Darn Good Digs in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean

Darn Good Digs are travelers' all-time favorite hotels, inns, and b&b's that have rooms from US$1 to $150. All Darn Good Digs are independently owned, and stand out for their originality, spectacular locations, scrumptious food, and great vibes.

Costa Rica - Casa Bella Rita

Jamaica - Jake's Resort • Rockhouse Hotel

Mexico - Mansion del Bosque

Panama - Finca la Suiza • La Loma Jungle Lodge

Puerto Rico - Casa Grande Mountain Retreat • Finca Caribe • Mary Lee's by the Sea


In addition, please visit our Bulletin Board to check out other traveler nominations for Grenada.


COSTA RICA
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Traveler Review

Casa Bella Rita, Santa Ana, San Jose Province, Costa RicaMap

Nominated By: Mary, Des Moines, Iowa, USA, August '08



Price Range: US$119-$159 (breakfast included) # of Rooms: 6 Kid-Friendly: 12 years and older


What makes the Casa Bella Rita so Darn Good? Centrally located in Costa Rica’s San Jose province, Casa Bella Rita is a beautiful bed & breakfast with views overlooking a magnificent canyon. Steve and Rita, the owners, are amazing, and the accommodations and staff exceeded our expectations day after day.

Location: The B & B is located in Santa Ana, a suburb of San Jose, in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, just twenty minutes to both downtown and the airport. Many popular restaurants and shops are nearby, and many major sites are just a day trip away, including the Turu Ba Ri rainforest canopy tour and the Poas Volcano National Park.

Rooms: The six rooms are all uniquely decorated with local art. We stayed in the spacious Heliconia Bedroom, located in a separate cabina off the main courtyard. Our room was spotless, the bed and bedding was luxurious and comfortable, and the honor bar was always well stocked with drinks and yummy snacks. The daily fresh flowers were an added bonus.

Food: For breakfast, Steve serves a huge fruit bowl, a gourmet entrée, coffee, and juice on the amazing patio overlooking the canyon. I promise you will never leave the breakfast table hungry! If you do not feel like going out to eat, Steve and Rita will provide dinner for a small fee if they are cooking for themselves.

Vibe: Casa Bella Rita has a very relaxed vibe, and Steve and Rita made us feel right at home. Both are knowledgeable on everything Costa Rica, and they work hard to make sure your experience is nothing less than excellent.

Things to Keep in Mind: If you’d like help planning any part of your trip, Rita is the person to see. She has done her research on what tour companies and private drivers are the best, and has up to date information on trip descriptions, prices, and modes of transportation. Also, keep in mind that airport pickup and drop off are included in the price, just one of the little extras that makes this place so great!




JAMAICA
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Traveler Review

Jake's Resort, Treasure Beach, JamaicaMap

Nominated By: Allison and Michael, Brooklyn, NY, February '08


Price Range: US$95-$950 # of Rooms: 26 Kid-Friendly: Yes


What makes Jake’s so Darn Good? Jake's cottages are supremely funky, and most overlook the beautiful rocky shoreline. We dug the outdoor restaurant which serves delicious Jamaican dishes, as well as the mellow bar adjoining the pool. Somehow Jake’s manages to be ultra-cool and family friendly at the same time. Jake’s is owned by the family of Perry Henzell who produced and directed the ‘70’s cult movie “The Harder They Come”.

Location: Jake’s is located in Treasure Beach on the south coast of Jamaica, 2 ½ hours from Montego Bay. Treasure Beach is a little fishing village and has some laid-back guesthouses and restaurants. An awesome thing to do while chilling out at Jake’s is to take a 20 minute boat ride to Pelican Bar, a little drinking establishment standing on stilts on a sandbar in the sea.

Rooms: We stayed in Abelone 2. It wasn't super fancy, but it was oh so fun. The cottage was pink and had a giant window that opened up so we could just lie in bed in the shade and watch the waves. All of Jake's cottages have whimsical designs, are painted in vibrant colors, and are decked out with private deck chairs.

Food: Jake’s has two restaurants on site. We tended to eat at the restaurant by the pool, which was just delightful. The servers were very friendly and the Jamaican food was healthy, fresh, and reasonably priced. Jake’s other restaurant, Jack Sprat, serves up pizza by the pie.

Vibe: Jake’s is super mellow, friendly, and hip. Many kids were running around when we were there, yet there were also many hipsters hanging out at the bar.

Things to Keep in Mind: Jake’s has a couple of pleasant beaches, but you shouldn't expect sparkling white sand. But really, who cares, you’re at Jake’s! Some of the less expensive rooms have garden, not sea views.


