Flamingo Beach Resort In Costa Rica

One of the best things about life as an ex-pat is that you live in a beautiful foreign destination that a lot of your friends and family want to visit! I have been lucky enough to have many of my family and friends visit me in Costa Rica over the years and just recently, my friend Tom came to visit and took me on vacation with him to the Flamingo Resort and Spa.

I live just down the road from Playa Flamingo in the town of Playa Potrero, so Flamingo is one of the beaches that I spend a lot of time at (beautiful white sand and amazing sunsets). The Flamingo Resort and Spa is a popular vacation spot for a lot of my clients and I had always heard good things however, I hadn't experienced the resort for myself so I was really looking forward to my "staycation" with my friend from Florida.

I was the travel agent for Tom and had booked his package with the resort so it was also nice to be on the other side of the fence, playing the "vacationer" for a change. I would get to see how my clients were treated, what kind of service and food the resort had to offer and indulge in relaxation for a few days.

Tom had booked a pool view room which had not only a view of the beautiful pool but also a great view of the Pacific Ocean from the balcony. The room was very spacious with a large king size bed, air conditioning (which you really appreciate at the beach in Guanacaste!), a flat screen tv with cable, wi-fi, a mini bar/fridge and a safe. The bathroom had marble countertops and a gorgeous bathtub (bathtubs are vary rare in Costa Rica) and full size shower.

The room was very comfortable although in Costa Rica it's hard to stay in doors for long!

Flamingo Resort and Spa was offering a special promotional package when I booked Tom's trip which included a daily breakfast buffet at the resort's restaurant, Arenas. The Arenas restaurant sits right across the street from the Pacific Ocean offering great views and ocean breezes as you dine.

We had breakfast at the resort each day and their breakfast buffet was full of options to suite any type of taste. The main breakfast dishes usually included eggs, potatoes and some type of sausage or bacon which were prepared in various ways throughout the week - usually some version of an American style breakfast or a typical Costa Rican breakfast. They served fresh breads, butter and jams as well as a beautiful assortment of fresh tropical fruits. Cereals, granola and lighter breakfast options were also available. They also had an omelet station were you could order a custom made omelet. Coffee and fresh tropical juices were also offered.

A few nights we also decided to dine at Arenas for dinner. One night we ordered off of the menu which offers a various assortment of international dishes. I enjoyed crunchy fish tacos and Tom had Chicken Curry. The other night we enjoyed a delicious italian style buffet with pasta dishes like lasagna, stewed meats and crunchy "pan de ajo" (garlic bread).

I thought the food was delicious at Arenas but I think I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant even more. In the early morning hours we would sit and have breakfast listening to the waves crashing on the beach and watching the wildlife (which always surrounds you in Costa Rica). Iguanas and various tropical birds would gather around the netting that surrounds the open aired restaurant (to keep the animals from stealing your food!) always putting on a show for the resort's guests.

The resort also has a bar which is located upstairs from Arenas. It is all open air, with comfortable couches and small tables. The bar opens up at night and was definitely a happening place on Friday and Saturday night.

Check rates and dates for Flamingo Resort and Spa.

The Flamingo Resort and Spa is an absolutely beautiful resort. The reception center is decorated in modern decor with marble floors, beautiful art and furnishings. Inside the main lobby there is a small souvenir shop, as well as a "tour desk" for booking excursions and day trips. The resort also has an onsite photographer who you will see around the resort, capturing candid moments during your vacation. You can also hire them for special photography sessions for families and couples.

The alluring Pacific Ocean is the resort's backyard. The pool area has a swim up bar serving ice cold cerverzas and pina coladas as well as delicious food. Comfortable deck chairs are lined up around the pool as well as small "tiki" covered tables for those who are seeking shelter from the hot Costa Rican sun.

There is a small covered shallow "children's pool" which is perfect for small children. There is also a playground located on the grass near the pool. The resort also offers children's activities such as crafts and educational programs which are included with your resort stay.

Upstairs there is a casino which is open each night. There are also two onsite tennis courts.

The only thing that I found the Flamingo Resort to be was missing was a jacuzzi. My friend Tom and I went hiking at the La Fortuna Waterfall and we were looking for a solution to our aching muscles. We did find relief however by getting a wonderful therapeutic massage right on Flamingo Beach.

Check rates and dates for Flamingo Resort and Spa.

One of the most special things Tom and I did while he was visiting is to take a sunset horseback ride on the beach. Because I live in Costa Rica and I am familiar with all the local tour guides we did not book our tour through the resort. (The resort will tell you that it's "unsafe" to book with any outside tour companies, however I prefer to work with the locals. Not only are they completely safe, they charge less for their tours and the money you spend goes directly to help a local feed his or her family.)

Around four o'clock with met with our tour guide and our beautiful horses. I had not ridden a horse since I was a teenager and I was actually a little hesitant at the beginning, not knowing how comfortable I would be on such a powerful animal. However, the horses were very "tranquilo" and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

The tour began in Playa Flamingo and then we were taken through the back dirt road (with monkeys in the trees above us) to Playa Escondida (also known as Hideaway Beach). Hideaway has one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in Costa Rica and it's a "secret spot" so it's never crowded. We rode our horses all the way down past Playa Escondida and unto Playa Brasiltio and then continued on to Playa Conchal.

Once we were at Playa Conchal, we got off our horses and sat awhile on the beach to relax and take in the sunset. Then we saddled back up and rode our horses back to Playa Brasilito where we said good-bye to our guide and the horses and were taken back to the resort in a taxi.

All in all, Tom and I had a wonderful time while staying at Flamingo Resort and Spa. The employees were all so helpful, friendly and always smiling. The resort was beautiful and a wonderful place to relax and rejuvenate. It is one resort in Costa Rica that I will recommend, time and time again.

The Flamingo Resort offers both a basic resort stay package as well as an all-inclusive plan. They are also famous locally for their exquisite beach weddings.

I am so happy that I was able to experience for myself one of the vacation packages that I sell each day. It makes me even more excited about what I do. Sharing Costa Rica with family, friends and clients is a dream job!

Are you ready to visit Flamingo Resort and Spa?