My husband and I just returned from our first visit to Costa Rica. Unfortunately the Arenal Lodge was the first hotel of our vacation package. The property is located in a beautiful area with great views of the volcano. However, the goat trail from the main road to the hotel is a nightmare, especially at night. The staff is cordial and friendly however, the entire property is need of updating. The beds are the hardest I've ever experienced. From what we understood the owner has little interest in making improvements because this is a losing investment for her. One night would have been tolerable but three nights was a test. We were happy to move on.

We stayed at the lodge, rather than being "in town".

The grounds are pretty impressive (jungle), with views of Arenal volcano across the lake.

The rooms were just in the "OK" category, and the buildings are in need of some major TLC.

We ate breakfast in the dining room each morning, and it was always a treat, as the dining room has large (and I mean LARGE) picture windows looking out over the grounds. There is a wide variety of colorfull birds that come in for the food placed out for them, and it was always enjoyable to have a nice breakfast (food was pretty good) and watch the birds and critters come in.

The staff was pretty nice.

Overall, I'd stay there, again. However, if you want to be "in the action" (we did not), you might consider staying in La Fortuna.

This hotel is in a steep decline due to owner neglect for the past 20 years. We counted 32 rain leaks, one large one in the middle of the dining room, several in the reception area and four in the fitness room (all the equipment was broken). There is no "on site manager." He resides in San Jose (four hours away) and comes to the hotel "once in a while" according to the staff. They told us he has other things he works on in San Jose, not related to the hotel. The assistant manager, Marco, has many plans to save the hotel, but with an absent female owner who lives in Brazil and who has spent sparingly in the past, he is facing a tough battle.

Too many problems to list, but will try: (1) box spring mattress combinations in use in many rooms, very cheap and uncomfortable, ((2) broken, cracked sinks and tubs, (3)little attention to safety in bathrooms, (3) no bars of soap, only liquid dispenser in shower, (4) use of chicken (yes, that is correct, chicken wire) to increase footing on steps where water drips, Naturally you catch your foot on it and trip (5) Parrot poop in the middle of the reception area every morning until 11 PM. Asst. Manager said they would work on that, (6) wooden floors have not been refinished in many years and look old and scruffy, (7) totally inadequate lighting to the point we had to use flashlights to see in the room (room number eight).

Spend your money some place else where the management and owner show they care. A professional in the hospitality industry in San Jose told us the lodge has a bad reputation among the professionals and is the one they mention as giving the hotels near the volcano a bad name. Too bad, nice staff.

Some of the wood items need to be re-varnished. Pool table needs to be re-conditioned. The room was nice and clean. Food was good. Great view! It would be great if the wifi would reach inside of the rooms.