Richard Bexon Ramblings of a mad man in Costa Rica

Being a luxury travel consultant among many things, part of my very hard job is having to go to all the luxury hotels in Costa Rica and experiencing the product first hand.  People say it is a hard job and of course i would agree with them.  It sounds like spending weekends traveling around staying at 5 star hotels is fabulous however i seem to be constantly working and people are always in need of me.  I feel like nobody is believing me at this point.

Planning vacations for over 4 years now has given me a unique experience of people in general but also has allowed me to rank hotels in Costa Rica based on the service recieved, amenities, the rooms ,etc.  I have planned vacations for Governors of States and countries, owners of FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies, so I would go out on a limb and say I know what I am talking about.

So below are my top 5 hotels in order based on my experiences:

1) Arenas del Mar – the best beds in Costa Rica and probably the best location with regards to being a luxury hotel on the beach in Manuel Antonio.

2) Hotel Gaia – great service all the way and a very large room, however the decoration is very white.

3) Four Seasons - of course this would be here for everything from service to the welcoming at the hotel.

4) Lapa Rios – just UNIQUE all the way and in the Amazon of the Costa Rica rainforest.  No place on earth you can read a book a hammock and see a toucan, monkeys, sloth and a lizard above you.

5) The Springs Resort Arenal – Lee Banks the owner has taken what was so successful at Peace Lodge and moved this to Arenal.  The resort is a bit large however the rooms and finishings are 5 star.

I am about to visit Aguila de Osa and cannot wait.