Hi fodorites!

This is my second attempt to post - who knows where my first went!

I've been lurking around this board for a very long while ... around a year gathering information for our upcoming Costa Rica trip. Thank you fodorites for helping me plan our family vacation! You're awesome! I wanted to share my itinerary and plan to pay it forward with an extensive trip report when we return.

We're a family of four (two teen daughters 13 and 16) leaving Northern California on June 19 and returning on July 1.

June 19 - Pura Vida Hotel

June 20-June 23 - Leo drives us to Arenal. We will visit Poas Volcano and Sarchi on the way. Staying at Los Lagos. I have planned Eco Thermales, Cano Negro and we'll wing the rest of our tours. I'm determined to zipline even though DH is hesitant.

June 23 - Leo will drive again to Peace Lodge - I've reserved the Monarch Villa, but am a little miffed right now. No continental breakfast even though I booked 8 months ago. And they are not returning any e-mails or phone messages while I try to reconfirm.

June 24-26 - Leo drives us to to the airport flying Sansa to Puerto Jimenez - staying at Black Turtle Lodge - this place looks homey and right on the beach. I did a lot of comparison between BTL and Iguana Lodge and the price difference was big. I plan to write a good review on Trip Advisor since there is so little info. Visiting the Animal Sanctuary/Casa Orchideas while here.

June 26-30 - Bosque Del Cabo - Can't wait for this - booked the Casa Blanca house and plan to hike, hike and hike some more. We'll do a horsback ride and a couple guided hikes here.

June 30 - Pura Vida Hotel

We're leaving in 3 weeks and I'm patiently waitng for my family to ask me the details of our trip. Amazing... It could be on our flight - I can hear it now "Mom, where is it that we're going exactly?'" (DH too!) They're in for for a huge wake-up call when I tell them no blow dryers, no make-up, no jewelry. I think this might be a life-changing vacation for all of us. Can't wait!

No blow dryers or make up for 2 teenage girls who weren't part of the decision...you are BRAVE! (lol) It sounds like a great trip. I'll be looking for your report when you get back.

Have a wonderful time!

Sounds wonderful; Peace Lodge is notorious for being sloooow to respond to e-mails. We have had the same experience. Have a wonderful time!

Hi I will be waiting for your report I have a similar itinerary and some of the same hotels also with a teen have a great trip!

Looking forward to your report...I'm in the process of planning our trip for almost exactly the same dates for next summer, with two teenage girls.

We decided to skip Peace Lodge because it was just too pricey for the four of us. I thought the Monarch Villa might work out, but they charge extra person rates for above double occupancy. Sounds like a great place, but just couldn't justify the price.

Also very interested to hear what type of weather you experience during this time. I don't know how we are going to pack only 30 pounds per suitcase, so it will help to have an idea of what types of clothing you did and did not need.

Have a fantastic trip!

You really have done your studying! This is a wonderful trip that you have planned.

I particularly like the fact that you are doing the Osa beach area prior to BdC. Finishing with the big bang!

My daughter will be at Los Lagos part of the time that you are. She will be one of 14 college students that you may run in to.

As to the makeup/jewelry - well when my daughter went to Chile over winter break she insisted on taking all the makeup, never wore it. This trip she only took astringent, moisturizer, lip gloss, mascara and one eye shadow. She had chosen a few pieces of jewelry and they are still upstairs. Walked out and forgot them. She has bought a few piece in CR that she would have bought anyway for souvenirs.

You all have a wonderful trip!

Peace Lodge is a trade off. They have a great thing going there. Fabulous location, views, great property, beautiful hotel--and they know it. Hence, they don't HAVE to respond promptly, they don't HAVE to offer free breakfast (which they did last year), and they CAN get by with charging extra for more than 2 people. You could almost view it as a rip-off and I guess we all should boycott! Truly. . .

But here we are, staying there again this year. . .makes me mad at myself. LOL!

Seriously, that (almost) $400 price tag for Monarch Villa should by gosh include all the people who stay there. Why would just 2 people stay when there is an upstairs with an entirely separate set-up? That's ludicrous! Are you sure about that? Someone needs to challenge that as it is really not right.

Hi hopvac,

Your trip sounds absolutely wonderful! And it's soooo close!

You know, I've been thinking about the Peace Lodge after reading the recent posts. I LOVE that place, but I'm not sure I would stay there again now that they are offering less amenities to their guests for increasingly higher prices. Not to put you off, hopvac, it <i>is</i> a wonderful place to stay and the grounds of La Paz are truly gorgeous and fantastic. I'm glad we stayed there a few years ago, but it is a big expense to not even get a complimentary breakfast. You should go savor it for what it does offer, and then when you fall in love with Costa Rica (like the rest of us!) and plan trip #2, you can choose a less expensive accommodation than PL, because you will have already experienced it!

