First off, let me recommend, to any and all travelers, that they AVOID entry to Costa Rica at all costs. I have been to more than 80 countries, and found, during my short visits, that Costa Ricans are consistently devious and difficult to deal with. There is a tremendous amount of theft and petty crime which I've never experienced anywhere else in the world. Nevertheless, if you MUST be in Costa Rica, as I had to be for a brief 20 hour transit from Guatemala to Panama, then you can't do better than Villa Pacande. The key is that the owners are not Costa Rican but from Spain, and they are helpful, really going out of their way to ensure comfort and a pleasant stay for guests. Unfortunately, my rental car was broken into while parked in San Jose, but Mark, the manager of Villa Pacande, lent a hand in getting my life back in order by allowing me to use the computer at the hotel and providing transportation to the airport. He also assisted a Canadian couple that was staying at Villa Pacande, victims of a separate robbery on the same day.
Besides Mark's generally great attitude, the rural setting is beautiful, peaceful, and, best of all, close to the airport so that you can escape from the Costa Rican people as soon as possible. The dog, Luna, is one of the best behaved animals I have ever come across. Rooms are comfortable, although Air Conditioning would be a plus, however for most people it isn't necessary since the altitude and location away from the city ensure cool nights.