Ok,I can't find the threads I am looking for.
What are the names of the "other" hot springs in the Arenal area (besides Tabacon)? I am looking for a less crowded, more intimate place (less people!)

Thanks and excuse my bothering!

Less crowded really will depend on the time of day.
Since many people go out during the day for horseback, rafting, hiking, etc., the daytime hours may offer the least crowded times.

Baldi Termae must be the 2nd most popular hot springs in Arenal. They were building another bar restaurant at the "top" of their grounds (as the grounds slope upward from the road toward the volcano). I was told by a masseuse that a hotel would be opened there in January...

I visited Baldi Spa thinking it would be a cheaper but worthy alternative to Tabacon.

I hated it! I can't speak for Tabacon, but the scene at Baldi (and to qualify, I was there at night) was straight out of one of those horrendous "Spring Break" T'n'A movies.

My evening there ruined an otherwise very good day around Arenal.

That's funny, bencaynan!

Everyone has a different experience.

If a tour bus full of teenagers pulls into their place, I could see this happening at ANY location.

We were there twice. During the afternoon, we had - - literally - - the entire place to ourselves (beside the staff). Around 6 or 6:30, people arrived. We had three hours' worth of the run of the place. It was great!

I have also read peoples' reports that they found Tabacon to be very crowded. Depending on time of year, time of day, day of week...everything is different.

Midweek, it was not crowded. Once the weekend arrived, so did the people.

TripleSec, I'm one of the ones who thinks Tabacon Hot Springs should not be missed. But, on the other hand, I haven't been to the other thermal springs in the area. I can't imagine anything could quite compare with the beauty of the Tabacon lay-out. Can you comment on this? Are the other places just as picturesque as Tabacon? Or are they just less money?

I was trying to be brief, because I felt this has been covered well in the past... but, I'm learning the rhythms of the Fodors inquiries...

The no-frills place across from Tabacon...if you're traveling on the cheap, or are curious, begin there.

When we go on vacation, we are spending money. We know this. We plan this. If I pay $5 for a beer or $8 for a cocktail at a restaurant "at home", then I'm okay with it "on the road". So, saving $7 or $15 -- I must say -- is truly not important to us. Not rich, not foolish, just not stressing over dollars while on vacation. I bust my tail finding good bargains and good deals on everything I can all year long. If I can find a good deal on vacation, great.

Baldi Termae is not the garden that Tabacon is. There <i>is</i> an attempt to privatize the different pools with vegetation, flowers, bushes, etc between the walkways and such. It makes it a little more intimate.

Some of the tile work surrounding the largest pool at Baldi reminds a person of a Mexican restaurant. Pick one. Any of them you know. I'm saying that they could have done something different to make it more refined. Baldi has several pools at several temperatures. Onsite massage, etc. services. Lockers, restrooms, restaurants, swim bars. They play festive music that can be heard at several of the pools. I like this.

Tabacon w/o music, has a little more of a natural resource feel to it as the river of hot springs water runs through the compound and there are several foot bridges over the river. People can bathe in the river itself. There is a waterfall with a ledge which could seat about 8 people. Many of the plants are named with genus, species, etc. on small plaques.

I'm a bit of a chameleon myself, and can enjoy nearly any atmosphere.

The atmosphere and texture are completely different at each. I like 'em both.