La Mansion Arenal

My wife and I went here on our Honeymoon, and it was the nicest of the 4 hotels that we stayed in Costa Rica (and that includes the $400/night 5 star hotel we stayed at). We were virtually all alone, and enjoyed the HUGE jacuzzi and infinity pool all to ourselve

“Great Honeymoon Destination”

La Mansion Arenal

My wife and I went here on our Honeymoon, and it was the nicest of the 4 hotels that we stayed in Costa Rica (and that includes the $400/night 5 star hotel we stayed at). We were virtually all alone, and enjoyed the HUGE jacuzzi and infinity pool all to ourselves. Also, the room was great and very private. There was fresh flowers in our room and bathroom each day. The food was a bit expensive at the hotel, but it was very good! For a less expensive alternative, you can walk outside of the hotel, turn right, and walk about 300 feet to Cafe El Rey where you can get a feast of really good "plato typico" (typical Costa Rican) food for around $5.00. Also, the owner was very kind and helpful with arranging transportation. The views of Lake Arenal were unreal! You will not regret staying here.

“Wonderful hotel, excellent trip to Selva Leona”

La Mansion Arenal

Stayed at La Mansion in July 2007. Stunning location, great views. The room was excellent, not your typical hotel room. Ate in the restaurant most evenings, food was very good. Great choice of beers! Highlight of our stay was the trip to Selva Leona (only bookable through La Mansion). Horse riding, walking in the rain forest and BBQ. Local people, setting up their own business. Great experience. Thoroughly recommend la mansion and the trip to Selva Leona.

“A haven of peace”

La Mansion Arenal

La Mansion was our second stop on the Costa Rica and was a perfect stepping stone between a murky English spring, the cool of the Cloud Forest and the sweltering heat of Manuel Antonio. Fabulous setting, but as others have said a long, long way from everything so if, like us, you haven't hired a car it will cost you a fortune in cabs. The food is variable, but the soda next door offers inexpensive really tasty food with a great atmosphere. The staff at the Mansion were amazing - seems to be the norm in Costa Rica - the rooms really comfortable, the view of the lake stupendous and the distance from the main drag meant peace and quiet and a real feeling of being away from it all. Some of the hotels in Arenal are more like small housing estates! La Mansion is well worth a visit and we loved it.

“Best hotel in Costa Rica”

La Mansion Arenal

We just returned from a 6 night stay at La Mansion. I traveled with my husband and two boys (11,13). We stayed in a deluxe cottage which included a king bed, two double beds in a separate room, three sinks, a toilet and two showers. There was also a couch, cable TV, A/C, and a refrigerator we used quite often. The fresh flowers in the room each day were also a lovely touch. We travel quite often and to upscale resorts and La Mansion is now our favorite location. The drive to and from La Fortuna was not a big deal, great road, beautiful views and monkeys!!! It was even easy to drive at night. The cottage was VERY private. Listening to the birds each morning is something I will not soon forget. We looked forward to breakfast each day with the fresh fruit, juices, french toast, eggs, bacon, etc. The staff, especially Chris was extremly helpful. They set our tours up ahead of time which included Mundo Adventura zip lines, a MUST do in the area and the PRIVATE rainforest tour with a local family. This was our best experience in Costa Rica...we were treated to a boat ride, and fantastic horses up to a rainforest, a fresh cooked REAL Costa Rican meal and horseback ride back down. I want to thank Chris for all of his work, plus he helped us out when our son got real sick with a cold. He called a Dr. in La Fortuna and within 1 hour we were at the Doctor's office getting my son checked out. The dinners were romantic and having a glass of wine at the bar was a nice experience. My kids loved the pool and the pool table. Pura Vida!

