Hello- Well you've all convinced me that we are better off with a great view than staying right on the beach in the Manuel Antonio area, so I am leaning towards Costa Verde. It looks like it offers everything we need and seems like the best value, especially in June when are heading back to Costa Rica. Is it a big "resort" though? The web site looked wonderful and it has lots of amenities, but we still want a charming Costa Rican experience. The efficiencies are the least expenseive, do they still have great views and accesibility to restaurants, beach, etc.? Anyone have any experiences staying in an efficiency? We don't have kids so are we better off at CVII? Can we walk to any restaurants outside of the hotel's restaurants? We'll have a car, so not a huge deal if we can't walk, but always nicer to not have to drive everywhere. Any other info. re: Costa Verde and/or Manuel Antonio area would be greatly apprciated. Thank you all for your always candid and wonderful advice.

Sounds like you like the same type of places we do . It is not quite as resorty as SiComo No or Parador ( which are both very beautiful , and well liked by the way ) . It really was the perfect place to go with kids , we paid 60.00 green season in an efficiency room in the D-unit which is literally in the jungle actually across the road from the restaurant . ( 2 and 4 have great views , I would go for number 4 in D-Unit )There are more intimate places , but we found this great value with a SUPER view of Punta catedral, amazing . It is all done in dark wood , big balconies with chairs and table , and again that view .

Oh ! Kids can obviously stay in the D-Units , but you will hike up to the restaurant ( with a view ) and go to the adult pool , which has an even BETTER view .

You will get the Costa Rica feel here , plus you can go eat at other places like Karolas , Plinios , Barba Roja etc. The efficiencys are super , but DO try to get in the D-Unit No.4 . Have to go make supper , more info. later . P.S. u r surrounded by wildlife here !

Thanks faithie, you're awesome. I really appreciate your help

I loved Costa Verde when I went last June. I stayed in bldg B and had such a view I had to tear myself away from it. I don't think I'd call it "charming", at least how I define it, but it's very spread out & they aren't too many rooms per bldg. I definitely very alone walking about the compund even tho' sometimes the restaurant or other bldg was very close by. CV II has awesome views, no kids, no a/c, no tv. The D bldg seemed to be the hang-out of the squirrel monkeys. I didn't look inside any efficiencies but I'm sure they are very nice. You can walk to a couple restaurants but if you have a car I would use that, especially at night (trust me, I tried to walk back from El Avion with small flashlight & couldn't see 1 ft in front of me). During the day you can take the bus which stops in front of La Cantina (right by the CV entrance) for a quarter or so to the beach, it's very efficient. There's a nice little mini-mart about a mile North of CV where you can stock up on snacks or soda or Imperial beer . Have a great time!

we would bus it everywhere , really easy . Then to come home from the restaurant of our choice each evening , we would flag down a taxi .One evening it was raining , and standing across the street from El Gato Negro (where we had just eaten )The waiter rushed across the street with 2 umbrellas , then waited with usuntil a ride came . He insisted we keep the umbrellas to retun the next day ! Oh ! It was really YUMMY ! Faith . ( D-Unit is quaint , quirky , and cute !! )

Its a cute little hotel. We stayed in one of the bungalows but I was able to peak inside some of the efficiencies. They were cute. The ones I saw however Im not positive had an ocean view. They had several scattered throughout the property though. ENJOY!!

D-Unit , which is all by itself across the road definetly has ocean view , amazing waking up in the A.M. with steamy couds hovering over the jungle and Punta Catedral , from the nights torrential downpours ! Beautiful !