We did a 2 week tour around Costa Rica and this was one of my favourite hotels. Each room is essentially a wooden hut, which was spacious and clean. The pool area was nice and the gardens were immaculately kept with a great view of the volcano (when clear skies!). Breakfast was decent also with a good choice. Yes WiFi only available close to reception, but not an issue. There is a little shop 200 yards up the road on the left hand side with a friendly owner selling snacks etc. Town is probably a 15 minute walk and felt safe.
I had the bad luck that my travel agency booked 2 nights here. My worst stay of traveling in Columbia, Panama and Costa Rica. Never experienced poorer service quality than here compared to 12 other small and nice hotels and B&Bs. At first glance the lodge looks nicely set in a garden with small huts. Unfortunately the huts are poorly equipped, hardly hangers in the bathroom to hang up moist towels and moist clothes or equipment in plain rain season. The ceiling light makes you feel being in a railway station. The wifi only works in front of the reception, where people gather together like on the curbsides of Cuba in front of internet offices. Totally not understandable since WiFi worked excellently anywhere else in town. The worst was the breakfast. I have nowhere been offered worse breakfast quality: cheap and burned mass food. Burned pancakes, cheap ugly fruit, no fresh juice etc- and that in the country of wonderful tropical fruits. Only one friendly service lady trying her best to cope with preparing food / eggs and hand out clean cups or plates. I had escaped from my room in early morning due to employees mowing the lawn at 7 am in front of my hut, but was deeply disappointed. Terrible experience and a true nightmare.
Lovely little place. Slightly out of the way so lots of wildlife but only a 10 minute walk into town for bars and restaurants. Rooms were individual lodges. So big, GREAT air con! Safes in each room. Nice breakfast, simple but adequate. Nice little pool to cool off after a hot day. There isn’t a bar or they don’t sell alcohol on site but their is a little shop just on the road by the entrance that sells beers if you wish.
We LOVED our stay at Arenal Montechiari. Perfect location. Close to walk to the town centre, less than 10 mins on a flat road which is street lit. The cabins are freestanding and we did not hear any noise from other rooms. It was a quiet and peaceful place. The rooms are spacious and clean. Plenty of hot water. The gardens are beautiful and it has a wonderful view of the volcano. Breakfast is good and Yolanda in the restaurant is very nice. We had lunch here too and it was very good. The pool is an oasis, very clean and both lovely to swim in and rest beside. Tip- if you are a light sleeper bring earplugs as the beautiful birds sound as if they are right in the room with you. We didn't mind as we were up early and loved being so close to nature. We absolutely loved it here - 3 nights was not enough, I wish we had longer!
We spent a couple of nights in a very clean chalet with a great view of the volcano just outside. Most rooms have a deck and the whole establishment sits in beautifully maintained gardens with a very pleasant pool. A couple of large bird tables attract many of lovely creatures. We saw toucans in the trees above the dining get area. Breakfast was excellent with both local dishes and food for North American clientele.
The hotel is a five minute walk from the bustling little town.
One minor issue was towel sculpture by room staff. Rather than leave our hardly used towels from the day before (we had used pool towels) room staff used fresh towels to make towel sculptures in our room, thus negating our efforts to try and save a bit of unnecessary cleaning. Perhaps management could instruct their staff in environmental issues.