Wild monkeys, jungle and beach, amazing cuisine, and amazing service - that's just a few of my favorite parts of Costa Rica. Read along my first adventure down to Central America!
Resort
As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum member, I always try to stay at a Marriott brand location. After tons of research, I picked The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa. Located on the west coast in Guanacaste, it was within an hour's distance of most excursions and the Liberia airport with every water and beach activity right at our fingertips.
We had access to the Royal Beach Club - an adults only section of the resort through our membership status. RBC had an exclusive pool, bar, and restaurant. One of the best parts was the private concierge service! She helped arrange the room the be decorated upon arrival and on the actual birthday we were celebrating. If you do not have membership status with Marriott, I highly recommend booking one of the rooms specifically. It is worth the extra spend!
All-inclusive resorts can be a hit or miss when it comes to food. This resort exceeded any possible expectation. With eight unique restaurants on property, multiple bars, and 24-hour room service - food and drinks were top notch.
My favorite restaurants were Bamboo for Sushi and Asian food and Spirula for pizza and pasta. We loved the Royal Beach Club exclusive restaurant, Faisanela, for breakfast because it was much more peaceful. I recommend emailing the resort in advance to make dinner reservations or do it immediately upon arrival.
Drink tip: Order the Green Monster and the passion fruit mimosas by the pool. Thank me later!
The resort had free kayaks and paddleboards to take out onto the ocean. We took advantage of the kayaks the first morning! On the beach, there are some vendors selling souvenirs, tours, and massages. I highly recommend the beach massages! I have a massage membership, going every other week. This beach massage was one of the best we have ever experienced! It is just $20 for over an hour while listening to the waves crash on the white sand. Heaven!
Booking excursions
I don't find it prudent to book before you go. This may have just been because of Covid but I found excursions to be overpriced online compared to booking direct! Look at all the possibilities and know what you may want to do in your head in advance. I booked two different excursions with different vendors.
First, I booked an ATV tour with a vendor on the beach named Eric. He is wearing a blue Google shirt every day! His pricing is definitely cheaper than what you see online. He communicates via text which made it very easy!
The next tour I booked through Destination Services, organized by the Costco travel representative in the resort lobby. His prices were incredible. I was initially against an all-day-long excursion, but after seeing the cost compared to the number of activities, we couldn't turn it down!
Excursions
ATV Tour - Three hours of zooming around the mountains, beaches, and multi-million dollar homes of Costa Rica on a private tour couldn't have been better. Halfway through the tour, we even stopped for a beer at a local beach bar! However, I would emphasize that this tour may be better for adults. You ride on main roads and go up to 55 mph at times!
Beuna Vista Mega Combo - Waking up at 6 am was rough, but it was worth this full day of adventures. After about an hour and a half drive, we made it to a mountain/volcano side activity resort. Paired with another family, the small tour size was perfect. The guide led us through...
Seven zip lines
Horseback riding
Cultural experience to learn about sugar mills, coffee, traditional snacks, and a pottery demonstration
Natural water slide
Traditional lunch
Volcanic hot springs with a natural sauna and volcanic mud bath.
Yes… all of that. It was the perfect amount of activities where we never felt bored and didn't get too tired: adrenaline and relaxation.
Final Thoughts
Costa Rica was incredible. I rarely say I want to go back not only to a resort but also to a travel destination. The people are lovely, the service was some of the best, and the country was truly beautiful. Casually seeing butterflies that look like they should be in a Disney cartoon, adorable coatis which look like a weird hybrid of raccoon, cat, and anteater, and howler monkey swinging from the treetops - the nature in Costa Rica is breathtaking. I could not recommend a vacation more!
Have any questions about my stay at The Westin or vacationing in Costa Rica? Drop your questions below in the comments!
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