baylor1

We were at the HCC Costa Rica property this past week. We will do a run through of information categorically. We are a family of five (with ages 4, 6, 8 children)

AIRPORT/ TRANSPORTATION
The airport in Liberia is small. We booked shuttle transportation through Tamarindo Shuttle. They met us at the airport with a sign and took us to our property in a very nice Mercedes van. We had decided to rent a car in Tamarindo instead of on Reserva Conchal property or at the Liberia Airport so we wouldn’t have to drive a long way on unfamiliar roads. A 4 wheel drive was $280 for the week through National’s website. We are glad we did have a car as it gave us flexibility. However, you probably can get away without renting one if you don’t want to drive on the roads. Taxi’s are readily available at the hotel right next door. The mandatory departure tax ($26/pp) may be purchased on Reserva Conchal property before you arrive back at the airport. It is roughly 50 minutes from the condo to the airport. If you are adventurous renting a car at the airport and driving to the condo is doable. If we go again that is most likely what we will do. Just watch out for the cows, people walking and bicycles on the road.

CONDO
The condo is gorgeous, well furnished, and large. This place has it all. As an example there are 5 air conditioning zones. Each bedroom and then the living room and kitchen is separate. I am a novice regarding tile. But the entire floor is covered in beautiful light large tiles. Every counter is covered in very nice granite. The kitchen is very large and well stocked. The pantry is huge. The condo has windows on three sides which is very nice indeed. There are two master suites. One has a private balcony, access to the main balcony, more closet space and the bathroom has a jetted tub and a seperate shower. The other master suite has access to the large main balcony, a huge shower with a view of the Pacific Ocean (the large window is frosted till about 5 feet then you can see out of it) and a larger sink area. The third bedroom has a very nice shower tub combination and two single beds. There is a nice half bath right off the kitchen. The bathrooms are awesome. You've got to see it to appreciate it. There is a very large dining room table with floor to ceiling windows to catch the beautiful sunsets. There is one TV in the living room that has many cable channels in English and CBS, NBC, ABC as well (it is fed through a Denver station). The furniture and decorations are very tasteful and comfortable. The view from the extremely large balcony is gorgeous looks onto the golf course and trees. Also you can catch a glimpse of the ocean on the north side of the balcony. There is also a large dining room table and we ate many meals outside under the fans enjoying the views. At this point there is internet service in the condo but not Wi/Fi. As usual the HCC staff did a great job of helping us before the trip. IMHO they need to get pictures of this property up quick because it is a jewel.

PROPERTY
We had a 4.8 earthquake during our trip. Didn’t seem to faze the Tico’s but it was a little scary for us. Be prepared for that possibility. The front rental office is friendly. Reserva Conchal/Paradisus Hotel is all on the same property. It is quite massive! The condos are separated from the hotel, yet the HCC condo is located near the hotel lobby and golf pro shop. Many times we walked up to the hotel lobby to catch a golf cart shuttle to the pool and beach. Just ask the guys driving to take you to the beach club or pool. If you drive it is 2 miles over a curvy and very hilly road (some of it still unpaved). We actually had a little race back from the beach club and a couple of us drove back and the rest took the shuttle on the hotel property. The shuttle with the brief 3 or 4 minute walk was quicker by a few seconds than driving back. You can walk to the beach/Beach Club on the Hotel property and it is about a 10 minute walk. Just head towards the hotel pool and just before you get to the pool take a left.

POOLS/BEACH
There are three or four pools on the whole property. The Reserva Conchal beach club (pictures are on the Reserva Conchal website) has a great pool with zero level entry areas. It also has a large hot tub. The restaurant/work out facility/ kids club area are all located around the pool area.
There is a pool near the HCC condo. It has a hot tub but it was never hot.
The largest pool is located in the hotel property. We ventured there once or twice. We spoke with many condo owners at the property and they said it is ok to go to the pool, we just did not get drinks or food b/c we were not part of the all inclusive.

DINING
We ate a few times at the at the Beach Club. The sushi is fantastic. The other food (French fries, chicken tenders, etc was average.) Drinks were good and reasonably priced! Once you get to know the servers they treat you very well. So take the extra few minutes when you get there and introduce yourself, etc. I think your service will be better and you will hear some good stories. We went off property to eat as well. Restaurants included Il Forno (pizza), Happy Snapper, Camaron Dorado (directly on the beach), Marie’s. All of the above restaurants are listed on HCC’s restaurant list. Some of the restaurants will pick you up from the condo. We also stopped at a few “soda shops” and had beer and plantain, Tico (Costa Rican) food sometimes. There are numerous choices for this type of food.


EXCURSIONS
We used Hightide to help us plan these when we arrived in Costa Rica. Their website (tamarindoadventures) is very informational. We went on their Estuary boat tour in Tamarindo and not in Palo Verde. It is a boat ride and it takes you to the “jungle” and you walk amongst the trees looking for monkeys, crabs, alligators. Good tour, little high in price IMHO. We also did Hightides Canopy Tour. It was incredible! All of my children loved it and were able to participate. They hook children into the harness and push them down the zip line while a guide catches them on the other side. Safe, fun and the guides were great with the kids!
We also went on a 4 wheeler tour on the beach. As you enter the Reserva Conchal beach there are no vendors, but turn right and go down the beach and there they are. We just had one of them take us. ($60/hour) A guide took us around and even had one of my kids with him.

GROCERY STORES
We went to both the big one in Tamarindo and the one in Huacas. The one in Tamarindo was more expensive and air conditioned, yet the one in Huacas had a good selection of groceries and more reasonable. The Tico’s will send you to Tamarindo because it is more of a US feel to it. But we would recommend the one in Huacas. If you can’t live without a certain American brand, I’d pack it just to be safe.

We had a great time and would go back again! It was a great experience for our family.

kddpac

Thanks for the great review! Can you post any pictures of the property?

baylor1

we took pictures of our family, not really of the property. hopefully HCC will have pictures up soon.

want2travelmore

Also note this as a great review. Concise and very helpful and makes me want to try this property.