How I planned a custom honeymoon to Costa Rica -
My clients’ wish list, our top contenders, and what made the final cut: an inside look at my trip tailoring process.
I value my clients as individuals with singular experiences, lifestyles, and desires. As such, the itineraries I craft for each trip are equally as unique! In this article, I’ll walk you through the deciding factors that go into every hotel, destination, and activity I include on my itineraries. You’ll also get a good glimpse into the dynamic of working with a travel advisor and how having the assistance of a travel expert can help you avoid making the wrong choice for your vacation.
The first step in every custom trip is the advisor/client consultation. This conversation goes far beyond talks of dates and destinations, and is more like a speed-dating face to face where I try to find out everything I can about my clients - What are their personalities like? What are their interests? What bad travel experiences have they had in the past? Are they catching the first serving of breakfast or needing late-night grub recommendations?
Before the consultation with this couple, I had them sit down together and complete a client preferences form. This form asks general questions on what must be included - and avoided - to make a great trip. It also provides couples with the chance to come together and create a unified vision for their honeymoon. Then, we all hop on a call to get to know each other and get on the same page.
The Wish List
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The Wish List 〰️
Here’s what these two honeymooners were looking for:
4-5 days at a single property on the coast
Looking for luxury accommodations with an authentic feel
Ensuite pool or adults-only pool (if not entire resort)
Spa nearby
Off the beaten track - they want a taste of local culture
Easily accessed from the airport
Ziplining and ATV rides
Golf nearby would be nice, but not a dealbreaker
A blend of scheduled activities and down-time
The Top Contenders
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The Top Contenders 〰️
Following our consultation, I asked my clients to give me a week to put together a proposal. The hard part was over for them, and they were free to start dreaming about ocean views, fresh fruit, and exotic wildlife. Meanwhile, I started researching for vetted options that met the criteria. I got with my in-destination partner, Costa Rican Trails, to get the inside scoop on each property and put together the following options for their proposal:
Casa Chameleon Mal Pais
Casa Chameleon Mal Pais is located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in Mal Pais, a small and hyper-local town. The design style blends rustic, tropical, and modern aesthetics with local materials like wood and stone, featuring open-air villas, natural textures, earthy tones, and handcrafted furnishings that create an indoor-outdoor connection.
WHY IT FITS THE BILL: First off, this is one of Costa Rica’s few adults-only resorts. Every suite here has a private plunge pool with ocean view, and it offers in-villa spa treatments. ATV rentals are available on site, and Los Delfines golf course is 1 hour away. As for the setting, the town of Mal Pais is the epitome of local and off-the-beaten-path.
WHAT’S MISSING: Though the images posted online of the terraces with ocean views lead to think it is ocean-front, this resort is actually not directly on the beach. It sits apart on a large hill and requires a vehicle to get to town. There is also a 4 hour transport from the airport to reach this area.
2. Hotel Nantipa - A Tico Beach Experience
Hotel Nantipa is located down the coast a bit from Mal Pais in the heart of Santa Teresa, Costa Rica’s adored, hip, and boho surfing town. The design style of Hotel Nantipa is modern tropical, featuring minimalist architecture that seamlessly integrates with the beachfront and jungle surroundings.
WHY IT FITS THE BILL: To start, Nantipa is as close to the beach as legally possible. With immediate access to a white sand beach, amazing sunsets, and the town and restaurants in walking distance, Nantipa provides an easy and stress-free stay. There is a spa onsite and the Los Delfines golf course is 1 hour away.
WHAT’S MISSING: The resort is not adults only, and there is a 4 hour transport on 1st travel day.
3. El Mangroove, Autograph Collection
El Mangroove is located on the Gulf of Papagayo on the northwest Pacific coast. The design style is a blend of modern luxury and "boho-chic." The hotel incorporates open-air spaces that connect guests with the surrounding mangroves and beach, and is located in a resort-heavy area.
WHY IT FITS THE BILL: El Mangroove is a breezy 30 minute drive to and from airport. It has a beautiful adult-only pool, and the resort is on the beach (but rooms may require a brief walk). It offers complimentary bike and kayak rentals!
WHAT’S MISSING: Unless booking their top-level suite, there’s no private plunge pool. This property is quite family oriented, and is located in a luxury resort area (so there’s not as much of a local feel). There is a world-class golf course nearby, but access is exclusive to guests of the Four Seasons.
Itinerary
A good trip involves much more than selecting the right hotel, and along with the accommodation options listed above, my proposal also included transfers and guided activities.
TRANSFERS: Keeping in mind my client’s request for an easy travel day and accommodations nearby the airport, I offered up the following suggestions:
For the two options near Santa Teresa (Casa Chameleon and Hotel Nantipa), I proposed a private car transfer for the arrival. Though a few local flights are available each day, we all know that flight delays happen, and I would hate for them to be stuck halfway between home and paradise. The flexibility of a private driver makes getting to the hotel more certain. For the return, however, I included a local flight back to Liberia Airport in Guanacaste.
For the option to stay at El Mangroove on the Gulf of Papagayo, I proposed a private car transfer to and from the resort, as the Liberia airport is only 30 minutes away.
ACTIVITIES: Knowing that the couple had requested a balance between booked activities and downtime, I included one day of guided activities to highlight the nearby culture and environment. This left two days to relax at the hotel, book spa treatments, and explore the local towns.
In Santa Teresa, I worked with my in-destination partner to arrange a canopy ziplining and private guided tour of the Montezuma waterfalls. The couple would trek from activity to activity on individual ATVs and finish up with a traditional Costa Rican lunch.
In the Gulf of Papagayo, the couple would swap out ATVs for saddles and enjoy a private horseback riding, ziplining, and traditional lunch tour. Guided by a Costa Rican “Sabanero” (aka cowboy), they would explore trails filled with wildlife, discover cattle ranching, and enjoy a lunch made over the fire with fresh, local ingredients.
Any guesses on which property they chose?
The final selection
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The final selection 〰️
It’s not unusual for clients to want to hop on a call, talk through the differences between properties, or even explore other options before making their final selection. I was pleasantly surprised that these two required no deliberation. Their choice was easy - Hotel Nantipa fit the bill for the luxurious, yet laid-back, coastal resort they were looking for!
Now, here’s my hot-take: it’s somewhat rare to find a hotel or destination that checks off every single box on your list. Whether it be pricing, location, or a matter of preference (like adults-only or all-inclusive), there’s typically some compromising to do. My job as a travel advisor is to ensure that we compromise wisely, and try and make up for what is lacking elsewhere. In this scenario, Hotel Nantipa checked all but two boxes: 1. close proximity to the airport and 2. adults-only. Here’s how we made the most of it:
Adults-only: Though the hotel is not exclusive to adults, I recommended a stand-alone bungalow with its own private plunge pool. This private hideaway will serve as a chill escape from the more lively areas of the property.
Proximity to the airport: The bride wanted to avoid a lengthy and stressful travel day, and initially requested a property no more than 2 hours from the destination airport. If I could move heaven and earth (literally) to make every ideal destination within a 30-minute drive, I would! But, knowing how important finding the right vibe for a couple is, and how well Hotel Nantipa and the town of Santa Teresa met their vision, the task then became: how can I provide the smoothest transfer from airport to hotel? For this trip, the couple will have a private driver waiting for them at the airport when they land. The journey is entirely their own, and they’ll head to paradise at their own pace.
I have so much fun working with couples and helping make positive memories that will last.
Let’s talk about your wish list for your next trip!
All photos featured in this blog are sourced from online platforms and are not my own unless otherwise specified. If you are the owner of any image and would like it credited or removed, please feel free to contact me.
