Costa Rican it - the Hilton Papagayo

The alarm went off at 7 am and I quickly got ready so I could enjoy some breakfast at the hotel before our big day of site inspections.

First up ~ The Hilton Papagayo which is an all-inclusive resort with just 202 rooms with 4 different categories. As we stepped off of our shuttle bus we immediately noticed the gorgeous view from the lobby! So naturally I had to get a couple quick pictures. ;)

As the groups manager, Andy, showed us around I noticed the grounds were well kept and beautiful. The resort is built into it's natural surroundings and most of the rooms are in bungalow-like buildings with just 2 rooms per building which make them feel more intimate. Each building had a winding pathway to the front doors that was beautifully landscaped.

The oceanfront rooms were up on a the mountainside and were in bigger buildings. Also in that section the resort has 4 Jr Suites with amazing private plunge pools!

When we were taken down to the beach I couldn't help but to notice that it was bigger and nicer than the Occidental's beach. While I understand that most people do not go to Costa Rica for the beaches it is still important to some.

Andy also showed us their newest restaurant, 'The Grill" which is open for lunch and dinner. While it didn't have air conditioning it did have excuisite palapa roofing and it boasts beautiful views as it overlooked the beach.

They have a gorgeous three-tiered swimming pool with swim up bar and infinity pool.

In the spa section they have special pool-side service and 70 adult-only rooms. It looked ideal for wedding groups so I decided to get to know the wedding planner while there, Mr. Andre.

All in all, this resort ended up being the most impressive all-inclusive for me. It felt Costa Rican and still had the amenities to make an American satisfied.

To see more pictures of the lovely Hilton Papagayo see the slideshow below: