Paradisus Playa Conchal

Guanacaste, Costa Rica

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The province of Guanacaste is in the northwest of Costa Rica and borders the Pacific Ocean, giving visitors access to wonderful beaches as well as the lush green forests of the interior which have made the country a Mecca for nature lovers.

The Paradisus Playa Conchal is an elegant and thoughtfully designed resort, laid out over 2,400 acres – it has the distinct feel of a modern village. A freeform pool makes a spectacular focal point of the resort, and guests can meander along the scenic walkways, admire the bubbling fountains, luxuriant tropical gardens and lakes. There’s no need to venture far if you just want to relax and unwind in heavenly surroundings.

All the accommodation at the Paradises Playa Conchal is in luxury villa-style suites. Each suite opens onto a private terrace, making it more like a personal home from home than a resort hotel, no matter how luxurious. A number of suites decorated in Balinese style promise a particularly exotic touch. For those who like to be really pampered on holiday the resort has a 'Royal Service' option which gets you the attention of your very own butler and concierge, a personalised tourist information service, access to the VIP lounge and bar, a private area by the pool and free internet access. Two 'Presidential' suites offer even more palatial accommodation, decorated in the Colonial style, including two bathrooms with showers and Jacuzzis.

Sports fans will find plenty to occupy them. Golfers will want to head straight for the Lion's Paw, the resort's noted 18-hole, par-72 championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II. Just don't let the spectacular views across the Pacific put you off your game. Also available are four fully lit tennis courts – so there’s no need to stop playing when the sun goes down! Golf and tennis lessons can be arranged for a supplementary charge. As you'd expect for such a glorious resort location there's a wide range of motorised and non-motorised watersports and other water-based activities on offer. For those seeking adventure, thrills and spills white-water rafting will provide a white-knuckle, adrenaline-pumping ride to beat any rollercoaster. Scuba diving is available locally and gives an unparalleled view of the amazing variety of marine life on this beautiful coast. If you want to enjoy the water without getting quite so wet then a deep sea fishing tour might be what you're looking for.

While you don't need to stir beyond the resort to have a varied, relaxing and fulfilling holiday it would be a shame to miss out on Costa Rica's amazing natural landscapes and wildlife. You'll be close to some of the best National parks and wildlife refuges. A day trip will allow you to discover active volcanoes bubbling and boiling like giant cauldrons, throwing up marvelous mud masks. Alternatively you could explore the rainforest, even sliding through the treetops in a cable car, alongside the chattering monkeys than run wild in this part of Costa Rica.

If relaxation and restoration is what you're after the resort offers plenty of possibilities. Laze away days by the Pool or on one of Costa Rica's premiere white sand beaches - only minutes from your doorstep. Banish all the stresses of the normal routine and indulge in all-over pampering at the resort's own spa and beauty salon. There's also a health club should you feel the need to work up an appetite for the a la carte cuisine that the resort’s restaurants and bars offer. Retail therapy comes in the form of a jewelry store and souvenir shops although there's also a mini-market for more everyday purchases.

Dining on holiday should be as special as the rest of your time off and Playa Conchal won't disappoint. There are seven dining options to choose from including four a la carte restaurants and two more informal buffet restaurants. You can sample Asian fusion cuisine at Spices, Northern Italian specialities at Faisanela or stick to the basics done superlatively well at The Steak House. As if you weren't already spoilt for choice there are four bars in which you can sip your pre-dinner drink.

There's plenty of evening entertainment at Playa Conchal should you tire of lingering over your cocktails, soaking up the atmosphere and savouring every last minute of yet another glorious vacation day. You can show off your best moves at the disco or try your luck in the Fun Pub and Casino where the excitement and tension lasts until dawn. There's even a nightly musical review: much more fun than staying in watching your satellite TV.

Playa Conchal is a very well thought out resort and so they haven't forgotten about families with children. There's a Kids’ Center and baby sitting service – the Paradisus Playa Conchal is a resort where everyone can enjoy their vacation to the full!