Thanks everyone for your well-wishes! I will make sure I get all the details in my little travel journal so I can pass them along.

My thought on Peace Lodge - I wavered back and forth on this choice for quite a while and decided in the end to go for it. Have I ever spent $500 for one nights lodging? NO! Will I ever again? Very doubtful. But when I was planning this trip I was also planning a trip to Disneyland and looking at Disneyland Hotel (which isn't anything super special). That bill was going to be between $300-$400 for one night and I thought well geez, Peace Lodge is a deal for all that comes with it. Now, of course, there is no breakfast. I'm going to see what I can do about that when I get there. I'm still positive that our day and night there will be an ultimate memory for my kids and for me and my husband and that makes it worth it in my mind. Funny how I complain about filling up my tank right now, but am willing to spend approx. 4 tanks of gas on one night at Peace Lodge. Vacation makes us do unreasonable things!

You're going in with the right attitude, hopvac.

The Peace Lodge was the first place I ever stayed in Costa Rica. We got there on a dark, drizzly night and had no real idea of what we would wake up to. I'll never forget pulling the window coverings aside that next morning and gazing out on the misty, heavily forested hillside. There were several different species of hummingbirds dancing around the feeder on our balcony and all sorts of birds singing in the trees. It was a magical introduction to Costa Rica and will be a favorite memory for a long time to come.

I hope you'll write a trip report for us when you get home!

Sounds like a great itinerary hopvac! Costa Rica is a magical place and your daughters are a great age to experience all it's wonders! I can't wait to share Costa Rica with my son(he's only 7 months old now) but I want him to see it before it becomes too developed! The waterfall gardens will be a nice intro, but the rest of your trip will give you all a great family adventure! I'm jealous! Have a BLAST!!!

Sounds like you've got a nice trip planned. Will be interested about hearing more on Black Turtle and just know you will love BdC, definitely can hike your heart there. Please post here afterwards and tell us how it went.

Just wanted to take a minute to respond to shillmac's question about the double occupancy at Monarch Villa...I emailed them and asked if the $395 rate would be for all four of us in our family. They replied that it would be $395 for two and $40 for each additional person. I agree with you that it doesn't make sense why they would rent a house using hotel room occupancy limits. I guess it's because they can, and people are willing to pay for it!!

hopvac, enjoy your stay there and on the rest of your trip. I know what you are saying about vacation justification...I use all kinds of logic with myself about cutting things here and there to justify staying at certain wonderful properties. And, you are right, they are consistently the times we remember the most and say it was worth it!

tasha, that's just loco. If you communicate with them again, I'd ask why in the world they would charge extra for an accomodation that obviously is planned for at least 4 people with an entire separate accomodation upstairs with equal amenities. That just burns me.

We are staying there again because it is a great place for us to chill for a couple of days with our 3 year old granddaughter. Very easy to entertain her there. She loves the hummingbirds, the frogs, the birds, even the snakes (in their cages!), and the waterfalls. There are other places that have great properties, though, and we will probably not stay there again.

We shop before we go, take in our own food, and fix our own lunches. Of course, last year, breakfast was free (full buffet breakfast), and we went away from the hotel for dinner. I'd heard too much about high prices and poor meals at dinner. Volcanogirl says the Trout Bar serves good food for less at lunchtime.

Does anyone know who owns Peace Lodge and the La Paz property? I know Tabacon Hot Springs is owned by Columbianos, and they are doing some pretty good price gouging up there--again, because they can.

shillmac -- I'm not sure who owns Peace Lodge, but the chef at Trout Bar told me they lived in Florida and that 2-story &quot;house&quot; structure near the Trout Bar is being renovated for them to stay they're there. Double check that when you're there. The indoor pool was having maintenance done when we were there...so it must be well in operation by now. Have a great time!

hopvac -- I'd say you have a pretty perfect trip planned. One that the family will enjoy immensely! We stayed at Los Lagos our 2nd time to Arenal and it's definitely a great place for families...we actually didn't even to to Eco-Thermales that trip because of the hot pool and other pools, but do recommend it as well as the other things you have planned. BDC is definitely a special place and I've also considered Black Turtle Lodge but haven't made it there yet...so looking forward to your review. As others have mentioned, I'm miffed at Peace Lodge with their breakfast charges and &quot;extra&quot; people charges, but it is indeed worth seeing and enjoying the close up's you get there. The staff and guides are super when it comes to customer service and making you feel comfortable.

Have a wonderful trip hopvac. Your itinerary looks fantastic.

LOL--Tully probably owns it and is sitting back chuckling at all of our gripes--as she smiles all the way to the bank!