natinwpb

My husband and I are going to the Flamingo Beach Resort in February and I read some past posts stating that the beach in Flamingo was polluted. Does anyone know if this is still the case?

fmpden

We also are gong to be there first weekend in February -- same wedding ?? Had not heard about the beaches but would be interested in any information about the general area.

natinwpb

No wedding for us, in fact I hope that doesn't make things too crowded. I can't find anything out about the water quality still

fmpden

Hope not -- but there will be about 50 of us for a wedding on Saturday evening (2nd) on the beach. Just what you wanted to hear. Sorry !!! We promise to be reasonably quiet and respectful. We are not familiar with the area as this was our son and future DinLaw's choice. They love Costa Rica. Having been watching the weather -- so much better than our zero and snow.

shillmac

Well, here goes. . .it's one of our favorite areas as there are plenty of things to see and do both to the north and to the south.

Nearby (within 5-30 min):

Playa Potrero area (El Castillo a good breakfast/luncheon place)

Playa Brasilito (Camaron Dorado an excellent restaurant choice)

Playa Conchal

Tamarindo

Playa Grande (giant leatherbacks nesting Dec.-March--good time for a nighttime tour)

40 min away: Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco, Playa Ocotal (inquire about taking the Congo Trail also called "Monkey Road" from Potrero. It comes out on a paved road near Playa Hermosa). Takes quite a bit longer to go around on the highway. Need 4 wheel drive, but it is a very driveable country road.

Can't address the clean water issue as that report (if I remember correctly) came from one poster who doesn't post anymore. I do not remember hearing it from anyone else nor do I remember any reports from local official sources such as the recent reports regarding the water pollution at Tamarindo. Hopefully if I am mistaken someone will correct me.

Flamingo Beach is very pretty--great sunsets! Congratulations to the wedding party. . .I don't think it will detract much for the rest of the hotel guests. . .fortunately it is also a nice long crescent beach with plenty of room for everyone!

natinwpb

How funny, my husband and I arrive on the night of the 2nd from Seattle. Hey, maybe we'll have some fun people to party with. If you bump into someone from Seattle it just might be me.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

For what this is worth ...

Costa Rica has a Blue Flag program that evaluates communities on a whole list of environmental factors. Those communities that pass are awarded a Blue Flag with the program logo to fly for the year. The evaluation of beach communities takes water quality heavily into account.

Flamingo had a Blue Flag for many years, but three years ago didn't pass, mostly because of polluted water on its beach. It worked hard to correct the problem and a year later was awarded its Blue Flag again. Good for them.

Contrast this with Tamarindo, also a long-time Blue Flag flyer, which actually had its flag yanked this past year. Normally, a community is awarded a flag and gets to fly it for a year, until the next award list is announced. Program officials determined that pollution had become so bad in Tamarindo that they would just pull the flag part way through the year. Ouch! But Tamarindo deserved to lose its flag that way, I think.

It's about time again for awards to be announced. It will be interesting to see what happens.

That's a long answer to your question.

fmpden

Great responses, thanks everyone. Natinwpb, most of the partying will be Wed through Sat but will have a brunch on Sunday as it winds down. Join us -- two more people will not make any difference. The kids are from Chicago and we are from Denver so the hot weather will be a great break. We are little surprised by the numbers that are showing up Most will leave Monday so it should be quiet for you.

fmpden

We are just back from the wedding and Flamingo Beach Resort. It was great. If there is some thing wrong with the beach or the water, it was not obvious. I thought it looked very, very clean. And the resort is first class. We had read some earlier reviews that suggested that the resort was a little worn on the edges. Saw none of that. In fact, it has been recently remodeled and updated.

shillmac

We've stayed there for years and were there this past summer during the tail end of the remodeling project. I'd still say some of the accomodations are a bit "Holiday-Inn-ish", but nothing all that wrong with that. Haven't checked rates lately, but during the green season, this hotel has consistently offered a pretty good bang for the buck ($69-$99, etc).

Glad you guys had a great time--would you be interested in posting a bit more detail?

fmpden

What details would you like? I am not good at posting long narratives 'cause I think I am boring others -- sort of like home movies for guests.

swanptmatt

We leave on Tuesday for Flamingo Beach Resort. How long was the ride from the airport. Is there any good dining options for taking kids. And was the water rough.

Thanks

Suzie2

It is definitely Holiday Inn ish. The rooms were like the Best Western that I stay in frequently while visiting family.

The FBR is still a nice place. The Flamingo beach is one of the prettiest imo. I spent a lot of time on it while taking spanish classes a few years ago. The newly refurbished pool area wasn't done when I was there this past summer but it was still a great pool. Having the bar open would have been even better.

The whole area around the hotel was under construction. They had torn down a whole corner area and then some to build new shops and condos. I still managed to find Maries and have a good meal there.

I did a sailboat snorkeling tour while staying there this past summer with my niece and her daughter. You go in the afternoon so you can enjoy the sunset on the water on the way back.

After breaking a bone in my foot from trying not to get knocked over from the waves again, I didn't go in the water much. It seemed clean.

