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The Jade Resort Residences and Beach Club Promises a Quiet Escape
We've heard the adjectives "isolated," "peaceful," and "remote" thrown around one too many times to trust the descriptions some supposedly out-of-the-way hotels offer. You may have been met with the unfortunate scenario of looking forward to a getaway, only to arrive and find a resort in a spot heavily populated by tourists with the same idea in mind.
The Jade Resort Residences & Beach Club (branded under Wyndham) in Costa Rica sounds like it might be the real deal, though. What makes Jade different, at least from the sneak peek details we're privy to, is the fact that it's one of the first major developments in a quiet, relatively untouched region known as Manuel Antonio.
Tags: Costa Rica Hotels / Eco Hotels / Beach Hotels / Green Hotels / → All Tags
Green Costa Rica Hotels Celebrate Their Blue Flag Beach With Deals
Two resorts in Costa Rica have been taking good care of the beach they share — in fact, they've been so environmentally friendly that the Manzanillo Beach, where you'll find the Allegro Papagayo Resort and the Occidental Grand Papagayo Resort, has been awarded an Ecological Blue Flag for 2009.
Blue Flag beaches are not common, and it's a good way to recognize a beach whose caretakers are making sure it's clean, safe and will stay that way in the future. And these two Occidental resorts are celebrating their Blue Flag achievement with a couple of special deals for this summer.
At the Allegro Papagayo, they've reduced the nightly rates to start at $68, and they've also got a special for kids: under-12's can stay for free until December 18. Nearby at the Occidental Grand Papagayo, they've also reduced the nightly rates, so they now start from $122, and their extra special is giving you a fourth night free if you book three nights in Royal Club accommodations. And of course, if you're staying at either of these places you can be sure that the beach is going to be a high quality one — a pretty important factor for a summer vacation.
[Photo: acodring]
Tags: Costa Rica Hotels / Hotel Ads / Spas / Hotel Hell / → All Tags
Hotel Villa Caletas Needs To Quit It With Those Ads For Its Spa and Residences
We got all Diane Lane “Under the Tuscan Sun” as we pulled up the windy hill to Hotel Villa Caletas in Herraduras, Costa Rica. We’re a sucker for sweeping panoramic views of the Pacific (especially from cliff side vantage points) and all the pomp and circumstance en route led us to believe we were in for something really special. As in five star special – the elite status this misguided member of Small Distinctive Hotels of Costa Rica fancies itself to have. Reality check: three stars is more like it.
We must’ve suffered a bad case of beer goggles, because as soon as we starting paying close attention to our surroundings, it wasn’t all that pretty.
Tags: Costa Rica Hotels / Surf Hotels / Green Hotels / Eco-Hotels / → All Tags
Seek Out Cute Surfer People at The Harmony Hotel
Nosara is located in Costa Rica’s North Pacific province of Guanacaste, about 160 miles west of San Jose, best reached via a short flight on Nature Air, followed by a short taxi ride. The village is a surfer’s paradise and The Harmony Hotel has one of the area’s best stretches of beach and surf breaks just outside its back door. Playa Guione’s is a near 4-mile swath of white sandy beach with year-round waves and long left and right beach breaks.
Since we hadn’t been on a surfboard in ages, we asked the staff where we should go for a refresher, since it seemed like surfing savviness was a job requisite at Harmony (as well as super buff arms, flat abs, and the boyish good looks of the Jonas Brothers). For surfboard rentals, we were directed to Nosara Surf Shop, a short walk from the hotel.
But for instruction, we were sent to innocent surf school. There, we were outfitted by Brit-owners, Ru Hill and his Kate Moss look-alike wife, Gem Yates. There are four levels of instructor status within the British Surfing Association (BSA), with only 20 Level 4 Surf Coach Award instructors in the world – Ru is one of them.
