Costa Rica Information

Thank you to everyone who responded to my request for information on Costa Rica a few weeks back. I received a lot of very good information. I am heeding Riley's suggestion and posting it here for my blog pals. Here is a high-level list of the hotels and resources recommended.

• Michelle of Adam and Michelle's Marvelous Mayhem suggests:


• The Luna Lodge for its "great eco-friendly, ethereal beauty for a fraction of the price of most places."


• Sherman's Travel.


• National Geographic Adventure Magazine.




• Big Shot Artist in the Spotlight provided a review of the green Cala Luna Hotel.


• Tara from In This Instance recommends:


• Tamarindo Village.


• La Mansion Inn.


• Hotel Villa Caletas.


• Hotel Mariposa.


• Waterfall Gardens.


• and these resource sites:


• http://www.tamarindo.com/


• http://tamarindobeach.net/


• http://www.tamarindo.com/papagayo/


• http://www.govisitcostarica.com/regions.asp


• http://www.monteverdeinfo.com/


• http://www.manuelantoniopark.com/mapk/default.asp




• And for those that live in Chicago, this travel agent.




• Darcy of With This Ring is headed to Costa Rica for her honeymoon. She recommends:


• Waterfall Gardens.


• The Paradisus Playa Conchal.


• Bill Beard Costa Rica Travel Agency. Here's what she says about them:




• "They will pick us up at the airport, drive us to the hotel, and stop to see cool sites along the way. Our friends used them and from the first airport to the Peace Lodge they stopped to look at coffee fields and buy fresh Costa Rican coffee. While we're at the Peace Lodge we're taking a tour to this active volcano where there are hot springs and a spa...apparently the hot springs are all different temperatures and have swim-up bars ;)
  
  Then the Bill Beard people will pick us up again and drive us to the Paradisus (the Paradisus is all inclusive, the Peace Lodge isn't). I guess along the way we stop at a local town to eat lunch, etc. And then I plan to lay my a*s on the beach for 6 days!"




• Hotel Capitan Suizo.


• Mimi from enjoy: the blog, has been to Costa Rica several times. She recommends:




• Posada del Sol.


• Hotel Punta Islita.


• Hotel Bula Bula.


• She also had this note: "I don't care what hotel you are in, the Four Seasons or a $30 a night place, you will have bugs and you will probably see a gecko in your room. That's just how it is."




• Vanessa from Adventures in Weddingland kindly invited me to e-mail her, but I haven't had a chance to do so. I'll post an update if I get any good scoop!

As an alternative, Kate from Waterfront Preppy suggested the Whistling Bird Resort in Jamaica.

Also, note that it's tough to find direct flights from most the United States. Most flights are connected through Miami. Also, a friend of mind suggested that you focus on the Pacific side of the country. It's safer and less rainy than the Carribbean side.

Thanks again to everyone who provided information.

If Andy doesn't get on it soon, we may end up exploring
the eco-tourism of the Indiana State Park System like our friend The Mitch suggested.