Coasta Rica was one of my all time favorite trips. I differ from the ecolodge though - and it's just my preference to have more of a private and relaxing trip. We rented a house through VRBO. It was in Puntarenas - which is not very touristy, but beautfiul. It was a short drive to Miguel Antonio, Jaco, and 2 hours from San Jose. The house we rented slept 13 and cost less than 2000 for the week. Incredible!

Good timing! I just got back from a 2 week vacation there. My wife is half-Tica and much of her family is down there. We visit every 12 - 18 months.

There are a number of resort options. Jaco has become quite popular amongst Gringos in the last 5 years. It's about a 2 - 2 1/2 hour drive from the San Jose airport. The drive is a little hairy at times. Just be cautious. There are some nice stops on the way there. Friends of ours stayed at Cafetal. Figure on around $100/night to stay near the beach. If you want deluxe, try the Los Suenos resort.

Manuel Antonio/Quepos is another couple hours down the road. There's a terrific place between Quepos and MA with an enormous open air grill. You'll see it on your way to the beach. It's worth shelling out a bit for a guide in the park. It's been a few years since we've been down to MA, but

Going the other way, you can head east towards Limon and then south towards Punta Cocles. This area has a very different feel from the rest of Costa Rica as there are many descendants of Caribbean workers who came to build the railroad. More rain (and many more mosquitos), but a terrific place to hang out for a week or so.

The central valley around San Jose has a lot going for it. We came back from the Mercado Central (central market) with a few kilos of good Costa Rican coffee. It's well worth spending a few days in or around San Jose.

I'd recommend several places to stay. Grano de Oro is a hotel/restaurant in San Jose with a shuttle to the airport. It's a good final stop. The Bougainvillea in Santo Domingo, Heredia is beautiful. There's also a nice nature park in the area (Inbiopark). I'll also give a shout out to a place called La Lluna de Valencia (www.lallunadevalencia.com). It's a lot of fun, especially if you like paella. Word of warning. The tapas are enormous!

There's plenty of good day trips in the area. The cloud forest on the way to Limon is striking.

Well, those are just a few ideas. I'm lucky to have in laws down there. It's a fun and affordable place to visit.

BB

I've travelled a fair amount in CR over the last 3-4 years and usually stay for extended periods. My favorite town is Atenas where I rent a place but I travel out to other locations. I do agree about Jaco, it's one of my favorites. Keep the children clear of the drug and prostitution business there, though. It's not immediately noticeable but it's there. If you want to go and just spend the day park your car in the large lot on one of the side streets. You can't miss it. There's a rest room on the premises and the walk to the beach is very short. You can also rent shower accommodations on the beach front if you wish to clean up before going to one of the many eating establishments there. I love MA but do not recommend driving there as there are a couple of very hairy one-way bridges to navigate. I know people who've gotten stuck because a roadway has caved in. If you go there plan to fly in and out. Additionally, do not go June-December. It's just too darn hot and humid and the animals are not usually out during daylight hours. Jan-March are great times. Don't miss Arenal and Monteverde. If you want a very special, very rustic stay in Arenal call upon Steve and Debbie at the Three Lizards. They have 3 very cute cabins and the view of the volcano is breathless. It's a 40 minute drive from town but worth it for a couple of days. Remember, though, I said "rustic".
The one really huge problem Costa Rica struggles with is rampant theft. Absolutely do not leave any valuables in a hotel room unless they are locked in a safe, and if you have a car, simply locking it is not enough. You must remove everything (doesn't matter what it is) from sight or you're likely to be broken into. It pays to rent a car with a trunk as opposed to an SUV, for example. Have fun and ¡pura vida!