Costa Rica on My Mind
A trip to the Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort.
By Larry Urish
When most travelers wing their way to Costa Rica, that Central American gem that offers windswept beaches and lush rain forests, they partake in any number of exciting activities: sailing, surfing and horseback riding, just to name a few. Yet a surprisingly large number of visitors prefer to sit around the pool, drinking, tanning, reading romance novels and ogling the other lounge lizards.
What would you do in a country as beautiful and ecologically diverse as Costa Rica? Race through a rain forest from tree to tree via “zipline,” or veg out – something you could do in, say, Detroit? It’s a no-brainer, si? Not so fast.
Thanks to a number of 5-star locales in Costa Rica, such as the stunning, all-inclusive Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort, vegging out may be just what the doctor ordered.
Located in Guanacaste, the country’s drier northwest province, Playa Conchal is set among 2,400 acres of tropical gardens, shimmering ponds and meandering walkways. It offers an array of luxurious suites, including many that sport marble floors, spacious terraces and deluxe bathrooms. The resort’s tropical climate, grand living spaces, top-notch cuisine and friendly, attentive service make Playa Conchal a can’t miss for the professional seeking a fun renewal experience.
The resort’s Royal Service Suites offer a plasma TV, a mini-bar and a Butler Service Menu, which includes turn-down service, a daily newspaper and even a pillow menu. While these luxuries best serve the high-living executive looking to splurge, those who opt for the recommended Deluxe Garden and Regal Junior Suites receive excellent service and beautifully designed rooms – as well as the same spectacular resort and tropical environment – for a lot less money. (If you’re really hell bent on blowing some cashola, visit Playa Conchal’s casino.)
Although there’s so much to experience in Costa Rica, travelers needn’t leave Playa Conchal to have a wonderful, relaxing getaway, though venturing out is highly recommended:
• The resort’s lagoon-style pool – set in 20,000 square feet of gardens – really is a great place to hang out. Order a margarita at the water bar or bask in the sunshine after a quick dip. You can spend your entire vacation here and have a memorable time.
• You’ll find one of Costa Rica’s pristine beaches after a 2-minute walk from the pool. Play in the Pacific, go for a sail in the resort’s catamaran or hop into a kayak. Need more adrenaline? Head down the coast (20 minutes by car) to Tamarindo, where you take surfing or scuba-diving lessons, among many other activities.
• To burn a few more calories, stroll past Playa Conchal’s native orchids, palms and ferns to the Activities Center, where you can play water polo, work your body in a Tae Bo class or take on 1 of the friendly staff in billiards or table tennis. For a world-class round of golf, head over to Playa Conchal’s Robert Trent Jones-designed course.
• Costa Rica offers unforgettable eco-tours. Recommended: Swiss Travel Service’s Mega Combo option. Strap on a harness, hook into a “zipline” and fly between the rainforest’s massive trees, coasting 50 to 100 feet over gorgeous expanses of greenery. Later, rip down a 1,300-foot-long water slide, ride a nearby trail on horseback and slap on warm mud before melting in 1 of several naturally heated pools.
• If you need to be kneaded, treat yourself to a deep-tissue massage at Playa Conchal’s Serenitiy Spa. The spa also offers, facials, peels, salt or sugar scrubs, medicinal wraps and more.
No 5-star resort is complete without 5-star restaurants, and Paradisus Playa Conchal is no exception. Take your taste buds on a tour to one of 8 eateries. If you’re chillin’ poolside and happen to fall out of your hammock, you’ll likely land near the Buccaneer, which offers a delectable variety of Caribbean dishes. Or swing by Faisanela for top-notch Northern Italian cuisine. The Gabi Club features contemporary continental options, including a killer buffet breakfast that’ll kick start your day.
Spices, which boasts a fine selection of Asian Fusion dishes, offers an impressive assortment of sushi. The Dynamite Rolls, for example, will get your attention without starting a 5-alarm fire. Wash those babies down with a merlot or 3, and follow that with the Grilled Salmon Salad: Welcome to foodie heaven. (For those who don’t know their grapes from their galoshes, ask one of the waiters at Playa Conchal for assistance; they’ll hit a home run.)
For a quick midday bite, you can’t go wrong with Hoyo 19 or the Spirula Snack Shack. Not full? Hit ’em up for seconds. Or, what the heck: Playa Conchal is all-inclusive, so head back for thirds.
IF YOU GO
Paradisus Playa Conchal
Paradisusplayaconchal.travel
Swiss Travel Service
swisstravelcr.com
Reserva Conchal Golf Club
reservaconchal.com/golf
Hightide
tamarindoadventures.net
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