreciate everyone's commentary, and will relay info onward.

And my interest is piqued about The Springs Resort.
Anybody else who wants to weigh in on this topic, feel free to do so. Thanks,

My Manuel Antonio guide mentioned EcoTermales as best for couples.

I guess it depends on any given day, but when we were at ET there was a variety of people from groups of friends, to families to couples...not a whole lot of kids but a few.

I didn't mean to say that EcoTermales was only for couples. (I don't think that I did say that) but rather it is most recommended for the couples that want a quieter more private experience (since they have a limit on the number of people). I'm not sure if it is as much "fun" as the others for kids, ie I don't thinkt hey have much in the way of slides, waterfalls, etc.

Baldi didn't seem dodgy to me, maybe they have upgraded it since qwo went, or maybe it was because I went in November. There is music playing as I recall it is loudest near the front, and I don't remember anything about noise as I got toward the back. The pools were attractive and clean and there was lots of tropical landscaping. It isn't a bad value as far as I was concerned, I was able to find some pools toward the back where I was the only person. I liked that there wasn't a need for a reservation nor a time limit. I've seen plenty of dodgier and tackier hot springs in my travels.

For anyone who has been to the Springs, is the innertube part of the hot springs open? That part wasn't yet open the last time we visited, but they said it would be opening. I know it's probably not all that Costa Rican, but I thought it sounded fun.

petite43,

You mentioned Arenal Kioro & Arenal Paraiso, which both have their own hot springs? How do those springs compare to Eco-Thermales (which is seeming to get alot of thumbs up!).

Silencio del Campo is really wonderful too, not just for its hot springs, but for the wonderful owners, accommodations and beautiful grounds.

JBX: Sorry, but I've never been to Eco-Thermales so I can't offer an opinion on that one.

volcanogirl: I was at The Springs last May & the one waterslide they have was open. It's not very long but you do go fast...we had fun with it. The lunch we had was a typical costa rican meal & I would say they've managed to combine a Costa Rican feeling along with a Disneylike setting. I mean that in a positive way. Having the animal preserve right there makes it a good choice for those not looking to venture out to far to find wildlife. I'm usually happier at places like BDC but since our son's girlfriend (who has no interest in meeting any critters) is coming on our next trip, we're going to stay at The Springs. May can't get here soon enough!

Thanks, p, I hope you guys have a great time.

Again, thanks ALL for your input.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (for anybody else, I keep monitoring this thread, so add'l comments are welcome) ~ ~ ~ ~

JBX, has your friend returned? Which hot spring did he decide upon?

Deciding between the hot springs, has anyone been to titoku?

JBX - we stayed at Arenal Paraiso and they have a series of small thermal pools, maybe 7 or 8 of them, some of which fit 4-6 people max. We had already booked Eco-Termales, loved it, so we never used the ones at the hotel.

We stayed at Tabacon a number of years ago and paid extra for a room with a view of Arenal so we could watch it at night fom the terrace of the room.