Sorry for the double post - I picked the wrong board.

This probably ranks as one of the weirdest travel-related concerns about CR...but I am severely allergic to cats (I've ended up in the hospital with asthma attacks after being around them) and I was just reading the review about a cat being allowed in the rooms at Peace Lodge. Has anyone with cat allergies stayed there before? Is this an issue I should be worried about? We haven't booked a room there yet but were planning to. Now I'm reconsidering, but I really wanted to spend a night there! Thanks.

Hi, Quarters - my husband and I both have severe cat allergies - eyes swell up, tear, massive amounts of sneezing, etc. We just got back from the Peace Lodge and didn't have any problems. Not sure if the kitty had never visited our room or what, but everything was fine with us.

Does it help you if you take Benadryl beforehand? If so, you might pack some or check with them to see if there are any kitty-free rooms. I really don't know how he would get inside the rooms, but I've read other people's posts that he's visited them.

I haven't stayed at Peace Lodge but I can tell you that cats are really well accepted in Costa Rica. We found them living in nice restaurants, beach bars, hotel lobbies . . you name it. The Benadryl is a great idea. I went through a whole package and was looking for more - the bugs eat me alive in shady areas or at night. You will probably want to bring prescription meds too, just in case.

OK, so pack Benadryl! (It helps a little, but makes me sooo groggy.) I'll definitely bring an inhaler and all that, just in case. I think if the rooms are cleaned well at Peace Lodge I will be OK for one night.

Quarters,

We stayed at Peace Lodge this past March and were quite surprised to see a cat standing in the middle of our room. We had left the door to the balcony ajar and the cat just came on in. We politely encouraged him to leave. No severe cat allergies.... just made us miss our cats back home.

Regarding the Benadryl - it's not sold over the counter in Costa Rica. You have to go to a pharmacy and ask for it directly. They sell it by the pill. You can by 10 or 20 or however many pills you want, but you won't see it in the hotel lobby gift shops or regular stores. I had horrible hives as a reaction to antibiotics I was taking that were prescribed to me from home, but I got the hives while I was there, so I got to find this out the hard way!

Peace Lodge has only the one cat. He won't be in your room unless you invite him or leave the door ajar.

I have allergies to them as well, itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, etc. If I don't touch or if they don't get on the furniture I sit or lay on, I'm okay. You'll not have a problem there.

Other places in CR, yes, you do see several cats hanging around and wandering through restaurants. It shouldn't bother you, they don't jump up in your lap or anything, just roam around! Good luck! Have a great time!