Hi there...

We are trying to pick a place to stay for our final night in CR. We are flying out of San Jose but don't want to stay there (we live in NYC so we get enough big city time). The rest of our trip is on the Nicoya Peninsula (aside from one night in Alajuela at the beginning)so we'd like a change of scenery/climate. Any suggestions? Our flight leaves SJ at 1:45 and we will have to get there in time to return our rental, go through security etc, so we want to be probably within an hour's drive of SJ.

Thanks for your help!!

Amy

Hi Amy,
Try the Peace Lodge, north of the airport. We are staying there our last night in Jan. I believe its about an Hour and 15min from the airport. Our flight leaves at 1:30 pm.

It is near Poas Volcano. Ive been there before and the climate is quite different. Cooler mountainous area and not nearly as humid. The place looks awsome on their website. It comes highly recommended on this board.

Check out the web site
http://www.waterfallgardens.com/index.html
TRIP

You might also want to consider any (or all!) of the following: Xandari, Finca Rosa Blanca, and Vista del Valle. All 3 sit outside San Jose and the furthest, Vista, is about a 45 minute drive.
Carol L

I haven't stayed there, but I know the area well--Peace Lodge would be my choice.

Shillmac, glad to hear you know the area well, possibly you would know the name of the restaurant I am trying to remember. We had a great breakfast there sitting in front of a huge fire looking out of a big picture window. It was on the road up to Peace Lodge. There are only a couple of places and this would be on the right hand side going up. I would have loved to have gone up again after my husband left and I was staying at Orquideas. I didn't think to ask Luis at the time because they have such a big breakfast at O.

Sorry, Jessie (?), can't help you. Don't you just hate those "Senior Moments"? Perhaps your husband could help. At any rate, I'll bet it comes to you! Good luck!

I vote for the Peace Lodge, that is where we spent our final night. Terrific place.

Thanks all for your responses... unfortunately the Peace Lodge is more than a little outside our budget constraints, even for just one night.
Shillmac, since you like the area but haven't stayed at Peace Lodge...can you recommend another place in the area (under 100$ for two including tax)?

Carol, I'll check out the places you recommend as well!

Thanks so much!

Amy

Have you checked http://www.orquideasinn.com

This Inn gets great reviews here. And we are paying $87.29 includes tax and breakfast.

Without a doubt I recommend the Finca Rosa Blanca. I have stayed there many times and love it more and more. It is always a special treat rather than just a place to stay near the airport. It's only 20 mins from the airport but a world away up in the hills overlooking a coffee plantation. The owner, Glen Jampol, and his wife are fantastic. Susan

In the same category as Peace Lodge, but less expensive, most that I would recommend have been mentioned already. Finca Rosa Blanco, Vista del Valley, Orquideas. Someone quite some time ago raved about a little hotel near Poas, perhaps in Poasita (but the name of it I don't remember). Not too far from Peace Lodge/La Paz area is La Selva and Selva Verde. I've had lunch there, but haven't stayed at the property. I would definitely consider it, though. We've crisscrossed this area north of San Jose many times, but our stays have been at Arenal, Orquideas, and Tilajari Resort--which, by the way, is a great little place. Too far from the airport for you, though. Las Orquideas would be hard to beat for what you are looking for!

Good Lord, I'm butchering the espanol! Sorry, must learn to proofread BEFORE hitting the "post" button!

That would be Finca Rosa Blanca and Vista del Valle!

I guess nobody knows the name of that great little hotel near Poas that Shillmac refers to?

Could be Poas Volcano Lodge--according to another thread that was posted today. Do a search on this board and see if anything comes up.

We just returned from CR, and stayed our first and last nights in San Jose at Grano de Oro. About $90/night, but just exquisite! 10 minute walk from the Art Museum, 20 mins from the Gold Museum. Food was magnificient, too! We really pushed the boat out and still only spent $80 on dinner for two. Its a $10 taxi ride to the airport. We'd highly recommend it!

Ears, Grano de Oro sounds like a wonderful hotel. Since you've been there recently, you probably remember what type of room you had and whether or not you could hear traffic noise from your room at night? What about noise from other guests at night?

I have a lot of trouble sleeping in hotels unfortunately, and that is why I am spending extra time trying to figure out which rooms in which hotels would be quietest for me.

Hi Melissa - the hotel is a serie sof houses that have been joined together to create a hotel. There are lots of corridors and corners, so noise from other guests isn't a problem. Its two blocks south of Paseo Colon, so we didn't hear much from there, either. We had a 'superior' room both times (the first night we booked it because it was all they had, the second night they upgraded us from a standard - I think the only difference was two queen beds instead of one). My wife doesn't always sleep well, and we had no noise problems either night.

Best,

-Jeff

One more thing, Melissa - saw on another thread that you were considering Si Como No. Its a very polished place, and I'm sure very comfortable. Depending on you and your kids outlooks, you can be just as comfortable at a number of other hotels in the area, for fewer colones. We stayed at Tres Banderas; A/C, pool, jacuzzi, bar/restaurant. The owner's a bit of an autocrat, but the staff are great. Just my 10 colones worth...

La Selva and Selva Verde are way to far away for a place to stay before a flight. They are about 3 hrs from San Jose. La Selva is more of a research area and only has rustic little cabins to stay in that are mostly for the researchers.

Jeff, thanks for the info on your "quiet" night at Hotel Grano de Oro. The hotel wrote me a very nice e-mail answering my questions, so I may go ahead and just ask them to put me in the quietest room and hope for the best.