Playa Grande in the Tamarindo area is supposed to be good and clean. There are still some areas around Tamarindo that need cleaning up. They did get their blue flag taken away in either Oct or Nov. but it has gotten better from the recent report I read- Feb 1. For more info:
http://thebeachtimes.com/

fmpden

I have no idea what someone means when they describe something as "Holiday Innish, or Best Western" Being a little hauteur, are we ?? I thought the rooms were great -- not overly large, tile floors, average bathrooms,

The beach is expansive but the waves do raise quickly and break quickly and can be rough if standing where it breaks. Not a surfing area but a lot of body boards. It is shallow bay so the waves are not rough except at the point that the break.

About an hour from the airport. We took a shuttle. Only a couple of restaurants within walking distance of the resort. Marie's just across the road from the resort is excellent for modest meals. The kids would be happy there with good menu choices including a hamburger. The whole snapper was great but a challenge to eat. Mir Y Sol around the corner and UP the hill is terrific but upscale. Great place to watch the sunset. Our restaurants in the area will come and pick you up. The Road Kill BarBQue was fun.

Tamarindo is a MESS. The main road through the town is being redone so it is a muddy mess and traffic is bad.

We did a canopy tour one day. Kids would love that. It is more of a thrill ride than anything else but a lot of fun. Took a half day river trip through the national park which included lunch and stop for pottery. Got closer to a couple of BIG crocs than I probably should have. Could have wiped the noses of couple white face monkeys. Just the drive through the country side to the park was worth the price of the trip.

But remember it is a different culture, different pace, and a different level and type of customer service. It was our first trip but we will be back.

shillmac

Before addressing the "hauteur" comment, just a word about the waves at this beach.

swanptmatt, yes, they can be rough and they are usually quite large. Body surfing can be fun and lots of people play in the water there--no undertow as is common at many Costa Rican beaches. BUT, there is at least one good sized rock just to the right of center as you step onto the beach from the road in front of the hotel. This is the only one we've encountered, but there may be more, not sure. I'm pretty sure I remember a fatality a couple of years ago at Playa Flamingo because of a head injury on a rock. It's fine, just don't get too boisterous!

fmpden,
Have you ever stayed at a Holiday Inn or Best Western? If so, then you'll know exactly what was meant. Nothing more, nothing less. I don't think anyone is being "hauteur", just doing what we usually do on this board, telling it like we see it, with as much honesty and objectivity as possible, hopefully in a way that will be helpful and descriptive to others. You seem to be reading more into the comments than was there.

I'll reiterate for you, on behalf of both myself and Suzie2, as we both have visited Playa Flamingo and the Flamingo Beach Resort for years. It's a good choice because of the value and location--for most people.

When you have traveled around Costa Rica a little more, you'll understand more of what we meant. A lot of the hotels are less like some of the American chains and are decorated more in keeping with the local culture, which many people prefer. I like that, too.

Newcomers to the Costa Rica travel scene probably haven't spent much time researching and reading all the latest on what is going on (and why) with regard to development. Whether any of us like it or not (reminds me of the Four Seasons debate which raged on this board a couple of years ago, remember Tully?), Costa Rica has caught the attention of a whole new group of people--those who demand luxury accomodations. Save your "hauteur" comments for them, fmpden! As a result, several hotels are planned that are on a par with the Four Seasons. More than most of us would like to see built.

The Flamingo Beach Resort, while certainly nice enough for us, would not appeal to that set as the rooms wouldn't come close to meeting the standard. So when we describe accomodations for one another on this board, we try to be as descriptive as possible. As for Flamingo Beach Resort, it is decorated just as we've said--very similar to a Best Western or Holiday Inn. You can add to that list Hampton, Ramada, and several others. And as I stated in my original post--there's nothing wrong with that. In MY opinion. . .

fmpden

Perhaps the word should have been -- condescending/

tully

Hey that Four Seasons thread got me quoted in Fodors CR 2007 at least !

I don't find the description of a place 'like a Holiday Inn' a bad thing, I think it lets someone know exactly what they're getting. Same as Peace Lodge is often described as Disneyesque. Or other places deccribed as rustic. These posters here are nowhere close to haughty or condescending.

swanptmatt

fmpden and shillmac thanks for your replies. We spent a week in Los Suenos over Thanksgiving and loved it. We did a bunch of tours while there. Other than fishing a couple of days we plan on just relaxing and enjoying the beach at Flamingo.

Suzie2

Shillmac explained things quite well. Many of us have traveled extensively in the country and know what our options are out there in terms of the types of places you can stay in. The point I was making is that it is pretty motelish in the rooms compared to the lodges that many of us stay in that have a more local or exotic feel. The rooms were clean and had everything I needed. It was an honest description of what I saw when staying there. Nothing wrong with the place. Some people prefer a more local feel because they are on vacation and want something different. Other people, like my niece and her daughter, wanted the safe comfortable feeling of a familiar type room. It is a great family hotel.

I will say again, the Flamingo beach is one of the prettiest in the country imo. The FBR is just steps away. Great for body surfing which I love to do or boogie boarding. The sunset is beautiful and not to be missed from the beach. Life is always about options and choices. When you have honest information you can make the best choice for you.

shillmac

swanptmatt,

My goodness, I didn't make myself very clear! The rock I was speaking of is IN THE WATER! I made it sound like it was sticking up out of the sand--guess you wondered why I was telling you that!