I am overloaded with reading reviews and trying to lock down where we will stay when in M.A.

We will be in San Jose 1 night and Arenal 3 spending the bulk of our trip in MA.

We are looking for a hotel that has great views - I love when one side is full length windows. A balcony is a must!

Many hotels in MA are quite expensive (which is ok we don't mind the splurge) but in looking at Makanda for example, I read great reviews but several said the rooms are outdated, that their bathrooms at home are nicer then in the hotel!!! I do not want to spend my time in a condo/time share type place -- I don't need a kitchen, I am on vacation and I want the hotel to be updated!

Also read about Makanda that it is much further away then other hotels that are closer to town --- disappointed bc these comments are turning me off...
Any suggestions welcomed!! Please!

You might like Mango Moon; we got upgraded to a beautiful private suite with a private balcony. We didn't love our original room, but that room was great. Other popular spots are Buena Vista Villas, Tulemar Bungalows, Si Como No, Costa Verde, and Villas Nicolas. If we were to go back, I'd go with Buena Vista Villas. I like the fact that they and Tulemar have their own beach.

I looked at Tulemar but what I didn't like is they looked like condos - I like the allure of something modern.

We had a junior suite at Si Como No and really liked it. Very large balcony (with 2 loungers and a table), great views, nice separate bedroom area, large bathroom with live plants in the shower area. Would consider it very nicely updated.

Have also heard good things about Buena Vista Villas.

I'm sure the other suggested properties are very nice, but I think you'd be hard pressed to beat a 1 bedroom villa at Buena Vista Villas. Lots of wildlife on property, good location, and a fantastic private beach. Enjoy CR!

We are in love with Villa Mot Mot at Tulemar. Haven't stayed in one of the BV villas. We thought lower Motmot was excellent for the 3 of us--and a super value. The wildlife was amazing--all around our porch. LOVED the private beach. On last year's stay, we didn't even venture into the park--hardly left the property. The DVD player and DVD's were welcomed on the rainy afternoons when we were ready to rest anyway! The bath was small, but we liked the big tub--so nice to have a tub when most places offer only showers.

You're looking for Issimo Suites. We stayed there in January as a splurge at the end of our 2 weeks in Costa Rica. Views are incredible, a whole wall of windows and a balcony with rockers overlooking the ocean. Huge tub for soaking afetr a day of beaching adn hiking in the park and on-site massages...we loved it.

I like the beach and grounds that Tulemar and BVV has to offer. Have stayed in a deluxe bedroom at BVV, but would opt for Mot-Mot at Tulemar if we stay again. It's really beautiful and in a great location. Agree it's a great value especially the green season rates.

Everyone has their favorites, but we absolutely loved La Mariposa. We had an ocean view and the balcony overlooked MA park. Sitting out there in the mornings, I was visited by monkeys, toucans and butterflies. The deep tiled jacuzzi tub was also situated so you could look out (or even open) the windows to the balcony if you wanted. The view from the pool and the restaurant were unbeatable IMO and the staff was very accomodating. For the price, with breakfast included, I thought it was amazing.

Oops -- sorry, meant to post this link. www.villamotmot.com

Great slideshow of upper and lower unit.

I'll also add that it might be worth negotiating with the owner of Villa Mot Mot directly (reachable via the link that hip provided) instead of going through Tulemar. Though we ended up not going back to MA, they seemed to be willing to negotiate a little bit.

Is Villa Mot Mot owned separately from Tulemar? Everyone always mentions that one specifically.

From what I understand all of the BVV and Tulemar condos and properties are owned privately, but managed by Tulemar.

We spent 3 nights at Arenas del Mar. The room was very modern, the bathroom huge, and we had a jacuzzi on our balcony. The hotel is hidden away from the street and bordered by jungle on one side (tons of monkeys, sloths, etc)and a private beach on the other. Also, the food & bar service was great.

Thanks, hip!

Arenas del Mar looks amazing but I couldn't even afford that place in their low season!

Their Rainforest Suites are pretty much the same price as the studios at Makanda ($220 v. $200), so I thought it would be in your range.

We have friends who've stayed at the Mariposa and really liked it. They seem to have range of roomtypes/prices.

There are many great places to stay in MA. For me getting a room overlooking the Pacific would be a priority so if places mentioned above are too expensive try somewhere like Costa Verde that's affordable AND with a view. IMO this is better than getting a rain forest facing room somewhere like Buena Vista Villas (based on experience), Rainforest Suite at Arenas del Mar, etc.

Oh, sorry, Buena Vista Villas "Deluxe Bedroom" is the rain forest facing room. The ocean view rooms are so much more expensive. Good luck with your decision!

The Buena Vista Villas-one bedroom suites all have ocean views. Though we did not go in a Mot-Mot, they look nearly identical based on the pictures in the link (balcony w/ hammock, ocean view, two queen beds & cable tv, etc).