Costa Rica Hotel Tips by Srechko

Hotel San Bosco (La Fortuna): Excellent service with the view at a volcano

We spent here our second night in Costa Rica. This is the only real hotel in Fortuna and it is the most expensive one.

We were impressed by the receptionist here, he was very helpful and friendly and he organized the canopy tour for us.

Everything about this hotel was great and I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Double room was $50.

Unique Qualities: Hotel has a pool and 2 jacuzzis, our room was on the 1st floor and we had a nice terrace with a view at a volcano. Free coffee, nice location and hotel organizes all kinds of tours.

Comparison: about average

Directions: La Fortuna

Price: less than US$20

Theme: Hotel

Hotel El Bosque (Monteverde): Location Location Location

This hotel is not very attractive but once you get to Monteverde area you don't want to drive once it gets dark. As I already mentioned, roads are horrible....But you also don't want to go to sleep at 6pm. That's why I recommend this hotel.

Unique Qualities: Staff is exceptionally friendly and helpful. Right next to the hotel you can find a grocery store, an Italian Restaurant, a coffee shop, a bakery (good breakfast), a night club with live music, a book store, and a discotheque. Plus hotel is cheap - we paid $40.

Some of the other hotels that we checked are more romantic but far away from everything which becomes kind of scary once it gets dark. You can not walk anywhere....

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Around 3km away from Santa Elena towards Monteverde National Park.

Price: less than US$20

Theme: Hotel

Hotel El Byblos Resort and Casino: Funky place to stay close to Manuel Antonio

We checked 6-7 hotels before seeing this one. All the hotels we have seen before El Byblos were either booked, or too crappy, or too fancy for our taste. It was already dark and as soon as we saw something is going on here (casino, sports bar, billiards, soccer table, pizzeria) - the decision was obvious.

Unique Qualities: We got an exceptional deal (again due to low season) a "junior suite" on 2nd floor with an ocean view and a big room for $60. Staff was so naturally friendly (costa rica style), Brigitte - funny French lady - bar manager, Claudia - warm, friendly (and cute) Peruvian and Charles - Kenyan national team soccer player became quickly our friends...We really enjoyed everything about this place for the last 3 nights in Costa Rica.

Hotel has a pool and monkeys jumping in their garden. I saw a hiking trail but we hadn't checked where it goes.

Comparison: about average

Directions: 1.5 km away from Entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park.

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Hotel

El Jardin (Montezuma): Beautiful Garden with a domestic Iguana

As soon as we saw this hotel we knew that this is where we want to stay. It is probably the most expensive hotel in town but what is $60 divided by 3...

Unique Qualities: It has the most beautiful garden I saw anywhere in Costa Rica, domestic Iguana, koatis walking around, two small pools with a jacuzzi and very clean rooms...and a hammock in front of the door.

Very nice iguana fed by hotel staff is always on the stone at the hotel entrance (photo).

Comparison: about average

Directions: As soon as you enter Montezuma it is on the left side.

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Hotel

Las Cabinas Margarita (Paquera): Sleep and run!!!

It is a long story how we ended up sleeping here, but we got lost on Nicoya peninsula, and we were happy that we found any place to stay at 10pm....At least I saw what cabinas look like.

Unique Qualities: No unique qualities but what can one expect for $20. Actually I did not have any big complaints either. Room was clean, we had 3 beds and air conditioning. There was some bugs but that is it.

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Paquera "downtown"

Price: less than US$20

Theme: Motel

Hotel Los Lagos (by Arenal Volcano): Not really Tabacon but nice and twice cheaper.

Third night in Costa Rica below Arenal Volcano. This is the most we paid for the accommodation ($80 including breakfast) but it was worth it.

Unique Qualities: Pool, Swim-up bar with thermal water (brown in color due to volcano ashes), crocodile farm (very exciting - you get to see animals a meter away), butterfly garden, hiking trails, stable, fishing, direct view at Arenal Volcano.

That night sky was completely clear and we enoyed lava erruptions from our garden - great experience.

Less than 1km away is Baldi Hot Springs - fun place to spend the evening. For $12 you get to enjoy several thermal pools and a swim-up bar. I met bunch of people (tourists and locals) - lots of fun.

I just want to mention here that we visited Tabacon Resort and we didn't like it that much. They were asking $190 for a double room and while we walked aroud their property we couldn't see volcano at all.

Comparison: about average

Directions: 5-6 km away from La Fortuna towards Arenal.

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.hotelloslagos.com

From Cabinas to luxury hotels.

Cheapest accommodation can be found in Cabinas, where you pay between $5-$15 per person. Luxury hotels with all amenities cost $200 and more for a double bed. Camping is still the cheapest and some hotels let you camp on their ground for $4-$5. That price includes use of shared bathroom.

We were there in the green season and we negotiated the price everywhere with exception to some of up-scale hotels in Monteverde area. European owners there would not negotiate the price at all. If you are paying cash you usually get a substantial discount.

Theme: Other

Healthy Day Inn (Grecia): Average place with lying receptionist

We arrived to Costa Rica in the early afternoon and by the time we rented the car and started our trip it was already 3pm. Our original plan was to get to Zarcero and spend the night there, but since it got dark very quickly and we had no clue how long it takes to get anywhere, we decided to stop at Grecia and find an accommodation. "Lonely Planet" guide book recommended this hotel as a good one. Unfortunately, we had a bad experience.

Before getting there we phoned the hotel and the receptionist told us that room for 3 would cost $55 including breakfast. When we arrived and wanted to check in, she asked for $65. After an argument we did end up paying $55, but next lie occurred next morning. Breakfast was supposed to be ready at 8am. Receptionist then explained that cook likes to sleep longer in the morning so we won't get the meal before 8:30. Then it wasn't enough, but she said that breakfast is not included in the price. We then left with an another argument with her.

Unique Qualities: Not everything was this bad, receptionist woman was a lier but she was friendly too, they did prepare just for us a hot jacuzzi bath the night before and room was big and clean.

I still would not recommend anyone to stay there.

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Grecia

Price: less than US$20

Theme: Inn