Route 142, La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica | (888) 905-8267
Hot and cold outdoor pools, both with swim-up bars
Free daily tours of the working dairy farm
27 acres of lush grounds
All rooms have terraces with volcano views; free laundry for small loads
Rooms include AC, safes, coffeemakers, and cable TVs
Horseback riding
Free breakfast and free Wi-Fi
Spa offering massages, facials, and body treatments
Sprawling property (though golf carts and hotel vans on offer to shuttle guests around)
Wi-Fi signal can be unreliable
Can sometimes feel like a Florida retiree community
This 27-acre, upper-middle-range property of 82 one-story bungalows feels almost like its own sprawling town, and the working dairy farm is a highlight -- it supplies the hotel with milk, and guests are welcome to milk the cows. Both hot and cold spring pools with swim-up bars are on offer. The property is not too secluded, however, as La Fortuna is within a 15-minute drive. The rooms are modern (if a bit lacking in local character) and offer plenty of privacy, as each takes up one half of a bungalow; all have terraces with volcano views. Those who want a similar experience that's closer to town may prefer El Silencio del Campo (if they're OK with a hotel that's a little more worn-in) or Arenal Volcano Inn (if they don't need as much privacy).