www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I am looking for recommendations for a family vacation. I thought of Manuel Antonio and Guanacaste.
I am looking for something which is not so crowded and fun. Have 3 K*ds and 4 adults who need to be entertained.

Any recommendations on the beach and accommodation. I have looked the reliable drivers topic for taxis for a drop and pickup from the airport to Arenal.

Did not know that Costa Rica gets so amazingly expensive during Xmas.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Paridusus Playa Conchal

http://www.paradisus-playa-conchal.com/ ... 2godKGuPiw

Peace, love, and happiness for all,

DR

The southern Caribbean has the less traveled/less expensive Costa Rican beaches. It draws less of the golf-shirt & bermuda shorts crowd than the west coast does, but more of the surfer/back-pack community. I like it much better than the Guanacaste beach resorts... and about the same as Manuel Antonio.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

Here's another if your're checking resorts, which would be good for keeping everyone entertained... http://www.vacationcity.com/costa-rica/resorts/
Yes everything costs more Xmas week, fares and resort rates basically double, good luck!
PS
Man if I was looking for beach resorts I'd at least compare prices and amenities to some in DR, like Punta Cana.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

I would take them to Quepos. Rent a house. Take the Interbus. Rent a car. MA park, plenty of beaches to the south.

Love MA just remembering the number of K*ds/adults to entertain and if they are like mine - Guanacaste and a resort is a much better fit! That being said - everyone is different - do your internet research and go with what sounds like a fit for your crew!!!

Peace, love, and happy hunting,

Don Rico

Take a walk on the wild side and hit the Penisula de Osa

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

For ideas on a family vacation in CR go to the "tripadvisor" web site.

www.tripadvisor.com

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Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

Good advice, it's a little hard to navigate the forums but here's a direct link to the CR section... http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g2 ... _Rica.html
Hint: if you don't find the answers browsing then post your question for the CR expert "Prolijo" he will likely provide all the info you could ask for, and then some.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

I agree! For a laid-back family vacation, you can't fo better than the Southern Caribbean coast. If you look at a map, the area to consider is from Cahuita south through Manzanillo. I just returned from a trip there with my son and daughter who were visting from the States and we had a great time.

We stayed at a small, secluded beach resort called Arrecife Lodge, located in Punta Uva about half way between Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo. In my opinion, their beach is one of the best in all of Costa Rica. Their accomodations are mostly cabinas but I think they have one larger house with a/c and a kitchen. We stayed in Cabinas 3 and 4. Each has two double beds and a great balcony directly overlooking the beach. No a/c but enough breeze we didn't need it. TV is only available in the restaurant/bar. The food is good and reasonably priced and there are plenty of other places to eat in the area. We paid $40 per night/room which increases to $50 or $60 in season. They are small so I definitely recommend a reservation.

The manager's a nice guy. His name is Octavio Beeche. Phone: 2759-9200. Email: arrecifepuntauva@gmail.com. Tell him that Jim from All-American Barbecue referred you and he may give you a discount (but I'm not sure he can in high season).

You won't find a better place on the beach anywhere else in the country and certainly nothing comparable for the price. I hope you go, and enjoy it as much as we did. There are also plenty of other places to stay in the area. I prefer Cahuita to Puerto Veijo, but the entire area is nice. If you aren't going to have a car, you'll probably be better off staying in Cahuita or Puerto Veijo because there are more restaurants, shops, etc. within walking distance.

I know the area pretty well so if you have any questions, let me know.

As tampagringo just mentioned, the hotels along the Caribbean coast can be very rustic (no A/C, no TV, no radio, no phone, etc). That can be a bit boring at night, especially for K*ds.

I like this place in Guanacaste. The rooms around Christmas are about $240/night, double the normal rate. That's standard everywhere. An added bonus is that whatever adventure/tour you are looking for can be booked through Mucho Gusto's tour company whose office is located right in the hotel.

Have to agree with you that for a family vacation, that would be hard to beat. PV has a number of pretty good restaurants as well.For a single guy looking to monger it would be a waste of time.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

I highlighted the key line in that post. How old are the K*ds? What are the interests of the other adults? Depending on those factors, a laid-back hideaway on the Caribbean coast could be a disaster. It could be that a big-time family resort or eco-lodge in the Arenal or Guancaste area, or even Jaco, is what he needs. Some place that has lots of varied activities, both on-site and off-site. For that, there are all kinds of travel books and sites that cater to the normal family tourism thing.

Sunny and beautiful and safe F L O R I D A or Hawaii. Sorry, I loved Hawaii by comparison but never recommend people go to the beach in Costa Rica.

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* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

Indeed. Brother Prolijo has well over 1000 posts on TA as a Resident Expert.
If you want a truly "odd duck" experience, try the Golfito area--all the water sports are available, the moderate-sized non-Gringo city of San Isidro del General is not that far away and for shopping, try the duty-free zone (I believe it's available to tourists but check with, yes, Brother Prolijo). The downsides are: Golfito is a bit primitive, and it's a distance away from SJO.

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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