Is Paradisus Playa Conchal a good hotel? (whats included at the hotel?)?

Question

I might be staying there when I go to Guanacaste. I know this hotel is all inclusive. So i wanted to know: What is included when staying at this hotel?

Answer 1

I'll let you know in a week! My boyfriend and I are staying there. EVERYTHING is included: meals, drinks (alcoholic and non), SOME non-motorized activities. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the first answer. I'm sure that the resort gives you a feeling of safety but at the same time, I HIGHLY doubt they lock you in and never let you leave. Just because you're staying at an all-inclusive resort doesn't mean that you won't leave the property. We're definitely planning days away from the resort and the fact that free food is ALWAYS available is a nice fall back plan in case you can't or don't find anything else to do. It doesn't mean you can't leave or eat somewhere else. It just makes it nice to know that you don't HAVE to set aside additional money for food or drinks. I also think that's the best way to go for people like me who aren't very experienced travelers. I know they cater to tourists and will not run into any communication or huge cultural issues that you might if you stayed in more "local" places. I've heard mixed reviews on their "royal service" but we got upgraded to that for free so I'll let you know!! SOOOO excited!

Answer 2

It's an all inclusive hotel, you know, resort style where you really never have to leave (other than for the occasional horse back ride tour or quad tour).  If you really want to get a slight bit of a Costarrican experience, I suggest you go to a more "open" hotel, where you don't feel like you're in a small gated town.  Although it is nice to have everything handy and next to you, I believe the experience of going out to town to a restaurant or to just walk around and get an ice cream is much better than putting it on the room's bill.  

But I do have to say that the beach directly in front of the hotel is amazing.  It is beautiful shelled beach (concha=shell, conchal = shell-y), clear watered beach, with few people if you walk a bit to the left.

I could make a suggestion and let you know that there are good quality hotels, minus the gated community feeling, that have class and style.  There is the Cala Luna in Playa Langosta (about 25mins from Conchal), which is extremely secluded and it has 4 1/2 stars. The restaurants there have a selection of Sushi and authentic Italian food.  The beach in front of the hotel is so secluded that you won't see a person walk by for hours at a time.  You can check out their website calaluna.com. (in case you're wondering, I don't work for them, and i'm not affiliated to them either.  I just live about a block away, and I know this area very well, better than the back of my hand!)

Hope all this helped you and you have a great trip!