Tags: Costa Rica Hotels / Green Hotels / Eco-Hotels / Luxury Hotels / → All Tags
Check Your Stress at the Gate at El Silencio Lodge and Spa
Upon pulling up to El Silencio Lodge & Spa in the volcanic region of Bajos del Toro, Costa Rica, we were instantly put into a Zen-like trance. Sitting high in a tropical cloud forest, the 16-suite, earth-friendly property straddles two national park systems on a 510-acre swath of land; home to over 300 species of birds and wildlife, including howler monkeys, spider monkeys, coatis, armadillos and sloths. Frenetic spurts of rain, tendrils of fog, and the occasional late afternoon clashes of thunder and lightning all added to the moody yet sexy vibe of the place.
Tags: 100 or Less / Hotel Deals / Hilton Hotels / BookIt / Costa Rica Hotels / → All Tags
Hotels for $100 or Less: The Hilton Papagayo in Costa Rica
All this week, we'll be profiling hotels for $100 or less. Yay! Know of any other bargains? Send 'em to us.
Before we launch into our next deal for $100 or less, allow us to give you an update on The Shorebreak Hotel: We told you yesterday that rooms were going for exactly $100 in the hotel's first 100 days of opening, but that deal was only good for folks who lived within 100 miles of the hotel. However, thanks to BookIt.com, anyone can score this hotel for $99 during the week and $129 on Friday and Saturday. But hurry, you must book by April 22.
And speaking of BookIt.com, there's another deal over there that has caught our eye: The Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort and Spa in Guanacaste is going for $49 on BookIt.com. The hotel just received a major renovation and now all rooms have modern amenities like flat-screen TVs, the Hilton Serenity Sleep collection of linens and sheets, and Crabtree and Evelyn toiletries.
This $49 rate also includes a free upgrade to an ocean view hotel room, but the rate is based on double occupancy. It's good for travel May 1 through June 30 and again from September through October, but you MUST book by April 22.
Glancing at TripAdvisor, the reviews are mostly positive, however guests do complain that the resort is very secluded and that the hotel's restaurants aren't the best places to eat every day. But considering some folks paid $159 and up for rooms here, you'll have plenty of cash left to take a cab out to a restaurant a couple nights if you like.
Have you stayed at the Hilton Papagayo Resort? Let us know how your stay was!
Tags: Sweet Suites / Geek Hotels / Airplane Hotels / Costa Rica Hotels / → All Tags
We Call The Window Seat in Costa Verde's 727 Fuselage Suite
Last week, we were a little skeptical about the monkeys on-site at the Costa Verde Hotel, largely because we're afraid they are going to ruin our pool time. But as we dug a little deeper on the Costa Verde website, we found this totally awesome hotel suite perfect for the LOST fan in you.
The hotel's 727 Fuselage Suite has been created from 1965 Boeing 727 fuselage, which previously belonged to South Africa Air and Avianca Airlines, to offer guests two-bedrooms, two private baths, a flat screen TV, a kitchenette, a dining area foyer, an ocean view terrace, a private entrance up a river rock, spiral staircase and 360 degrees of the surrounding gardens.
Tags: Snapshot / Costa Rica Hotels / Hotel Pools / Hotel Animals / → All Tags
Would You Swim in This Hotel Pool?
Where: Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Happy Friday! Behold: some monkeys drinking out of a hotel pool.
No, but really, we have a question for you: after seeing this, would you swim in this pool? Look closely at the photo. Real close. Do you see what we see? A little monkey business happening right by the water's edge?
This shot was taken in Costa Rica by Lydiat at the Costa Verde Hotel, whose motto is, fittingly, "still more monkeys than people." The hotel is situated on a coastal rainforest bluff overlooking the beaches of Manuel Antonio National Park near Quepos, and apparently the monkey residents are able to saunter on over to the hotel as they please — which, if you like monkeys, is kind of awesome.
This is one of two cliffside pools; from here, you get a "bird's-eye view of the [National] Park's coastline plus rainforest canopy vistas" — and also birds and monkeys! Rooms start at $79, though most are in the $150-$200 range if you're looking for luxuries like AC and such. Check out the resort's site here... or continue checking out the monkeys above.
