So many good and positive things to say about...
Costa Rica | Jun 15 - Jun 23, 2022

David
David G.
Greenville, SC | Reviewed on Jun 30, 2022

So many good and positive things to say about this excellent trip to Costa Rica. Working with Randall on our itinerary and all other planning details was very easy, straight-forward, informative and FUN. We had some issues getting there and with our luggage via the airlines, no fault of Kim Kim whatsoever, but once we arrived at the San Jose airport it was smooth sailing all the way.

Our trip ran like clockwork with all Tour companies being at the right place at the right time to pick us up or drop us off for planned excursions & airport transfers. Very impressive! Everyone was so kind and helpful every step along the way. It was "Pura Vida", which I learned means so many things.

The excursions were amazing and exceeded our expectations. The lodgings were outstanding, our favorite is the Arenal Manoa with a fantastic view of the volcano right outside our floor to ceiling windows. Highly recommend this place as the whole site is filled with beauty everywhere you look, the staff is very nice and helpful, as well as patient with my "Spanglish" conversations. Just a short taxi ride away is the EkoThermales Hot Springs - a must see and do experience after morning excursions. And Manuel Antonio Park...WOW!...another superb lodging with view and excursions.

I could go on and on about this trip but the one thing everyone should know: Costa Rica is absolutely beautiful and should be on your list of places to visit. Highly recommend working with KimKim Travel as they have all the hooks in place for a safe, well-planned, flawless connections trip. I will work with them again in the future and hopefully with Randall - he was the best!

Thank You Randall & KimKim!

Hotel Reviews
Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Fortuna

Love, love, LOVE this place! We had the coolest and roomiest bungalo with a private patio and impressive view of the volcano from our huge floor to ceiling windows. The restaurant was a short 3-minute walk down the road for breakfast every morning and dinner every night. They will send a cab to your bungalo for free in minutes to take you anywhere on the property, which we did for the Hot Springs on the property as well as trips to the Reception to meet our Tour excursions.

Tips for future travelers

Def bring your swimsuit, camera & binos. Hike the property grounds and look for wildlife everywhere. The sun & birds woke us up every morning around 5AM....and we dug that! Speaking Spanish is a definite help, but not needed, as most everyone can speak Spanish and English quite well. Spanglish is totally acceptable manner in which to communicate.

Authenticity & Character
Loved the restaurant layout and its charm. Greco lizards hanging out and soaking up the rays, many species of birds flying around or perching.
Location
Close rides to nearby attractions such as Zip Lining
Staff
Super helpful and nice.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean, comfy beds
Hotel Ficus
Monteverde Costa Rica

The room itself was nice & large with a private patio for viewing the scenery. We saw several species of animals on the property including the cute Coalti and not so cute "Raton Grande", as wll as many types of birds. The restaurant/office/bar area were nearby so making it for breakfast was a snap. The staff were very kind and helpful. We found it odd that barely anyone used the on-site restaurant & bar as we were usually the only ones in there when dining. Perhaps more people go into town for these features? Interesting note: Because of the type of santitation used in the area, when in the bathrooms after wiping, the toilet paper is NOT to be flushed but rather thrown into the trashcan. This was strange for us.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Short walk to downtown Santa Elena, but be prepared for some hilly hikes
Staff
Very kind and helpful. We were able to use the laundry facilities to get our shirts cleaned and pressed from the trip's activities.
Crowne Plaza San José La Sabana
San José

What can I say? Stayed here one night, our last, before flying out. It was your standard business hotel. No frills, no character, just a nice clean place.

Authenticity & Character
Something to see and do on the property. Pretty business-bland.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Costa Verde
Manuel Antonio

We LOVED this hotel! The room was large with 2 beds, had a fantastic view of Manuel Antonio beach from our private deck, and the grounds are beautiful and made for some excellent short hikes around the property and down to the beach. Will def try and stay in this hotel on our next visit!

Authenticity & Character
Very cool and interesting grounds with parts of planes serving as meeting areas and such. The Anaconda restaurant was only a few minutes walk from our room for daily breakfast and other meals.
Location
Near to town and the beaches. Short, but hilly walks. No problems for us as we both love to walk and hike but be prepared.
Staff
They were very helpful with getting us setup and additional hands-on help in using the room safe.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Fresh sheet service daily, clean comfy beds and the private deck with beautiful views. There was a kitchen area but we found it odd that there is no nearby Market on the property or in town to stock it up with any groceries. There are plenty of nearby restaurants though. We found a market about 20-min walk away, all UPHILL going there, and merely picked up a case of beer and hauled it in our backpack all the way DOWNHILL back to the room and enjoyed them on the balcony.
Local specialist: Randall Jiménez
Randall
Randall Jiménez
Local specialist in San José, Costa Rica | Replied on Jul 12, 2022

Hey David,

Seeing that you had a 5-Star experience is the best thing we could hope for! Your review means a lot to us. Thank you for choosing us for your vacation planning. We look forward to serving you again in the near future.

Regards and Pura Vida from your friends in Costa Rica!

Randall