Hilton Papagayo Resort – Newly renovated & Spectacular!

Papagayo Hilton Resort Hotel Inspection 2010

Yesterday afternoon I drove north from Playa Hermosa to the Hilton Papagayo and from the first moment I was greeted with excellent service and have been amazed by this spectacular hotel.

I had visited this hotel several years ago, when it was known as the Fiesta Primier, but the recent remodelations have made this place world class. I came here for the Guanacaste Marketplace, an event that takes place once a year to promote one of Costa Rica’s most popular tourist destination – the northern Pacific beaches of Guanacaste. I checked into room 204, a bungalow with fantastic ocean views. Everything has changed since my last visit, the amenities, the furniture and the Hilton’s emphasis on service is clearly evident.

The hotel is undergoing more changes, as of December 1st it converts from an all-inclusive resort to a “pay as you go” meal plan. So believe me, I’m taking advantage of the food and drinks – as I will be one of the last to visit the Hilton Papagayo Resort as an all-inclusive resort. There’s live music here every night and yesterday the group of travel agents who are here taking part in the Guanacaste Marketplace all spent a few hours listen to the show, talking and sharing experiences under the stars.

I just took a tour of the resort with the Director of Marketing for the Hotel and I loved seeing the entire property. Most of the resorts 100+ rooms are bungalow style, which I think provides guests with a high level of comfort and privacy. The bungalows are surrounded by beautiful gardens, many have ocean views and as you drive through the property on a golf cart you get the feeling that you are in a small village – with all your cares and troubles miles away! We then visit the hotel’s “Ocean View” room, which are located at the highest point on the hotel property. Although personally I like the feel of the bungalows better, there is no denying that the view from the Ocean View rooms is one of the best of the Papagayo Gulf that I have seen. Finally we visited the Hotel’s Junior Suites, and as soon as we walked into the room my jaw quickly dropped – incredible! These rooms are larger, have a separate seating area, offer some of the best views on the property and have a private plunge pool on the terrace. Truly luxurious and perfect for a honeymoon or romantic getaway.

The Spa Vida is incredible, located on a separate section of the hotel in front of another pool which is adults only – so it’s much quieter and private area. The open air, ocean view massage rooms are fantastic and the prices are quiet reasonable. One of their most popular treatments is called the “Ancestral Massage”, where warm volcanic stones are placed on your body – I’ve heard it’s very relaxing and am contemplating setting up one for myself this afternoon. The modern gym, restaurants, pools, beach areas make this place a truly relaxing getaway. So no more blogging for me, I’m off to enjoy!