hart

Oh my! What a hornets nest I have seem to have stirred up. Look if you all want to set up tents or stay in motels-- great have at it! I just happen to believe their is room for both experiences. Personally I choose FS and since they are sold out everyday this summer the evidence supports my position. Don't fool yourselves, developers do not build things that people do not want.

dfarmer

Hart - I was so hoping you would let this drop. This was not intended as a discussion on whether or not anyone could afford to stay at a place such as FS. Obviously there are many people that would simply go to where ever there is a FS or Marriot or whatever there particular most enjoyed chain is located.

"I bet most of you couldn't come up with the money to stay there if your life depended on it!!"
What a truly arrogant statement.

If you will take some time to explore this board, you will quickly realize that you are not the only wealthy person that travels to CR. You will learn that there are many doctors, lawyers, neuropsychologists, botanist, engineers, environmentalist, teachers, business owners, housewives, and a whole host of other professions that I cannot even pronounce, and then us farmers that work hard all year to make certain you have food and clothing! So a very diverse group of people - wouldn't you agree?

Thankfully CR offers something for everyone and not just the wealthy!

"Sounds like sour grapes to me." "Don't fool yourselves, developers do not build things that people do not want"

You just don't get it! We are not ignorant - we do understand and are very much concerned about the danger to the eco system.

Why don't you do some research of some of the places that seem to be favorites of many fodorites. You may just find that these places are not tents! You may then understand what many lodge owners are doing to try and protect the envioronment. You may just learn that there is luxury in more intimate locations.

Now if the bugs and/or a drought get our crop this year - then we may just find ourselves in a tent.

Sorry - he/she got to me!

surfexec

Casa Chameleon costs $180.00 plus tax per night. Probably more than most rooms at the four seasons. My experience was definitely one of luxury. But I feel even better that I am contributing to a place that actually cares about nature.

The added bonus was the privacy and attention I would never have received at a large resort even at $500./night plus tax which I paid a few years back in Hawaii.

Yes, I am certain the four seasons is booked solid just like people buy into the HUGE marketing ploys that are destroying our health and environment.

Hart, you deserve to have a nice vacation with all the pampering and luxury you desire. It's just that if you look around you can have it without contributing to these places that are doing serious damage to places like Costa Rica.

BTW, there is nothing wrong with camping or staying at economy places. I have had some of the BEST and most memorable vacations of my life camping with friends. Many people miss out on the simple, natural things that you just can't find at big resorts.

Yes, there is room for both experiences but we can have them AND help the world we live in.

tully

Nicely put Donna & surfexec!

I think some people confuse expensive lodging with great lodging, and they are not always one in the same. But maybe FS is a blessing in disguise, I'll leave it at that.

allison04

I'm with ya, surferexec.

Another example: FS vs. Si Como No. Both are resorts with spas, pools, etc. Now, Si Como No is in the "touristy" area of Manuel Antonio and is definitely not some little tent or ecolodge. It caters to tourists and brings them in. But Si Como No has put some thought into how many trees would be cut down when building it, how much water they'd use, and how they give jobs to local residents. I chose it initially because it was rated well by CST, a sustainable tourism board. That's important to me, and part of what is so attractive about CR. The Four Seasons and the Marriotts of CR are not the same thing and do not take into account their effect on the environment (physical and community). Why would I stay in a Four Seasons or a Marriott in CR when I can do the same thing at home?

allison04

oh, and you can flush the TP at Si Como No!

Garvin222

these messages warm my heart...it's so good to see so many people realizing the impact of travel on developing countries...makes me feel optimistic!

hart

Are you people for real?? Have you even seen the FS. It's architecuture is amazing, they did everything to make sure the resort blended into its environment. Even the hard core environmentalist have conceeded that point. The problem is the ticky tacky hotels/motels that you all seem to love that is the problem.

Frankly, I am relieved that so many of you don't plan on staying at the FS because then their is more for the rest of us who enjoy the finer things in life.

Binthair

From "Departures" magazine: "The design of the Four Seasons and its marina is the work of Costa Rican architect Ronald Zürcher Gurdián, who is known for incorporating indigenous materials and shapes. The property's rooflines were inspired by turtle and armadillo shells, and paint colors were computer generated from samples of local dirt. Even the color of the trees was matched. "The tree bark is not brown," says Zürcher from his office in San José. "In the rainy season it gets a fungus and then dries to a khaki color during the dry season."

I am not a fan of any of the all-inclusive mega resorts being built in the area, and it does not seem fair to pick on the Four Seasons. Short of being designated a national park, the Papagayo peninsula could easily have been developed in a far more environmentally hazardous manner. If you take a boat off the coast the Four Seasons quickly disappears into the landscape. Has anyone else actually stayed there?

allison04

Point taken about there being more hazardous ways to develop land, binthair.

But painting things certain colors so the resort "blends in" with the environment is not the same thing as actively limiting water and energy consumption, giving a certain % of its jobs to Ticos, and promoting sustainable practices--all of which some CR resorts do.

I seriously doubt that "hard core environmentalists have conceded" that FS has done everything it can. It has not joined CR's sustainable tourism program (see www.turismo-sostenible.co.cr). Quite a few resorts have, even though hart might characterize them as ticky-tacky hotels that are the problem.

Diana

I have been getting a laugh out of "hart."

I made the mistake of staying at the Four Seasons, Nevis during our first trip to that island because I wanted "the best."

