Hotel in Arenal Costa Rica - Arenal Lodge
This classy hotel is reminiscent of
a comfortable New-England ski lodge in the summer months. The
large main building, which houses the reception and a
restaurant/lounge, has a stone fireplace, comfy leather
chairs, and beautiful works of art. It is simply a nice place
to relax. However the similarities end there. The reception
area is teeming with tropical plants, flowering vines and even
full size trees, all growing indoors. The roof has skylights
that that give the closed roof building an open air
feel.
The hotel is reached from the main
thoroughfare via a steep and twisting, two-kilometer side
road. This road is at times wide enough for only one vehicle,
as it leads through thick jungle and beautiful pastureland.
Upon reaching the hotel you are sure to notice the secluded,
campus like grounds complete with hiking trails and stables
with horses which may be ridden by guests. There are also a
handful of mountain bikes available for guests who posses
enough endurance to ride the steep terrain.
The grounds are nicely maintained,
it is one of the few hotels in the area where the gardens look
well established, owing to the age of the hotel. These
beautiful gardens sport many kinds of flowering plants,
humming birds and other wildlife. It is a great spot for bird
watching.
The older rooms, known as Junior
Suites, have dark wood paneling, hardwood floors and balconies
with rocking chairs that overlook the Volcano. Each Junior
Suite has two queen beds, fridge with mini bar, bathrooms with
bathtubs, twin sinks and hairdryers. The beds overlook the
volcano and on a clear night lava could be seen without ever
leaving the bed!
The newer Master Suites are set
higher up the hill overlooking the property. These larger
stand-alone units have floor to ceiling windows, also with
rocking chairs overlooking the volcano. Unlike the Junior
suites that have outdoor balconies these sites have air
conditioning, so the 'balconies' are indoors. All master
suites have kitchenettes, fridge with mini bar, sink, coffee
maker and microwave. The bathrooms here have showers instead
of baths.
It should be noted that the
hotel is one of the furthest from the town of La Fortuna,
about 17 kilometers or 9 miles away. If you don't have a car,
transportation to and from restaurants, hot springs and other
tours can be expensive. Desafio can provide transportation to
and from the hotel for all tours and activities but additional
transportation costs will apply. Then again it is probably a
good option if active volcanoes make you
uneasy.
Our Site via RSS