“Serenity on the Lake”

La Mansion Arenal

If you are a Tabacon or Paradisus Playa Conchal type (see tripadvisor reviews if you don't know what I mean), you will not like this resort. Quiet, secluded and serene, it is remote in both location and feel. The villas are large, clean and colorful and have a strong local flavor. Its about 30-40 minutes from La Fortuna, but that can be a positive if that's what you want. If you are a confident driver it is not a problem at all, even at night. Your reward is a pastoral lakeview setting instead of the hustle and bustle of the resorts nearer "the strip". The meals were excellent and the service was unobtrusive and yet very attentive and responsive. The beer selection was as good as it gets in Latin America or even in the States for that matter (at least 5 Belgians!). You will meet like-minded travellers there and make new friends since it is an intimate and laid-back place that fosters casual conversation amongst interesting people who seek out-of-the-way experiences. Others have already covered the details, so no need to reiterate here. I just wanted to provide more of an idea of the "feel" instead of the particulars, because I think that is La Mansion's most important attribute.

“La Mansion; a special place.”

La Mansion Arenal

Loved the La Mansion!!!!!!!!!!! The rooms, the breakfast, the views and the staff are all fabulous. We actually loved the location on the lake. I can't think of anything to have made our stay better. We will be back.

The Archers

“Perfect Honeymoon”

La Mansion Arenal

We spent 3 days in this hotel for our honeymoon, and this hotel is absolutely beautiful.

Our room/house was large and spacious , beautifully decorated, with every comfort you need.

The staff were all so friendly and willing to help and the service was excellent.

Great food, beautiful and clean pool, and spectacular view on the lake. This is place to relax, enjoy nature and Costa Rica

What a sunset !!!

It was pure paradise. Thank you, we will be back.

“A very good place...but...”

La Mansion Arenal

This is a fine and beautiful, well-run, family hotel, in a bucolic, green corner of the Costa Rican countryside. The cottages, the grounds, the pool, the setting, the rooms, all are way, way above average.Really quite lovely. The owners are also very present, on top all details, and are accommodating and pleasant.

However, be warned, the hotel itself is well out in the country, miles from "the sights." If you like to walk, there are some pleasant side roads and paths to follow, and the hotel has a few canoes and paddles, which get you out into the beautiful Lake Arenal, populated with birds, ringed with flowering trees and plants. But you will probably need a rental car, and it's fairly far off to the volcano parks, the hanging bridges and the "sights: -- all worth a visit. The hotel's food is less successful, though not bad, and the restaurant is lovely, in a pretty but covered, open air corner of the hotel lobby , and the service is cheerful and polite. It's not a place for foodies, though. The menu is more or less "hotel continental," with the main, meat-heavy entrees almost always sauced, too much for our taste. The owner says he has stopped hiring expensive "outside" chefs, who habitually leave after three months, and he is working on training local ladies. (The little, modest :soda" next door, a mom and pop restaurant, very plain and simple had good foot at a quarter the price.), But at the hotel, one night we had exceptionally good food; another night, very much so-so. The Belgian owner, who has lived in CR for years and years, may get this right, but don't expect fine dining as a given. But would we come back, would we recommend? You bet. It's a lovely place, relaxed and lovely, with friendly and efficient service,lovely cottages, and pretty dining. So our marks -- and we are fussy -- are very high. We would stay there again.

“A Special Place”

La Mansion Arenal

This hotel was our favorite place we stayed in Costa Rica. We were on our honeymoon and this was our splurge hotel, our honeymoon suite was so nice. Our view was stunning and it was very romantic, lake arenal is so amazing. There is a european class in the attention to details. Fresh cut flowers everyday, mixed drinks made with real fruit, fresh & interesting food, great natural spring drinking water, great coffee, great desserts, and a wonderful staff. There is nothing pre-fabricated about this place, it is a small place which allows for a more simplistic elegance.

We took the hotel's advice and booked our activities when we got there. We couldn't have been more pleased with the hotel's recommendations. We relaxed our first day at the pool but then had two days full of great activities. I was very glad that we left it open, though I couldn't say that about the other hotels that we stayed at. I felt like the other hotels were treating us like tourist cattle that costa rica seems to create/attract.

We had perfect weather from Jan11-20th, it was the pefect time to go. It was fairly quiet at La Mansion because they were very busy around the holidays.

We had to reschedule our entire trip because of my husbands knee, they were great about it. We were happier that we went in January and not November.

