The fountain suite was a nice, large cabin perfect for travelers who might want to sleep in separate rooms (my traveling companion snored loudly). It was nice to sit on the small deck of the cabin reading a book or just enjoying the setting. The breakfast at the hotel's restaurant was one of my favorite in Costa Rica and kept me fueled all day. The weather was cool, so bring a sweater.

We weren't fans of the Sapo Dorado. If I had one word to describe it, it would be 'rustic'.

The positives: room was clean, hotel desk was friendly and helpful, grounds were beautiful and we saw many beautiful birds from our porch.

The negatives: It was musty smelling - potentially unavoidable in that environment, you be the judge. We were in a cabin that ajoined another room. The first night, we had neighbors - the thin wood walls let us hear all of their conversations, even though they were speaking in normal voices. The second night, we had another neighbor. A scorpion hanging on the ceiling right above our bed. Again, that's potentially unavoidable in that location, so I guess that's somewhat to be expected, but BLARRRGGGHHH!!!!!

Avoid the restaurant. It's overpriced and unexceptional in every way.

My boyfriend and I had a great time in Monteverde. The rooms at El Sapo Dorado are spacious and clean. In the evenings, it was chilly enough to light a small fire in fireplace. And during the day we went ziplining at Selvatura. I highly recommend their canopy tour. The restaurant at El Sapo Dorado was one of our favorites in Costa Rica. Everything was healthy and homemade.

I guess it didn't help that it rained virtually the whole time we were there, but hey it's a cloud forest so kind of to be expected. I just don't get why people rave about Monteverde. We saw virtually no wildlife except in the very good butterfly sanctuary, were less than impressed by the knowledge of the guides, thought the whole place a ramshackle rip-off.

Why do people like Costa Rica so much? It's a tourist rip off, there are better beaches, far better accommodation, more wildlife to see, bigger volcanoes, far better food, more ecologically aware(yet more luxurious and better value) jungle lodges etc etc in other countries at far more reasonable prices.

The accommodation here is dank and dreary a bit like Monteverde, and the people who think the food in the restaurant is fabulous need to eat out more. It was bland, boring and yes over-priced.

Sorry if this sounds negative, but we travelled all the way from Europe to see something different in Costa Rica and were hugely disappointed. There are far more beautiful places in the world to see where you dont feel like you're being taken for a mug.