Recommend September 2011 - (Page 42)

the ultimate family adventure in continued from page 40 COSTA RICA Los Sueños Marriott is also home to six onsite dining venues, including Nuevo Latino, serving up an array of Latin American-inspired dishes; Hoyo 19, offering an extensive menu of salads, sandwiches, fish and grilled items; and Casa de Cafe, a coffee house with over 30 different Costa Rican brew combinations, as well as pastries, sandwiches, wines and spirits. Other onsite amenities at the Marriott property include two tennis courts, miniature golf, an outdoor pool, the Sibo Fitness Center, the Tortuga Kids’ Club and the Stellaris Casino. Agents note that all amenities at Los Sueños Marriott (including room service) are available to guests staying throughout other onsite communities (some fees may apply). Vacationers traveling with extended family or those who simply crave a little more space have a myriad of other accommodation options to choose from. The Del Mar Condominiums, for example, is a neighborhood of 84 attached residences, ranging from 1,670 sq. ft. to 2,000 sq. ft. Each 2- and 3-bedroom unit features an open kitchen and adjoining dining area, large great room, washer/dryer, and Italian ceramic tile flooring throughout. The Del Mar community also includes BBQ areas, picnic grounds and three free-form pools. The Riviera and Malibu at Altamira villas, meanwhile, offer guests the privacy of their own home, complete with their own private garden and plenty of interior space. Each villa boasts three bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bath; open-concept kitchen with Costa Rican hardwood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and walk-in pantry; 10-ft.-high ceilings; 8-ft.-high solid wood-paneled doors; private infinity-edge pool and jacuzzi and beautiful views of the ocean, resort and marina. And with a 600-acre rainforest nature preserve right on the Los Sueños property, there’s plenty of opportunities to catch a glimpse of wildlife such as scarlet macaws, toucans, iguanas and spider monkeys. During their stay, recommend clients also spend some time at the Marina Village, adjacent to the 200-slip Los Sueños Marina (the only government-sanctioned marina in the country). Here they can enjoy a variety of shops, boutiques and restaurants such as The Hook Up Restaurant and Sports Bar and Lanterna Italian restaurant, as well as an art gallery, ice cream shop and DVD rental store. Here’s also where they can find a car rental office, bank and the CR Luxury Diamond Concierge, the place for guests to go when planning offsite excursions. Agents, recommend guests rent a golf cart during their stay as it’s a fun and convenient way to get around this expansive property, especially during the hot (and sometimes rainy) summer months. “With so many activities and wildlife right here at the resort, everything you need is right at your fingertips,” says Gaddu. And when families are ready to explore outside the resort, she explains, “The CR Luxury Diamond Concierge team will arrange any tours guests would like to experience, including canopy tours, trips to the Arenal active volcano and hot springs, birding and crocodile tours, and surf lessons, just to name a few.” multiple canopy tours located within minutes from the resort but we recommend Canopy Vista Los Sueños, located in Herradura right next to Jaco Beach. Set on approximately 222 acres, canopy tours here offer breathtaking views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the Pacific Ocean. Canopy tours last about two hours and include a tractor ride to the top of the mountain, bilingual guides and water and fruit at the end of the tour. Children should be at least 4 years old to ride. Families may also enjoy taking a 2-hour crocodile tour along the Tacoroles River, an area surrounded by mangroves and forest that’s home to hundreds of mammals, birds and reptiles. During the journey, guests of all ages will have a chance to observe a variety of sea birds and crocodiles of varying sizes, as well as witness the guides hand feed the crocs right from the boat. And this is an up-close experience, so agents do let mom and dad know that seeing the guides feed the crocs can be a bit intimidating to watch, although quite fun as long as these ancientlooking creatures don’t decide to jump on the boat (none did while we took the tour, so we’re still here to tell the tale). Guests vacationing with older kids may want to try a surf lesson at the nearby Playa Jaco. Lessons, which typically last about 2.5 hours, are available for beginner and intermediate boarders and include surfboards, bottled water and fruit. Another must-visit attraction for families is Manuel Antonio National Park, the most visited national park in Costa Rica. This tropical rainforest is located on the Central Pacific coastline, surrounded by some of the country’s most beautiful beaches. Once inside the park, an extensive system of trails will lead guests through a variety of ecosystems, where they may get up-close to much wildlife, including white-faced titi monkeys, raccoons, three-toed sloths and many tropical birds. Families also won’t want to miss a visit to Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano, considered one of the 10 most active volcanoes in the world. Here, they can enjoy trips to the natural hot springs, as well as birdwatching and rafting tours. Currently, Los Sueños Resort is offering two special packages for families visiting during the winter holiday season. The Holiday package, which starts at $997 pp, includes 7-night accommodations in a 3-bedroom condo, golf cart for four people, roundtrip airport shuttle, a Christmas dinner at El Galeon restaurant (located at the Marina Village) and an adventure tour. Families can also ring in 2012 at Los Sueños and take advantage of the New Year’s package. Priced from $1,200 pp, this package includes all the aforementioned accommodations (including golf cart rental and airport transfers), as well as a New Year’s Eve party, complete with dinner, open bar, live music and more. n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Central America: Roads Less Traveled (August 2011) go exploring Perhaps one of the most uniquely Costa Rican adventures—and definitely this editor’s favorite—is the canopy tour, an adrenaline-pumping ride through the rainforest treetops via a system of ziplines. There are 42 september 2011 contact information CR Luxury: (866) 525-2188; crluxury.com Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort: (888) 236-2427; marriott.com Los Sueños Resort & Marina: (866) 865-9759; lsrm.com recommend.com http://www.recommend.com http://www.crluxury.com http://www.marriott.com http://www.lsrm.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Abercrombie & Kent
Sunset Key Guest Cottages, Key West
Can't Get Enough of Jupiter Beach, Florida
Hanging Out in the Outer Banks
Aloha to Families in Hawaii's Resorts
Cruise Stockholm
Galapagos Islands- Cruising 101: Back to Basics
The Ultimate Family Adventure in Costa Rica
Flanders Travel Planner
Fabulous Family Voyages
China: A Wonderland for Kids
India: Pure Wonderment
An African Adventure
Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa, D.R.
The Bahamas: Islands of Adventure
Cayman Islands: A Home Away from Home
Mazatlan Reinvigorated
CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort

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