Just booked our flights for a June 2008 first trip to CR using AA FF miles and wanted to know how far out we should book lodging in both Arenal and BdC, as well as flights to Puerto Jimenez. Any suggested timeline?

Personally, I always like to book right away. Bosque del Cabo books up a year in advance for many dates. If you'd like, BdC can arrange your flights for you; they arranged everything for us, and it all went very smoothly.

I agree with volcanogirl. June is off season, and it can be sleepy. But this is the high season for summer language study groups and other young adult groups.

The best lodgings in Costa Rica are always the places with a small number of rooms. So one big group can ruin your plans. I know that for several years, Bosque del Cabo had a yoga group that takes the whole place for a week in February. This kind of thing can happen in June too.

So booking early can't hurt. I did this last year for some folks that are traveling this December. They did not have this year's rates yet, but they did hold the rooms for me.

Hope this helps! Let me know if I can offer more advice.

Warm Regards,
Pat Hewitt
(Travel professional)

Hi, red - I forgot to mention that we wanted the Congo cabin (the one with the famous view!) at BdC and called a few months ahead, and it was already booked. When we got there and met the couple staying there, they told us they had booked it in January for the July trip. They were celebrating their 20th anniversary, so I was glad they got the cabin they wanted, but it just shows that people are booking early. You will love BdC; it's an amazing place.

Definitely book Bosque as early as possible, they are booking up further & further out, especially if you want a specific cabina. They can also book your flights to PJ for you, makes it a lot easier! For Arenal, I would think you could wait til past the new year, unless you have your heart set on a specific hotel, then it wouldn't hurt to go ahead & book, most places won't charge you now anyway so it can't hurt.