When I first booked the hotel, I was surprised by the aggressive payment policy. We had to pay in full by a half month before our reservation (with no refund!). But in the end, we felt like the place didn't nickle and dime us like other hotels/cities in costa rica. We felt like it was worth the money and would highly recommend this hotel to others. It's great for 'low maintenence' travelers who appreciate a less mainstream environment with class. Their 4 nights for the price of 3 is a great deal!

“La Mansion”

La Mansion Arenal

Great cozy hotel (17 rooms), Very romantic, relaxing, and the staff are friendly.

The chef is unbelievable, she cooked us the best food in Costa Rica. She is an American who lives in Costa Rica for many years.

The rooms are just great, an experience you will not forget. The only thing, we could not sleep during the heavy rain over the metal roof.

We highly recommend this place. It is definitely one of the best in Costa Rica. Probably the best kept secret… their private natural spring water tastes unbelievable, you don’t want to buy the bottled water…the place is always clean. Enjoy your stay

“Gorgeous location, fantastic private cottages”

La Mansion Arenal

La Mansion Arenal is easily one of the most beautiful places we've ever stayed, or even seen from a distance. We loved having a private cottage -- we had gorgeous views of the land (and the horses on it), lake, flowers, and countless birds without having to leave our porch. The interior is lovely, with paintings of flowers and birds and monkeys on the walls and beautiful tile in the bathroom. Every day we had different fresh flowers arranged everywhere -- on our bed, in the bathroom, and on the little table in the seating area. Some highlights:

- bird watching from our porch

- amazing breakfasts -- not just a whole platter of fresh fruit, cheese, and toast, but also whatever hot options you'd like (e.g., macadamia nut banana pancakes, omelettes, excellent ham, etc.)

- canoeing on the lake... (but a warning here -- be careful! When it gets windy, there are strong currents and it can be hard to get back! My husband and I are fairly strong and we had a real struggle one morning)

- hike in Selva Leones cloud forest, including a horseback ride in the mountains, super-friendly guides, and delicious homemade barbecue

- day trip including visits to Arenal volcano, Eco Thermales hot springs (very pretty and not too busy), and other local spots

- great shower; this won't mean a lot to many people, but for those of us who care about great heat and water pressure, this shower was a stand-out. And you could see the trees from a high window.

We didn't rent a car and that actually worked out very well for us. It's tough to get around in this area, and La Mansion was extremely helpful in setting up all our tours and transportation for us; they just put it all on our bill so we didn't have to worry about a thing. (And the final totals were quite reasonable by any US standards.)

To respond to a preceding negative review... we can only speak from our own experience:

- we had no mustiness in our room

- all staff was extremely helpful

- booking dinners was very laid-back and easy, even last-minute

- there were some little TINY ants around, but nothing that caused any second thoughts even for an insectophobe like myself.

- there was so much else to do we never even went in the pool, but it looked great.

- food at dinner was admittedly mixed... not gourmet by US city standards, and the portions were too large for us. But the salads and soups were quite good, and it was worth it for us most nights to not have to worry about going out. Also breakfasts were the best we've had almost anywhere, and even the snack plates we requested impromptu were wonderful.

“Ltitle Heaven”

La Mansion Arenal

We’ve traveled Costa Rica and this was our favorite place.

They have the best food, the nicest staff, thank you Godfried, and a breathtaking view on the Lake.

This place is incredible, a little heaven on earth.

It was just a great experience and a memorable part of our Honeymoon !

We will be back !

“4 beautiful days”

La Mansion Arenal

this is such a beautiful place it is luxurious scenic and peaceful and the food is just wonderful the staff books all tours if you need them the lake view is incredible it is 40 minutes outside of la fortuna which some might not like so when you go on the rafting trip or ziplining or any of the other great adventures there you start off a bit earlier but you are more than compensated by the ambience of this great place we will absolutely come back

“Loved it, would definely return, recommend to others”

