grand hotel costa rica, san josé, moderate,
011-506-221-4000,
www.grandhotelcostarica.com.
dating back to 1930, this historic hotel has housed everyone from
john f. kennedy to
julio iglesias. they are among the many notables
who have enjoyed the hotel's magnificent neoclassic architecture
and convenience to the national theater, national museum, national
herbarium, and other attractions.
lapa rios, playa carbonera, expensive to very
expensive, 011-506-735-5130,
www.laparios.com. nestled in a
1,000-acre nature reserve, the lodge at lapa rios could be pictured
in the dictionary under
eco-friendly, as it employs people
from the local community and everything from the bamboo furniture
to the palm-thatched roof is constructed from all-natural native
materials.
dining
bread &
chocolate, puerto viejo de talamanca, inexpensive,
011-506-750-0051. need a morning pick-me-up? head to this
delightful bakery/café for a hot cup of coffee, a heaping plate of
french toast or cinnamon-oatmeal pancakes, or for another hearty
breakfast bite. it's a good choice for lunch, too, and everything -
right down to the mayonnaise - is made on the premises.
playa de los artistas, montezuma, inexpensive to
moderate, 011-506-642-0920,
www.playamontezuma.net/playadelosartistas.htm.
waves lap the sand as you savor
mediterranean specialties like tuna
carpaccio, wood-oven pizzas, and fresh focaccia at this blissful
beachfront italian restaurant. throw in the gentle breeze,
flickering lanterns, and a couple of bottles of wine, and you might
just od on romance. note: the restaurant closes for several weeks
during the year, so call first to make sure it's open.