Fodor's Costa Rica 2015 (Full-color Travel Guide) Paperback – September 30, 2014

So sorry I could not find detailed information about the Dreams Las Mareas resort before I spent three disappointing weeks and the annual salary of the best educated Tica/Tico between here and San Jose.First and foremost, the 18 kilometer "dirt" road from La Cruz is a disgrace. A papas anger could break a rib before he arrived to the hotel (it's the same nasty road from Liberia airport as well).This rocky road is fit only for the best made four wheel drive vehicles; however, nearly all of the taxis from Liberia or La Cruz are two wheel drive. I have seen better roads in truly third world countries.It's a disgrace not only to the arriving or departing guests, but also for the warm-hearted, hard-working Tica/os who travel each day by two wheel drive bus to and from La Cruz.So, after this hellishly bumpy ride, you quickly learn that you have arrived at a dead end.All the excursions to the not necessarily nearby national parks, volcanoes, surfing beaches, nature reserves, and Nicaragua (which is worth the trip, despite the horrendous wait at the border- do not attempt to cross on December 26 unless you are prepared for a three to four hour wait, an that's with a healthy cash bribe no less). It's a beautiful and absolutely filthy country!Like driving through a land fill.Then there's the notion that the resort accommodates single travelers. It's all families, a handful of honeymooners, and me sitting by himself at every meal.The "adult only" pool is full of screaming children.The trade wi dis blow so hard every day that kayaks and stand up paddle boards serve only as a playground for the white faced monkeys which are fed bananas and papayas each an every dat by the guest children and their parents. Don't feed the animals?The bay is completely empty if fish and coral. Even the nearby islands you pay a fortune to visit by boat are void of marine life.No one has seen a live grouper in this beck if the woods for one hundred years. Fished out.And the lovely and hard working employees from La Cruz desperately need lessons in English and proper serving etiquette.So, you are stuck here, as I was unless you want to brave the horrible rocky road to escape. And taxi fare ain't cheap.Ciao, baby.I won't be back to Bad Dreams Las Mareas.

My wife and I bought this book to help us with the travel plans to Costa Rica. We have been there yet, but our plans are all set. I will try to provide a feedback after we return from there.I have been there several times for business, but it is my wife first time. So, we wanted to make sure we visited the right stops (the rain forest and the beaches too). We are planning on visiting Arenal (volcano) and the southwest beaches.

We are planning a trip to Costa Rica and this book has helped us arrange (and rearrange) our itinerary. It also has helped us save money as the tours described are often the same as our five star hotel, but by going to the tour companies directly, we saved a significant sum.

This a great book for suggestions on where to sight see and stay. I compare their suggestions to other sources and most of the time I go with the Fodor suggestions. I used Fodor for my Alaska trip and it was right on the money. We don't leave for Costa Rica for a couple months but I'm sure it will be great. The map inside the book is decent but I would suggest buying the larger waterproof map that you can find online.

I discovered places to go visit like volcanoes and beaches. The map that comes with the book is not too detailed. I recommend buying an better map of Costa Rica's roads.

Beautiful pictures. More than I needed for this particular trip but makes me want to return to see more of the very diverse Costa Rica..

haven't had a chance to use it yet, but it looks good just skimming through it.

beautiful and informative. Would recommend to anyone planning a trip to Costa Rica. make sure u order in plenty of time!!!

like the book . missing map, last 2 pages

great.. gives all that you need to know