8 days in Costa Rica

ABS:HotelCheckRates-d293017?&src=GoListDetail&fromServlet=GoListDetail&Action=QC_Button

Avg price: $392

Tabacon was the second stop on our honeymoon. About a 2 hour drive from The Peace Lodge. We stayed in Building 3, which apparently is the best building for viewing Arenal Volcano. And the volcano did not disappoint - we saw lava flowing the very first night. The rooms are "ok", we stayed in a deluxe room, unfortunately we received 2 queen beds instead of one king. The spigot in the bathtub was about to fall off the wall...but the rooms were clean and spacious enough.

We did venture over to the hot springs which was quite nice, but lots of tourists. We did spend some time lost on the paths, looking for some secluded pools. At night is when the action really starts here and it truly is quite a scene. Lots of drinking in the main pool bar.

The pool back at the resort is quite lovely with a nice waterfall. The breakfast buffet is immense....much to choose from. Dinner was tasty, but service a bit slow, especially since the restaurant was not at all crowded. Be warned...the buffet at the Hot Springs is $28 per person and in my opinion...totally not worth the cost. We didn't know when we sat down what the cost was, so there was a bit of sticker shock there.

A beautiful resort and well worth the stay in order to view the lava of Volcan Arenal!

ABS:HotelCheckRates-d293012?&src=GoListDetail&fromServlet=GoListDetail&Action=QC_Button

Avg price: $142

We decided to take in yet ANOTHER view of the volcano at the Arenal Observatory. This view was truly impressive...and we were so lucky that the skies cleared enough for us to see the entire cone of the volcano. We took an easy walk around the grounds, over the suspension bride, and then decided to eat in the restaurant for lunch. The beautiful scenic view from the restaurant is not to miss. The food is OK, but the panoramic view of lake and volcano is amazing.

ABS:HotelCheckRates-d302958?&src=GoListDetail&fromServlet=GoListDetail&Action=QC_Button

Avg price: $209

Although not easy to get to on the rough Monteverde roads, this hotel was just what we needed. We rented one of the honeymoon suites in Building 4...expansive views on a clear day, and it's amazing to see the clouds roll in in the afternoon. The beds are not too comfortable and the linens and pillows could use some updating. The jacuzzi in the bathroom was perfect for soaking our tired legs after hiking. The restaurant is large - and although we only ate breakfast there - substantial enough. The rocking chairs are a great touch in each room and definitely help you to relax and enjoy the serenity of the cloud forest.

ABS:HotelCheckRates-d501072?&src=GoListDetail&fromServlet=GoListDetail&Action=QC_Button

Avg price: $237

Finally we drive ourselves to the beach, Playa Buena. It's not easy to find, but once there...paradise! The check in process left much to be desired as we could not check in early and had to wait almost 4 hours for our room. But once inside, I could not complain. We were in Building 8 which had amazing ocean views. The floor to ceiling windows of the room, bring the ocean inside. There was a slight ant problem in the bathroom that was quickly remedied. The buffet food was good enough, we did not dine at the resort restaurants. The beach was dirtier than we expected, but the snorkeling was great. Only 3 days here, but it was well worth it. I was so relaxed, especially after my wonderful massage at the spa.