Mark Penland

We are planning our first trip to CR the last week of August. We will be there only for one week, and we want to have a relaxing time. We are undecided between the Melia Playa Conchal, and the Blue Bay Village Papagayo.Does anyone have suggestions? What about meals? We are thinking about getting meals included in the plan. Also would like to take one day tours to places of interest in the area.
Thanks.Mark

JoAnn

Here are some websites I use when I want to do my *dream planning* to go back to Costa Rica. The *sony-inergy* is a very comprehensive site. Have a wonderful time in that gorgeous country with the beautiful people there.

www.casualforums.com/globe/CR_Forum/
>
www.costaricapages.com/
>
www.tourism-costarica.com/

> http://sony.inergy.com/CRica/
>
> http://ww

Parrot Mom

Hi Mark-without a doubt between the two, the Melia Playa Conchal...we were there last February 1998 and it's a beautiful resort--The food plan is definetely worth while...but we also ate outside the resort at the Golden Shrimp and other spots..on the beach. They as all resorts in S.A. or C.R. will have lots of Europeans and maybe the rainy season during the summer. The resort has the biggest and most beautiful pool I have ever seen..there are jitneys to get you from one place to another and you only have to raise your hand and they stop... People who were temporarily put up at the other resort were quite upset because this place they felt was far superior... There are mokeys hanging around near the pool (to be avoided) and resident iguanas prowling...A huge golf course, running/walking track which we didn't discover until the end. For further information please write to me...

jen

Message: I don't know about the Melia in CR, but from our own experience in Cancun last week, I would never deal with the Melia hoteles again. After a confirmed , guarenteed reservation, made with much anticipation, when we arrived we were bumped due to their overbooking, no explanations , nada. They sent us to another hotel of an "equivalent" category only to be sent to an older Inter-Continental hotel on another beach, to a smoky smelling room on the first floor where the toilet didn`t work. After hours lost, and a totally non relaxing situation of complaining we finally get a functioning room, but.... So check and double check your reservations when dealing with Melia!!!

Cheryl

We stayed at Melia Playa Conchal in January and absolutely loved it. The setting, the accomodations, and the service was all first rate.

We weren't too thrilled with the food since it was all very nice but it was just like we can get back home. I didn't go to CR to eat hamburgers or pasta or whatever. But just down the beach a bit is a great little village called Brasilito, quite a few good local restaurants, and much cheaper than eating at the resort.

Cheryl