We tend to prefer to stay in houses or apartments whenever possible we travel, rather than in hotels. If you are open to doing the same thing, I can highly recommend the villa we rented in Playa Flamingo (about an hour drive from the Liberia airport). It's called Casa Mimosa, and we loved it.

A spacious three bedroom villa with lush landscaping, a lovely private pool, a daily maid, and a three minute walk to a great beach. All for less than $200 a night. Someone else in my family arranged the accommodation, and I can't remember if they did so through VRBO, HomeAway, or some other service. The owners (a British/American couple) live in a separate unit on the top floor of the villa, and they were very helpful. They arranged for a driver from and to the airport in Liberia, stocked the villa with our requested groceries before we arrived, and provided lots of tips and local color commentary.

We would love to go back to Casa Mimosa, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Anonymous wrote:Check out Tabacon Lodge in Arenal (Costa Rica). We stayed there before kids but we were just talking about going back with our 5 and 7 year old. Lots of excursions that would be kid-friendly, light hiking, hot springs (not all are hot), and the volcano. I think my kids would just get a kick out of all the animals you don't see in your backyard, particularly the monkeys.

This place is awesome. I also recommend a Westin Playa Conchal. It didn't used to be owned by Westin, but it is fabulous!

Anonymous wrote:I've been to Belize more recently and thought it was pretty family friendly as long as you bring EVERYTHING you'll need. In Costa Rica, we stayed at Si Como No and thought it was great.

Same. Look at jaguar reef lodge.

We just got back from Costa Rica with a five year old, and we all loved it. We stayed at a private villa in Playa Flamingo (Nicoya Peninsula/Pacific side) and found everything to be easy and kid friendly. We flew into Liberia, and had a driver take us to our villa (about an hour away). We had a rental car delivered to the villa the next morning.

The beaches were fantastic. Our favorites were Playa Flamingo (great for the five year old on a boogie board), and Playa Conchal (very clam, no waves, but a relatively steep drop-off; the five year old LOVED swimming here). Beaches were beautiful and uncrowded.

We went on a river "float" trip at Palos Verdes National Park, and we all enjoyed seeing the abundant wildlife: howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, crocodiles, giant lizards, and tropical birds.

Ours was mostly a beach trip, and we thought it compared favorably to Hawaii (where we usually go). Cheaper, and much easier to get to. We definitely want to return to visit Arenal and/or MonteVerde.

Check out Tabacon Lodge in Arenal (Costa Rica). We stayed there before kids but we were just talking about going back with our 5 and 7 year old. Lots of excursions that would be kid-friendly, light hiking, hot springs (not all are hot), and the volcano. I think my kids would just get a kick out of all the animals you don't see in your backyard, particularly the monkeys.

I've been to Belize more recently and thought it was pretty family friendly as long as you bring EVERYTHING you'll need. In Costa Rica, we stayed at Si Como No and thought it was great.

OP here. Thanks for the inputs thus far. If you have any specific hotel/resort recommendations, I'm all ears. Thanks!

I found Costa Rica to be very tourist friendly, even outside tourist areas.

Definitely Costa Rica. Love Manuel Antonio. Water is not calm like the Carribean.

Been to Belize but not CR. I'd say Belize isn't quite developed enough for kids that age.

Anonymous wrote:What's the water like in Costa Rica? Is it as calm as it is in the Caribbean? I know someone who goes to CR to surf, so is the water rough?

On the Pacific side it is. Not sure about on the east coast.

What's the water like in Costa Rica? Is it as calm as it is in the Caribbean? I know someone who goes to CR to surf, so is the water rough?

Can't go wrong with Costa Rica. Fly to Liberia and stay at any of the resorts in guanacaste. Fantastic.

We're hoping to head to Belize or Costa Rica for a week with a 5 and 2 yo. We've not been before and are in need of recommendations for family-friendly accommodation, preferably within an hour drive or less of the int'l airport. TIA.