Shmichal

Hi,

I am travelling to CR in October and have found most of the places I am staying in/visiting here (thanks for the great advice).

There is a new resort "Arenal Springs Resort" has anyone been there? I am staying there and was wondering if anyone had any comments.

Thanks

ShSue

We're going in November, and are also interested in that resort. I e-mailed and asked if they would be up and running. Restaurant is "supposed to be done by then" but they couldn't promise.
We may book anyway......prices are good now.

summit

Hello,

My family and I have made reservations at the Arenal Springs Resort for the month of December. I have done alot of reseach on the different resorts in that area. I have a good feeling about this place!

dcsam

This looks like a nice place to stay and I am considering it for our trip. Please post a review on it when you return. Has anybody found any other information about it on the internet? Was it recommended to you?
Carrie

Shmichal

I haven't seen any recommendations but I will post when I return.

summit

I look forward to your post as well on the Arenal Springs Resort. Please post the tours that you would recommend. Thank you!

Tess_Durberville

Certainly from the arenal.net website, this place looks nice >>> http://www.arenal.net/hotel/arenal-springs-resort.htm

It is well located .... I've stayed at Tabacon; and Arenal Springs Resort looks to be about midway between Tabacon & town of LaFortuna. Wasn't it built by same folks who own/operate Montana Del Fuego & Arenal Paraiso???

Shmichal

Hi,

Back from Costa Rica, I plan on writing more about the places we stayed and went but just for those who asked about Arenal Springs. It was a great hotel, great view from the rooms and great services. We enjoyed ourselves a lot and think that it will only get better. Apart from the place itself, they offer tours but since we had a car we took their advice on other things and they were a)honest and b) right , twice they saved us money and helped us find better deals.

If anyone has any questions feel free to ask!

dcsam

Yes,
Please tell more. We are considering staying at Arenal Paraiso, but this new place has me very interested. Did you see the Arenal Paraiso, and if so, which one would you recommend? Looking for a nice-sized pool area; ease of getting around the resort; nice and spacious accommodations (not a typical hotel-room with flat ceiling, white walls)

matt109

Do they have a website besides http://www.arenal.net/hotel/arenal-springs-resort.htm. I was looking for one that the hotel has put up not arenal.net. The description from arenal.net is good, but does not go into as much detail as you would get from the actual hotels own webpage.The hotel sounds like a great place and I am planning on staying there at the end of November just wanted a little more information on it.Thanks for a great post

ShSue

www.hotelarenalsprings.com is their own website.
Thanks for the review! We're heading there next week.

karenlf

I was so happy to see your report. I am now trying to book this hotel. Are the pool and restaurant completely done? How was the food and service? Did you take a tour to see the lava since it is on the other side now, or is there somewhere one can drive to on their own? Thanks so much.

karenlf

Thanks so much for writing about this hotel. Is it completely done with the pool and restaurant up and running ? If so, how was the food ? Did you fax them for the reservation ? I have emailed through the arenal net site and have not received a reply yet.

Shmichal

With regards to resevrations I did it all by email and it was perfectly fine, the only part I faxed was the detailes of my credit card etc.

With regards to the Lava, there are 2 options a) driving by yourself to view it at night (apart from the road to the hotel - 2 minute drive) the roads are great so not to worry about driving at night. Or ask the hotel to recommend, they are actually very good at not "pushing" their tours if you have your own car.

With regards to the website, they were just taking new pictures when we were there so it should be up and running. The pool was ready (there should be 2 but when we were there only 1 was open)

The services was great, the rooms are spacious and you only have 1 neighbour next to you or max 2 (depends which room you get) i.e. you are in your own little house and you hardly feel that there are other people there.


I didn't see Paraiso so I cannot compare.

ShSue

I was the original poster of this question, and I just returned from CR. We had booked three nights at the Arenal Springs Resort. It was a nice place, but it's really not quite done. The restaurant building is nowhere near being complete. However, they serve a nice breakfast on the terrace. The staff was very friendly. The rooms are new and clean, but on the plain side. I'm sure when the volcano is showing (it wasn't while we were there), the rooms would be great, because they have huge windows facing the direction of the volcano. The pool was done and filled, but it was cold and had no covered area. It was raining while we were there, so it wasn't very appealing. There isn't anything else on the property to do (trails, etc.) and since we were travelling with two young kids (age 4 and 8), we felt that we needed more to do, especially in the later afternoon/evening after some daytime adventures. So after one night, we tried to get into Arenal Paraiso. They were full, so we headed to Los Lagos. While I felt that hotel was somewhat rundown, the kids loved the hot pool, the water slides, and the gardens. I think if you're looking for a quiet, slightly off-the-beaten-path place to enjoy in the Arenal area, Arenal Springs would be good.

summit

My family & I (my husband, myself & our 9 year old son) just got back from the Arenal area last week (Jan 1st-06) We had stayed at Arenal Springs Resort for six nights during the Christmas week. Our room was wonderful (simply but attractive-rustic feel with cathedral ceiling-all wood) and we had excelllent service. The people who ran the hotel were very pleasant, efficient and helpful! The complimentary breakfast was great! (large healthy breakfast) The pool is small & up and running but was not heated. There wasn't a warm jacuzzi on the property. Hopefully they will add one on..
The restaurant looks like it will be done this week. If it isn't you may still sit out on the terrance (where breakfast is served)& order
lunch or dinner. The food was wonderful! The lava from the volcano flows on the opposite side of the volcano this time of year. In another six months or so-you could probably see the eruption from your room. In another couple years, once the spa is up & running, I believe this will be considered one of the beautiful Eco resorts in the area.

Each day we had booked day excursions through Sunset Tours.
We found them to be extremely professional and the tour guides were great. After our day excursions, we would relax at Baldi Hot Springs (our favorite) & only about half a mile down the rode from Arenal Springs Resort. (tip) - Go into La Fortuna & get tickets for Baldi through one of the tour agencies. They have them for $15. Otherwise if you go to Baldi-you will be charged $25pp.at the door.
One night we had gone to Tabacon Warm Springs. They charged $42pp.at the door because it was high-season. Tabacon is beautiful,
but way too expensive. But it was fun to see it once.
We loved the jeep-boat-jeep tour over to Monteverde. We did the tour in a day. Once we arrived in Monteverde, we did the Zip lines & the Hanging Bridges, had lunch & walked around in the beautiful little town of Santa Elena. On the way back that night to the Arenal Area from Monteverde, it was dark & the sky was clear. While we were on the boat heading back we could see the lava flowing down from the volcano. It was a beautiful site. It made for a beautiful Christmas night. What a gift!