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It’s at all times a delight after we get to return to the perfect luxurious resort in a rustic a few years later and see the way it has progressed. We not too long ago returned to the 4 Seasons Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica, simply earlier than its twentieth birthday, and it was an awesome expertise throughout. We will’t say it appears model new since, not like at a brand new resort, all of the timber and vegetation are mature, however after main renovations, the resort appears shiny and impeccably maintained throughout.
Whereas the renovations had been unfold all throughout the property and extra are on the best way, like a hillside “Wellness Shala” yoga heart with an enormous platform and a view, the 2 key areas to get a revamp had been the swimming pool advanced and the suites. We coated all of these features intimately in our assessment of 4 Seasons Peninsula Papagayo, so go examine that out in case you’re planning on flying into Liberia and reserving a keep.
Even in our longer opinions, nevertheless, we will’t get to all the pieces. So listed below are a number of features of this standout property that had been particularly spectacular, together with a video tour that gives you a really feel for this high-end Costa Rica luxurious resort.
Three Swimming pools and Two Seashores
If you would like a change of surroundings while you’re lounging at this resort, you don’t need to go very far. Three swimming swimming pools provide totally different vibes. The biggest one on the high is closest to the primary buildings, with two lunch eating places and most of the resort’s rooms close by.
The one beneath that’s roped off for adults solely. This one has a number of staffers fetching drinks and meals in an space that’s off-limits to splashing children. It has lounge chairs and shaded cabana daybeds (with a hefty US$600 extra price) and appears out on the seaside and water by the timber.
On the backside is one other pool open to everybody, this infinity pool being simply above the seaside. It’s solely steps away from the open-air beachfront restaurant and bar.
Then with regards to seashores, you might sit at one and watch the dawn, then hit the opposite one on the finish of the day for sundown. That’s as a result of the 4 Seasons Peninsula Papagayo is just not solely on the massive peninsula it’s named for, but it surely occupies a smaller peninsula that’s a part of the entire, a finger extending out into the Pacific Ocean.
In each spots, the water is calm sufficient that the little ones gained’t get knocked over and so they’re each lengthy sufficient for a stroll. Kayaks and paddleboards are on the prepared, with guided excursions out there some days, and infrequently there are actions on the seaside which are included within the fee. Within the video above you’ll see s’mores night time in motion.
Paradise for Children in Costa Rica
My daughter is off on her personal now, however when she was little I introduced her to 4 Seasons Punta Mita and it spoiled her for years. After the 4 Seasons group will get to your youngsters, you’ll have hassle residing as much as that commonplace in any future stays.
That’s very true on the 4 Seasons in Costa Rica as a result of they exit of their means to ensure the children are joyful so the dad and mom are joyful, from toddlers up by teenagers. There are deliberate actions on daily basis for the entire household and only for children, to allow them to do one thing energetic and academic on daily basis on this nature-focused nation.
The youngsters membership right here is the good I’ve ever seen, one thing clearly put collectively by a proficient designer who wished to impart a way of place. There are nooks with pillows that seem like rocks, stuffed sloths hanging round, and modular furnishings models that may transfer round. Exterior is a playground and shallow pool. For the design they introduced in Athens-based architect Polyanna Paraskeva, identified for creating practical studying areas completely for kids
Then once they get to the seaside, the little ones will likely be delighted with all of the sand toys sitting out ready for them: toy vans, buckets, shovels, sand fortress molds, and extra. Each restaurant has a children’ menu and there are all form of enjoyable smoothies, shakes, and mocktails for them.
Teenagers aren’t ignored although: they’ve their very own hidden-away membership with a pool desk, video video games with shaking chairs, and an out of doors basketball and soccer space.
A Devoted Tasting Room
The final time I skilled a resort with its personal rum room was within the now-defunct Mukul in beleaguered Nicaragua. There’s one at this 4 Seasons although referred to as La Reserva and it’s an expansive place stuffed with pure gentle. Naturally they’ve each model of Centenario Costa Rican rum so that you can attempt, but in addition bottles from all around the area corresponding to Ron Zacapa, Botran, Diplomatico, Abuelo, and Flor de Cana.
