melissaperry2

Hello! My boyfriend and I are planning an 8-night trip to Costa Rica and will be spending 3 nights in Manuel Antonio. Villa Nicolas and Costa Verde are both in our price range and appear to offer what we would like in a hotel (e.g. ocean view, balcony, convienent location). Which would your suggest?

Thanks so much!

Latitude9Lisa

Both are great places! However, one of your deciding factors might be air conditioning. Not all units at Villa Nicolas have A/C, some have a better ocean view, and some jungle view only. The larger units all have a small kitchenette and all have a fabulous covered porch, excellent for that sunset cocktail. I believe Costa Verde has an on-site restaurant, VNicholas does not. It really is a toss-up between the two hotels. The A/C factor might make a decision for you if the VNicholas unit does not, and the Costa Verde does. You might want to "dig a little deeper" into the actually amenities at each hotel's unit ... ie: FULL ocean view or partially obstructed, private balcony or shared? Feel free to reply on this board if you have further questions.

Lisa in Manuel Antonio

glover

Hmmm. . . now you've got me curious - we've reserved a Type 2 room with ocean view at Villas Nicolas for late May -- are some of their ocean views partially obstructed and/or shared? Didn't think to ask them the question.

soniela

We stayed at Costa Verde for 3 nights (April 3-6). It was VERY VERY hot when we were there, and the air conditioning barely helped! Don't get me wrong...I LOVED the hotel! ...but the air conditioning was so weak that you didn't start to feel any cooling off until you had it on for 2 hours or more (it never got cold...just "less hot.&quot

I really liked the hotel though. We had a standard room, but we lucked out and our room still had a partial ocean view. The porch was GREAT! We sat in the rocking chairs in the late evening just listening to the sounds of nature.

The trails were very neat...we stayed on the trail for over an hour watching tons of white-faced capuchins play throughout the trees and sloths sleeping in the trees.

The Anaconda Restaurant (the on-site restaurant) is the ONLY restaurant we DIDN'T like in all of Manuel Antonio. We only ate there once...when we arrived at 7pm after a long day of flying to CR and driving to MA. We were starving, and the portions were TINY and extremly overpriced. But that wasn't a big deal...there are so many restaurants in the near vicinity to choose from. We had a great time walking to a different restaurant for lunch and dinner every day.

The staff is very friendly. They helped us set up great tours.

Yes, there are some things that we didn't like at Costa Verde, but overall we both really enjoyed the hotel. The things that we didn't like (weak air-conditioning and bad hotel restaurant) are not important to us when vacationing.

The cabin-like rooms were neat because 2 of the walls were all glass, so you had a beautiful view of the scenery around you.

melissaperry2

Thanks so much for the information! It is good to know that it is essentially a toss up between the two hotels. I had read that Villa Nicolas is a good value, so I looked booking with that hotel.

I confirmed with Villa Nicolas and the room we had been discussing is a room with air conditioning, a private balcony and it is above the tree line--the highest level on the property. I think we will go with them! Thanks again!

Latitude9Lisa

I'm sure you'll be happy with your accommodtions at Villas Nicolas. I was going to recommend you contact them directly and find out EXACTLY the amenities of your unit and it sounds like you're booked into one of favorites! Enjoy your trip! If you need further info re: fishing, restaurants, pls. reply.

Lisa in Manuel Antonio

LA_FadeAway

MelissaPerry2,
Do you know what room number they booked you in? I'm reserved there in July in a type II, but they have not assigned us a unit number yet. Maybe I can ask for the same one you're booke in!

LA_FadeAway

ttt

koa

I am booked at costa verde in early august in an efficiency room.(Didnt want to spend a lot on rooms)Anybody out there familiar with this type of room. Any good or bad comments would be appreciated.

CarolM

although the original poster has already made her decision, i just thought I'd weigh in on Costa Verde... the poster who had trouble with the A/C must have had a room whose unit needed freon... our A/C was fine. And we actually enjoyed the hotel's restaurant, Anaconda.

Sorry koa, we did not have an efficiency room, so I can't report on that.