We are a group of 4 adults looking for lodging during the busy season(over christmas). I have looked into a few hotels in the places we are staying(arenal, monteverde, manuel antonio) and it seems a lot of places are booked up.
I would really appreciate some suggestions. We will be driving and the budget can be from moderate to very expensive, we are looking for nice views, clean, comfortable rooms and a unique experience would be a great bonus.
Thanks for your advice

It would help to know what places you've tried already. Unfortunately, at this late date, you might not get your 1st or even 6th choice. It wouldn't hurt to just start contacting every place and see who has availability.

I'm thinking perhaps you should look into alternative areas of the country besides those that are most popular. After all, as everyone who has traveled all through Costa Rica can tell you, there are SO many areas to be enjoyed. Suggestions:

Central Valley: Stay in the locale north of San Jose for a few days. Check out:

Buena Vista Lodge
Poas Volcano Lodge
Chalet Tirol--that's not the right name--but it's something like that!
Hotel Bougainvillea
Finca Rosa Blanca
Xandari Resort
Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel
Any number of others who might still have availability. . . .

Arenal Area: Try Tilajari Lodge (near Muelle)--great place!

Also, check into some of the hotels on the lake--such as La Mansion. . .

Montezuma/Malpais area:

Milarepa
FlorBlanca
Tropico Latino
Amor de Mar
El Sana Banano

Playa Hermosa/Coco Beach/Ocotal area:

Villas del Sueno
El Velero
Hotel Finistera
Flor de Itabo (Playas del Coco)

Flamingo/Potrero area:

Flamingo Beach Resort
Flamingo Marina Resort
Mariner Inn
Bahia del Sol (I always have trouble remembering this one--hope I have the name right--it's in Potrero)

Turrialba area--for rafting and viewing Irazu, visiting Cartago, Orosi Valley, Lankaster Gardens, etc--GREAT part of the country!
Look into : Casa Turire--fabulous place

Manuel Antonio: Try Hotel California. . .not a bad place, perhaps will still have availability. There are SO many hotels here--and I'm not familiar with very many of them--as Tully said, try them all--and soon!

Caribbean lowland area, up near Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui:

Selva Verde
La Quinta
Neotropical Center? Not very familiar with this one. . .vaguely remember it being mentioned on this board. . .

San Gerardo de Dota--wonderfully cool cloud forest area south of SJO
Check out: Hotel Savegre de Montana or
Trogon Lodge
And there are a couple of other new places down in that area, can't remember the names. This area an excellent alternative to Monteverde. . .

Good luck! Hope this helps. I know that others might be able to offer you some other alternatives as well. I submit that you might enjoy some of the less traveled areas even more than the areas you are thinking to visit. . .

thanks for the suggestions. this is my second time to CR(amazing place), but i am bringing my family and wanted to show them most of the highlights over the 8 days we have.
i will definitely look into your suggestions.
thanks again

Shillimacīs suggestions are spot on.
however, if you want to visit Monteverde, you could try hotels in Santa Elena which is in Monteverde:

http://costa-rica.typepad.com/santa_...ome/index.html


also,my beach suggestion would be Playa Carrillo, 4km south of Playa Samara. The only hotel i know of there is El Sueno Tropical, but itīs lovely and Carrillo is one of the nicest beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula:

http://costa-rica.typepad.com/playa_...ome/index.html