[Photo: LydiaT]
Tags: Hotel Deals / Hilton Hotels / Resort Credits / Puerto Rico Hotels / Barbados Hotels / Costa Rica Hotels / → All Tags
Hilton Woos Travelers With Resort Credits
It might still be high season in the Caribbean, but you’d never know it from the deals being offered by the big hotel chains. Now Hilton Hotels is leading the pack with special offers at select properties around the Caribbean and Central America.
Tags: Cubicle Dreamin' / Costa Rica Hotels / → All Tags
Punta Islita Hotel Makes Us Wish for Tax Season
Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven JennM flees this cold in New York...in her mind. Enjoy.
I’ve been hearing tons of great stuff about Costa Rica lately--nice weather, an even nicer exchange rate--so it’s been put on my list of Places I’d Like to Go to When My Taxes Are Paid. CCome on, it’s January. You can’t tell me that taxes (and nice weather) aren’t on the brain.
Until then, I’ll head there in my mind and stay at Hotel Punta Islita. That view over there? Part of a tiered layout that looks out over the Nicoya Peninsula. There are rooms, casitas and villas available, but my choice would be one of the suites, which feature private decks and Jacuzzis.
Because I’m feeling a bit romantic, I’ll opt for the Romance & Adventure package, which isn’t as kinky as it sounds. For four nights at $2,515 (Egads! Think of all the taxes that would take care of!) I’ll get a full breakfast, welcome cocktail, a torch-lit, private al fresco dinner and serenade, cultural tour, massages for two at the Casa Spa, and my choice of canopy zip-lining, guided hiking or horseback riding.
The best part of that price? Taxes are included, making that one less dollar amount I have to worry about.
So let those 1040s roll in because I’m ready to (start my savings all over again to) go to Costa Rica!
Tags: Hilton Garden Inns / Costa Rica Hotels / Hilton Hotels / Airport Hotels / Hotel Hype / → All Tags
Hilton Garden Inn Lands in Costa Rica
Where: Costa Rica
We love Hilton Garden Inns. The experiences we've had with most of the new HGI's over the last couple of years -- the big, fluffy beds, the flatscreens and the overall chic look of the newer properties -- always makes us feel clean and comfortable no matter where we are.
Now, some people may frown upon flying outside of your home country and staying at an American big-box chain hotel the same way they may frown upon an American forgoing the local cuisine to stop into McDonald's while abroad, but we'd totally consider staying in an HGI wherever we went because they're clean and consistent and affordable and just nice.
Needless to say, we were happy to hear the brand has spread -- finally -- to Central America. Hilton Garden Inn just announced news of their first property in Costa Rica, to be located near the Liberia International Airport ("the gateway to Guanacaste, Costa Rica") with 169 guest rooms and 10 suites We were told the hotel would be completed in Fall 2008, but the website is currently only accepting reservations for January 1st 2009 and beyond -- just to be on the safe side, maybe? And no, we won't judge you if you book a room there instead of opting for a hotel with more colorful local flavor. We get it.
Tags: Killer View / Costa Rica Hotels / Four Seasons Hotels / Hotel Infinity Pools / → All Tags
Room With a Killer View: Infinity Plunge Pool Drops Into the Sea in Costa Rica
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
By crazy coincidence we just picked out this week's killer view of the Four Seasons Costa Rica and only then realised that this beautiful picture's from the same HotelChatter tipster who supplied last week's great New Zealand killer view. And we're jealous.
This view from a room we really, really want to stay in starts with the suite's own infinity plunge pool then extends out across the sea, and it's all just perfect. If you book this view between now and December you can grab their Stay Longer package--every fifth night free--something we're pretty keen on.
Except that the plunge pool suites start from $1,625 per night, which is still a lotta dollars even when you get five for four.
[Photo: shaolo/paolo]
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