Hotel Arenal Lodge

The property and views were beautiful!

The property features a collection of buildings offering various room types. Our chalet, located at the top of the property, was spacious and provided stunning views of Arenal Volcano.

We stayed in the honeymoon suite and the room had one of the most spectacular view I’ve ever seen in Costa Rica. The room was clean and very spacious, with modern sinks, toilet, and showers. The bed was very comfortable, true to other reviews. Food at the resort is very good, though cocktails were a little disappointing for the price. Make sure you take the offered jungle hike and wear decent sneakers or hiking boots. It is absolutely gorgeous and we had fun for a couple of hours taking in every trail we could (don’t worry, there are shortcut trails too). We were frequently amazed that even on the trails that somewhere forty years ago, people put in all those pavers and tables and chairs in the woods! The front desk/reception has a whole book of tours you can sign up for including horseback riding and rafting, etc. We only stayed a couple of days so we just took in and enjoyed the property, hiked a lot, used the pool table, and stared at the magnificent scenery. For people who want to get away from it all for a few days, this is a great place to do so.

The view from the room was absolutely stunning and definitely the highlight of our stay. The room itself was clean and spacious, which worked perfectly for me and my husband. However, there were a few downsides. The room felt a bit dark and outdated, and unfortunately, the bed was not comfortable for my liking. The pillows were also extremely large, which made it difficult for me to sleep. I asked the attendant if there were thinner options available, but I was told there weren’t any, and the response felt dismissive and lacking in care. Breakfast was just okay—nothing particularly memorable. Additionally, the drive up to the hotel was quite intense and challenging, which is something to keep in mind when planning your visit. Overall, while the view and room size were great, the lack of comfort and service made the experience less enjoyable than it could have been.