Manakin Lodge Monteverde — Hotel in Monteverde

THE GOOD- affordable place, the staff initially were very nice and communicative. They even gave me a key to practice yoga in the restaurant before it opens. They allowed us to bring our little dog, even though they don’t normally host pets. The room had a big king size bed. There were capuchin monkeys in the morning coming to get some fruit! THE BAD- the shower wasn’t clean. Water pressure came and went. The bed had a big dip in the middle so all that size didn’t really matter since we both rolled into the center. The room was dark and a bit moldy smelling. THE UGLY- on our first night guests and the hosts brother were all cooking and having dinner in the restaurant, walking around normally. Later we were the only guests in the whole place and used this area to cook and eat. We were asked to make sure we wore our masks 😷 in the kitchen if we get anything from there, and we did. On the second day another person who didn’t introduce himself raised his voice to me that I can’t be walking around without a mask, that he told me and my husband 3 times already, that I’m only allowed without a mask in my room, and then left. I was a bit shocked and after a few minutes went to find him and asked for the rules exactly- and he explained. After that we kept our masks on while walking around the restaurant area (though again, we were the only guests in the place). After we left they gave me a bad and false review in Airbnb, saying my dog peed somewhere (she was with us at all times), and that we didn’t mind the rules of wearing the masks (though they were never properly explained to us). Travel with a dog is difficult and having a bad review on Airbnb makes it hard to book accommodation. I had contacted the place through WhatsApp to understand what happened, they never replied. So I came here to write the whole story, I am very disappointed in this place and the people...

I feel the need to temper the reviews here a bit. First, let me focus on the positives. The guys that work in reception are super nice and helpful. I would also say that the rooms were perfectly clean and the hotel is a good value. However, I think it’s important that any prospective traveler consider the following:||1. The hotel is very rustic.||2. The reception is only open from about 8am to 7pm. After that, there is no one there to handle any needs, although I suspect there would be a way to reach the managers by phone in an emergency.||3. The rooms vary greatly in size and quality. Those pictured on TripAdvisor are the better ones. We had two rooms for our family. The room my wife and I shared was a rustic bedroom marginally larger than the bed and a bathroom that while clean, could have used a renovation. Our kids’ room, on the second floor, had no windows other than in their bathroom, and the beds were much more firm than the kids were used to. Other rooms at the hotel are more spacious.||4. The roof of the hotel is metal, which means when it rained, it sounded like we were inside a popcorn maker.||||I have to admit that the place grew on me after a day or so. One thing that was very cool was that the hotel was off the main road and situated among a series of family homes. The setting allowed us to get a glimpse of how the locals live, including watching a handful of young kids playing soccer in the dirt street outside the hotel.||||All in all, if you are looking for a clean, albeit rustic, very inexpensive hotel in Monteverde, this hotel is a fine choice. But bring shampoo—they...

If you want the most authentic Costa Rican experience when you travel to Monteverde, this is the place for you. You are literally on the edge of the cloud forest. You will be awakened in the morning by the hum of the forest. It could be birds one day or monkeys the next or just the wind and the sun. When the Costa Ricans say "Pura Vida", this is it!||||My wife and I had the pleasure of staying at this hotel during our trip to Monteverde. The owners of the hotel went out of their way to make sure we not only had a pleasant stay, but also had a great time during the day engaging in the many activities around Monteverde. The owners speak great english, so there are not any communication issues for American or other english-speaking travelers. Make sure you try the "typical" breakfast - it's breakfast the way Costa Ricans eat it - and it's fresh and tasty.||||The rooms are clean, comfortable and newly remodeled. Ours had a fridge and a TV (not that we turned it on once, come on you're in Monteverde!). You are just slightly off the main road, which means the prices are more reasonable, but you are a three minute drive away from whatever you want. The owners were on the property everyday, so if you need anything at all, you are in good hands. There is also wireless internet on site. ||||If you are looking for a hotel where the main attractions are annoying bellhops, over-priced margaritas, and $200 massages, go somewhere else. But, if you really want to experience Monteverde the way it should be experienced - go to the Forest...