Our family of 5 is considering staying at BDC next March. I'm comparing the cost of the Casa Blanca house with the cost of a deluxe cabina and the house seems cheaper. House = 350 nt + food pkg for 3 adults daily (60 x 3) = 180 and 2 kids daily (50 x 2 ) = 100. So 350 + 180 + 100 = 630 daily. Deluxe cabina = (165 x 3) = 495 plus two kids (80 x 2 ) = 160. So 495 + 160 = 655 daily. House ($630 daily including food pkg) vs. Cabina (655 daily).

Am I missing something? Why would the cabina cost more than the house?
Not that I wouldn't prefer the space for the house, but I'd love to think I could pay even less and be in a cabina.

Last, anyone know if it's possible to purchase a "dinner only" meal pkg and what it costs?

Thanks so much!

luvtrvling, you should write BdC with your questions. You can certainly purchase a dinner only and that would be a good option, but then you'd miss the tuna fish sandwiches--and they're famous!

Seriously, the food is very good, all meals. I think many people who stay at Casa Blanca do so as a way to save a few bucks when they have families. Many fend for themselves at mealtime, which makes it a pretty reasonable deal for a family of 5.

If you throw in the complete food package, you might as well be staying in one of the cabinas, which offers the advantage of being very close to the rest of the property and you don't have to walk about 10-15 minutes in the dark to get to your lodging!

That $655 daily for the cabina would put you in 2 of them, right? Because you can't sleep 5 people in one, and there wouldn't be any advantage to it anyway with the prices being per person per day.

There isn't much difference, so you just need to weigh your druthers. . would 2 cabinas work better for you than one house? Would you rather have the togetherness of the casa? It has a BIG verandah and a lovely view. Of course, the cabinas all offer nice views as well. More importantly, how are you with the walk to and from the casa to the restaurant/bar/swimming pool/reception desk?

If you are wanting to save $$, have you considered the standard cabinas? You could sleep 5 people in two of those as well, each has a double bed. How old are the kids?

Just some things for you to think about. . .others may have more solid advice to offer.

Shillmac,
I will write BDC. I'm assuming (stupid, I know) that 5 of us could stay in one cabina. I read about families who had a cabina with a loft with two extra beds. It's my husband and me and our 3 kids, who will be 12, 10 and 7 at the time of the trip. I was pricing the oldest as an adult since she'll be 12. I guess I was thinking the 3 kids could squish in a loft and the two of us could be downstairs. I'd definitely prefer to not cook and eat their food and visit with other travelers, but I'm just trying to save money. Over $600 per night seems so insane, but from what I've read it's a once in a lifetime experience that you can't put a price on. Guess I should just try to email them. Thanks so much for your quick response!

Your exactly right--it IS a once in a lifetime experience and you can't put a price on it. And that, of course, hinges on whether or not your kids love the outdoors and nature, which I'm assuming you all do! I read 3 adults and 2 kids in your original post, so was thinking there would be an adult (like a Grandmother) to stay with the 2 kids in the other cabina.

As for 5 in one cabina, I'm trying to think if the loft has 2 beds. Certainly it would work for you if it does. Others will know more about that. I've looked at all the lofts, but can't remember more than one bed.

I do think you guys would enjoy Casa Blanca, though. We met a family from Santa Fe there a few years ago and they were having a blast at Casa Blanca. I think they were only doing the dinner plan.

Whatever you decide, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Getting together with the other guests in the evenings is a big part of the fun of Bosque del Cabo.

Forgot to finish my thought on the 3 adults, 2 kids wording. I guess, then, that kids 12 and up have to pay as an adult? I'd check and see if they'd make an exception for a family of 5! It never hurts to ask; I've been pleasantly surprised here and there in CR more than once!

