Cabinas Coconut Grove

For those looking for a luxurious Caribbean stay, Cabinas Coconut Grove is not the place. However, it is high up on the convenience scale and low in cost. The hostel-like nature of Coconut Grove attracts younger travelers that are on the go and want to save money while they explore the region. The two-story building is painted canary-yellow with bold blue trim and has wood beams and a tin roof. There's a semi-open-air lounge area on the first floor, set with wood benches topped with pink cushions. Original artwork hangs throughout the building. Wood stairs lead up to the second level where colorful hammocks hang in front of rooms. Overall, the property is clean and well maintained but isn't fancy or stylish.

While people move in and out frequently, it doesn't get too noisy since there are only seven rooms available for rent. The owner of the hotel is from Germany, so between her and the staff, English, Spanish and German are spoken fluently here.

Cabinas Coconut Grove is one of many small hotels close to the action of Costa Rica's coastal Caribbean town, Puerto Viejo. Technically, it's housed right along the town border on the area's principal road, Highway 256, but it's an easy five-minute walk to the center of town where there's a high concentration of restaurants, shops, bars, and live entertainment. Popular Puerto Viejo beach is a short five-minute walk across the street, where surfers, families, and beach bums alike hang out. Other nearby attractions include the Parada Jaguar Rescue Center, Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge, the indigenous Bribri villages, and Cahuita National Park, all of which are under 20 minutes away by car. Puerto Viejo is a four-hour drive from Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, the main point of entry into the region.

The seven rooms at Cabinas Coconut Grove are just for sleeping, changing, and storing belongings. There are four rooms with shared bathrooms, two rooms with their own private bathrooms, and one larger apartment with a tube-style TV, a kitchen, and a sitting area. Beds are made up with one sheet over a mattress, one pillow, and one thin sheet to cover up with. Most beds also have a mosquito net hovering overhead. Walls in all the rooms are typically white with wood paneling -- some have a mustard yellow accent wall -- and show some signs off wear. From the stained glass table lamps to colorful paintings to random knick knacks and trinkets lined up along the wall panels, there are quirks in each room that add a bit of charm to them. 

Private bathrooms are clean, but a bit random when it comes to the decor. Looking at the busy, multicolored shower curtains against green or blue tiling and shower mats with yellow butterflies, it's clear bathrooms weren't designed with any particular color scheme in mind. The shared hallway shower room is similar, but without any sink or toilet in it. Instead, there is a public sink for guests to wash their hands and brush their teeth right outside the door, then a few steps down the hall is one extremely tiny toilet room.

While the biggest perk at Cabinas Coconut Grove is its prime location, there are a few other things that add to the experience of staying here. Aside from the standard freebies like Wi-Fi and parking, there is also a sizable library area in the lobby. Unfortunately, no breakfast is served here, but there is a communal kitchen stocked with pots and pans, cups, plates, utensils, a kettle, coffeemaker, a blender, a stove, two mini-fridges, and seasonings. There is no pool on the property, but the beach is a short walk down the street. Pets are allowed to stay for free.