www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Hotel Verde Mar in Manuel Antonio. Telephone: 011-506-777-1805. Website: www.verdemar.com.

Hello all. I returned from a five night/six day stay in Manuel Antonio less than two weeks ago. There is certainly much to be said for this beautiful area, but I will concentrate my thoughts on the hotel situation. All statements here are MHO and obviously YMMV. I have no financial interest in any business mentioned here and I accept all responsibility for factual errors.

I was in Manuel Antonio in early March 2005 and stayed in the Hotel Costa Verde. This visit and my recent visit in late February 2006 constitute my only two trips to the area. Because I have first-hand experience in these two hotels, I will compare the two even though I realize there is a bit of the apples-to-oranges analogy.

Let me begin by saying my price-point is the moderately priced accommodations. I realize there are hotels in Quepos and Manuel Antonio for every budget, but I prefer to be somewhat comfortable without becoming extravagant. I started the hunt for a hotel seven weeks prior to my trip. I was willing to pay $100-160/night for a high-season room. Hotel Costa Verde did not have a room for my entire visit in the Verde II building at $150/night, so after addition research I contacted Hotel Verde Mar for a room at $100-110/night.

The primary difference between these two hotels is their location. Hotel Costa Verde offers wonderful vistas of the pacific and the Park from its property on the mountainside. Hotel Verde Mar offers unrestricted access to the beach. One year ago, I had the beautiful mountainside vistas and no direct access to the beach. This year I had no mountainside vistas, but I did have extremely easy access to the beach and the Park.

The rooms I was looking at in both hotels are similar in that there is a kitchenette, no telephone, no television, no internet and both hotels have pools. Costa Verde has restaurants and internet on their property, and the Verde II building does not have a/c. Verde Mar does not have a restaurant or internet on the property, but my room did have a/c.

Hopefully I have not lost you to this point, so allow me to focus on the Hotel Verde Mar a little more. Despite the hotel being fully booked during my stay, the staff was very cheerful, helpful and spoke english of course. Housekeeping was consistently good and on a regular schedule. The hotel is a small property and several of the front desk staff seemed to make a point of calling you by name. They were very willing to call for a taxi, make excursion arrangements or restaurant reservations. There is security each night.

The Verde Mar is the last hotel on the beach side of the road before you get to the commercial area outside of the Park. There are no beach-view rooms because of the strip of public land between the beach and private property. This convenient location put at least six bar/restaurants, a small store and internet within a 5-12 minute walk from the hotel. There were lots of tourists, foreign and tico, but I never experienced any unusual difficulty with service or attitude.

The room was on the top floor (2nd), had a jungle view, two queen beds, kitchenette, small walk-in closet and moderate size bathroom. The shower was very adequate for two and hot water was not a problem. The window a/c unit was more than adequate and I thought it was needed. The room did not have a safe, but the walk-in closet locked and there were individual lockboxes at the front desk.

Beach towels and boogie boards were available at the front desk on request. I did not use the pool, but it looked well maintained and was frequently in use. The grounds were well groomed and a new elevated walkway to the beach is nearly complete. Noise from the road was not a problem, nor was noise from other guests.

I would definitely stay at the Verde Mar again because I liked its location. Keep in mind this is not a new hotel or a large property. It reminded me of a mom-and-pop motel with the pluses and minuses that this brings to the table. There are some expensive/very expensive hotels in Manuel Antonio, Verde Mar is a good value IMHO.

Pura Vida, sailor.

_________________
If Its Wet And Moving Underneath Me, I'm Having Fun
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Two things are wanted by a true man, danger and play -- therefore, he seeks a woman as the most dangerous toy." Friedrich Nietzsche

Thanks, Sailor, for this report. You seem like someone that has the same tastes as I do when searching for places to stay. I ended up booking a room here for when at Manuel Antonio on March 20 so this report couldn't have come at a better time. Sounds like I'll enjoy my stay.

Peace.

Thanks for the info sailor. Reading your report and then checking out their web site it seems like a good place to keep in mind when spending sometime in MA. Thanks again.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Con mucho gusto Mmb7862000 and Irish Drifter.

Mmb, have a great time. I wish I was going back with you. PM me if there is something else I can pass along to you.

sailor

_________________
If Its Wet And Moving Underneath Me, I'm Having Fun
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Two things are wanted by a true man, danger and play -- therefore, he seeks a woman as the most dangerous toy." Friedrich Nietzsche

Sailor,

I'll be in MA in May, is Verde Mar Tica friendly, and did you happen to see Hotel Manuel Antonio. I'm looking for a place on the beach

Thanks,DJ

They won't say anything about you bringing a tica, especially if you check in with her, or arrive at the same time. I have stayed there 50 times, and never even a hint at them being curious. They know, but unless she's a pain in the ass, it will go unnoticed.

I had one freak out on me in the middle of the night for no reason other than to much booze and the security guy came over and he laughed.

[quote="Sailor"]Hotel Verde Mar in Manuel Antonio. Telephone: 011-506-777-1805. Website: www.verdemar.com.

Sailor: Was that little restaraunt still open on the beach in front of the hotel, a little to the south--Cafe Baru? How about the one next to it--Mar Y Sombra? I heard the wrecking ball was going to hit because they were both built on public land in the maritime zone?

Thanks.

DocDJ, Hotel MA located at the end of the road near the park entrance and directly across the street from the beach. It is a basic, no frills, no thrills (think Howard Johnson in Peoria) place. It is great if you are looking for ease of access to the beach/park. Save some colones and offer $$ if you opt to stay there.

I second the good review of the Verde mar. I stayed there last summer for five nights. Its very quiet, right on the beach, nice pool and a quick walk to food and the nacional park. The restaurant on the beach ( Balu's I think) is great and its a good place to spend a lazy day on the beach in the shade.