La Mansion Arenal

We only stayed here one night in July, 2007. Too short a time but we were trying to get a good overview of the country - which we did. We loved the Arenal area. It's beauty is awe-inspiring. We drove here fron the Puntarenas area, going around the lake, through the town of Arenal - which has a strong German influence with German bakeries and restaurants galore - to this lovely Inn. The owner greated us upon our arrival, which was earlier than normal check in time. At this point in our travel we were overcompensating for arriving late and driving at dark, something we were trying to avoid. Nonplussed, he invited us to share a welcome drink with him and gave us a tour of the property. This is not a large resort but a lovely, well-planned out property overlooking a lush valley. Great lap pool, enormous hot tub with infinity edge, beautiful accommodations. We loved our room, which they had upgraded to a suite. We had a separate sitting area, hot tub area, and a separate bedroom with two additional beds. If we go back, this is where we'll stay, and put our grandkids in the other room. The concierge recommended a fabulous restaurant at another hotel closer to the volcano for dinner and volcano view - the Kioro - just about 10 km away. It was one of our most fantastic meals in Costa Rica and the volcano view outstanding. They have huge floor to ceiling windows that open up completely so you get a close up view of the volcano, which you want to see at night when the lava is glowing. During the day, it only appears as white, due to the ash covering. Unfortunately, it started raining cats and dogs when we got to Kioro so we didn't get to enjoy the fireworks - another reason to return. Breakfast the next morning at La Mansion was excellent - fresh fruit, breads, eggs, anything you wanted really. We chowed down and hopped on the road for the Guanacaste coast, remarking about what a great property this was and who we would tell about it.

“Wonderful place to stay”

La Mansion Arenal

We stayed at La Mansion for four nights and had a wonderful time. Our cottage was secluded and cosy with plenty of room for the four of us and a fabulous view of the lake. We sat on the verandah watching beautiful sunsets in the evening. The staff were so friendly and helpful and because the place is so small they get to know you and your preferences very quickly. Breakfasts are fantastic with beautifully presented fresh fruit and just about anything else we wanted to eat, and the dinners were great too - all in all a great start to our vacation in Costa Rica.

“Great Small Luxury Inn”

La Mansion Arenal

My husband and I stayed here for five nights during our honeymoon in May 2007. During our entire stay here we felt very comfortable and well taken care of by the staff.

The rooms are nicely decorated, clean, and have amazing views of the lake and surrounding grounds. We spent quite a bit of time at the pool just reading and looking out at the wonderful view.

On of the great things about this place was that they were very accomodating when it came to menu selection. We were able to tell them whatever we wanted for our meal and they were able to provide it for us. They also are great about arranging activities for their guests.

“Pampering, relaxation, and adventure”

La Mansion Arenal

We stayed the week of May20th, 2007. I want to personally thank Godfried and his staff for their excellent service, phenomenal food, and amazing accommodations. What a beautiful beautiful place and an exquisite relaxing atmosphere. I can't think of a place where I have ever relaxed and been pampered more and still have the opportunity for adventure. And the view from the vanishing soaking pool kept us lounging in the warm waters well after sunset. Stunning.

La Mansion at Arenal will definitely be our destination again next trip.

The food was the best we had in over two weeks of travel around CR. The cooked to order breakfasts (complementary) cant be beat. They have a good bar and an excellent wine selection favoring the reds.

La Mansion also arranged for tours, guides, transportation, and fees for any of the sites we wanted to visit. The prices were more than fair and the service top notch.

Godfried even loaned me his brand new personal camera to photograph our adventures away from La Mansion after we had an unexpected camera loss on the Picuare River a couple of days before. How often do you see that kind of service anymore?

The rooms really are as beautiful as the pictures on their website.

“Quiet Romantic Getaway Close to Outdoor Adventure”

La Mansion Arenal

La Mansion is far superior to Tabacon in this area if you like quiet luxurious and romantic hotels and dislike touristy and crowded areas. My husband and I spent 4 nights at La Mansion and were very very impressed with the personalized service and loved having our very own casita. The food at the hotel was wonderful and the sounds of the birds waking us every morning was so peaceful. As quiet and peaceful as the resort is, it's just a stone's throw away from outdoor adventure -- try the hanging bridges, waterfall rapelling and ask the owner of La Mansion to set you up with your own private tour of the cloud forest where you can zip line. What a wonderful place to stay!