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Traveler Review

Rockhouse Hotel, Negril, JamaicaMap

Nominated By: Allison and Michael, Brooklyn, NY, February '08


Price Range: US$125-$395 # of Rooms: 34 Kid-Friendly: Children over 12


What makes The Rockhouse Hotel/Restaurant so Darn Good? The Rockhouse is as hip as hip can be. It is located on the beautiful cliffs of Negril, and has cool rooms, a gorgeous pool, and a great Jamaican restaurant famous for its incredible sunset views. Although the Rockhouse owners do not live in Jamaica, they have created the Rockhouse Foundation, through which over $500,000 has been invested in Negril schools.

Location: Negril is a funky town ninety minutes from Montego Bay. The Rockhouse is located in Negril's hip West End neighborhood, perched on a cliff just south of the town's famous seven mile stretch of glorious white sand beach.

Rooms: For Darn Good Digs prices you can stay in either a studio room (water views) or a standard room (garden views). The rooms are decorated in a simple, yet colorful Caribbean style, and all have private outdoor showers heated by solar hot water heaters.

Food: The Rockhouse restaurant is a destination unto itself. The restaurant specializes in what it calls “new Jamaican cuisine”, updating old classics like ackee and saltfish and jerk chicken. Meals are delicious and reasonably priced. The restaurant seems to dangle over the water and the sunsets are to die for! The Rockhouse also has a more casual restaurant by the pool which serves lunch.

Vibe: The Rockhouse is cool, hip, and laid back. You can swim in the cliffside pool, lounge on the deck chairs scattered throughout the property, take the steps, ladders, and bridges down to the water for swimming or snorkeling, or relax at the spa.

Things to Keep in Mind: Make sure you book in advance because these digs fill up fast. The Rockhouse does not allow children under twelve and does not have a sandy beach.

MEXICO
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Traveler Review

Mansion del Bosque, San Miguel de Allende, MexicoMap

Nominated By: Pauline, Brooklyn, NY, July '08



Price Range: US$40-$145 (winter rates include two meals) # of Rooms: 22 Kid-Friendly: Yes


What makes Mansion del Bosque so Darn Good? Mansion del Bosque is a gorgeous bed & breakfast located in San Miguel, Mexico. With only a few rooms, it's a fabulously serene and relaxing place to unwind. Plus, it's an easy walk to the main part of town, so you can have quiet without sacrificing location.

Location: Mansion del Bosque is located a few blocks from the main square of San Miguel -- not too far to be inaccessible, but just far enough away so you're away from the hustle & bustle of things.

Rooms: From what I could see, each room is unique. When you enter through the main gate and pass under an archway, you are in an open area with different staircases leading up to different room/suites. Our room had a lovely sitting area outside where we could sunbathe and read. Beautiful plantings all around the rooms add to the tranquil aspect. The rooms themselves were simply and tastefully furnished, and each room seemed far enough away from the others that we were hardly aware of other guests.

Food: You can get a "Modified American Plan" with breakfast and dinner each day; we asked for (and got) a rate for just breakfast each day. There was a choice of several options, all quite yummy – including eggs made to order and fresh fruit.

Vibe: This is a very mellow, tranquil place. It was a great place to come back to in the afternoons for a chance to rest before heading out again in the evening. The rooms felt very private and the outdoor sitting area next to our room was a definite highlight. The owner, Ruth, was very helpful in terms of answering questions via email before we arrived, and she described the various rooms in detail so we could choose the option that suited us best.

Things to Keep in Mind: Mansion del Bosque does not accept credit cards. You can pay in cash or travelers' checks.



PANAMA
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Traveler Review

Finca la Suiza, Hornito, PanamaMap

Nominated By: Allison and Michael, Brooklyn, NY, February '08


Price Range: US$40-$50 # of Rooms: 3 Kid-Friendly: Yes


What makes Finca la Suiza so Darn Good? Finca la Suiza is located in the beautiful Chiriqui Highlands of Panama. We loved the walking trails through the rainforest and the delicious communal meals. If you are a birder, this is the place for you!

Location: Finca la Suiza is located just about in the middle of nowhere, about 40 kms up the road from the Pan American Highway on your way to the very cool Bocas del Toro Archipelago. You can’t see Finca la Suiza from the bottom of the 1 km driveway so, except for the sign, you wouldn’t even know it is there.

Rooms: Finca la Suiza has three rooms, all connected in the front by a big porch where you can sit and take in the view of the gorgeous green mountains. The rooms are big, airy, and decorated with simple, tasteful furnishings.

Food: The owners, Herbert and Monika, serve up delightful breakfasts and dinners in their big dining room. The food is super fresh and many of the fruits and vegetables come right from the organic garden. The communal meals were memorable for the great wine and friendly conversation.

