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All of our step by step Costa Rica planning tips in one spot
There is something for everyone in Costa Rica from budget-friendly hostels that are popular with backpackers to luxury all-inclusive resorts for a romantic getaway.
There are also treehouses you can stay in, unique eco boutique hotels, places on coffee farms, and so much more.
Basically, what I’m trying to say is that your accommodation options in Costa Rica are endless!
Costa Rica is a great place to enjoy a bit of luxury with a stay at an all-inclusive resort.
It is possible to find all-inclusive resorts geared towards families, adults-only, couples etc. There are also places for all budgets and interests. It’s great!
Just keep in mind that Costa Rica is the most expensive country in Central America. Although the resorts here are top-notch, the prices will typically not be as affordable as some other countries in Central America and the Caribbean.
Check out our resort guide for all of our favorite places in different categories such as adult only resorts, jungle resorts, and family friendly places.
If you are traveling with a large group of friends or family, renting a villa can be the perfect accommodation option.
In Costa Rica, it is even possible to rent a villa with a private chef, housekeeper, and concierge included.
Some of the most popular places to rent a villa are Manuel Antonio, Uvita, Tamarindo, and Papagayo Peninsula.
For more info check out our complete guide to villa rentals in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica prides itself on being eco-conscious and that extends to its accommodation options.
Keep in mind that an eco-lodge can really mean whatever someone wants it to mean. In Costa Rica, hotel owners know that the term “eco lodge” has a positive connotation which can be used to attract customers.
There isn’t any qualification in Costa Rica that accommodations need to follow in order to advertise with the eco-lodge distinction.
In other words, if you care a lot about the place you are staying focusing on sustainable methods, send them an email before you book and ask them how exactly they distinguish themselves as an eco-lodge.
If you are looking for a sustainable place we suggest looking at our guide to eco-friendly travel in Costa Rica.
There are so many different websites to book accommodations, how do you choose the best one?
Our favorite hotel booking site is Booking.com.
A big part of this is because Booking.com has excellent cancellation policies and almost always has the lowest rates on the internet.
A few things to keep in mind are:
– We never stay at any place with under an 8.0 review rating on Booking.
Call me snobby, but I want to stay at a place that I will enjoy. In my opinion, the higher the ranking the better the place will be.
Once I clarify my search filters I will go through and open up all the listings that appeal to me. Sometimes I end up with about 15 tabs open on my laptop, but that’s OK!
– I then look through all the pictures, prices, and reviews. As I sort I close out all the tabs of places that don’t appeal to me.
– I then pay attention to when you can cancel until. Almost all hotels in Costa Rica on Booking.com offer free cancellation up to a certain date.
This means that you can book something and if you find a better hotel option then you can always cancel your first hotel at no cost. Just keep an eye on when you can cancel until!
For more tips on how to book the perfect hotel, check out our guide to hotels in Costa Rica.
Planning a last-minute trip to Costa Rica does not have to mean spending more money. It is definitely possible to get some great last-minute hotel deals.
However, you will have much better luck getting good last-minute deals during the rainy season (May to mid-December). During the dry season, everything tends to book out fast and prices can be a lot higher.
For more tips check out our guide to planning a last minute trip to Costa Rica.
*note that this will also sign you up for our email list filled with great Costa Rica travel tips*
Airbnb and VRBO are both search engines that you can use to find houses, villas, or a room in someone’s house to rent.
This is our preferred way to travel because we enjoy having our own space and having the option to cook.
We used to be all about staying in Airbnb’s, but in the past year, our loyalty has shifted to VRBO.
VRBO has better customer service (in our opinion) if things go wrong.
More and more people are moving to VRBO so there are actually tons of listings of places to stay.
For the ultimate in budget travel, hostels are the way to go.
There are tons of hostel options throughout the country in all popular tourist towns.
It is possible to find places with mixed dorms, private rooms with shared bathrooms, places with coworking space, and so much more!
We suggest checking on Booking.com and HostelWorld to find the best places with good cancellation policies and the vibe you are going for.
Check out our guide to Costa Rica hostels for more info.
If you are considering a destination wedding in Costa Rica, we are the people to talk to.
We got married on the beach here in Playa Langosta (south of Tamarindo) a few years ago.
And, I won’t lie, it was stressful to plan (and that was with us living in the country).
We have a complete guide to planning your destination wedding to help you out. It includes accommodation ideas for your wedding day and for all your guests.
If you plan to visit the La Fortuna area (which we strongly suggest) you might consider staying at a hotel with hot springs on the property.
Usually, these are a more high-end accommodation option but we have found that if you plan to visit the hot springs as a day pass guest, sometimes it is actually more budget-conscious to stay at a hot spring hotel rather than pay for another hotel and get a day pass to visit.
Our top hot spring hotel choices are:
With thousands of miles of coastline on both the Pacific and Caribbean coast, this is the perfect surf destination.
One of the many draws to Costa Rica for surfers is the fact that there are waves for all levels. From, beginner waves to the world’s longest left break in Pavones.
Everyone can enjoy surfing here.
If you want to fully embrace surfing, meet other travelers, and have a fun vacation without any stresses of planning things yourself; we suggest a surf retreat.
We love BookSurfCamps for finding awesome surf camp options.
If you are interested in spending several days enjoying yoga, there are several retreat options throughout the country.
This is a great way to relax and reconnect while enjoying great weather and delicious food in a tropical backdrop.
You can check out our guide to yoga retreats or check out the BookYogaRetreats website for tons of great options.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to have their honeymoon in paradise?
We think Costa Rica is the perfect honeymoon destination because there is something for everyone. If you are interested in adventure, Costa Rica has it. If you are interested in relaxing on the beach with a cocktail in your hand, that is possible as well.
When booking your accommodations it never hurts to inform your hotel that it is your honeymoon. Sometimes they will offer special deals or you may even get free upgrade.
For more tips check out our guide to planning honeymoon in Costa Rica.
There are a lot of volunteer opportunities in Costa Rica which include room and board.
Some popular things to volunteer with here are; turtle protection, teaching English in schools and working on permaculture farms.
You can find out more in our guide to volunteering.
On your first and last night in Costa Rica, you will likely want to stay near the airport.
If you are flying in and out of Liberia Airport we suggest staying in the nearby beach town of Playa Hermosa.
If you are flying in and out of the San Jose Airport we suggest staying in the nearby town of Alajuela.
This town is actually much closer to the airport than downtown San Jose.
For more tips check out our guide to San Jose Airport Hotels.
Check out our Destination Guides for the area of the country you are visiting.
Each Destination Guide includes a section on hotels and house rentals for all budgets.
