My wife would like to go to a beach resort in Costa Rica in January, and the options are bewildering. We are looking for something nice, but not outrageously expensive. She mostly wants to sit on the beach and sip icy drinks, but we also are looking for something close enough to a cloud forest park that a day tour would not be too far. We were thinking the northern Pacific coast would be nice.

Does anyone have a suggestion for some good places to check out? Thank you

Northern Pacfic Coast is not close enough for a day trip to a cloud forest.

Our daughter and her husband’s family stayed at the Westin at Playa Conchal. They loved it, but this area is dryer and not near the cloud forests.

I would not recommend an all-inclusive in Costa Rica. None of them are terribly impressive. Your best bet is definitely venturing out. If the all-inclusive is a must, Mexico is the way to go.

She mostly wants to sit on the beach and sip icy drinks

I also would suggest Mexico. Maybe Jamaica for that kind of a vacation.

If you want a very quiet relaxing resort, look into Royal Hideaway Playacar in Mexico. It is an adults only all inclusive resort on a great beach. Wonderful service and VERY quiet resort.

I haven't had great luck with AI resorts in CR either. I think most people come to CR for the outdoors - the animals, the forests and jungles, the natural beaches, so the resort infrastructure hasn't really developed. There are great small hotels and lodges though. Also, people tend to underestimate the time it takes to get places in CR. It's a small country, but it is also a very rural and mountainous country - 2 lane roads, plenty of curves, slow speeds. It takes a while to get places.