Several years ago we did Christmas in Mexico away from our kids and grandkids. We said it didn't feel like Christmas and we would never do it again. Now I have 3 weeks off at Christmas and we are going to try it again.
Last year we did the 2 week tourist run through Costa Rica and loved it. Manuel Antonio to Poas to Arenal to Monte Verde to Playa Panama.

This year we were wondering about the Caribbean side but my wife is concerned about rip tides and big waves for swimming. I would like to stay put for 5-7 days at a time, do a little exploring, go swimming snorkeling, read books, hang out at a beach bar and basically do nothing. We will rent a vehicle but have no problem taking different transit ideas as the vehicle will be parked for most of the time.

Since last year we got shut out of Poas by fog the one day we allotted. We would like to try again but give ourselves more time in the area but I don't know where. Last time we stayed outside of Grecia but it was remote, it was hard getting good food service on weekends. The hour or so it took to get to the volcano was all the time it took to fog in. We would like to stay someplace closer but again I don't know if is a place to stay for a week.

Another portion of our trip we were thinking about going south of Manuel Antonio as last year when we were there the water was as warm as a bathtumaybe a freak thing) but I figure further south warmer water? Playa Uvita area south may be a place to hang out for a good weekend and do nothing.

We did wander to Playa Flamingo when we were exploring last year and the beach there looked amazing so again it could be on our hit list.

As for budget I definitely would like to stay in a clean, quiet and decent sized accommodations and keep the price under $150 night. That being said I am not adverse to spending a lot more for a treat for a day or 2 or a lot less for an experience.

Any ideas for the perfect Christmas get away would be really appreciated. If there was one place in Costa Rica where you would want to spend Christmas/New Years where would it be? A few great restaurants in the area where we can get a nice meal for Christmas( it doesn't have to have all the fixings) is on our list.

You're starting the planning process for this awfully, awfully late. Christmas is the single most crazy busy week there. Places raise their rates up to 50% for that week and still sell out months in advance.

Your starting point is going to be to figure out what hotels and car rental places have availability for your dates. Probably via a search engine like booking.com or expedia, etc.

Generally, the popular Pacific coast beach destinations (Manuel Antonio and all points up the coast)and heavy tourist areas (Arenal, Manuel Antonio)will be the ones that will have booked up the first. There very well could be a few places that have availability, but you'll have to be willing to snatch them up FAST.

I agree and have other sites RBO and airbnb that have several place available in different areas. I want to nail down schedule, hotels then airfare and car rental.

December is the rainiest month of the year on the Caribbean side. We're talking about possible flooding and roads being washed out. I'd avoid it that month.

RAC is right about the lateness here. Nail something down very soon.

Thanks Jeff,

We have got everything nailed down. We will be flying from SJ to Limon then driving down to Puerto Viejo. Hopefully wet weather won't have a huge effect on site seeing for 4 days. Then fly down to the Osa area for a week at Christmas then fly up to Tarramindo and stay up in that area for the next week and a half, the fly home from Liberia. It took a whole day to nail down all the details.
What I learned last year is that if my GPS says 2 hours to drive allot 3.5 hours to drive. That is why we decided to fly around especially during the holiday season, or else we might be spending Christmas and New Years by the side of the road.

Hi Stairgod, Glad you figured out your trip. This is somewhat off topic, but I was wondering if you ventured slightly north to Playa Potrero when you checked out Playa Flamingo. We're renting a villa between those two beaches Christmas week -- other than a brief paragraph in the guidebooks, I can't find a lot of info. And how warm was the water? We've been to CR several times (have explored most areas except the Osa), but never in December.

Hi Crosscheck,

We were at Playa Panama last March and we found a big difference between Manuel Antonio and Playa Panama. I don't know if it is real or imagined. Once you are in the water it really doesn't matter.
We are in the area from just before New Years for a week and a half.

Last year when we went out driving around we came upon Playa Flamingo. We are not staying Playa Flamingo proper either.

Water temperature varies depending on weather patterns but the difference is minor no matter where you go you will have to wear your flips to the waters edge as the sand is to hot to walk on.