www.CostaRicaTicas.com

It's low season - 165 / night with 2 entrances to the spa per day...


This is quite possibly the nicest resort I have EVER stayed at.

But I'm a sucker for jacuzzi's, rivers, and pools, and the fact that this hotel has more than it's fair share of these, is amazing.


Plus, I had the staff score me several items that I could not get anywhere else, and have always treated me well. I've been here twice, and will definitely be going back, BUT NOT IN HIGH season...

Thats why all of this is YMMV. Thanks for the report QBF. Had heard some awful service reports from those that visited Tabacon. I stayed at Los Lagos a month ago for $100 a night. I don't think it goes up quite as much as Tabacon does in high season either. I love that area though, it defines tranquilo.

Tabacon is a great resort. I recall lying alone in one of the pools, looking up toward the volcano. The cone of Arenal was unusually clear, back lit by a full moon. The peak was surrounded by a halo of clouds which were bright and vibrant. At the edges of my peripheral vision everything was dark with the overwhelming presence of heavy rain clouds and a forbidding jungle. The mountain was spitting out lava which tumbled down the slope making it look like a giant sparkler at the Fourth of July. The resort was silent and dark. All I could hear were the sounds of the jungle: monkeys, birds and wind in the trees. It seemed prehistoric. It was a fabulous moment. It felt as if I had been transported back in time.

I went there about 10 years ago and was not impressed at all. Overpriced, full of rude employees, narrow slippery walkways and yapping tourists.

The warm springs were nice and I got to watch Arenal dribble red lava.

But I would never go back.

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"Believe none of what you read, and half of what you see." Old Island Woman

It's DEFINITELY improved then... B/c that was NOT my experience, and I've been twice since August.

If that $165/nt rate is true then Tabacon could be a FAIR deal IF you plan on spending a lot of time at the hot springs EACH day you're there.

Curiously, their website tells a somewhat different story.

First, there is a question of what their current rates are. According to their website, their year-round online rates (11/15/07 – 11/14/08 ) run from $230-400 PLUS taxes. During holidays that spikes up to $275-445. You also need to keep in mind that now they require a 2 night stay minimum. (source http://www.tabacon.com/room-rates). Their website also adds this caveat that "Rates could change without notification." But in the past that has always meant the rates might go UP from what they posted on-line and, in fact, the website gives no indication what their rates would be AFTER 11/14/08 (just 2 weeks from now ). For the last few years, the rates have been going up a little bit every year. Perhaps 2009 will be different because of all the competition that has developed in the area, they're pricing themselves too high and not the least the declining world economy and the resulting reduced volume of tourism for all of CR. Or Perhaps QBF contacted them direct and managed to negotiate a special discounted rate below their usual rack rates, although that would be an amazing discount at nearly 30% off.

There also might be another reason he was able to get that discount which brings me to the 2nd issue revealed by their website and that is that Tabacon is undergoing renovations now. (source http://www.tabacon.com/accommodations)

Now, I don't know whether that will REALLY not affect their guests or will but it COULD further depress their occupancy rates POSSIBLY leading to more room in negotiating lower rates for now (if the possibility of construction activities impacting your stay doesn't sway you as well).

My own take on the Tabacon (based on a few stays spanning from 2000 to just a couple of years ago) falls somewhere between the "nicest resort I have EVER stayed at" of QBF and the "was not impressed at all" and "would never go back" of COJ. The funny thing is that 10 years ago (or even 8 ) the place was not nearly so overpriced as it is now and was actually a much better deal. Any way, the way I figure it before you judge the HOTEL value you have to factor in the value of the hot springs admission, again ASSUMING you'd be going to the hot springs EACH day you're there. Currently unlimited passes go for $60 if you AREN'T staying at the hotel. If you're there with a chica, that amounts to a $120 value. IF QBF really got the room for $165/nt is staying there with a chica and they're both going to use the hot springs all day, then the effective price for the room goes down to just $45, which would be a REAL STEAL.

Unfortunately there are a few factors that could reduce that advantage.

1) My preceeding and subsequent analysis does not factor in room taxes. I forget for sure but am reasonably certain you do NOT have to pay a 16.39% tax on that $60 unlimited admission ticket. But you do on the $230/nt, so the effective savings are not actually as great as I've calculated.