The resort presents recurrently scheduled rum and chocolate tastings, a category on making your individual infused rum, and mixology courses the place you’ll be able to hone your bartending expertise. You may expertise it in case you don’t drink alcohol too: there’s additionally a espresso tasting workshop.
A Low-key Stress-free Spa
I’ve discovered through the years that I seldom get good spa images as a result of by nature, spas are supposed to calm down you, not distract you with a bunch of showy designs that draw your consideration. The spa right here embraces that philosophy, with an area that lets the character outdoors by the home windows be the main target whereas the inside is minimalist and calm.
The services embody what you’d count on when it comes to steam rooms, saunas, and whirlpools, with a pleasant rest space for earlier than or after your therapy. I went for a deep tissue therapeutic massage and actually wanted it, with a laptop-work-induced knot in my proper shoulder that I couldn’t appear to shake.
My therapist went to work on my complete physique however with a give attention to eliminating that knot and he succeeded. He additionally spent a while afterward speaking about some stretching workouts to attempt to these have helped as nicely. See the therapy choices right here.
Native Drinks and Elements at 4 Seasons Costa Rica
One of many first issues I take a look at once I move close to a resort bar is whether or not they have any native beer on faucet. Then I take a look at the liquor choice to see in the event that they’re stocked up on what’s from that nation. This resort made me proud of its craft beer from a neighborhood brewer that I bought to order on faucet and there’s loads of rum from Costa Rica out there, not simply within the tasting room.
Extra importantly, the kitchens supply all that they’ll from inside driving distance, together with good Costa Rican espresso, the wealth of tropical fruit that’s out there all 12 months, and greens grown on close by farms. I had some scrumptious juices within the morning and a few very fresh-tasting salads that clearly didn’t come from a plastic bag.
The property has its personal natural backyard for a lot of objects corresponding to herbs and microgreens, mitigating the necessity to transport these from outdoors the gates.
Concierges on Name By way of an App
The 4 Seasons properties all make use of an app you can set up in your telephone, an app that acknowledges who you might be and which resort you might be in. It was a bit of buggy for me once I was on the new 4 Seasons Tamarindo in Mexico, but it surely labored flawlessly in Costa Rica besides once I was on an tour and bought out of vary.
The primary public space at this 4 Seasons Costa Rica is pretty compact, so it’s not a protracted trek to get to the foyer and speak to the concierge, however with this app it’s straightforward to succeed in them and get a response at any time, irrespective of who’s on responsibility. I used to be in a position to organize that tour, make dinner reservations, verify a spa appointment, and even hire a automotive then change the pickup time when one thing got here up.
A month later I’m nonetheless coping with an overcharge from Nationwide to get a partial credit score again on the automotive, so I’m actually glad I’ve this staff in my pocket to type it out as a substitute of making an attempt to take care of a overseas rental automotive firm by myself, lengthy distance.
The Authentic Sustainable Luxurious Resort
After I first visited the 4 Seasons Costa Rica greater than a decade in the past, the resort was doing what many trade skeptics stated couldn’t be executed: wean luxurious vacationers off of single-use plastic water bottles. It seems that the overwhelming majority of vacationers will do the fitting factor if given the possibility and this resort proved it was no huge deal to make use of refillable containers as a substitute.
There are refilling stations all through the resort and on the golf course. Visitors are inspired to drink the peerlessly good Costa Rican water that’s in all probability purer than what you get in your native grocery store. Bamboo straws, cardboard cups, sunscreen dispensers, and material laundry luggage within the rooms preserve the plastic away from the peninsula.
These are simply probably the most seen variations although. By serving extra dishes that use native components and placing system modifications in place, the resort has lowered meals waste by half. As an alternative of tossing objects which are getting changed, there’s a system in place to donate them to regional organizations serving households in want.
Latest renovations to the golf course irrigation system have decreased water use by 20% and elevated the vegetation by 12 acres. The course is among the few on the earth to be designated as an Audubon Reserve. See extra on their devoted sustainability web page.
See extra photographs and our detailed assessment of this 4 Seasons Resort in Costa Rica.
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