All vacations carry an air of excitement, especially when visiting a foreign country. The jitters and stressful anticipation we sometimes get the night before can cause a restless night of sleep, but that can hopefully be made up by catching some z’s on the plane. Once you get to your destination, the real adventure begins! But what can really make your trip special and romantic are the places you choose to unwind and recount the experiences of the day. Booking the right hotel can really enhance your vacation as well as the memories you bring back. But how can you tell one place from another? Where should you stay?
For my trip to Costa Rica with my husband, we chose to stay exclusively at B&Bs (Bed & Breakfasts) because of their cozier, more intimate atmosphere when compared to standard hotel. B&Bs can vary in price, but many are actually much cheaper than hotels and often provide that extra touch – like included breakfast or a communal tea time with snacks in the afternoon. As an avid traveler, I personally prefer the more human connection you establish with the proprietors of the B&B and their guests; striking up friendships and sharing your love of the country and what it has to offer.
One such place located very close to the international airport in San Jose is Alegria B&B. Owned and operated by George, an American ex-pat from Tennessee, Alegria is a little bit of Southern comfort in the bustling area of Alajuela. There are 4 different rooms to choose from ranging in price from $45-$70 (US), all of which include a full breakfast. George has created a clean, open, and welcoming environment, perfect as an introduction to Costa Rica. The location is also convenient because of its proximity to the airport, which made it a great choice to bookend our trip. Eating around Alajuela is a little challenging if you don’t know the area but George can provide you with recommendations and a map. Just down the road from Alegria, there’s a ceviche place called Mana’s Marisqueria which was wonderful. It serves up authentic ceviche and Tico style (native Costa Rican) food like arroz con mariscos (rice with seafood), patacones (fried plantains), and tacos. Mana’s is a local legal hangout since it’s located across the street from the Tribunales de Justicia (courthouse). A meal for 3 people consisting of two orders of ceviche, patacones, octopus in garlic, and two orders of carne asada taco plates with plenty of wine cost 30,000 colones ($60 US). Mana’s is definitely worth checking out if you’re ever in the area.
Our next stop was a two night stay in the La Fortuna/Arenal area at the most romantic and beautiful B&B overlooking the majestic Volcan Arenal. Birdsong B&B only has 2 rooms but both have sweeping views of the volcano and Lake Arenal. The upper room is priced at a hefty $180/ night, but includes an in-room jacuzzi, fluffy king size bed, flat screen tv with satellite, full kitchen and fridge, and a unique and fun outdoor shower! Allan, the owner, is originally from New York City and really goes out of his way to make you feel special. He has an incredible cook on staff and will prepare a delicious Tico meal upon request. My husband and I encountered some foggy and rainy weather during our stay but our spectacular room more than made up for the lack of view! The downstairs unit is smaller but also has a great view and a small kitchenette for $90/a night including breakfast. Because of the bad weather, we ate most of our meals at Birdsong but we did explore a bit of Fortuna and ended up at the Los Lagos Resort restaurant. We ordered their house ceviche and a couple of local beers ($20 US). The ceviche was fresh, lightly sweet with a nice citrus tang and was served with patacones. Ceviche is very popular in Costa Rica and most restaurants have their own version and the flavors vary ever so slightly, which makes for a fun time comparing the different versions.
As we made our way down the coast to the Osa Peninsula, we stopped over in Manuel Antonio for a couple of days. Manuel Antonio offers spectacular beaches, perfect for a romantic sunset stroll, walking hand in hand and feeling the soft sand and waves tickling your toes. We loved our stay at La Posada Jungle Bungalows located right next door to the entrance of Manuel Antonio National Park. Mike, the proprietor, has created a lush and wild jungle vibe at La Posada, even getting some appearances from our animal friends who call the park their home (a deer and capuchin monkeys)! The rooms range from $100/a night for a room in the main house to $225/a night for La Casa, a 6 person guest house. We stayed in one of the bungalows that had 2 queen beds, tv/dvd player, fridge & microwave with air conditioning for $125/a night. La Posada includes a full breakfast with all rooms and also offers free dvds of the latest movies. They even provide you with a complimentary bag of popcorn so you can snuggle up in bed and have a movie night! As an added bonus, they offer dinner & movie nights where Jonathan, their cook, creates a fabulous meal for $6.50 and they show the latest movies. My husband and I partook in one of those nights and enjoyed a great meal of grilled steak and tilapia, steamed veggies, salad, and home-made cookies. At La Posada, they try and create a friendly all-inclusive environment that makes a traveler really feel at home.
For our final stop on this whirlwind tour of Costa Rica, we spent five full days in a small town on the Osa Peninsula called Bahia Drake (Drake Bay). Located a short drive up the hill from the center of town, Finca Maresia B&B is nestled against the rainforest and truly is a natural wonder. We stayed in one of the superior bungalows for $85/a night for two people. Our bungalow had 2 queen beds with mosquito nets and an overhead room fan. The bungalows are built upon stilts and their layout is almost completely open with glass sliding doors that lead out to a balcony with hammock. One of the best parts of the bungalows is the fully open shower; but since the building is situated towards the jungle, only the inhabitants of the rainforest can peek in! The grounds of Finca Maresia are beautifully sculpted with stone tile walkways and lush grass and colorful flora. High upon the hill is where the main gathering area of the B&B is located. This is where all meals, drinks, conversations with guests, and extra hammock time are taken. Breakfast is included and you can always opt to dine in at the B&B for dinner ($12 US). Our first night there, we enjoyed fresh tuna tartare that was caught earlier that day by another guest and a delicious dinner of albondigas (Spanish meatballs). Miguel, the owner, is originally from Spain and brings some Spanish flare in the cuisine. Finca Maresia offers travelers a place to relax and enjoy themselves in a peaceful and tranquil environment.
Costa Rica is one of my favorite places on earth. The food is simple but fresh, fresh, fresh! The awe-inspiring natural wonders that the country has to offer will appeal to all nature lovers. It was a pleasure to be able to share this experience with my husband, which makes Costa Rica (in my humble opinion) one of the most romantic places on earth!
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