The facilities at the hotel were amazing. The Italian restaurant is definitely something worth trying and since it’s open for lunch and dinner without a reservation (first come, first serve) it’s also the most accessible. We tried the Japanese restaurant once and to be honest, it’s the best Japanese food I’ve ever had at a resort – that being said, it didn’t compare to the plethora of choice you get form the buffet. Mouth-watering and super healthy, I’m sure.įor dinner, guests were invited to make reservations at a gourmet restaurant, a Japanese restaurant or the Italian restaurant. The other lunch option for those lounging by the pool was a festive Mexican burrito (chicken, beef or veg) accompanied by baked beans, nachos, guacamole, hot sauce, salsa and cheese drizzled overtop. The Italian restaurant was open for lunch and dinner and had a delicious variety of appetizers including caprese salad, carpaccio (fish and beef) and mushrooms, asparagus and tomatoes rolled in the most delightful vinaigrette. I started every day with an ensemble of passion fruit, yoghurt, pistachios, pineapple, papaya, fried plantain and a teeny tiny croissant.įor lunch, guests had the choice of dining Italian or visiting the restaurant at the beach, also buffet style. A the main restaurant, one could enjoy a breakfast buffet filled with cheese, fruits, western favourites (pancakes and potatoes), yoghurts, cooked meats and juices of every colours under the rainbow. The hotel however was largely responsible for the huge assortment of foods and cuisines found on-site. Because Costa Rica is so fertile, much of the produce is local which means that tastes and flavours are doubled. It outdid anything you can find at resorts throughout Cuba or the Dominican Republic… times ten. The food at the hotel was unlike anything I’ve ever experience at an all-inclusive. People working at our hotel seemed to come from all over the country many of the employees were from San Jose or Limon and lived on-site (the trip to Limon from Guanacaste is approximately 8 hours). Since the Costa Rican average salary is $500/month, many Nicaraguans head to Costa Rica looking for work and stay once they find it. All beaches in Costa Rica are open to residents and tourists alike which meant that throughout our stay at the resort, we got to swim, play volleyball and share the beach with other Costa Ricans (known as “ticos” or “ticas”) and visitors from the regions, with many people coming from Nicaragua both temporarily or in search for a better life. The beach however, was public, which was awesome. The hotel itself was located on the beach of Matapalo, a bay tucked away between mountains for tourists to enjoy. Located on the pacific coast of Costa Rica, Guanacaste is beautiful, surrounded by mountains yet still the driest part of the country. We arrived at sunset to this view of the resort… need I say more? Sold! After we pulled in to what was a surprisingly large airport, we made headway to the bus that would drive us the additional 30 minutes to Guanacaste and the Hotel Riu Palace Costa Rica. We flew with Sunwing Vacations – affordable with obvious downfalls like no personal entertainment system and a rather limited selection of food and drink, but hey, the price was right and we got a glass of champagne soon after take-off. Out of Pearson International, we arrived, about six hours later in Liberia, Costa Rica. We flew in on boxing day after the Christmas rush, a first for my family but the beginning of what will surely become an annual tradition. My point? Well, the movie might have been filmed in Hawaii but when it comes to getting stuck on an island – or in this case a mainland – my vote goes to Costa Rica. Have you ever seen the movie Six Days Seven Nights, starring Anne Heche and Harrison Ford? If you haven’t, where have you been? Seriously! The movie is a fabulous depiction of a pilot and his passenger who get stranded together en route from one island to the next and will have you rolling over in laughter.
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