Having a hard time picking our Arenal hotel
 

I don't know why, but I just can't seem to bite the bullet and reserve a hotel in Arenal for our upcoming trip. I've got it narrowed down among three - I think....

Again, the trip is for 6 of us - me and my husband, our two kids who are going to be 9 and 11 and my parents who are in their early 60s and it's my parents first trip to CR.

So, my kids first choice is to return to Los Lagos. Generally I have no problem with that, except they seem to have raised their rates since our last trip and we're already splurging on Peace Lodge and BDC. But they do include breakfast. It bugs me that they count the kids as adults and we have to pay the 4 people rate. BUT the kids loved it there and the pools and slides are fantastic. Plus they have their own hot springs. While they're not extensive, they're nice and there's a great volcano view.

Next option is AOL - never been there. Price is right. Not looking forward to the bumpy road back and forth every time we'd drive in and out, but we've done it before and been on worse. The nature is supposed to be best there, but we'll get a lot of nature at BDC. Also includes breakfast. Doesn't have the awesome pools or hot springs, but does have a nice pool from what I understand. Lava view - would be great! If it's not clouded over of course! I hear there's no internet access and I need to stay in touch with home somehow - any word on this? We will have our own car, so that will help with getting into town.

Third option is Mountain Paradise. Gets excellent reviews. Price is incredible. Includes breakfast. Rooms seem huge and have jacuzzi's. Internet is included in room. Has a pool, but not like Los Lagos etc...Would be something new.

So, three very different properties. We'd need two rooms at any of them, except maybe AOL if we got the villa, but I think we'd opt for two rooms. It's just so not like me to be so indecisive about this. I guess I want it to be perfect for everyone - guess it's better to have too many options than not enough!

I've been eyeing AOL for a future trip - like the proximity to the volcano, the nature trails, waterfall, etc. If you don't mind the drive, that would be my pick. Did you rule out Silencio del Campo? Some not so great reviews for Mountain Paradise lately over on tripadvisor, but other than that, I don't hear much about it.

Shel might also look at

www.thespringscostarica.com

sister hotel to the PL

Villas for families

better springs more upscale but good value

and kids up to 12 are free

Otherwise www.hotelloslagos.com for me with kids

I would choose AOL over Mountain Paradise, even though I haven't stayed there! :-) I think the kids would love it at AOL...maybe you can do the day pass thing to Los Lagos for like $10? Sometimes the decision for me is dictated by the question "is this my turn to decide or kids choice"? LOL! Which one is it for you? ;-)

I'd select AOL just hoping for great lava views. You'll be in La Fortuna some. Can you get by with internet cafes? Mountain Paradise sounds good, but AOL hard to beat. The Springs may be more than you'd want to pay since Arenal wasn't meant to be one of your splurges.

When we have our granddaughter, we tend not to explore new places, although perhaps we should. I can't imagine a pool/beach/hotel experience she'd enjoy more than Flamingo Beach Resort or Tulemar Bungalows and we tend to return there when we have her (although we'll skip MA this year). Those places are big winners for her and for us. She is already talking about Playa Flamingo.

AOL doesn't really have specific things geared toward children, so that concerns me a bit. I doubt you'll actually be spending much time on the property during the day, though, right? Maybe enough to enjoy the pool and hike to the waterfall? That lava viewing, though, is a huge plus.

Good luck! I'm sending you a check with my return address. I'll include postage. . .let me know if it doesn't cover.

hip - my husband and I really enjoyed Los Lagos last year, almost as much as the kids, so I'd go back for sure. My husband enjoyed the pools and slides almost as much as the kids. And while he doesn't really need great pools, he enjoyed the pools while we did the zip lines. We did their horseback riding and zip lines, which although are not included as guests, were very convenient and enjoyed their hot springs every night we stayed there. So, Los Lagos is a plus for all of us.

The Springs sound great and PL is offering us a great discount since we're staying at PL as well, but it's so out of our budget this trip with everywhere else we're going.

AOL - the biggest draw would be the lava, so you hope it's clear during your visit! If it's not - the reviews are that it's just another hotel. Of course there's the other activities on site, but we'll get a lot of the nature and hiking at BDC. AOL also has the best price.

Mountain Paradise, with the exception of one bad review is very consistent, priced in the middle, and probably would just be nice hotel without anything super special (like lava views or water slides).

I think I'll see if AOL has availability and go from there.

Jill - thanks for the check I'll let you know when I get it.

Well, the Smithsonian rooms at AOL are booked. Would you still go there? We can get a standard room with a balcony volcano view. Or the first night, a standard room and the 2nd and 3rd nights, move to a Jr Suite, but I'm not crazy about that idea - moving after one night.

I don't know if this makes our decision easier or more difficult!

How about La Casana rooms? A great deal, and with a car, no problem getting to and from the main lodge.Super views of both volcano and lake. When we were there in the summer, it was very quiet and peaceful, but that was off-season. Attractive, clean rooms, maybe smaller than standard rooms, not sure.