Author: Nathan

Venue: We had a great time. The hotel was beautiful with an excellent view on a quiet beach. The grounds were well maintained. It was hot outside but there were great places to cool down and always refreshments that were delicious and refreshing, on yom tov and shabbas. There was lots to do around the hotel including walking on the beach, swimming in the pools, attending the excellent talks, walking in the mangroves next door or relaxing and even taking a break and watching a movie in our hotel room. On grounds we saw: monkeys, parrots, parakeets, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, vultures, armadillos, owls, flycatchers, many iguanas, a skunk (once), and I am sure there were more animals that I cant think of Food: the food was excellent. all meals had lots of options so everyone could find something they liked. The highlights were carving a perfectly seared tuna and separately the red snapper. Other great meals included the short ribs. The omelet station was always popular but everything was delicious. Personally, I was excited to see all of the local fruits and vegetables they featured in all the meals. I said a Shehechiyanu everyday. Service: The staff was incredible. Carolina and Emily not only helped out with the children, they genuinely loved spending time with them. They were always watching someone's child whether asked to or not. The kids ran to them on every excursion and that would give me and my wife an appreciated breather. The wait staff and hotel staff were incredibly accommodating. Within a couple of days they knew my family by our first names and would even find condiments and other things we routinely asked for before we arrived at our table. Only complaint is that they occasionally ran out of towels, but they would get them right away if you needed them. Activities: the activities were great. They were easy to do, they provided snacks and drinks at every location so you did not have to plan anything, even if you had young kids. Everything was close to the hotel and very fun. They also offered two trips on most days so you could pick your preference and even divide up your family if necessary. The waterfall was incredible as was the boat trip. Considerations: costa rica is hot but very bearable. bring more sunscreen than you think you need. bring lots of mosquito repellent and wear long sleeves at night, it can get a little buggy.