Hip's trip 2008: 3/22-4/7 - Puerto Viejo, Arenal, Manuel Antonio, Osa
Apr 9th, 2008, 04:23 AM
#21
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Hip, hip, hip! Gotta watch out for those slides! Sounds like that could have been sore for a few days. . .glad you're no worse for the wear!
Our Spring Break next year is week of March 16, so we have from the 14th until the 22nd. I'm all in favor of choosing the week that works best for the majority of Fodorite's, though! Those who can't make it can be there in spirit--and haunt the rest of you! LOL!
Our Spring Break next year is week of March 16, so we have from the 14th until the 22nd. I'm all in favor of choosing the week that works best for the majority of Fodorite's, though! Those who can't make it can be there in spirit--and haunt the rest of you! LOL!
Apr 9th, 2008, 06:20 AM
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Great report so far, Hip! Sorry to hear about your altercation with the water slide! Sounds like the slide won. 
Very glad you were okay afterwards, but I bet you felt a bit bruised and battered for awhile!
What activities did you participate in while in Arenal?
I like shillmac's March GTG suggestion! My birthday is in March and I might like to see CR in the spring...
Very glad you were okay afterwards, but I bet you felt a bit bruised and battered for awhile!What activities did you participate in while in Arenal?
I like shillmac's March GTG suggestion! My birthday is in March and I might like to see CR in the spring...
Apr 9th, 2008, 07:21 AM
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Hipvirgochick,
Thanks for posting so quickly about Los Lagos, I want to book rms for our group of 8 in July, and have been waiting for a current review. Leaning towards Montana de Fuego because LL not being mentioned in any of the guidebooks made us leery. And their website is not exactly professional looking. But our 2 families have 4 kids age from 10 - 20 so LL sounded like a fit for them. Can you comment about the comfort/cleanliness of the rooms? & Thanks for the "heads up" on the slides
Thanks for posting so quickly about Los Lagos, I want to book rms for our group of 8 in July, and have been waiting for a current review. Leaning towards Montana de Fuego because LL not being mentioned in any of the guidebooks made us leery. And their website is not exactly professional looking. But our 2 families have 4 kids age from 10 - 20 so LL sounded like a fit for them. Can you comment about the comfort/cleanliness of the rooms? & Thanks for the "heads up" on the slides
Apr 9th, 2008, 08:06 AM
#24
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Michelle -- Did not even make it to the Jungle Spa. Did quite a bit of wandering...but just didn't make it to every place I wanted to. Also, Pecora Negra was closed...not sure why.
shillmac -- Yes, will probably have to go with the majority for any tenative GTG planning, but a year leaves some time for rounding people up!
janenicole -- Any dates Feb-May I can probably make work...but need to start checking on FF availability. Who are the other Fodorites travelling in Mar same time as you?
cm - In Arenal the only activity/tour we took was through Desafio and it was great. I think it's called the "Cultural" tour and we started off by heading to Amuraci (will check sp) a woman's co-op started 7 years ago where they bring women in to make paper from recycled products and other crafts; then to Proyecto Asis, a small animal sanctuary where we also saw bunches of boat-billed herons with babies; then to Nuevo Arenal, an organic farm and medicinal herb garden with a newly opened lodge where we toured the gardens to learn about many of the medicinal qualities of the plants and then enjoyed a delicious lunch. We really enjoyed this tour. We had great meals at a couple of the sodas in town, but didn't get to some of the recommended restaurants from Fodorites.
lfm -- I think your families would be love LL. Everyone we met there were thrilled. We didn't do the horseback riding on site, but heard good things also and the horses were beautiful and fit. You also have the croc farm and butterfly garden there. The warm pool is fabulous and you can swim up for beverages. Don't mean to scare you about the big slide. Many people were doing it and having a great time, I just wasn't paying attention I guess. There are two other more tame ones. The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable, but fairly basic (nothing fancy). I believe we had an older room (in the lower area), which turned out to be fine for us because we could walk back and forth easily to the pool without having to schlog up the steep hill or wait for the van. The zip there is one line and not very high up, so good for anyone who wants to try it but too scared to do one of the bigger ones.
