Hotel advise please
 

(I posted this question yesterday but can't find it anywhere - sorry if doubling up).

Has anyone taken the Arenal canopy Tour (horseback riding + canopy tour for $50) by Rain Forest Tours? Is it ok? can we just hotel in San Jose and do a day trip for this or should we stay somewhere else nearby here?

Same questions about the rafting in Reventazen River by the same company (Rain Forest tours).

Thanks

KS- Click on your "author" name at the top of the post, and it brings up a list of everything you posted previously.

I haven't used that tour company but I do not advise doing it as a day trip from San Jose. It will take you 3.5 - 4 hours to get there one way, you'll be tired from the tour and have to drive back. Arenal is a nice area and worth spending a couple of nights.

Sandy

please ignore this quick thread hijack -
sandy I'm going to bump my thread (titled Selva Verde or something) as I have some questions for you and know you just returned from Playa Nicuesa.
- we now return to your normally scheduled thread. :)

I agree with Sandyc about Arenal being too far for a daytrip from San Jose.

The Reventazon is Ok for a San Jose pick up. I'd ask the rafting company which hotels they will pickup from.

Ordinarily, I would agree as well. However, we had friends who opted to stay in San Jose for 3 days last September and the daytrips worked out well for them. They loved Arenal and have plans to return there in a couple of months.

If one has the option of a couple or 3 nights there, then certainly that would be better. But I think the day trip does work well for some--our friends aren't spring chickens, but they enjoyed every second. The drive didn't bother them as they enjoyed all the sights along the way and considered it part of the fun. They saw lava flow day and night. The only part on the downside was (of course) the drive home after dark. But they thought it was a fun day.

For those of us who have been there, it certainly hold no appeal to do it in a day, but for others just sampling different areas in a short amount of time, it would be okay.

Thanks eveyone. That's very helpful