BarbaraF

We (2 adults, 2 teens) just stayed at the Paradisus Playa Conchal, and loved it, but it does have some annoyances. The place was lovely, and the beach was beautiful, spacious, waves mild, water warm, sand lovely. The food was the best at an all-inclusive that we've had, and for a picky eater (I have one of those), I have to say that there is plenty for everyone. The staff seemed genuinely friendly and happy to be working there -- no sense of resentment etc. The nightly entertainment was better than what you get at other all-inclusives but strangely, no one went. They also made a lovely New Years Eve party.

A few annoyances: you need to make reservations for the specialty restaurants the same day between 8am and 11, and the line forms by 7am. It is a cattle call, and given the prices you pay there, there should be some other means of doing this. Also, I thought the buffet was better than the specialty restaurants -- at least we felt like we were getting authentic food there. Something about trying to do Italian or Japanese food in Costa Rica did not ring true.

Then another thing -- there is something called "Royal Service" that separates a supposed upper class (maybe they pay more?) from the rest of us -- separate reserved pool lounges (gated off from the rest of us), separate buffet dining, separate shuttle buses, and they didn't have to stand in line with the rest of us for dinner reservations. It was shameful, I thought. Then, the place is huge -- our suites were about as far from the beach as you can get. the only people who get closer-in suites (and I don't think they are beach front at that) are the Royal Service folks. Finally, given the size of the place, it didn't seem like the shuttle buses ran frequently enough during the peak times, although maybe that was because we were there Christmas week and the place was crowded.

Having said all that, we loved it. Go back again, yes, but not for a week. I'd rather stay in different locations and see more of the country. I'd also like to feel like I was in Costa Rica, instead of New York, where it seemed all of the guests were from (I am a former New Yorker, so I don't mean that disparagingly, it was just disconcerting to travel all that distance and hear nothing but all-too-familiar Long Island accents!)

Lisa1271

BarbaraF,
FYI: the Royal Service is an extra charge...a MAJOR extra charge!
Lisa S

Percy

BabaraF

Gee I did not have those problems at the Fiesta Premier.
Maybe I was lucky.

We could eat at the Specialty Restuarant anytime we wanted.
In the morning there was never more than about 5 people waiting to sign up.

They had Costa Rica ,Mexican and Caribbean Night Themes for dinner a lot of times, so you got your flavour of Costa Rican type food.

Plus we ate out about 6 times for lunch and twice for dinner .
And everytime it was Costa Rican food.

Once at Coco Beach and then again at Ocotal.
But the best meal we had by far was in this little town called Ortega ( not far from Palo Verde National Park).

shillmac:

Her name was Sua (Soo- Ah)and you know if I was 20 and as pretty as her and had her figure, I think I would also give that cockrach a run for its money !!!!

You know actually,this is how I met Sua.

I met this fellow from California on Fodors,who had been to the Fiesta Premier in late July /August.

He promised Sua that he would send her a gift from California.
But he did not get her mailing address, so he asked me ( via e-mail) if when I go there if I could get her address.

So for the first few days I am going around reading name badges of all these young pretty ladies.....during this time Sua had a few days off....then finally I saw this pretty lady and the name badge read "Sua"....

I explained my mission to her and she was so happy that a past guest really wanted to send her something..

So from Fiesta Premier,I send this fellow in California and e- mail with the required information.

I titled the e- mail to him: "Mission Accomplished."

See what a nice guy I am !!!!!

Percy

BarbaraF

I think part of the problem with the lining up for reservations at the Paradisus specialty restaurants is that the restaurant facilities are very very small -- I don't think there is enough space in the restaurants to handle the sell-out crowds. Also, although we went to the beach every day and had no trouble getting lounge chairs, there were not enough lounges at the pool to handle the heavy capacity. Story was that the teenagers in families would plop their towels, shoes, etc on the lounges at about 4:30 am before they retired for the night! or more likely, people were out by 6am to reserve them, and by 9, or maybe earlier, the lounge chairs were all gone. Purchasing 100 more lounge chairs can't be that much of an expense.

Again, these are the details. The overall experience was outstanding.

Percy

You know BarbaraF, I have said this over and over again.

Why cannot understand why these "fancy" resorts do not buy enough lawn chairs.

If you have a Capacity for say,300 guest ,and you have 325 lawn chairs,and some guest is without a lawn chair, then it is not rocket science to figure out that something is wrong!!!

This is grade school math!

I fully agree with you.

Why should anyone go to a high priced resort and wake up at 5 Am to save a lawn chair.?

What kind of holiday is this !!?? Grrrr

You would think that management would like all their guest to be happy and content.!

It is almost the same everywhere I have been, Mexico, Cuba , Punta Cana etc.

I must add they we never had this problem at the Fiesta Premier,BUT I can only wonder what is was like over Christmas, when they were booked solid.!

Guess I have to bring my own folding lawn chair !!!!!

Percy

shillmac

That's a great story, Percy. It's such a small world, isn't it? And sometimes it feels downright warm and cozy! Other times. . . .not so much!

Barbara, I agree totally with your observations regarding PPC. You should voice your opinions to Mr. Donovan Garcia at the front desk. He has worked there for a very long time and is very conscientous. They really do need to work on some of that. I disliked the lounge chair problem as well. As you said, people would reserve chairs with a book or magazine or lotion or some little something. I saw many of them going unused, but "reserved" nearly all day. While others were looking-- or four people were trying to share one. Not sure how to fix that. Seems to me, though, that around that huge pool, there are about as many lounge chairs as it is feasible to set up and still have room for people to walk around.

Also, I agree that the buffet is an excellent place to eat. It's a good thing, because we don't always bother with the reservation thing. It is definitely a nuisance. Especially when the resort is so crowded.

But still, weren't those shows great? We've known some of the dancers for a few years now, and know how hard they work.

Percy

shillmac

Let me add that I told that fellow from California,not to give me such a dirty job again.

Can you imagine having to check out all those pretty "Tica" ladies at the Resort until I found Sua !!!

I know , I know, it was a dirty job but someone had to do it.!!!!!!!

Percy

shillmac

Percy,
You are SUCH a martyr! Bless your heart! Sua looked very grateful. Now enough of this "aside" tackiness!

Percy

shillmac
Yes enough invasion on someone's serious question.!!!


Kitteee:

Yes, I sure did venture out to see the lovely country.
I spent more time away from the Resort than at the Resort.

It is a lovely Resort and I was only 15-20 minutes away from the Tour Company I was using.

Personally I would never go to Costa Rica to sit at a Resort, but you know some people never moved off the resort.

So who am I to say how others should enjoy themselves !!!

Thank you

Percy