just got back from CR (slight hiccup b/c of cancelled flight due to east coast storm)and had a GREAT time (doesn't everyone). My main pieces of advice are: don't worry about malaria or any kind of food poisoning, except obvious precautions you would take here at home. I ate everything and drank water, no probs. And I was VERY worried beforehand. Also, Costa Rica has something for everyone..whether single, with family, adventurous or not...a sun goddess or hiker...it's got it all. Enjoy. Oh and bring lots of single dollar bills...that is one thing I wish someone had told me!

We're going in March! I am pumped! I'll make note of the dollar hint. I have read so much about the theft issue - not leaving anything in your car, etc. What was your experience? How did you deal with it?
Also, where did you go? Would love to hear details!

Glad to hear you had a great time, can't wait to read details. Did you get to feel one of the two earthquakes on Friday?

I had not heard about the earthquakes. Where were these located?

Hello! Well we didn't rent a car so I don't know about leaving stuff in the car, but you probably should always carry your passport/cash with you, or at least split your cash in case. We used safes in hotels, otherwise no problems. San Jose can be sketchy, so just take extra precautions there.
We went in and out of San Jose, took Interbus to Tabacon/Arenal, and then Interbus again to Tamarindo (stayed at Capitan Suezo and Diria). Then we flew Sansa Air back to San Jose (not nearly as scary as I thought it would be). It was just a great vacation, to see rainforest (damp Arenal area) to hot dry air of Tamarindo (went horseback riding, beautiful postcard beaches) and also enjoy fantastic food (tenderloin steak to die for at reasonable prices, seafood, mangos,papayas, fresh banana cocktails).
We did feel an earthquake on Monday morning in San Jose...seems to happen all the time so no major worries, but was another story for the folks back home! Be happy to answer any other specific questions..

Hi jessy123,
Your itinerary sounds like the one I am planning for next February. How was the Interbus? My husband doesn't want to rent a car so we're looking into other options. Also, how was Tamarindo? We're trying to decide between there and Manuel Antonio. Thanks for any feedback from all Fodorites out there.
Jayne

Jessy123,
Thanks for the info! Your trip sounds great. Makes me even more excited for ours.

Jaynean:
The roads are pretty windy and bumpy (at least the ones we were on, I heard the ones further south around Quepos/Manuel Antonio were even worse), so it was nice to have Interbus do all the work. I saw plenty of 4x4's on the road ahead of us (probably rentals) so that can be fun too if you enjoy unpredictable driving. Interbus was great in that it was clean, cheap and efficient with friendly people on board, but can be slower (because of stops). The drive is also slow because the roads aren't always paved (potholes galore, plus we had a mudslide on the way), and it is very windy in the mountains around Arenal. I think it is worth the experience but a flight back is advised because while the way there feels like an adventure, the way back might just be torture .
Tamarindo is nice, quite a bit of construction since it's still a tourist destination in development. Lots of tourists, surfers, trinket shops, and is dusty in the town. The beach (Playa Tamarindo) is beautiful, not too big. We stayed at El Diria which was right on the beach .. a lot of the hotels there aren't actually right on the beach, so something to take into consideration when you choose accomodation. We liked Diria because it had full amenities, and was the centre of the town and a great beach location. If you want something smaller/less populated try maybe Jardin L'Eden or Capitan Suezo.
We didn't visit Manuel Antonio but I get the impression from other travellers that it is v. nice but not as commercialized and I think the drive might be a bit bumpier. Still beautiful beaches, just less of the tourist scene.
Hope that helps!

Message: jessy123
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! By any chance, did you see the Casa Cook cabinas? They are on the beach too, but I read there are only 3 of them. Wonderful info from you jessy!!!!
Jayne

Hi, no problem, I can't stop talking about Costa Rica so I'm happy to help.
We did see Casa Cook, it's right on the beach (looked like little bungalows) not too far from Capitan Suezo. I don't know much more, I saw hammocks on the beach. My impression is it's a smaller, less structured version of Capitan Suezo, probably less amenities (like no restaurant/bar/possibly no A/C) but right on the beach and an authentic way to go.

I am right now deciding to book a bungalow at Capitan Suizo but you've got me thinking about the diria again. We are two adults, one 14 year old girl and a young grandma.

We're all good walkers but the Diria is in the centre of the action, right? Please compare the two for me...which would you stay at again?

Thankyou for your report. I like to drink a lot of water and can I just drink it out of the tap? We have a bungalow reserved at Capitan Suizo in March. How is it without a/c or did you have a/c?

UH ! OH ! Jessy 1223 !!! YOU HAVE IT !!!! This is serious , it will pain you (we cant always be there ) , its going to be expensive ( you will always WANT to BE there ) , and you will drive crazy your friends who have NOT been there ( because we cant stop talking about it ) . Yup ! Its Costa Ricaitis !!! INCURABLE !

hello again,
we stayed one night in Suezo on the 2nd floor with no A/C (we booked last minute). It is no problem without a/c because it cools off at night and the winds come straight through the room. You might have some ants in your room though..I am not a bug person, but just ignored them or sprayed OFF on them.

I think both Capitan Suezo and Diria are nice but they are different. They aren't too far from each other, like a 15minute walk if you walk along the beach. Diria is just more in the centre because it's right smack in the middle of town, and is a big hotel with full amenities including 3 flat screens with internet (for a price of course! $10 p.hr) and has a big tour guide desk/airline representative, plus a large restaurant/bar by beach (with TV screens at bar) so it is an ideal spot for sunset watching and a lot of people stop by from other hotels. So Diria is much more of a full service hotel but might be considered less of an authentic Costa Rica experience. It was very relaxing and enjoyable for us b/c we'd been on the move so much prior to Tamarindo. Also, by US standards the service would probably be considered slow and sometimes clueless..but that's something you soon learn to accept as part of the charm of Costa Rica (they do try!)
Suezo is much smaller, cute little restaurant and pool (so you're by no means roughing it!). I noticed a lot of families, so this may be good for you too. You could rent a bungalow and fit your whole family in there. Less room to mull about, and a little more rustic (hammock on beach rather than rows of beach chairs facing ocean)and a a 10mn walk to town, but still charming (be prepared for some noisy wildlife in the morning!)
For us, I think we would probably go back to Diria if we went back..and get an ocean view room..

Hope this helps..and PS to Faithie: I laughed a lot at your post! So true..

Thankyou very much for the Capitan Suizo advise. I think we will give it a try.