I've been corresponding with Percy and DFarmer quite a bit about our upcoming trip in April with our 2 kids (8 and 9) and my parents. We are flying into LIR on 4/13 and were planning to go to Arenal for better drive and nicer hotel (Lost Iguana) than Monteverde, but just read the thread raving about Fonda Vela in Monteverde. If we get a driver and are arriving at 1pm into LIR, is it feasible to get to Monteverde by sunset or soon thereafter? Is Fonda Vela nicer than Monteverde Lodge?

Thanks

FYI, I just looked at tripadvisor and Fonda Vela got very mixed reviews, so I'll be counting on this forum to guide me!

Hello;
I can't quite give you personal opinion on either, because I haven't stayed in either, but I have a reso for Fonda Vela for our trip this month. Frommers guide book highly recommeded both hotels, we chose Fonda Vela because it seemed to have the closest proximity to the Cloud Forest Preserve entrance (15 minute walk). From what I have read, the Fonda Vela has a shuttle to the Preserve and the Monteverde Lodge does not. I think they are both good, recommended choices and you couldn't go wrong with either. No matter how good the place is, you will always get someone filing a complaint. SO long as they're not accessive, I don't give that much bearing on my decision.
Have Fun!

It gets dark by 6:00 and if your plane lands at 1:00 you probably won't be out of the airport until 2:00, so I think it will be dark when you get there. I've never gone from Liberia, so I don't know the exact driving time.

Ordinarily I don't mind driving anywhere in the dark with a professional driver. They're usually awesome. But in the daytime that road is flat-out scary once you get to the top. (One of those on the edge of a mountain w/ no guardrail things and you see the little crosses on the side of the road and you're bumping and shaking the whole way because the road is made of rocks.)So it would make me seriously think about waiting until the morning to go up.

Sandy

The drive to Monteverde is long as the roads are HORRIBLE! Seriously.

I never stayed at Monteverde Lodge, but friends who have stayed there say it is nice.

I have stayed at Fonda Vela and I thought it was WONDERFUL. the Jr suite was huge and the staff was extremely nice. i would stay at the Fonda Vela again. Have a great trip.

Sandy- thanks for the input on the roads. We went to MOnteverde Jan. '04 and I recall bad roads, but now that you mention it, my mom would have a heart attack going near those edges w/o guard rails (she's bad enough in Colorado when they DO have railings). So, perhaps Arenal is where we should go....so now I just need input on La Mansion v. Lost Iguana!