last minute family trip - miraculously came together
Costa Rica | Dec 22 - Dec 29, 2023

John
John R.
Harrison, NJ | Reviewed on Dec 31, 2023

My trip was very last minute and Randall did an amazing job of coming up with options and finding hotel rooms. Very responsive and managed to find hotels and activities.

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Country Inn
Fortuna

A bit spartan but very comfortable & super friendly. Nice pool.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Karahé Beach Hotel
Manuel Antonio

Hotel has 2 separate areas - the one closer to the beach was much nicer. Super friendly and helpful staff, from front desk, to cleaning staff, to the maintenance guy who fixed our TV. The included breakfast was a bit underwhelming but location by the beach was great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Location is mixed. Access to the beach is fantastic. But getting to restaurants was a bit of a pain - generally a 10-15 minute walk along a road not well suited to walking.
Staff
Very helpful and friendly and laid back.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Holiday Inn San José-Aurola
San José
Activity Reviews
Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner
Arenal Volcano Hike & Baldi Hot Springs & Dinner
Arenal/La Fortuna

The hike was nice and a good intro/first activity to Costa Rica. Trail was a bit crowded. Hot Springs was fantastic and my kids especially loved that part.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Transport was good except for the trip back from hot springs to hotel, where it seems we were forgotten about and I had to call to get a driver.
Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges
Arenal Volcano - Mistico Hanging Bridges
Arenal/La Fortuna

Bridges and wildlife were fun, but the trail was way too overcrowded and too much time spent navigating around other tour groups. The guide was good and lively but ours was a mixed Spanish/English group and it felt like the English speakers didn't get as much attention.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coffee & Chocolate Experience
Coffee & Chocolate Experience
Arenal/La Fortuna

Did this with my kids, age 10 and 14, and the chocolate making was their favorite activity of the whole trip. I was not expecting much from this but it was a great experience. Loved tasting chocolate at the different stages along the way.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Horseback Riding and Hiking to La Fortuna Waterfall
Horseback Riding and Hiking to La Fortuna Waterfall
Arenal/La Fortuna

enjoyable, easy

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide did not provide much information
Transport
waited a while for our ride back
Sea Kayaking & Snorkeling at Manuel Antonio
Sea Kayaking & Snorkeling at Manuel Antonio
Costa Rica

Kayaking was fun & beautiful but snorkeling site was way too crowded. Guides were very nice and helpful, but they did not have a life vest small enough to properly fit my 10-year-old son. It would also have been nice to have flippers for the snorkeling.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Hike
Manuel Antonio

This was enjoyable if a bit boring. The trail was very crowded with other groups. As the guide does all of the spotting of wildlife, and you see everything through his telescope, it feels like there is little to do but just follow along. We did get to see a sloth though.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kayaking - Damas Island
Kayaking - Damas Island
Manuel Antonio

Wildlife did not cooperate and we did not see that much.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guides were especially helpful when my kids got into a bit of a fight.
Transport
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Jan 03, 2024

Dear John,

First of all, Happy New Year!

Thank you for your feedback about your trip and your experiences with the different properties and activities, that is very useful for us as this is the best way to improve our service, with honest feedback from our travelers.

I wish you and your family all the best and perhaps to have the chance to welcome you again in the future on a new adventure.

Best,
Randall