Hola everyone,
want to thank everyone who answered all my questions while researching this trip. Will be giving a detailed trip report later. This was my best family vacation ever. The kids really enjoyed costa rica and its people. Biggest dissapointment was the junior suites at Tabacon. Biggest suprise was Hotel Los Lagos. Great place! Best deal was buiding D at Costa verde Manuel Antonio. $60 bucks a night for a view I would have paid a lot more for! Friendliest hotel staff overall would have to be Orquideas inn. Anyway will be giving more details later. PURA VIDA!

Welcome back! I am looking forward to your full report. Costa Verde sounds like an excellent value! And Las Orquideas. . . .isn't that the coolest place? So glad your family had a wonderful time and that you arrived home safely.

looking forward to your report soon as my daughter and I are going to Costa Rica Sept. 2-10. Already have reservations booked for the Orquideas Inn. Had just considered booking at Costa Verde as we will be at Manuel Antonio Sept. 7 and 8. Would like to know more about the Building D at Costa Verde for $60 a night and other rooms. Had looked at the studio room rather than the efficiency ones. Please advise concerning this hotel. Do they offer breakfast with the room? Did not see this on the internet listed. If not this hotel others in the moderate price range.
Thanks for your reply.

We are just back,too...had a great time. I was a bit disappointed with Villas Nicholas in MA. Can't clearly say why; we had a large room, full kitchen and great view...but there was just something about it that we can't say we loved it. Our rate was around $100/night...more to follow after I get some sleep! Joyce

maryanne - Costa Verde does not include brekkie in their rates, it runs around $5-6 USD in the Anaconda Restaurant. I stayed in bldg B in the first part of June and would definitely stay there again. The entire complex is very nice, bldg D is across the road from the main complex (not too far of a walk), bldg C seem to get the bulk of the squirrel monkey visits, bldg B has great views (as does Costa Verde II) & I never walked down to bldg E.

hello- just got back as well with my husband. Stayed at Coste Verde in bldg B- Great view of ocean and jungle. It can be noisy sometimes with the kids in the pool below. Depends if you have kids- would have stayed in the adult bldg. Great hotel overall. My only bad thing to say is they feed the monkeys- thats why they are all over the place there.

Message: Also looking foward to your comments. We're going to CR in Feb '05 and we're still deciding on hotels. Anyone have comments on these choices?
ARENAL, Volcano Lodge or Los Lagos
MONTEVERDE, Sapo D'oro
MA Costa Verde, Nicolas or Mono Azul
All comments, suggestions welcome.

We stayed at Sapo Dorado in Monteverde. Very nice, private, quiet, great views! You can sit on your balcony and watch thunderstorms at night. We stayed in the sunset suites- rm 14.

Costa verde does not offer breakfast. We had breakfast at Cafe Milagro down the street, which I really liked. Good tasty breakfast and cheap! Getting back to Costa Verde, my wife was not so thrilled about the room. The toilet didnt flush very good and this really concerned her. For me, building D was a good value, but parking there is tight and you have to cross the road to get to the main part of the hotel. So it depends on what you want. I would probably pay more for the studio unless your looking to save money.

Dear Arbegold-- I personally like Volcano lodge and can recommend it. i suggest you ask for units 21,22, or 23, or 8 or 9. Great place but some of the units have a bright yard light between your porch and the volcano that hinters viewing at night. they have a great resaurant that serves a nice seafood Corbina gratinado (Seabass baked with spinach and cheese).
And in MA, I prefer the Karahe. It is across the street from Costa Verde and is on the beach so you have great ocean access, unlike Costa Verde. Get the beach front upstairs units. The rooms are a bit spartan but the location more than makes up for it. Karahe's restaurant is simple and down on the beach though so if you want a fancy meal you will need to drive (or walk to Costa Verde).