Vibe: Finca la Suiza is paradise for nature lovers. The owners have created several well-marked trails throughout their property, including a three hour circuit through virgin cloudforest. All trails begin right at the house. We spent a morning hiking the trails, and saw waterfalls, spectacular overlooks, and birds galore! The owners were very friendly and even bandaged Michael up after he slipped on some rocks while exploring a waterfall.

Things to Keep in Mind: It is a 1 km long walk up the driveway to get to the house. No children below the age of 12 are allowed on the trails.


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Traveler Review

La Loma Jungle Lodge, Isla Bastimentos, Bocas del Toro, PanamaMap

Nominated By: nzbased, Auckland, New Zealand, September '08


Price Range: $100 per person (includes three meals) # of Rooms: 3 Kid-Friendly:


What makes La Loma Jungle Lodge so Darn Good? The total experience!

Location: La Loma Jungle Lodge is located on the quiet and secluded Isla Bastimentos in the beautiful Archipelago de Bocas del Toro off of Panama’s northwest coast. Guests at La Loma can tour its working butterfly farm and gardens, hike its rainforest trails, and row traditional wooden cayucos through the mangroves. White sand beaches are just a five minute boat ride away. The lodge provides boat pick up and drop off from Bocas, the island chain’s busiest town and transportation hub.

Rooms: Hidden among trees and vines, each of La Loma’s three ranchos can be reached by footpath through the jungle from the main lodge. Inspired by traditional Ngobe architecture, the ranchos have been built using sustainably harvested wood and consist mainly of open platforms with roofs. The ranchos all have mosquito nets on their beds, bathrooms with hot water showers, and well-worn hammocks. The real deal is that you are actually sleeping in the jungle with all the amazing nocturnal noises to lull you to sleep.

Food: What can we say! A total miracle! Every dining experience is different from the last, and all meals are home-made on site using totally fresh ingredients. We loved sitting outside at the lodge’s bench-style table with total strangers who soon became friends, relating travel experiences, and soaking up the wonderful ambience long into the evening.

Vibe: La Loma is laid-back enough to be horizontal. This is the place to just chill out and get back to nature. Margaret and Henry, your tremendously knowledgeable hosts, know their business well, and filled our minds with information on butterflies, cocoa, and the indigenous Ngobe families that they are helping through their community program, Hooda Chi. Really, this place is one out of the box!

Things to Keep in Mind: If you need air conditioning, this may not be the place for you. The lower rancho has enough electricity to run a small fan and a light, and while the two ranchos further up the hill are not connected to electricity, they do have a natural breeze due to their higher elevation. The climb from the lodge’s dining area to the ranchos is a fairly steep 5 to 7 minute climb, and torches and gumboots are provided. It can be a bit hot and sticky here but, hey, you're in the jungle!



PUERTO RICO
casa grande mountain retreat casa grande mountain retreat casa grande mountain retreat casa grande mountain retreat

Traveler Review

Casa Grande Mountain Retreat, Utuado, Puerto RicoMap

Nominated By: Allison and Michael, Brooklyn, NY, February '08


Price Range: US$85-$95 # of Rooms: 20 Kid-Friendly: Yes


What makes Casa Grande Mountain Retreat so Darn Good? With its network of private cabins weaving through the lush mountains of central Puerto Rico, Casa Grande is darn green. Whether hanging out on your private balcony, taking a dip in the refreshing pool, or enjoying a delicious meal at the outdoor restaurant, a sea of deep green trees envelops you. To top it all off, Casa Grande has won several Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Green Inn Awards. Now that's green!

Location: Casa Grande is twenty-five minutes from the nearest town and two hours from San Juan. Some of our favorite day trips in the area include the Rio Camuy Cave Park and the Arecibo Observatory. We also took a boat ride on Lago dos Bocas, just fifteen minutes away.

Rooms: The cabins are big, airy, simply decorated, and they all have balconies with a hammock, great for relaxing and wiling away the day.

Food: The delicious restaurant on site, Casa Grande Café, serves traditional Puerto Rican dishes, and much more. For breakfast we ate the freshest fruit salad ever with mangoes, oranges, grapefruits, bananas, and papayas all grown right on the grounds. While there is indoor seating, we recommend eating on the veranda overlooking the forest, where you can get drunk on the cool mountain air alone.

Vibe: Casa Grande is a super relaxing mountain escape. The staff is friendly and the tropical gardens are gorgeous. The owner, Steve, leads a Yoga class every morning.

Things to Keep in Mind: The road from Utuado, the closest town, to Casa Grande is long and curvy. Also, young children are more than welcome, but parents should be aware that the wooden railings on the balconies have wide gaps.



