In January of this year (2012) we stayed at La Mansion for 3 days and had one of our best hotel experiences ever! The hotel staff could not have been more helpful and pleasant, especially Damien at the front desk. We were absolutely spoiled with an upgrade to Penthouse 2 which has a double sided ocean view and was a luxurious suite complete with large bedroom, living and dining areas. The food at the in-house restaurant was fabulous and wonderfully presented, the views from the out door lounge breath taking and the staff all extremely helpful and professional. It was a wonderful entry to Costa Rica and turned out to be our favourite hotel (out of many wonderful places) in our two week visit.

I would recommend you ask the staff about the lovely beach just 10 minutes down the road, rather than go to the huge (and not as nice) tourist beach, 45 minutes away outside Manual Antonio park.

We had a great time at La Mansion. The staff were always really attentive and helpful, they recommended great restaurants and helped us to set up rides with taxis and the free shuttle they offer to the beach/park.

Our package came with complementary breakfast which is typically served on the deck, but due to the morning rain showers the days we stayed we get to eat in the main restaurant and order anything we liked for no additional charge.

Our room was big and clean and the air conditioner worked a lot better then a few other places we had stayed. The pool and deck area are beautiful, and we went during a slow season so we pretty much had it all to ourselves. the views from the top deck are indescribable, you are on a small peninsula so you have water on 3 sides and misty mountains on the other.

One thing to keep in mind.... the hotel is VERY close to the main dining area, but the road is very steep and winding so walking is a bit nerve racking. We used the cab service to get back and forth to dinner each night, if you call a cab the price is a bit higher then just waving one, so on the way back try to save some $ by flagging one down. Its pretty easy to grab them on the way by. They do have free parking if you are traveling by car.

With regards to the bugs people mentioned, its a tropical paradise, bugs and lizards are around. The hotel has a nice open feel to it to allow the breeze to come through and a few critters could get in. If you are really put off by this type of thing a small boutique hotel - this or others like it in the area- might not be the best option.

I would go back in a second!

We spent 3 nights here in the last week of December. This small boutique hotel is located about amile off the main road to Manuel Antonio. The view from the hotel is unbeleivable. We were booked into the picey Presidential Suite, which was almost like a condominium with 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a dining room, and 2 balconies - 1 small and 1 humungous, on the top (3rd) floor.The staff especially Herbert in reception and Bert, the bartender were extremely friendly and helpful. Our deal included breakfast, lunch and drinks until 7 PM. The menu selections for breakfast and lunch were excellent and the bar served all kinds of cocktails. There is even a small swim-up bar. The best part of the hotel apart from the room, was the terrace where lunch and drinks are served, as it has an unparalleled and unobstructed view - a great place to hang out with a glass of wine or to bask in the sun. The restaurant named after Jacques Cousteau is excellent but needs a reservation and pre-ordering.
My complaint about the hotel is that it feels cramped and a little claustrophobic. Even though our room had total privacy, the pool, the terrace, etc. felt crowded. Given the location and views, it is expected, but still with the price-tag, one would wxpect more exclusivity. The other problem is that it is far from the main road, or the beach and all the activity. A taxi into town or the beach costs about 8 bucks. The hotel has a shuttle to the beach about 2-3 times a day. It takes about 15-20 mins to walk to the main road, though it is quite an uphill hike. Once on the main road, there are quite few restaurants and bars to choose from. But everything out here is expensive! It is very touristy and expensive and be prepared to dish out at least $25 pp for meals.
The Manuel Antonio Park itself is tiny, though beautiful. A 10 minute walk from the hotel lies a small hidden almost empty beach (make a right from the netrance and follow the signs downhill). Monkeys invade the hotel every morning and are a pleasant diversion.

I stayed at LMI for 10 nights in October, and I couldn't have been happier! The whole staff of the hotel are wonderful, and seem to be there all the time! Heriberto seemed to be there almost every time I came downstairs! He was super helpful, and helped me arrange a few tours, my favorite being the MidWorld zipline tour... so fun! The same two guys were the waiters I think every day I was there for breakfast, and they were both wonderful. By the end of my stay, they already knew what I wanted to drink and probably what I was going to order to eat! I was a little concerned that it was going to be a "honeymoon hotel" and it is to a degree, as is every hotel around, but not exclusively. And honestly, I didn't even really see any other guests except at breakfast! The way the hotel has been built on to, almost every room is almost by itself with not many neighbors, which is amazing. Make sure to plan in advance to catch the shuttle service to and from the main beach in town. And as other people have mentioned, the hotel is a 3-4 hour ride from San Jose if you don't take the flight into Quepos. I had the hotel pick me up and take me back to San Jose by car, and I really enjoyed the ride both ways. The drive back was beautiful and I got to really see a lot of the country that I would have missed!
So thanks to everyone at LMI, hopefully I'll get to visit again this fall!