aqualime

My family of four (kids 9 and 13) would love a recommendation for a hotel that would be fun to stay at for a night or two between our flight into San Jose and our flight on Nature Air out of Tobas Bolanos.
We will be headed to the Osa (Black Turtle Lodge and Bosque del Cabo). We probably won't rent a car in San Jose so a relatively close proximity to the airports would be good. Thanks!

volcanogirl

If you're willing to stray about an hour from the airport, the Peace Lodge is awesome, and your kids would love it - 5 gorgeous waterfalls that you can hike to, handfeeding hummingbirds, nocturnal frog tour, waterfall showers, jacuzzis - it's a great spot. They picked us up at the airport and drove us there for 50 bucks.

We also stayed at Grano de Oro in San Jose - it's built in an old mansion and has great service and a well-known restaurant on the property, nice rooftop hot tubs as well.

shillmac

Peace Lodge a great suggestion. If you'd like to save a few $$, I think Poas Volcano Lodge is a nice alternative--more rustic, but a nice setting with the countryside all around you. It costs $29 to get into La Paz Waterfall Gardens if you are not staying at Peace Lodge. Expensive, but worth it.

Also, Vista del Valle is a very nice hotel closer to the airport. Beautiful property, with a nice waterfall that the kids would enjoy hiking down to. It has one set of duplexes that would give the 4 of you a little space and privacy.

volcanogirl

shillmac, have you done the waterfall hike at Vista del Valle? We gave up because it was really slippery and some of the steps weren't in the best shape. At one point, it seemed to go straight down - was it worth it? I was wondering if we missed out. Having just done the Peace Lodge and all their waterfalls, we thought it was okay to skip, but we're still wondering what we missed!

Nolegirl0923

I suggest Pura Vida Hotel, a 10 minute drive from the airport in Alajuela. www.puravidahotl.com

shillmac

No, you didn't miss that much, having done the others. It's just that, when you're X number of years old, it gives one quite a rush to climb down those 3 ladders that go down the cliffside one after the other! Especially when you've always been something of a wuss!

I just think VdV is one of the coolest hotels in the area.

volcanogirl

I think it's awesome that you did it, and now I feel like the wuss - LOL!

aqualime

Great suggestions! Just contacted Vista del Valle and they only have a Mango Manor room left.
I have read some complaints about noise in the rooms which connect.
Any personal experience with those rooms? Peace Lodge is a possibility, but we have already been to La Paz Waterfall Garden which was fantastic.

shillmac

aqualime, I'm not sure I understand your question, but will try to answer. I'm pretty sure the two do NOT connect, but share a common courtyard area. Please research it a bit to be sure. I think there is only the one "shared" unit. I guess the noise level would depend upon who was in the other one, but it is typically used for families or people who are traveling together. Does that make sense? At least, it's my impression. I called there when we were planning our summer visit with our 2 daughters and granddaughter. They offered it to us as the best lodging for our needs. We opted not to stay because of an early departure the next a.m. (would prefer more than to just sleep there for the price!). Hope this helps. .

volcanogirl

aqualime, I have to be honest about Vista del Valle - I didn't love it. I think I'm the only one. I had read about noise problems like you did, so I requested one of the little palapas on its own - got the Mona Lisa room. The grounds of VdV were lush and beautiful and had a nice restaurant, but our room was disappointing to me. It was just dark and drab - dark green sink and toilet, dark green bedspread and dark faux stones painted on the walls, kind of dim lighting, and it didn't have window coverings on the windows. That room faces an area where people don't really go, but it was still odd to us. I think some of the other rooms are more updated than this one. The grounds were quite nice though - really pretty landscaping and a nice pool and hot tub; we were the only ones using it when we were there.

Maybe because we came from Peace Lodge and Bosque del Cabo - it's really hard to compete with those two places.

shillmac

Yeah, it's hard to go ANYWHERE after either one of those. We were in Ilan Ilan (Ylang Ylang?) and it was just beautiful with a great outdoor shower--loved it. It was octagonal--but not for families, just for a couuple. I wouldn't have cared for the place you described either. And they aren't cheap.