Shillmac,
Thanks for your help. I will contact BDC and see what they can do for us price wise as a family of 5. Since you seem extremely knowledgeable about Bosque, would you know about any of the other lodging options in Osa? I'm pretty definite on Bosque for 3 nights and then thought about moving to a "beach" location in Puerto Jimeniz to take advantage of the proximity to many of the tours like the animal sanctuary, etc.. Plus, it seems like we'll just want to hang and enjoy the experience at BDC rather than leaving the property to tour. I was thinking Yellow Coco Lodge, Black Turtle Lodge or Iguana Lodge for 2 -3 nights after BDC. Any opinion on those? Again, thanks so much for your help...it's so overwhelming researching like this and it helps enormously when you can rely on the advice of someone who's been there.

We stayed in a loft cabin - Tucan, and it had a king bed downstairs and two beds upstairs in the loft.

We stayed in La Palma which has a loft. There was a king-sized bed plus a single and a double in the loft. So you could technically sleep 5 people but it would be pretty tight, especially in the loft.

We stayed in Tucan. My 7 and 9 year old shared the loft - 2 beds. One of the beds was big enough for 2 kids and I felt there was plenty of room. We are happy we chose a cabina, but that is certainly just a preference. I am glad we had all our meals at BdC. We hung out in the common areas more than our cabina.

Hi! Try a Black Turtle Lodge treehouse cabina for the other part of your trip. They very comfortably sleep 5 and it is just a very short walk down a flat sand path to the beach. It includes three meals and I thought the price was quite reasonable. I also looked into Iguana Lodge but it was much more expensive and we were also staying at BDC for 4 nights so wanted to save $ on the beach portion of our trip. BDC and Playa Plantanares (Black Turtle, Yellow Coco, Iguana Lodge) is a fantasic combination. Take care of all of your tours at the beach then just enjoy the grounds at BDC. You will have a very memorable trip!!

luvtrvling,
In light of the posts confirming plenty of beds in the loft, my choice would be a cabina! The only advantage for you at this point to choosing Casa Blanca is if you would prefer more seclusion and more space--and don't mind that walk.

We are in the same boat as you, seeking lodging in PJ after our stay at BdC. Looking at all of the places that you and others have mentioned. We are particularly interested in moderate prices as we are staying in CR for 3 weeks. It's our necessary custom to choose a splurge or two (this time 3!) and intersperse some budget or moderate accomodations in there somewhere!

You're right--this forum is so valuable as the information comes from those who can offer reliable assistance. And this particular board, Latin America, has a core group of people who are not only helpful but good hearted and kind.

I agree that the loft cabina would be your best choice. I've met several people who stayed in the houses and they found themselves eating pretty much every meal at BDC, which eliminates any cost savings you have. I would think the 10 and 7 year old could share the double bed...right? And the 12 year old the twin. What dates are you looking at in March? Several people are posting dates on my recent trip summary for possible get together's at BDC next Spring, if you're interested.

Thanks so much for all the great info, everyone! The dates we're looking at are tentatively March 17 - March 29th. Depends on dates available to redeem frequent flyer miles. We're redeeming on United and will fly on a partner, US Airways, from Denver, thru Phoenix, and then on to SJO. We're thinking we'll head up to Arenal, stopping at the La Paz Waterfall Gardens for a couple hours, and then stay in Arenal 3 or 4 nights. Drive back to SJO and fly to PJ. Maybe 3 nights BDC and then 3 nts beach hotel TBD.. love the idea of a "treehouse" at Black Turtle or Yellow Coco. Would love to meet up with anyone else from these boards if our dates overlap. I'll post again when dates are definite. Any other suggestions are always appreciated. Thanks again!

Sorry, I just reread your original post and see that the house actually costs you a bit less, even with all meals included. We've stayed in both deluxe and standards, and as shillmac mentions there would be enough room for a rollaway in the standard, plus the 2 double beds, but it would be a bit tight. If there's not a lot of cost savings there, I'd stick with the house or the cabinas. The plus to the cabina is the kids can easily roam around on the grounds and back and forth to the cabina, whereas the house is a bit further and you'd probably want to accompany them (at least the 2 younger ones). We found it very hot and somewhat humid 1st week of April, meaning lots of outdoor showers and pool time!

