Tamarindo Beach or Manuel Antonio
 

We are a family of 5 (3 kids ages 8-13) and we are trying to decide between staying at Hotel Capitan Suizo at Tamarindo Beach for 3 days or Hotel Si Como No at Manuel Antonio. <BR>Anyone with a perspective on which would be better for 1st time travellers to Costa Rica? We are also travelling to Arenal Volcano for several days and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Connie, we stayed at both places in August of this year. We travelled with our 7 year old daughter. <BR>It is a tough choice between the two: if you ask my daughter what her favorite places in CR were, she'd tell you: Capitan Suizo and Si Como No (not in any particular order). <BR>I think the biggest difference between the two places is beach access: Capitan Suizo is right on the beach so the kids can be in and out of the ocean and pool all day long; from Si Como No, you have to take a bus, taxi or shuttle to get to the beach. So if beach is important to your family, pick Capitan Suizo. If you prefer beautiful views to beach access, pick Si Como No. <BR>Capitan Suizo has a more European feel to it, Si Como No is more Americanized. <BR>Other considerations: If you are going in the rainy season, you'll have better weather in Tamarindo. If you are going in the dry season, Manuel Antonio will be greener and lusher. As to wild life viewing, the hotels themselves are comparable, but you will see much more wildlife in the Manuel Antonio National Park than in Tamarindo (I would recommend taking a guided tour of the park if you decide to go there). <BR>I would pick Capitan Suizo if I was looking for R&R, and Si Como No for more active type of vacations. <BR>Do a search for a trip report I posted here in August - it may be helpful to you. <BR>Have a great trip.