“A Defining Find”

La Mansion Arenal

We arrived in Costa Rica without any hotel reservations and stumbling upon La Mansion was the highlight and defining moment of our trip. We drove through La Fortuna and were lucky enough to have a full view of the volcano. In fact, we didn't know how lucky we were. The volcano was covered in fog for the remainder of our stay in the area. Definitely take every advantage of touring around the volcano when the weather is right. We continued driving west, past the many overly touristy hotels and stumbled upon La Mansion. Immediately we knew this was the paradise we were searching for. The setting was peaceful and beautiful, the grounds immaculate and the rooms impeccable. The food in the open air restaurant was phenomenal....fresh seafood, vegetables, desserts, European breakfasts. Considering the amenities, you definitely get your money's worth at La Mansion. The owner and hotel staff are welcoming, friendly and will make you feel at home. They are thoroughly knowledgable and will arrange tours to nearby activities and adventures. The visit to Monte Verde is a must. One can really base their stay in Costa Rica at La Mansion and enjoy different activities each day. La Mansion leaves a taste of pampered luxury in one's mouth and a strong desire to return.

“okie dokie”

La Mansion Arenal

We stayed at this hotel for three days. Let me start by saying you really need your own transportation unless you are ok with paying $70 for a cab back and forth to all the tours and activities. We had a honeymoon suite and the inn had only a few guests during our stay. The view and setting is beautiful. The accomodations are more of a western rustic flavor. All in all the staff was very accomodating and treated us very well. It's more of a family run business so many times there was one person present running the show. Our one complaint was that we had dogs barking at 1:00 am every night. The drive to the activities takes around 45 minutes and I would recommend not doing the drive at night. It was a bit freaky even for a guy from Alaska. Given some rain it might even qualify for an adventure tour. Recommendations: Ice cream w/ Belgian chocolate, Canyoning tour, La Fortuna Falls, ATV tour, Brasitas Restaurant.

“Nice view”

La Mansion Arenal

We had a room overlooking the Lake! Really great with nice chairs under terrace. Rooms are big, but furniture is kitchy and not typical. Beautifull pool (cold :-/) and jacuzzi. We had bad luck with the weather but this must be great with clear weather so you can see the volcan. Food is really very good. Nice staff (Belgian beers).

“Loved this place”

La Mansion Arenal

My wife and I stayed at this wonderful place after leaving Palo Verde Resort which did not met our expectations. We were driving and had no problems with driving in Costa Rico. The auto was nice as we traveled around this area and saw howler monkeys (don't get too close as they throw feces and urine at you) and a nice stream by the volcano on a rural road. This was the nicest place that we stayed in Costa Rico!! I would not stay anywhere else if you like to drink, eat, lounge in a small but nice pool and hear nothing but birds and monkeys howling in the distant trees. It is not for the budget traveler!

“The perfect place to stay!”

La Mansion Arenal

We stayed at La Mansion Arenal for seven nights (January 10 through 17). We absolutely loved it! Our cottage was lovely and comfortable with a stunning lake view. The breakfasts each morning (included in the room price) were spectacular with an extensive menu to choose from. The hotel staff (especially the manager Joey) were extremely friendly, helpful, and informative. Joey scheduled all of our daily activities and made great recommondations for places to see and restaurants to visit. The new (and very large) outdoor hot tub overlooking the lake is great. The only drawback to this hotel is the distance to the nearest towns (Nuevo Arenal is 20 minutes, La Fortuna is 40 minutes). We rented an SUV, and highly recommend doing so. Here are activities/restaurants we highly recommend:

1. Hiking by Arenal Volcano (no need for a tour, you can get a map of hiking trails at the entrance to the park)

2. White water rafting at Rio Toro (class 3/4 rapids). We used Wave Expeditions and they were very nice

3. Day trip to Selva Leona rain forest (available exclusively through La Mansion) - one of the highlights of our trip!

4. Gingerbread restaurant (between hotel and Nuevo Arenal) - one of the best meals we've eaten anywhere in the world - the owner only seats a few tables each evening so he can give all guests his personal attention (will be reviewed in Conde Nast soon, so secret will be out of the bag)

5. Joey recommended EcoThermal Hot Springs as opposed to the very crowded Tabacon. We enjoyed Eco Thermal very much.