Hi, guys! We were thinking of staying at Xandari (Central Valley location) on our next trip. If you stayed there, did you like it? Also can you give me a rundown on the rooms? The website lists four different price points, but I can't find what the difference is among prima, prima plus, ultra, and ultra plus - does anyone know? Different view, size, amenities? Thanks for any help you can provide!

vg - not sure if you may have passed this but on their rates page, if you scroll down towards the bottom it explains a little more about each type. I'm thinking of staying there in June but may just go with the old fave orquideas, not sure.

Doh, thanks tully! I'll amend my question to what kind of room did you stay in, and did you like it? And what did you think of the property? I've heard the food is bad - I don't really care that much, but what did you think? Would love to hear any feedback you guys have. Seems like it gets good reviews.

I'm pretty sure that friends of mine stayed there - I'll see what I can find out and let you know!

We have stayed there three times. Usually we get the basic room but this last time we got an upgrade to the nicer villas. But they are a lot further away, so I'm not sure I prefer them, although the room is nicer. It's really six of one half dozen of another. I'd personally just go for the cheapest available.

Do they all have a great view? I'd really love a beautiful view of the valley.

I haven't been there but I will be staying at Xandari in Aug ~ booked their cheapest room (prima villa) cause I couldn't justify getting a more expensive one since we will just be there for one night. Only 2 prima villas have a King bed - so if that's important to you (it was for us since it's our honeymoon)it may help you make your decision.

All the ones I've stayed in have had a great view. I think the only rooms that wouldn't have the view are those two honeymoon ones that are in near the pool.

Hi VG-we stayed in the ultra, ultra, prima plus plus villa (#4)for our honeymoon in June. It was probably the most private villa, had an INCREDIBLE patio overlooking the valley-I would say the best valley and city view we have ever had in Costa Rica. But, I agree that for the price, you can get one of the cheaper villas with a comparable view. The only negative I have heard about the attached villas on this post and T.A., is that the walls are a bit thin and you can hear your neighbours. But I do remember some posters saying they did not have this experience, so go figure....
The food was very unremarkable, but the view from the restaurant was fabulous. The grounds are beautiful, and you can take walks to 5 different waterfalls. Hope this helps.

I am staying there in June for the first night of my honeymoon. We booked a prima plus (requested #20-- the palm-thatched one). I hope it's not by the pool! Anyone know about that one? By the way, the people at the Spa are extremely nice and helpful with any and all questions about services (we're splurging for our first night!) Question-- someone said the "plus" villas are much further away. From what? The pool? Restaurant? I kind of like that idea, but will we be missing out on something?

Farther away from the pool and the restaurant. It was just a pain walking to the restaurant in the dark, and the pool in swimsuit. I liked being closer in, in the regular villas.

mojo,when I was there, I did not find any of the villas too far from the office/restaurant. We stayed in #4, and it seemed to be the farthest one from the Restaurant, and it took no longer than 3 minutes to walk there. By the way, there are 2 pools, but when we were there, there was hardly anyone using them!

costaricalover, I think you were still on the main line of villas. There is another set that is through the garden on the other side of the spa. Is that where you were? I am a fast walker and it's a lot longer than three minutes. The people next to us actually called for the golf cart every time they went to dinner (but I did think that was a bit extreme). In the dark and in the rain, it's not the funnest walk, though.

hi monicarichards, perhaps you are right. We were in the main line of the villas, very close to the restaurant. We were only there for one night, so I guess I could have missed the other villas.

We stayed in Villa 4, which has the nicest view of all the villas. It is the patio shown on their homepage with the thatched roof table. It is also shown on the photos page where it says "terrace of villa". The rooms are beautiful and huge. The food at their outdoor restaurant with the view over the valley was delicious, but we were there 3 years ago, and something might have changed since then. It's a nice luxurious place to stay if you want to hang in your room and terrace a lot and relax, and the spa is one of the best in Costa Rica. The grounds are pretty and manicured, but not "jungly".
Why don't you want to stay overnight at the Pacuare River Lodge? Our kids and some good friends both have stayed there, and thought it was beautiful. There is no electricity, so they serve gourmet dinners by candlelight. Very romantic. The rooms were beautiful, too. (Then stay at a cheaper place the night after you raft).

Thank you so much everyone for all the great feedback. It sounds like a great place. I appreciate all the info.

stealing your thread (though I posted on another thread too) -
Is it worth staying at Xandari for my last night in CR on my extremely belated honeymoon (had to postpone multiple times, sadly), if are arriving at 3:15 PM on Sansa flight from Tambor, and have to get to the SJO the following morning at 5:15 AM for a 7:15 AM flight? The waterfall hikes are what are attracting me to this. They only have the Palm Villa and Ultra Villa left with King beds (otherwise, I would have booked the cheaper rooms).

We're also doing the 2 day/1 night Pacuare Jungle Lodge rafting trip, and spending 5 nights at Florblanca, both splurges.

VG, we were there 3 years ago, and we had stayed in rather modest lodges, etc. the whole week, just finding a place to rest our heads, and on the last day, we decided to go to Xandari, and it made the entire trip. We stayed in one of the private villas, number 3 I believe, and they are awesome. We had an outside sitting area with tables, lounge chairs, etc. which looked over the valley, the inside was really nicely done, very modern, and the shower was incredible. A glass room, which is not visible from outside, with a multi colored ceramic tile walls, which seems to soak away the aching bones. Also, the one pool was heated, and looks out over a coffee plantation. The staff was also incredible and I thought the restaurant was really good, having fresh Mahi over rice and a mix of veggies. All in all, it is expensive, but it was well worth it.

It sounds awesome, ewest. I definitely want to squeeze it in this trip. The Peace Lodge being closed is making it easier for us to branch out a little bit because I always want to stay there for a couple of nights. Sounds like Xandari will give me my great view, nice grounds, waterfall fix for the trip!

If you guys were only staying here for a day, would you just relax and enjoy the property, or would you plan an activity?

We'd like to hike the property, do the trails, see the waterfalls, etc. Any idea how long that would take? I think we would get in in the morning and not leave until the next afternoon.