Forest Hills Suites

A roomy house with five bedrooms that can sleep up to 12 people comfortably. There's a great swimming pool, a kitchen area, and a BBQ grill, plus AC and cable TV in the rooms and house. If you're after a place to switch off and enjoy the surrounding nature, this is a good spot to relax.

I'm back from Forest Hills Suites and already miss it. It was the most peaceful, beautiful place I've stayed, and now I'm daydreaming about it from my office. Mornings on the master suite balcony were my favorite: tropical birds all around, flowers in the backyard, and the sun rising over the green hill across from the house while I ate fresh papaya. We also had lovely dinners and tropical drinks with friends beside the pool. The backyard and patio were lush, and the tiled floors throughout were spotless. The maid tidied and made the beds each day. We brought DEET spray but never used it. Even with all that greenery, the bugs stayed away from the house. The house has dark wood ceilings and closets. A friend who knows wood said it was really good quality, though I wish I'd asked what kind it was. Arched windows make the place feel open and airy. In our master suite, a vaulted, domed brick ceiling was unlike anything I'd seen. My husband and I liked looking up at it and at the dozens of local paintings as we drifted off. The attached bathroom had a huge tub and an overhead shower with great water pressure, which is rare in Costa Rica. Erika, the house manager, organized our tours and excursions and replied quickly to my many pre-trip emails. She's animated and kind. She persuaded us to visit Manual Antonio National park, which we hadn't planned on, and it ended up being our favorite day in Costa Rica. She also arranged these outings, all of which I highly recommend: 1) Villa Caletas for sunset over the Pacific. The grounds were amazing. The hotel's interior didn't impress me, and we were glad we'd booked FHS instead of paying a lot more to stay there. 2) Isla Tortuga, a full-day trip to a secluded island, with plenty of drinks and water, and lunch served by the attentive boat staff. 3) Dinner at Lemon Zest restaurant, where I had excellent ahi tuna. I've been to 23 countries, and Costa Rica is now at the top of my list. I had such a good time that I'm thinking about canceling next year's Hawaii trip so we can return to this peaceful, lush home.

Our concierge, Erika, made a huge difference. She suggested places that would make our Costa Rican trip more memorable, then drove us into town herself after her shift when no cab would pick us up. A+ for the stay, and A++ for the service.

We were glad to stay a short drive from Jaco Beach. The place is beautiful and has a special feel, and it was clean, welcoming, and friendly. Well worth it.