North Dakota Nesties
Lisa7
member
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Costa Rica Recs?
I kinda asked this before but hoping for some more info. We're going next month and we're looking for
something central enough to be able to hang out on the beach, hike in
the jungle and/or check out the volcanoes. So probably staying at 2
different places and we are not into very large resorts either. We've
looked at a lot of places but I would love to hear some suggestions.
Also any great places to eat would be great too. Thanks so much!
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Re: Costa Rica Recs?
This is kind of the general plan that I tell people to go w/ when visiting. Personally I think its a waste of time to stay at a Big resort in CR if you aren't there for a wedding or similar activity. Costa Rica is a beautiful country with amazing people so you should see as much as you can when there.
Depending on what time day/night your flight gets in you'll probably want to spend the night in San Jose.
Budget- Hostel Pangea- I've stayed at some of the most posh to rent by the hour places in CR- this place is a must see. about $12 a night for a private room, semi hot showers. The sports bar to the right has the best Chili in the country, and is in walking distance to the mercado and the plaza, and templo de musica- great place to catch a free concert. This area isn't super safe at night, but not bagdad either. I def rec staying at this place for one night while in the country. they have airport shuttles, a cab from the airport is around $20. You wont need reservations to stay here during the week, you also get 1 free call to the states per person. Free internet, bar (overpriced but huge selection), food, pool, baggage storage.
Midrange- Bestwestern Irazu about $70 a night, book online to save. free airport shuttle. The grocery store next door is a great place to stock up on coffee. Free internet. very nice for a best western. Ask for a king on the top floor.
High end- San Jose Costa Rica Marriott- One of the nicest Marriott's I've ever stayed in and I've been to them all, Conde Nast ranked it as one of the nicest hotels in Latin America, and they have great deals right now because its the low season. Steve and I seriously considered getting married here. Check out the webpage because I'll take up a whole post on this place.
I also tell everyone there is no point in going to CR w/o going to Puerto Viejo. Once you get here you wont want to leave. you can take a bus from San Jose about $12 or a van around $50 check out www.greencoast.com for info. The place to stay in Puerto is Rockin J's. you can rent a hammock, tent or luxury room from $4-80 a night. The waves at Salsa Brava right now are way to big for beginners, but you can take lessons at Cocles. IMO it's the best beach in the region to learn how to surf at. You can do this area in 2 nights 3 days.
Depending on how long you guys are going to CR for- run down to Bocas Del Toro Panama for the night, you can get an extra passport stamp and stay in above water eco lodge.
Make your way back to San Jose and head to La Fortuna to go to Aranal. Spend the night there, do the volcano in the am and head on out, no need to waste any more time here.
Then head down either North to Nosara- stay at Doug's Harbor Reef, or go to Hermosa. Its better to stay here than Jaco. IMO Jaco is dirty and gross, but some people like it. Great place to get wasted and try Cacique (Tico Sugar cane booze, holy hangover). From Hermosa you an head to Manuel Antonio for day trips. Hermosa is loaded w/ hotels so you'll have no problem finding anywhere to stay. In either place you can do all the Costa Rica Eco Tourism draws (zip line, atv's on the beach, horseback riding, surfing).
You can rent a car but the roads will be pretty crappy because of the rainy season. Bus Travel is super easy and Cheap. Tracopa is the Main line and very safe, and much nicer than greyhound, complete w/ movies.
I also rec getting the AAA Costa Rica Book, and the Lonely Planet Book, For Food finds.
I am so jealous!!!!Email me if you have any more questions. Krissieward17 at yahoo dot com.
K+S 9.18.9 | DD #1 age 2 | PG # 5 EDD 9.17.12
I probably responded to the last time you asked, but just in case, we were only there 2 weeks, but we stayed at the hilton papagayo, which is a large resort, is built in small bungalows so it's not a high rise, and it's built into the landscape. We also stayed at the Arenal Manoa which I wouldn't call a large resort, maybe a midsize resort. We only wen out to eat in La Fortuna b/c the hilton was AI. We enjoyed Don Rufino's which is more expensive but we both enjoyed if very much, and I loved Cafe Rain Forest which was a little coffee shop with yummy coffee drinks and delicious nacho's. And just in case your looking we booked our tours through Desafio Adventure company, and LOVED them, I hope you enjoy your trip!! I hope you'll tell us all about it when you get back!!
Our Wedding Day 8/7/10
DH and I went there for spring break last year after I had done study abroad there in 2005. We were there for a week. We went three places, always staying in a hostel for less than $20/night.
When we arrived at the airport, we had to get to the Holiday Inn Express to have either the Gray Line or Interbus pick us up (I don't remember which). (http://www.graylinecostarica.com/ or http://www.interbusonline.com) Both were far cheaper than renting a car or hiring a private driver (The buses weren't an option for us that week). That took us to our hostel in Manuel Antonio (http://www.backpackersmanuelantonio.com), where we got a private room. In MA, we spent time at the beach and especially in the National Park. We didn't hire a guide, but we ended up seeing an outrageous amount of wildlife on our own. When I was there for Study Abroad, I learned to surf in MA. Best restaurants there: El Avion, Barba Roja
From there, either the Interbus or Gray Line took us to La Fortuna/Arenal. There we stayed at Backpackers Arenal. Sadly, while we were there, it rained the whole time and the volcano hikes were canceled. Instead, we went to this absolutely gorgeous and amazing waterfall near La Fortuna (see FB pictures). Any taxi in town would take you there. We stayed there just a day, which if it hadn't been raining would have been just fine.
We took the taxi-boat-taxi to Monteverde Cloud Forest reserve...specifically, we stayed at http://www.pensionsantaelena.com. The people there were unbelievably helpful in booking the activities we wanted to do. They work with all the different companies in town, so you aren't limited to which one you choose. We did the zip line canopy tour here. We also did a night hike, which was one of the most thrilling things I've done. Certainly scary, but absolutely amazing. Lots of great restaurants in town, but maybe my favorite meal was when we went to the grocery store to find stuff to prepare for ourselves in the kitchen at the hotel...and a bunch of other people ended up sharing food with us. It was fun.
I was told not to rely on the bus system when we were there because it was holy week (Easter)and the buses would be far too overcrowded. When I was there for Study Abroad, the buses were the only thing I took. It was kind of shady sometimes, but it's okay. We had to hire a private driver to get back to San Jose because it was Easter Sunday and nothing else was running.
Facebook photo album: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2465235&id=14803610&l=a33b032df7
I second the lonely planet guide. If you don't have your own, I'd be happy to loan you mine. Let me know if you need it or anything else! I'm envious
K+S 9.18.9 | DD #1 age 2 | PG # 5 EDD 9.17.12