More on Arenal and moving onto Manuel Antonio to follow...
shillmac -- Yes, will probably have to go with the majority for any tenative GTG planning, but a year leaves some time for rounding people up!
janenicole -- Any dates Feb-May I can probably make work...but need to start checking on FF availability. Who are the other Fodorites travelling in Mar same time as you?
cm - In Arenal the only activity/tour we took was through Desafio and it was great. I think it's called the "Cultural" tour and we started off by heading to Amuraci (will check sp) a woman's co-op started 7 years ago where they bring women in to make paper from recycled products and other crafts; then to Proyecto Asis, a small animal sanctuary where we also saw bunches of boat-billed herons with babies; then to Nuevo Arenal, an organic farm and medicinal herb garden with a newly opened lodge where we toured the gardens to learn about many of the medicinal qualities of the plants and then enjoyed a delicious lunch. We really enjoyed this tour. We had great meals at a couple of the sodas in town, but didn't get to some of the recommended restaurants from Fodorites.
lfm -- I think your families would be love LL. Everyone we met there were thrilled. We didn't do the horseback riding on site, but heard good things also and the horses were beautiful and fit. You also have the croc farm and butterfly garden there. The warm pool is fabulous and you can swim up for beverages. Don't mean to scare you about the big slide. Many people were doing it and having a great time, I just wasn't paying attention I guess. There are two other more tame ones. The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable, but fairly basic (nothing fancy). I believe we had an older room (in the lower area), which turned out to be fine for us because we could walk back and forth easily to the pool without having to schlog up the steep hill or wait for the van. The zip there is one line and not very high up, so good for anyone who wants to try it but too scared to do one of the bigger ones.
More on Arenal and moving onto Manuel Antonio to follow...
Apr 9th, 2008, 09:19 AM
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Welcome back hip! Sounds like a great trip so far. I was waiting to hear about Los Lagos - we're going there in August with our kids - so any more details you have would be great!
Your Arenal tour sounds really interesting. I think I had looked at that on the Desafio website a few months ago. Do you think a 7 and 9 year old would enjoy it or would it be too long for them?
Looking forward to hearing more!
Your Arenal tour sounds really interesting. I think I had looked at that on the Desafio website a few months ago. Do you think a 7 and 9 year old would enjoy it or would it be too long for them?
Looking forward to hearing more!
Apr 9th, 2008, 09:30 AM
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Great idea hipvirgochick
I'll be living just up the road! Let me know, I'll drive down. Only thing that would cause me not to be in the country would be my time with the grandkids up in the states during their spring break in March or April.
I went through the same thing just a couple of weeks ago being able to actually get a comb through my hair. Don't know which is worse, limp and straight here or frizzy and curly there. After years of having my makeup run down my face from sweat in CR I had permanent make up done just lightly.
Looking forward to your report. Can't wait to hear about the baby. I was hoping to get down there a few weeks ago but my car started overheating and I decided I didn't want to get stuck alone on that long road between Chacarita and Puerto Jimenez. I'll be back down soon so maybe hubby will have gotten it fixed by then.
I'll be living just up the road! Let me know, I'll drive down. Only thing that would cause me not to be in the country would be my time with the grandkids up in the states during their spring break in March or April.
I went through the same thing just a couple of weeks ago being able to actually get a comb through my hair. Don't know which is worse, limp and straight here or frizzy and curly there. After years of having my makeup run down my face from sweat in CR I had permanent make up done just lightly.
Looking forward to your report. Can't wait to hear about the baby. I was hoping to get down there a few weeks ago but my car started overheating and I decided I didn't want to get stuck alone on that long road between Chacarita and Puerto Jimenez. I'll be back down soon so maybe hubby will have gotten it fixed by then.
Apr 9th, 2008, 02:20 PM
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hip, too bad about the head bump on the waterslide! Ouch!
The other fodorites that are going to BdC are lhgreenacres and mixter603 - not daily posters. We "met" on Fodors last year before going to BdC, and enjoyed each other all so much that we have kept in touch and planned a reunion next year. It would be so great if others could join us!
I tried to search some of your old posts to see why you didn't go back to Banana Azul this time, but couldn't find anything. How did Azania compare? Why the change?
The other fodorites that are going to BdC are lhgreenacres and mixter603 - not daily posters. We "met" on Fodors last year before going to BdC, and enjoyed each other all so much that we have kept in touch and planned a reunion next year. It would be so great if others could join us!
I tried to search some of your old posts to see why you didn't go back to Banana Azul this time, but couldn't find anything. How did Azania compare? Why the change?
Apr 9th, 2008, 02:58 PM
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janenicole -- Can you send me a PM at [email protected]?
The main reason we didn't go back to Banana Azul is because they are aiming towards adult clientele now and I figured a better chance for daughter to meet families with children would be at Azania. It was a tough choice as BA still welcomed us and I hope to return there again sometime. The bungalows at Azania are great. Really pretty inside and out and nicely situated. It was also nice having a pool as the beaches, even at Punta Uva, were a little rough at times. We were fine without A/C even though it was very hot during the day. I still prefer the vibe of BA over Azania, but I'd recommend both places for different reasons. You can easily walk or bike to PV from either location. Cariblue looks really nice as well, but didn't get to see the inside of the cabinas.
