I would appreciate any insights into the resort Paradisus Playa Concha -- rooms, food, beach. Also: is it a good base from which to make day trips? We are a family of four, two teenage kids. First time to Costa Rica. Booking late: want to be in C.R. March 24-April 2. Presuming we may not have a lot to choose from at this late date. This is an all-inclusive, about which we are neutral...it isn't a goal to stay at one, but we are open to it. Open to other recommendations. Thanks very much.

Gorgeous place. Pretty beach, great rooms, wonderful pool, decent food, service excellent, wonderful evening entertainment. Good choice for an AI in Costa Rica! Can you actually get a room there booking this late?!

rene, my son and his wife, in their mid-20s. stayed there for four nights of a 9 day trip to CR. They loved it, loved that region, and coincidentally,said the same thing Shilllmac did above. However, they felt 4 nights/days there was just right. Their only disappointment there was with the food--said it wasn't bad, jsut not particularly outstanding. Not a big deal, as the food was not what drew them to the resort.
Try to read all the tripadvisor.com site commnets--there are pages of them! All your questions will be answered in those numerous comentaries! Also, Debbies Caribbean Resort Reviews page (try google search) has quite a few comments on PPC. Nearly all comcents on both sites are very very positive.
If you decide book there, check a variety of web sites. Some are linked from the tripadvisor site. I recently saw great deal on Beachdestinations.com. When my kids went--near Christmas--Royal Service Suites were just over $350/night/ couple, including tax, on the Leading Hotels of the World site! They are way higher now. Point is..Just keep checking! Hve fun researching.

Thanks to Shillmac and CaliNurse for the helpful information. (Yes, was able to get two rooms.) Two follow-up Qs: How formal and strictly enforced is the dress code in the restaurants? I have two teenage kids and our habit is to be pretty casual on tropical vacations. #2: Do you recommend driving from San Jose? Our purpose would be to see more of C.R. If yes, recommendations on sites to see and hotels would be great. Again, I know we're booking late so it may be slim pickins'. Thanks very much again.

Rest assured that, if the gentlemen are not wearing slacks, they will not be entering the restaurant! Found out the hard way. No amount of beggin. . .!

For ladies, capris, long pants, skirts, sundresses, etc.

Definitely recommend driving! Such a fun experience. . .

Just got back from nine days at this resort and loved it. Service, pool, weather and rooms were great. Food just good and beach has a fairly steep drop off. Ate in all evening restaurants and didn't have to have slacks as dress shorts and a collared shirt were fine.

Glad you had a good time, Spook. Interesting to hear of dress code change--man, we couldn't convince them to let our guys in with dress shorts--no way 15 months ago. . .oh well! I'd still be wary unless the policy has changed completely and is no longer written. Could be a difference in maitre d'!