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Traveler Review

La Finca Caribe, Vieques, Puerto RicoMap

Nominated By: Matthew Fleck, Brooklyn, New York, USA, June '08


Price Range: US$65-$185 # of Rooms: 10 Kid-Friendly: Yes


What makes La Finca Caribe so Darn Good? La Finca Caribe is incredible! We loved hanging out with our fellow travelers and soaking up the beautiful scenery. This place really attracts great people and we made fast friends. Plus, the outdoor showers are amazing.

Location: La Finca Caribe is on a hill in the middle of Vieques, a small island just six miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico, and the views of the forest down to the Caribbean Sea are fantastic. Over half of Vieques is designated a National Wildlife Refuge, which translates into miles and miles of amazing, unspoiled, white sand beaches. Vieques can be reached by ferry from Fajardo or plane from San Juan.

Rooms: The main guesthouse has six rooms, and four additional cabins are scattered throughout La Finca's lush, fruit-tree and flower-filled grounds. While most rooms have shared bathrooms and are fairly simple, the newly built Casa Nueva offers a few more creature comforts. La Finca also has a pool if you are all beached out.

Food: Although La Finca doesn’t serve food, it does have a big open-air kitchen and a well-stocked communal bar. Guests can enjoy their meals at one of the many colorful outdoor tables situated on the deck. If you are not in the mood for cooking, a restaurant is nearby and the village of Esperanza is less than three miles away.

Vibe: La Finca provides loads of pillows, hammocks, and cushy seating areas where travelers mingle, and share stories and margaritas. Our hosts, Jane and Nelson, were terrific and they gave us many helpful hints and suggestions about things to do in Vieques.

Things to Keep in Mind: You pretty much need to rent a car on Vieques for maximum beach exploration, so make sure you rent one in advance! Also, La Finca has a three night minimum stay in the guesthouse and a week minimum stay in the rest of the cabins.



mary lee's by the sea mary lee's by the sea mary lee's by the sea mary lee's by the sea

Traveler Review

Mary Lee’s by the Sea, Guanica, Puerto RicoMap

Nominated By: Allison and Michael, Brooklyn, NY, March '08


Price Range: US$100-$250 # of Rooms: 10 Kid-Friendly: Yes


What makes Mary Lee’s by the Sea so Darn Good? The apartments are where it’s at at Mary Lee’s. They are huge and decorated to the nines in a funky Floridian style. We had great fun exploring the bay and mangrove islands in a kayak that we launched right from Mary Lee’s dock, just a stone’s throw away from our porch.

Location: Mary Lee's is located on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico, two hours from San Juan and just up the street from the Guanica Dry Forest, a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve. This truly special place is the largest remaining strip of tropical dry coastal forest on earth. The reserve has great hiking trails, remote beaches, and renowned bird watching, but what we enjoyed most was spotting all sorts of crazy looking cacti.

Rooms: Bright and colorful fabrics cover the couches, beds, tables, curtains, chairs, you name it, in all of Mary Lee's gigantic apartments. Most of the apartments have several rooms and would be great for a family or a big party. When you feel like getting some fresh sea air, you can relax in your outdoor sitting area, most of which have sea views.

Food: Mary Lee’s doesn't serve food, but all the rooms have fully equipped kitchenettes and access to barbecues. Don’t forget to pick up groceries before you arrive. We also recommend that you make a pit stop at the little empanada hut on Guanica Bay along the road to Mary Lee’s. If you are not in the mood to cook dinner, it is just a short drive to a couple of restaurants, including a somewhat fancy one at the nearby resort.

Vibe: Mary Lee's by the Sea felt like our own little hideaway on the Puerto Rican coast. We relaxed, did our own thing, and hardly saw a soul.

Things to Keep in Mind: Although Mary Lee’s is on the coast, you need to drive or take a boat to get to the beach.


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Darn Good Digs around the World

Aryani Resort • The Beehive • Casa Bella Rita • Casa Grande • Catalina Park Inn • Cranberry Cove Inn • Exotic Fruit Farm • Finca Caribe • Finca la Suiza • Grace’s Secret Garden
Hacienda de Sonoita • Inn Seventh Heaven • Jake's Resort • Kennedy School • La Dona Luz • La Loma Jungle Lodge • Mansion del Bosque • Mary Lee’s by the Sea • Mayoka Village
Mosetlha Bush Camp • Ramsdell Inn • Rock Cottage Gardens• Rockhouse Hotel • Saint Anthony’s Guest House • Soppong River Inn • Torre Dorada • Vento di Rose • Zuzabed and Breakfast
Nominate Your Favorite Small Hotel, Inn, or B and B Today!

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