2) You may not want to go to the hot springs EVERY day you're there or at least not for "unlimited" hours each day. So the advantage only really exists for the days you do. Many guys, wanting to get back to SJ for real mongering, and so would only want to stay there one night any way so this might not be a factor. OTOH, if they now require a 2 night stay minimum, they can no longer do this. If they only spend any appreciable time at the hot springs 1 day out of those 2 nights, then the effective price of the room only gets reduced to ~$105/nt ($170/nt if the starting room rate is actually $230/nt as their website says), not a bad price but not the steal of my previous analysis.

3) You may do the trip solo. This is a trip that may be better to do with a chica, since you can't find any there, but a lot of guys still go on their own. If you're not saving 2 hot spring admissions every day then your savings are cut in half. Assuming you're not spending all you waking hours at the hot springs and want to do other things while you're there and you have to stay for 2 nights, then the effective rate only drops to $135/nt if you're paying $165/nt like QBF or $200/nt if you're paying $230/nt like it says on the website. The rooms at Tabacon are very nice, nicer than Los Lagos, but are they really worth twice as much? I don't think so.

4) Maybe you do want to "prune" yourself and spend 2 or more FULL days in the hot springs, but you don't have to spend all that at Tabacon. There are many other hot springs in the area besides Tabacon's and ALL of them are much cheaper. Some people would argue that Tabacon's are the nicest, and maybe they are, but there are also many people who would argue that others are nicer because they get fewer crowds (ala yapping tourists) and are more natural (less Disneyesque). Whichever side of that fence you sit on, you still have to ask yourself unless you were also staying at Tabacon would you really spring for Tabacon more than 1 day of your stay? Personally, I think the Tabacon Springs might be the nicest, they have gotten ridiculously expensive (it was only $17/day when I first went there), but they're worth checking out at least once during your trip (just to see what all the hullaballoo is about if nothing else). However after that I'd split my time at one of the OTHER hot springs which are also very nice (if not quite as nice as Tabacon) and MUCH cheaper.

BTW, you don't HAVE to stay at Tabacon to enjoy that idyllic experience that Diego described. You could stay at a much more reasonably priced hotel like Los Lagos and pay for an evening pass to Tabacon's springs for $45 and still come out much cheaper than what the Tabacon rooms cost (even at QBF's rate).

What else? The rooms at Tabacon ARE nicer than places like Los Lagos. Whether they are that much nicer to justify the price differential is another question. And if luxury is your thing there are other hotels in the area that are just as nice as Tabacon for much less than what Tabacon charges (often with some sort of hot spring feature of their own). Unless you have a chica with you and you both plan on spending 2 or more days just doing the Tabacon Springs, you'll probably be able to find somewhere just as nice for less even after factoring in a day a Tabacon.

As for staff rudeness, I've run into that myself and have read several reviews describing the same thing. I liken it to the situation at the HDR which because of its fame and constant flow of new guests isn't as concerned about repeat business and thinks it can get away with "soaking" the guests and not treating them as nicely.

Don't take this as Gospel but I've heard from more than 1 source that staying at another hotel (like Prolijo's tip--Los Lagos) and going to Eco Thermales (across the hwy. from Tobacon) is both less expensive and a better, friendlier experience. And like the advice here says, BYOChica.

>>>EDIT Eco Termales is actually across the street from Baldi's Hot Springs. My Bad--sorry if I confused. Access info and reservations at www.arenal.net/tour/arenal-hot-springs

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

How much is Eco Thermales? Is ET directly across from Tabacon, in other words, easy to find?

Has anyone been to the hot baths in Cartago?

Also spelled Eco Termales, this smaller, friendlier hot springs is just across the street from the Baldi Hot Springs. It has 2 huge wooden doors and a security microphone; no sign out front but any taxista should know it. Reservations (through www.arenal.net--a nifty website with real-time satellite views of the volcano, etc.) are a must. The food is terrific and not heavy; beer is $2/cocktails $4 on the honor system. Cost for the resort is $41 ('08 price) including lunch.
All this info through www.tripadvisor.com which had 20 for 20 positive reviews.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

JazzboCR I think I spelled Eco Thermales the Spanglish way. Sorry.

Thanks for the heads up on the place across from Baldi. I like Baldi but it has become increasingly more expensive over the years.

DC