Hello. My husband and I (newlyweds) are heading to Costa Rica in the end of November. Nothing beats first hand experience. So here we are asking you. Based on what we've learned exploring books, websites, etc., we've decided on the itinerary below. We have a couple of questions for those of you who are experienced Costa Rican travelers. Please advise. <BR> <BR>1 - Do you recommend Costa Verde or somewhere else (Villa Caletas is booked)? Stay closer to Manuel Antonio or Quepos? Would like some nightlife/restaraunts - not cooking much ourselves on vaca. <BR> <BR>2 - Are we spending the appropriate amount of time in each place? Is three days in Monteverde too long? Is one day at Arenal long enough? <BR> <BR>* Arrive early am in San Jose - rent car for couple of weeks - drive first to Manuel Antonio <BR>* Manuel Antonio - 5 nights at Costa Verde <BR>* Arenal - 1 night at Tabacon Hot Springs <BR>* Monteverde - 3 nights at El Sapo Dorado <BR>* Tamarindo - 5 nights at Capitan Suizo <BR>* San Jose - 1 night at Vista de Valle <BR> <BR>Other recommendations welcome! Please advise. <BR>Thanks in advance. <BR>Lindsay <BR>

Hi! We just got back from our honeymoon in Costa Rica this weekend. We were there for 12 nights, and had a rental car (4 wheel drive was necessary) most of the trip. The only outright suggestion I would make is if you are driving all the way from Quepos area to Arenal (expect a long day in the car), I would stay more than one night. The drive from Arenal to Monteverde took about 3 1/2 hours (not sure because we stopped for lunch in Tilaran), so if you spent the whole day driving from Quepos to Arenal, and had to drive the Monteverde the next day, you would only have one night and morning at Arenal. <BR> <BR>Actually, of our whole trip, Arenal was the stop we would have skipped if we were to do it again. <BR> <BR>The road from Arenal to Monteverde was like nothing I have ever seen before - the way from Monteverde back towards San Jose or to Quepos was much better! But when they say "gravel" road, they really mean various sized rocks and holes in the road. It felt much longer than a 3 1/2 hour drive since we were only going 5-10 km/hour. The scenery is nice, although the roads aren't marked at many forks and we had to ask directions a lot! <BR> <BR>We love adventure, but that drive wasn't much fun. Anyhow, the other drives in the car like down to the beach and up to Arenal from San Jose were fine, we enjoyed our time driving through the country, the mountains, and the beaches. <BR> <BR>We stayed at a great place in Monteverde, the Fonda Vela Inn, it was amazing. <BR> <BR>I plan to summarize my trip and post about it this weekend, we just got back to town Saturday so I haven't had the time! <BR> <BR>I hope this helps, our trip was absolutely fantastic besides a flat tire and one really terrible "hike" (really it was more like mountain climbing/bushwacking) in Arenal. We got to do and see so much, and had a really fantastic vacation. Just being in that country has completely revitalized and re-energized me. <BR> <BR>Cynthia

Lindsay -- I agree with Cynthia that driving all the way to Arenal to stay only one night does not make sense, because you will not have time to see anything. You will basically get there, sleep, and leave. What is the point of that? I think it would make more sense to stay 2 nights at Arenal and 2 at Monteverde. The rest of the itinerary looks fine.

Thanks for your input thus far. Yes, i think I'll change it to 2 x 2 nights at each Arenal and Monteverde. I'm struggling over which places to stay. I think we're going with Tabacon in Arenal. Perhaps Hotel Montana de Fuego is an option. Trying to decide between El Sapo Dorado or Fonda Vela in Monteverde. Any suggestions / input? <BR> <BR>Lindsay

We stayed at Tabacon Lodge, but only for one night because we did not think it was worth the money. It was just like any standard American chain hotel (Holiday Inn, for example). The staff at the front desk was rude and impatient at checkin, the only time we experienced this during our entire 2 week stay. They slapped plastic bracelets on us before we knew what hit us, without explaining why or what they were doing (it reminded me of being admitted to a hospital) (the bracelets allow you to charge things to your room -- big deal -- every major resort we've ever stayed at allows this and doesn't force you to wear a stupid plastic bracelet). The hot springs at Tabacon are very nice, but you can experience those without staying at the resort (in fact, the hot springs are not immediately adjacent to the resort as they would lead you to believe -- it is across the road and then down the road several hundred feet -- they have a shuttle that takes you there or you can walk). We stayed the next two nights at Arenal Lodge and liked that much better because it had more character. However, none of the places in that area seemed really great compared to all the places we stayed in other parts of the country. Locals told us that Montana del Fuego was the best place to stay in the area. <BR> <BR>In Monteverde, both El Sapo Dorado and La Fonda Vela are supposed to be wonderful, but I haven't stayed at either.

Lindsay, <BR> <BR>My husband and I were in CR last summer and we stayed at the Costa Verde and really liked it. <BR> <BR>I would also recommend El Sapa Dorado, we did not stay there but ate dinner there twice, which was delicious (make sure you eat their desserts) and met some people staying there and they loved it. <BR> <BR>Have a great time, it is a wonderful place.

My new wife & I just returned from CR, split our trip between Arenal & Quepos. Definitely spend 2+ days in Arenal and based on what we saw, Montana de Fuego has an awesome view of the volcano (if you get to see it). <BR> <BR>The worst people in our whole trip were <BR>the rude, obnoxious Tabacon folks. I am sorry now that we spent any $'s in support of that facility. <BR> <BR>Manuel Antonio is immediately outside of Quepos (like a $2 cab ride) and really the best places to stay are up on the hill. I highly recommend Villas Nicolas, but Si Como No looked great for a more hotel-like place. <BR> <BR>A few folks we met in Quepos talked down Costa Verde. We heard that an American owns the facility and surrounding land, which explains the clear-cutting of trees and the litter of displaced railroad cars and an unsightly Air Force plane (soon to be a tourist bar). If I had my choice, I'd rather support a more eco-friendly facility than one like Costa Verde. <BR> <BR>We had a great romantic meal in Quepos/M.A. at Karola's. There is another place down the mariposa road from Karola's call the Sunspot (?), ok food in a slightly over-the-top romantic setting.