Loco Mike wrote:
I stayed at the Arenal Paraiso during Labor day weekend. I would rate this place as average. Service below average. Restaurant was also average. Would not repeat at this hotel.
The problem in both of these places is that, because of huge tourist demand (at least up until recently), prices have gone through the roof. In the past, $80-100 would get you a fairly decent place. When I first stayed at Tabacon which is very nice but even then considerably more than every where else, it didn't cost much more than $100 (actually I believe it was then $130 including hot spring admission). Today the best hotels are all near $200 or above or at least in the high 100's and most of the mid-tier are in the low 100's. From what I've seen most of the hotels in that $70 price range have their pros and cons too.
I HAD heard that the Paraiso was pretty decent for a hotel FOR the amount they charged ($70/nt low season). Perhaps I heard wrong or that has changed but then I'd like to know of some place better that doesn't also cost a lot more. Looking at their listing I now notice no mention of any A/C, which may not be required by some guys but which IMHO you really should expect from a hotel in that price range. Scanning the arenal.net site, I noticed 3 other places that are around the same price as Paraiso but which have A/C and may be better deals.
The first is the La Fortuna Hotel. Like the Paraiso, their low season rates are $70/nt but those go up $15 instead of $10 during peak (which starts 12/15 for this hotel). They don't have the hot spring fed swimming pool or the kms of walking trails and they are a little further away from the volcano but they have A/C, volcano views, close proximity to the local bus stop and several restaurants and the option of queen sized beds for $10 more which the Paraiso doesn't have. I'm just reporting here and have no direct personal knowledge how good this place really is.
The second candidate is the Volcano Lodge. Its low season rates are just a couple of dollars more than the Paraiso at $72.17 ($84 even w/tax) but jump up over $35 after 12/15 putting them beyond Duessel's budget at those times. They have a swimming pool (not hot spring fed), A/C and volcano views (located close to Los Lagos but on the opposite side of the street) and King sized beds. Again, no direct experience with either of these relatively new hotels but just relating my research.
The third place is the Arenal Volcano Inn. Low season it is $5 more than the Paraiso but goes up to $100 after the 1st. Regular pool, A/C, close to the Volcano Lodge but only mentions JUNGLE VIEWS
and queen sized beds. You may be seeing a pattern here, other places in the same price range may better serve your needs but it really all depends on how you prioritize the various features AND when you go.
Of course there are still hotels that are much cheaper than any of the one's we're mentioned so far, but they're true budget end hotels in a much lower price range and so come with even more trade-offs but, depending on what those trade-offs are and how important they are to you, they also may be the best values for you too.