Did I mention a rollaway? Actually, I've never heard of them there. And for sure it would be too crowded in a standard cabina. I only mentioned 2 standard cabinas when I thought you had 3 adults and 2 kids. I agree with hip it would be nice to keep the kids close to the pool, the restaurant, and that upstairs area with the games, books, etc. We took bandanas last March and kept them cold and on our heads!

Hip--cruise over to your thread. Tell me about MotMot!

I would always vote for Casa Blanca. We have stayed there two other times and will stay there again in August. I prefer all that extra room (not the mention a full extra bath) in Casa Blanca. And the view is to die for!

Also, the walk is being way overstated. It is maybe a couple of minutes up to the restuarant at the most down the main road not a path. Now Casa Miramar is a LONG way and I would not stay there.

We also stayed in LaPalma for a couple of nights our first trip before being able to get Casa Blanca. It was great too - but the house is 2000 sqft. of just your space not counting the entire back with is a covered porch and an open deck. And with 5 people I would think you would really use an extra shower, toilet, and sink.

Yes - you can get just dinner if you want. I believe, without looking at my notes, that breakfast and lunch are $15 and dinner is $30. We took lunch and dinner only last time and will do that again. Three big meals a day was just too much for us. We stopped in town and got milk and orange juice. I had brought a bag of cereal and breakfast bars in my suitcase as well as coffee. The house has a full kitchen. We actually liked doing this better as we would have such a large dinner in the evenings that noone was ready for a big breakfast. We would have a light breakfast in our house and then head out for hiking, etc. and really be hungry and enjoy lunch (which is our favorite meal here).

The house used to be a bigger savings than it is now. They went up sizable on the house rent this year. But yes - it is cheaper. And they clean it daily just like the cabinas.

And - the scarlet macaws come to the front tree to play almost every afternoon and the toucans come to the back almond tree almost every morning. And all this overlooking the water!

fae, thank you for correcting me on the distance to CB as that does make a huge difference. You mention Miramar, and I was thinking Casa Blanca was in the same area. We haven't stopped by Casa Blanca since the summer of 2004 and I've obviously forgotten just where it is.

If indeed it is only a couple of minutes from the restaurant, that's pretty much a no-brainer!

It takes me 2 minutes (or more) just to make my way to Sol after dark!

I took your advice, Shillmac, and emailed BDC. The reply indicated, that yes, the house for 5 people is actually less expensive than a cabina, even with a food pkg. $375 per night excluding food. So house it will be for us (Casa Blanca, the smaller of the two). Amazingly, the house is already booked for 1/2 of March of 2009. Luckily the dates we're interested in are still available, but I'm hesitant to book with BDC until we finalize our airfare.

We'll probably end up buying groceries in PJ and just eating one meal a day at BDC. Can anyone help me with what the "grocery stores" have in Puerto Jimeniz? We are by no means gourmet, we'd just be looking for standard stuff like coffee, milk, cereal, eggs, bread, peanut butter, jelly, and lots of snack stuff for the kids. Would I expect to pay more than I would in the US for these items? Would these items even be available? What about beer, wine, liquor, etc??

Thanks everyone for all your help!

luvtrvling, let BdC know ahead of time that when they meet you at the airport, you'd like to do some grocery shopping on the way in. The driver, whether it's Frank or Kevin or whoever, will know exactly where to go for whatever you need. I would have a list prepared though, because there may be others in the car waiting for you, so you may feel pressured to be efficient.

There's a good-sized "super mercado" (sp?) in PJ that has pretty much all that you need. As for prices, I found that prices were similar or less than the American counterparts although you may pay a premium if there's a particular American brand you have to have.

I would go ahead and make your reservation at Bosque even though you don't have your flight arrangements made yet. Unless the house is different, you shouldn't need to put down a deposit until 60 days in advance. You will have to give them your credit card now, but they won't charge it, unless you no show, or cancel inside the time limits that are listed on their reservation form. With as quickly as the house is booking, I would get that reservation in! If you need to adjust dates depending on your airfare, you will be able to. We have already made our reservation for a cabina in March, but don't have our flights into CR booked yet.