Can anyone recommend a decent hotel in Tilaran? I have appreciated the feedback on Hotel Tilawa so if you have other ideas, I'd appreciate it! Thanks!

Well, here goes. Last March we had booked into Hotel Tilawa for three nights and left after two. It had great views and a great location but that is about all. Unfortunately it is very run down and even though Fodor's had highly recommended it, it has now been removed from their listing. There is not really much in the area but we went for the windsurfing which is truly spectacular. There are other accommodations across the lake from Tilawa that are much nicer. If still interested I will look up for you. Just wondering if there is a reason you are heading to this area in particular. Don't stay here - a BIG disappointment.

Thank you very much for the feedback. We will be en route to Arenal/La Fortuna and we'd like to make a stop (from Samara) b/c I will be 6 months pregnant. My husband would like to windsurf so we were going to stay there for one night...any other ides would be MUCH apprecaited!

There are two places we checked out after leaving Tilawa but didn't stay at either one only because we thought we would spend a night in La Fortuna instead. Try Rock River Lodge (www.rockriverlodge.com) which is across the lake from Hotel Tilawa. Little bungalows/cabinas on the hillside. Rustic but looked like a neat place to stay. Windsurfing very close to here. Another place that we found charming was Villa Decary (www.villadecary.com)which is a bit further south from Rock River in Nuevo Arenal. It has beautiful grounds and would be a very relaxing, peaceful place to stay. Not fancy but very nice. You would have to drive up the road to windsurf but it's not that far. Don't think you can go wrong with either place for one night. Let me know if you have any other questions.

travelgrl-Thanks for the suggestions! How close are these two places to Arenal/La Fortuna? That was my biggest concern...the long drive from Samara to wherever I go before Arenal (we're staying at Tababcon) but also getting a couple hours of windsurfing will be fun. If they are close, then maybe we should just go on to Tabacon? Thanks again for your help with this nitty gritty detail!

If memory serves me correct, I think it was only about 2 hours to Tabacon but on a very bumpy dirt road. We dawdled so it could be less. A nice drive though. If you have a map of CR, check out where Nuevo Arenal is and that will give you some idea. Villa Decary would be closer to Tabacon than Rock River. Hope this helps!

WOW! I was so excited to stay at Hotel Tilawa, but after reading this I may reconsider. Can we conclude that the website is very misleading? What made it so horrible?

Thanks!

I ask the same questions mlestock!

I have a 3-day reservation at Tilawa at the end of October, and am re-considering after reading travelgrl's condemnation of it.

Wherever I end up, I sure hope there's some wind!