Hotel Roca Negra Del Arenal

Our room is comfy, and the view of Arenal volcano from the front porch is amazing. The tropical gardens are beautiful, and our host has been so helpful and friendly. There's also a games area and other amenities to keep us busy when it rains. Everything looks a little better in person than it did in the pictures.

Hotel Roca is a gorgeous, quaint, almost magical place in La fortuna. The lush garden has animals and lots of charm, and you feel it as soon as you drive in. The rooms are kept clean and in good shape, and the staff are incredible. It's close to everything, with bars and restaurants you can walk to. We paid for a day pass to the Los Lagos mineral springs. This is a smaller hotel, and that's exactly what I liked. If you're after a big upscale resort full of people, it's not for you. I'd take this stay over a huge crowded resort any day. Total gem.

The rooms are nice and sit in an extensive garden, and the pool is pleasant, though there are only a few chairs, so only a few people can use it at the same time. The staff are friendly, with one big exception: the breakfast staff. Breakfast isn't included, and they seemed so uninterested that I'd suggest eating somewhere else. Still, I'd fully recommend staying here.

The grounds are beautifully cared for. Staff work on the plants, flowers, orchids, and little nature path every day. Breakfast was delicious whatever you order, and I especially liked the Gallo Pinto, the rice and beans. The covered deck is lovely when it rains, and rain is to be expected. Our room was clean, the bed comfortable, and the A/C helped dry things out. We appreciated the laundry service, and one of the resident cats treated "our" deck chairs as hers, while kindly letting us use them. A few things were frustrating. I either forgot the fine print or missed it when I booked long before the trip, but the hotel only takes cash. I wasted too much vacation time trying to find some. The ATM is at "Bac San Jose," though the machine actually says "Bac Credomatic" and nowhere has "San Jose" on it. The bathroom and towels never dried, and the floor was really, really slippery, so be careful. There was no closet or drawer space. The hot tub isn't heated, and the tap water isn't hot, though it was great to fill our water bottles from the tap.