The main reason we didn't go back to Banana Azul is because they are aiming towards adult clientele now and I figured a better chance for daughter to meet families with children would be at Azania. It was a tough choice as BA still welcomed us and I hope to return there again sometime. The bungalows at Azania are great. Really pretty inside and out and nicely situated. It was also nice having a pool as the beaches, even at Punta Uva, were a little rough at times. We were fine without A/C even though it was very hot during the day. I still prefer the vibe of BA over Azania, but I'd recommend both places for different reasons. You can easily walk or bike to PV from either location. Cariblue looks really nice as well, but didn't get to see the inside of the cabinas.
Apr 9th, 2008, 03:36 PM
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Hip....Great so far,keep it coming! You have such fun trip reports!
Counting down the weeks until we are back at BdC! 7 weeks! Whoohoo!!
I feel your pain regarding Emergency care, last Nov I ended up in an ER in Mexico. But had great service and cheap!
Anxious for the rest of the trip report and of course your beautiful fotos!! Toni
Counting down the weeks until we are back at BdC! 7 weeks! Whoohoo!!
I feel your pain regarding Emergency care, last Nov I ended up in an ER in Mexico. But had great service and cheap!
Anxious for the rest of the trip report and of course your beautiful fotos!! Toni
Apr 9th, 2008, 04:00 PM
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Shell - Not sure how exciting it would be for a 7 and 9 year old. There are a few hours during the tour that are primarily learning and listening, and not much action, so I think it would depend on them. The animal sanctuary is fairly small and just a handful of animals, so not a whole lot of time focused there.
Suzie2 -- Didn't realize you were so close! Will definitely keep you posted on any GTG or the like.
SiteC_er -- Will try to add to report tonight including BVV in MA.
parrmt -- Yes, I guess you are counting the days about now. Lucky! ER = No fun!
Everyone...Looks like Janenicole and 2 others have a good start on what could be a nice GTG at BDC! cm, tully, check your calendars...shillmac, not a good excuse for a substitute teacher I guess, eh?
Suzie2 -- Didn't realize you were so close! Will definitely keep you posted on any GTG or the like.
SiteC_er -- Will try to add to report tonight including BVV in MA.
parrmt -- Yes, I guess you are counting the days about now. Lucky! ER = No fun!
Everyone...Looks like Janenicole and 2 others have a good start on what could be a nice GTG at BDC! cm, tully, check your calendars...shillmac, not a good excuse for a substitute teacher I guess, eh?
Apr 9th, 2008, 06:05 PM
#32
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Nope--not with testing in early March! No way I can get away before mid March. But I'm not worried about it. You guys can just offer up a moment of silence if I'm not there! LOL!
Since you have the broad time frame, Feb-May, why don't you continue keeping track just as you are doing and be in charge of pulling this thing together! It's just such a great thought, and really should happen.
Since you have the broad time frame, Feb-May, why don't you continue keeping track just as you are doing and be in charge of pulling this thing together! It's just such a great thought, and really should happen.
Apr 9th, 2008, 06:59 PM
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I would be good for April or May or June! Can we appoint just 1 person to take notes? Make the mass trip report easier
Lookng forward to the rest of your report, and of course BdC - makes the waiting sweeter, or worse, I'm not sure! (23 sleeps to go)
Lookng forward to the rest of your report, and of course BdC - makes the waiting sweeter, or worse, I'm not sure! (23 sleeps to go)
Apr 9th, 2008, 07:20 PM
#34
I am reading ,I am reading .
But as usual I am being so nice and quite !
Keep it coming!
Percy
But as usual I am being so nice and quite !
Keep it coming!
Percy
Apr 9th, 2008, 07:43 PM
#36
Hi Everybody;
Goodnight now.I have read this thread again,so it is bedtime.
( I wish I wasn't so quite! )
Percy
Goodnight now.I have read this thread again,so it is bedtime.
( I wish I wasn't so quite! )
Percy
Apr 10th, 2008, 05:12 AM
#39
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Hi Hip,
Welcome home, sounds like you had a great itinerary, enjoying the read too and looking forward to the rest of the report.
A CTG at BDC would be a lot of fun, we're flexible (except we were thinking of going back to Argentina next March), no set plans yet.
Welcome home, sounds like you had a great itinerary, enjoying the read too and looking forward to the rest of the report.
A CTG at BDC would be a lot of fun, we're flexible (except we were thinking of going back to Argentina next March), no set plans yet.
Apr 10th, 2008, 10:42 AM
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Hip,
That Desafio tour sounds very interesting, and definitely different from what most folks seem to do in the Arenal area. I'll have to make note of that for future reference...
I would definitely be interested in a GTG opportunity for some time next spring. I can usually be fairly flexible with scheduling vacation time provided I have some advance notice to work with...
That Desafio tour sounds very interesting, and definitely different from what most folks seem to do in the Arenal area. I'll have to make note of that for future reference...
I would definitely be interested in a GTG opportunity for some time next spring. I can usually be fairly flexible with scheduling vacation time provided I have some advance notice to work with...
