www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hi, Anybody has some info. about hotels in Manuel A/ Arenal. Medium price range ($80 - $100). Also best transportation there by bus/not Sansa.
Was there some years ago - but looking for some current info.
Duessel

Not competent to talk about specifics but www.arenal.net is good for general hotel, etc. info about Arenal-area hotels, etc. Chica-friendly or not I'll leave to others. Also wise to research the peer-reviewed info on both places at www.tripadvisor.com. We have a Brother who posts there regularly and at length (no names mentioned here but you'll recognize it).

_________________
"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

Gee, I wonder who Jazz could be referring to.

Dussel, you do realize that Manuel Antonio and Arenal are 2 different areas, don't you? Because that's not clear from the way you worded your question. I'll assume you meant to ask about them seperately since you say you've been "there some years ago". I think you'll find things have changed considerably in both areas since you were last there with prices and options up considerably. Also you didn't specify when you were going and whether it would be just you or you and a "traveling companion". Chica friendliness is not really a factor since there really isn't anything to pick up locally and if you bring a "friend" she will be checking in with you as a guest (at double room rates). Many hotels charge the same for 1 or 2 guests, but others charge $10 or more dollars more, so that whether you're traveling with another can make a difference which hotels fall into your price range. More than that, already high room rates can sky rocket when peak season hits, but the rate of increase can vary considerably as can how they define peak season dates. For this analysis, I'll assume you have a companion and that you're traveling during the low season (which ends in only 1-2 months).

The http://www.arenal.net website that Jazz mentioned is a great source of info for the Fortuna/Arenal area. A lot of guys around here (including myself) think highly of Los Lagos http://www.hotelloslagos.com but that may be a bit beyond your price range. The Arenal Paraiso is another place that gets good reviews and is well located and is only $70/nt ($80/nt after 12/1). The Arenal Springs Resort at $87 could be another good bet in your price range ($107 after 12/1). The problem with any of these (and most of the hotels for that matter) is that they're now on the wrong side of the volcano for lava views (another thing that may have changed since you were last there). For a hotel room with a view in your price range, you could stay at the Arenal Lodge. Their lowest price rooms with a volcano view go for $99/nt low season dbl (a little less if you're there by yourself) but their peak season has alreadt started and thos rooms there now go for $131/nt. The Arenal Observatory Lodge probably has the best views of all their Casona rooms start as little as $45/nt but those rooms have shared bath. For a double room with queen bed, private bath and volcano view, expect to pay $103/nt ($128 after the 1st). The bigger factor if you stay there is that it is very remote and you could wind up paying quite a bit for taxi service if you don't have a car. In fact, if you don't have a car you might want to be a little closer to town than any of these places, however the hotels in town also tend to fall in a lower price range than you've been considering.

I don't know as much about the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area. I've stayed at the Villas Nicolas which were very nice and now start at $85/nt low season but those go up $30 after 12/16. I've also stayed at Hotel La Colina. I was not as impressed but it was I was staying in the cheapest $45/nt standard rooms. They also have upgraded rooms with ocean views for $80-85/nt ($20 more after the 1st). Once again the cheapest places tend to be closest to town but unlike the Fortuna area things are not as spread out and it is easy to take a local bus or taxi anywhere along the 7km road between town and the park.

As for getting to either Quepos or Fortuna, the obvious choice would be booking with Interbus through the http://www.searchcostarica.com website. That will cost you $33.25/pp each way ($37.05 after the 1st) or close to $67-74/pp round trip for each place ($130-150 for 2). If you also go directly between Fortuna and Quepos, the total package would be in the $100-111/pp range ($200-220 for 2) . The plus is that they'll take you door to door from one hotel to the other. If you want to save some money and live a little adventurously you could take the public bus for less than $5/pp each way. For 2 of you that represents a $110-130 savings just on transport costs. The negative here is that you have to get to the right bus terminal in SJ and they'll only let you off at the bus stop in Fortuna or Quepos (ie you need to get from there to your hotel somehow on your own). The other negative is if you want to go directly between these 2 destinations since CR buses routes are not so great if you want to go anywhere other than on the way to or from the capital.

Another option for getting to Fortuna is to take a day tour there from SJ and don't return with them. Believe it or not, this can come out cheaper than Interbus if you factor in such things as the sightseeing stops they might make on the way there, the hot springs admission and the various meals that are included. There was a thread somewhere where I discussed this option thoroughly. Perhaps someone else could find it and repost it for me. You could also do something similar if you're thinking of doing any whitewater rafting during your trip as Exploradores offers the option of pick-up in SJ and drop-off in Fortuna (or vice versa) if you go on their Pacuare white water rafting trip.

There really isn't anything similar to that available for going to/from Manuel Antonio though I have had correspondence with the Calypso Tour people about doing something similar with them. The problem there is that it depends on whether they have sufficient number of people signed up coming from Quepos, but it could be worth checking out.

I stayed at the Costa Verde in Manual Antonio in Jan. '08, place was nice with great ocean views. Good restauraunts & bars at hotel and right across the street. Price during high season will be a little higher than you want. I would stay there again.

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.

When in Quepos, lots of great hotels, but most of them are a cab/bus ride to the beach. Only two good ones right on the beach, Karahe and Verde Mar, both have websites. Prefer Verde Mar even though it is not as nice as the rooms on the ocean side of Karahe, because they have equipped little kitchens--nice for coffee in the am, snacks, and keep your beer cold etc.

Hi Folks,
Thanks a lot for all the info (specially Prol.); I will keep these infos. in mind and search all the web sides. Nice to have brothers, who have some inside and have been there!
Duessel