For example, I've read that in Tabacon, I should ask for a room in the main building...

I'm staying at the following hotels:

Peace Lodge - standard
Arenal Paraiso - Superior
Lost Iguana (or Tabacon) -Standard
Arco Iris
Mango Moon - Queen with Hammock
and Orquideas or Vista Del Valle

Any opinions would be great.

I'm very exited. Can't wait to go (but it is still 6 months

At Peace Lodge, the deluxe rooms are really something spectacular. Those are the ones with the garden bathrooms. It's worth the splurge if you can swing it.

Sandy

oh my, my husband is going to kill me. Garden bathroom....I guess it is more an issue of "justifying" it more than "swinging" it. We can get a perfectly good room at Poas Volcano Lodge for only $100

btw, does anyone know which rooms are in the newer part of Lost Iguana? I'm trying to avoid the older, moldier rooms.

gailching

I did not see what the LI standard rooms were like, but if you could swing it, I would suggest the deluxe if you choose to stay at LI. The ground floor units have the outside showers.

If you are planning to visit the hot springs, you might want to consider staying there because the use of the hot springs is included in your room price, and they just raised their prices. I couldn't tell you anything about their rooms though.

One other thing about Tabacon...they are currently adding more rooms and one of our guides told us that they plan on turning it into private springs for only those people who are staying there. Evidently, there have been complaints from those that stay there about the large crowds, etc.

From what I could tell, the construction was not that far along so I don't know when or if the private springs will occur...only can pass along what I was told.

At Vista del Valle, Mona Lisa or Ilan Ilan. But any of the rooms are nice.

At the Orquideas, I've stayed in the superior rooms in the complex a little ways up the hill and also in the main building Garden rooms. To be honest, I liked the Garden room a little better. The furnishings had a little more character and it was nice to have the Marilyn Monroe bar mere footsteps away . Didn't have a problem with noise.