Fodor's Expert Review Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo

With an indulgent spa, restaurants, and retail boutiques, Four Seasons is one of the most luxurious hotels in Costa Rica, but it's the unparalleled service and secluded location between two golden-sand beaches that make this resort one of a kind. Located on a narrow isthmus and surrounded by jungle, the property provides an ocean view from just about everywhere. Service, provided by a cream-of-the-crop, bilingual staff, is faultless. Expect to find your bags unpacked by housekeeping and to be addressed by name by the valet welcoming you "home." Tropical-styled rooms have king-size beds, marble baths, and screened-in living-room terraces. With roofs designed after turtle shells, the villas have private plunge pools, two or three bedrooms, and full kitchens (personal chef available). From the rooms, a bridge arches over the main pool to three restaurants: Pesce (Italian kitchen and wine bar), Bahia (Latin cuisine), and Anejo (light fare). The 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf course has breathtaking views and is home to the dinner-only Caracol Steakhouse, highlighting local oysters, duck with truffle butter, and perhaps the best steak you'll ever have. It's worth the wildly expensive price tag, but the rest of the hotel's food can be disappointing considering the sky-high prices. A schedule of activities, including guided hiking, tennis, kayaking, surfing, and stand-up paddleboarding will help you justify that Swedish massage.