www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I'll be vacationing in CR this coming February. I'm meeting a female frined from Panama there so I need recomendations for nice hotels in both towns and good beaches, restaraunts etc. Thanks

Doesn't anyone have any recommendations?

There are super restaurants right in the center of town. It seems to me the main one is called Restaurante Puerto Viejo. Next to it is Chile Rojo, which I didn't like as much, one reason being that it felt hot there. Across the street from these restaurants is another, the name of which I don't have. But the restaurant is located on the second floor, and there is a balcony where you can drink that hangs out towards the street. It's right across from the restaurant Puerto Viejo and the Chile Rojo, and this restaurant on the second floor is highly recommended. Good drinks and good food. The moral of the story with respect to restaurants in Puerto Viejo is that they are good and easy to find, right in the middle of this small village. So you really don't need plans or to worry.
Where to stay is a better question. I stayed as Kaya's Place and was underwhelmed. It certainly was overpriced the week before Christmas and Christmas, being $70 a night, when the rooms are quite small and my hot water didn't work. I think $35 a night might be a fair price, but even so it's location is about a kilometer out of town, which is somewhat inconvenient. I believe that you can find a place when you get there, since you won't be going at Christmas time. My recommendation with respect to Puerto Viejo is not to worry, when you get there things will exceed your expectations. The beach is nice. Me and my special gal did the beach horseride, which was a lot of fun. They offer the usual CR list of tours, including a canopy tour, which was very good. Finally, also available from Puerto Viejo, and actually from San Jose as well, is white water rafting. The company I ended up with actually offers an overnight stay on the river Pacuago (or something like that). This white water rafting is absolutely great.

In Puerto Viejo:
El Pizote Lodge is the best place to stay at the higher end $60+:
has a swimming pool, pool and ping pong tables, restaurant, and great security--just before town on the Black Beach end of things...I like it because nobody bothers you and its a great place for a couple...

Similarly, but without the pool, Cashew Hill is a nice place on a hill above town with a nice hangout area and a choice of rooms from 25-35...

In town (if you want to be right in the heart of things, Casa Verde is the best and also around 25-35

As for restaurants, there are a ton...just look at the menus to figure out what you like, but for sure check out El Loco Natural--great food and live music in the evenings

As for Limon, I don't know why youd spend the night here (other than during Carnival), but if you do, stay at Hotel Park, or go north to Playa Bonita and stay at one of the places there (quick taxi ride)

Enjoy!!