Let's face it.
If you've never been to Costa Rica or any Latin American country before the thought of booking a Costa Rica hotel might be a little unsettling.
Many who've never been would call it a shot in the dark.
You've got to commit yourself and your family to a place based on a few words in a description and you hope it's in a section of town that is close to what you want to see.
Will it be safe? Will it be clean? Costa Rica is one of the few countries you can travel to and not have to worry about hotel accommodations.
Most hotels will have all the comforts of home, in fact you'll be able to find well known American chains located in many of the Costa Rica tourist hot spots.
LaQuinta, Hilton and Marriott are just a few.
But because tourism is a relatively new industry, most hotels are new and fresh and many come with their own touch of what makes Costa Rica unique.
Placing yourself in San Jose, perhaps one of the more modern cities in Latin America, you'll find many chain hotels available but you might want to consider some of the local hotels.
You'll find them for all budgets and close to the main attractions of San Jose.
On the less expensive end of the spectrum you'll find places like The Colonial.
As the name implies it is in the colonial style with columns and balconies reminiscent of the style, rich woodwork and spacious, accommodating rooms.
Those who are looking for hotels somewhat in the middle of the price range might enjoy places like the Hotel Grano de Oro.
This hotel looks more like a stately mansion than a hotel.
Like a few hotels you'll find in the city areas, this one is older but very well maintained.
It is full of all of the amenities and service you could expect to find in finer hotels and is close to the city center with shopping, movie theatres, museums and art centers.
Most hotels located in cities like San Jose might be a little older if you don't use a chain hotel.
These places have always been frequented by business and vacation travelers so many hotels were built up to a century ago.
That doesn't mean they aren't worth considering.
They maintain the charm of Costa Rica and have an ambience that is hard to duplicate in new hotels.
When you get outside of the cities into the more recently developed tourist areas you'll find most places to be newer, with many built within the last ten years.
One such Costa Rica hotel in the Arenal Volcano area.
The Hot Springs Hotel and Spa is truly unique.
It is located in the heart of hot springs from the active volcano and besides offering your own nighttime view of the red lava pouring down the mountain from your balcony, it has all of the creature comforts you could ever want.
Four dining rooms, hot tubs, a pool and even a casino are included in this Costa Rica hotel.
"More than you expect" is a good way to describe lodging options.
More service, more amenities and more comfort can be found even at the lower end of the price spectrum.