The place was so overflowing with people trying to outdo each other, we spent almost all of our time in our rental car driving all over and exploring the island because we had to get away from the pretentiousness of the guests.

It turned out to be one of the best trips we ever took because we spent so little time at the resort and began a process of meeting local people and eating at local restaurants and enjoying the beauty and culture of the island instead of draping ourselves on a beach chair and trying to win an unwinnnable game of one-upmanship with the FS guests.

Happily, this lead to our now staying at small locally-owned and run properties that are conscious of the treatment of their employees and give their guests personal attention, where we can get into long conversations with local people and enjoy the rich diversity the location has to offer.

Not all people with money are a$$es any more than all people with money demand to stay only at the most expensive properties because they can wow their friends and neighbors with "what I did on my vacation."

There came a time in my travels where I became sensitive to the impact my visits have to the perceptions and the ecology of where it is I am vacationing, and I truly care about making a positive impression and leaving with an appreciation for the place I have stayed as opposed to just getting a good tan and some duty-free jewelry out of the experience.

To each his or her own I guess.

hart

Well finally someone had the courage to be honeset--even though I don't think that was what "Diana" intended. The reason for all this email rage is that it has absolutely nothing to do about being "environmentally sensitive." It has everything to do with this continuing high school mentality about snobby rich people. Goodness people, their are rich snobby folks everywhere. Don't let that keep you from enjoying what the Four Seasons or any other deluxe hotel has to offer. In this particular case, FS is a wonderful resort and they have made many improvements to the local area. Oh and by the way, since you love the local people so much you will be happy to know that they are very grateful for the jobs that FS has brought to their community. I know this to be true because I actually took the time to ask. Like someone else mentioned on this post--have you ever even seen the FS? Some of you just seem to dislike the idea but not really know what you're talking about.

Diana

hart, you have just made exactly the point I was trying to illustrate about the type of person I was trying to avoid at FS Nevis.

"since you love the local people so much you will be happy to know that they are very grateful for the jobs that FS has brought to their community" - Do you have ANY idea how patronizing that sounds?

Most of the other posters have been very nice considering your attitude and your assertion that anyone who does not want to stay at FS must not be able to afford to.

We can and have stayed at some of the premier resorts in the world.

I know it is totally beyond the scope of your imagination to even dream that there are those of us who do not wake up in the morning agonizing over the thread count in the bath towels or which spa treatment to schedule for the day or if the resort staff will live up to our expectations in their service level so we won't have to go to the trouble of reporting them to management.

YOU are exactly the reason that many people - regardless of their income level - choose to go to resorts or properties where being able to brag about it to anonymous people on a travel board is not the number one consideration when booking.

Obviously, neither I nor the other multitude of posters has been able to make a dent in your self-important demand that we all see the light of traveling the way YOU prefer to, so until you would like to foot the bill for our (frequent) travel, I believe I'll stay where I want to - and not worry about justifying it.

tully

"YOU are exactly the reason that many people - regardless of their income level - choose to go to resorts or properties where being able to brag about it to anonymous people on a travel board is not the number one consideration when booking."

Classic! Very well put Diana, my sentiments exactly!

Garvin222

I guess my feeling is that everyone can stay wherever they want.....but if your main goal is stay at a luxurious resort built for wealthy americans....then, well, maybe go to Orlando or San Diego...

not trying to sound hostile about it...but, I mean, why travel around the world? 4 Seasons are absolutely wonderful...I'm lucky enough that I stay at them when I'm doing business travel...but I'm not looking to replicate that experience when I travel to other countries....I'm much more interested in meeting the people of those countries (and not just the maids and talking with people who own their facilities and are concious of the size and impact of their lodging.

hart

How absolutely ignorant! You think talking to the locals mean talking just to the maids. Do you really think that the only people that benefit from employement at a resort such as the FS are those that just take your orders? How about all the vendors that service FS and all the other hotels. The reservations and local real estate agents (which are from Costa Rica) who rent out the villas. Food service personnel. Security. I could go on and on. The fact is I have exposed what I have long suspected--some people are going to hate anything that they perceive is just for the wealthy.

StanKase

Besides being at a gorgeous enclave I understand you can take 6-10 hour day trips 1-2 days and see the less developed regions if not the the "real" isolated regions in A/C vans and eco-canopy and bridge walks not just a rope on tope of some trees.

Am I correct in my assumption??

shillmac

This is an argument no one is going to win. Everyone has different likes and dislikes and preferences for travel is no exception. Websites like Fodor's help all of us plan and discuss where we'd like to go, find out what there is to do, and hear from others their perceived negatives and positives.

It really isn't the place for attitudes and judgements about who can afford what and where. Actually, there has been a lot of restraint shown on this thread! We all do the things that make us happy and most of us try to be at least somewhat conscious of how we impact the environment.

My husband and I aren't wealthy, so our times in Costa Rica (and wherever else we travel) are treasured times indeed. I just wish we had enough $$ to stay in FS everywhere, every time--just so we could enjoy ourselves more in other parts of the country! But for those who enjoy a week here or there at FS, go for it!

joeschmo

Shillmac, you are excellent at saying it correctly and 'keeping the peace'.
Good job!

Percy

I was wondering just how long this thread was going to go on.

I was also wondering when someone would write something sensible in a reply.

Thank you shillmac , I could not have said it better.

I agree 100 % with your comments.

Percy