I have to say this property did not seem worth the price. It was exactly as it was advertised which was rustic and in the forest but I thought it would have some sort of charm to it. We expected our rooms to be old and look like a summer cabin which it did. The room was comfortable and clean but for what we got I feel like it should have cost $60 a night. Every other hotel we stayed at did not charge us for internet but this one did. Their food was pricey and the staff not that helpful. This was the third place we stayed on our honeymoon and was definitely the worst. Staff and charm are everything to us when we travel. We don't expect a lot from our accommodations but if it doesn't have those two things then we know we won't be back. The place is a long walk to any restaurants or stores and the restaurant on site is limited in its food and times that its open. Overall I would not recommend this place.

We recently returned from our third trip to Costa Rica and really enjoyed our stay at Fonda Vela. We stayed in one of the new junior suites and thought it was very comfortable. Our room was light and bright with large windows that looked out onto the garden area. Some of the older rooms are darker with wood paneling, so I was glad we had reserved a newer suite.

We had two big beds, a nice sitting area, and a t.v., although we didn't watch it. Our room also had a small refrigerator, which is always a big plus; unfortunately it was broken and they didn't offer to fix it - that's the only problem we encountered at the property. The bathroom was pretty basic, but it did include a bathtub, which seemed like a luxury in CR.

We really liked the grounds; they have trails that run throughout the property, and we saw several gorgeous birds here, including keel-billed toucans and an emerald toucanet. The food at the restaurant was very good, much better than at many other hotels in Costa Rica. It was very cool in the evenings when we were there, and we enjoyed sitting by the fireplace in the dining room. The service was wonderful. The lemon butter fillet I had was excellent, and we even enjoyed fresh Monteverde ice cream for dessert.

We found the front desk to be very helpful in arranging tours; they booked a guide for us for a morning hike at the Monteverde Cloud Forest - we were even lucky enough to see the elusive quetzal, and also saw howler monkeys, coatis, and a sloth. They also booked a ziplining tour for us through Original Canopy Tours and a night hike at Hidden Valley - both were excellent.

Fonda Vela is in a good location and taxis are easy to get - I liked it that it was set outside of Santa Elena, so it's a quiet property. A taxi to the Cloud Forest cost us $8, and when we went to Pizzeria de Johnny, it was $5. We had some rainy weather and had to wear a jacket in the evenings, but it was nice to be in the cloud forest and see everything it had to offer. If you come to MV from Arenal, be sure to do the Jeep, Boat, Jeep - it saves you time on the terrible roads because you cut across the lake. This hotel doesn't have the typical tico feel of other Costa Rican hotels because the area was settled by Quakers, but what it does have is warmth and hospitality and good service. If we returned to MV someday, we would stay here again.

Our room at Fonda Vela was huge with lots of native wood paneling, a lovely balcony and a relaxing view of the forest. The staff were very welcoming and helpful and the restaurant was better than we had expected.

There are some beautiful nature trails that you can take right from the property and we saw several birds and other wildlife on our walks. There are also a couple of whimsical and charming bronze statues on the property that add to the atmosphere and lots of paintings that I think are done by one of the owners.

The only small items that we found to complain about were no one to help with our bags when we left. Luckily, we traveled fairly light, but it was a bit of a trek on gravel to the front desk. Also, this was the only place we stayed in Costa Rica that charged for internet access.

We loved the cloud forest and the tours we took there.....we saw 4 quetzals and tons of other birds and wildlife. Also, I loved the suspension bridges.....my travelling companion hates heights, but toughed it out and managed to enjoy the experience.

Overall, loved the tranquility of Fonda Vela and would return.

Stayed for 3 days in early July (rainy season) without a car. Easy to arrange taxis to/from town.

Lovely location 5000 feet above sea level. Friendly staff.

Our room was in a "quad" - one building with 2 rooms above, 2 rooms below. We did not hear much noise from those in adjacent rooms. Room was clean.

Restaurant was elegant, food was delightful, service was excellent. Sample dinner prices: fillet mignon with vegetables ($16), Corvina Sea Bass with vegetables ($14), chicken cordon bleu ($11), chile relleno entree ($8), tortilla soup ($5), hearts of palm salad ($4.50), tiramisu ($3), cheese cake ($2.50). These prices do NOT include 13% tax or standard 10% service charge. Enjoyed everything we ate. There are two dining rooms in one building. The smaller room is cozier, has a fireplace, and (I think) requires reservations for dinner. The larger room is used for breakfast and for lunch/dinner overflow.

The hotels web site lists a flat charge for meals if you want to prepay for meals with your room reservation. We prepaid for breakfasts ($9), but found everything on the breakfast menu was about $5 plus tax and tip (on Thursday and Friday). On Saturday, there was a nice breakfast buffet for $9 plus tax and tip.

We walked from Fonda Vela to the Reserve in 20 minutes. We arranged for a Monteverde Reserve guide via the hotel. The guide, Fransisco Castro (nickname Chico), was terrific and made the walk through the park far more enjoyable than going solo. He coaxed a tarantula out of its hole, pointed out walking stick insects hidden in trees, and found a small viper snake near the elevated bridge. We did not see any quetzals on the walk, although Chico indicated that a few had been seen in one spot in the Reserve over the previous few days. Chico said that the quetzals were migrating down the mountain this time of year, and that we actually had a better chance of seeing them in the early morning on the trails on Fonda Vela grounds.

We walked about half a mile down the hill from Fonda Vela for ice cream at the Cheese Factory. Exceptionally creamy and definitely worth the trip. Single scoop in a cone cost 500 colones ($1). Flavors included coconut, macademia, rum raisin, soursop, and many others. More flavors were available than those listed on the wall sign. You can also buy the same delicious ice cream at a satellite store in “downtown Monteverde” across the street from the “Tree-in-a-restaurant”, although the price is slightly higher there.

A few more minutes walking down the hill brings you to Stellas Bakery, a nice place to grab a sandwich and some baked cake, pie, or quiche.

Fonda Vela grounds keeping left a little to be desired. Noticed that dog crap remained on the steps leading to our room for a couple of days. A McDonalds drink cup was on the ground outside the restaurant for 3 days.

Towels are old and should be replaced.

Two computers for Internet access are available in the reception area. We did not use, but signs indicated cost was $3 for 30 minutes.