Luxury Travel Advisor - July 2008 - (Page 32)

ACCESS: Nonstop flights to Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica, are available from Miami on U.S. Airways (www.usairways. com) and American Airlines (www.aa.com); from Atlanta and New York-JFK on Delta Air Lines (www.delta.com); and from Houston and Newark, N.J. on Continental Airlines (www.continental. com). Reserva Conchal is a 45-minute drive from the airport in Liberia. For VIP clients, arrange transfers via private car; there is also a lighted helipad on property. RESERVA’S POOL SETTING puts the natural environment of Costa Rica in full display (above). LIVING AREAS in the resort’s condos provide an ideal meeting place for families (left). and special requests, such as setting up a horseback riding excursion to view the area’s dramatic landscape, birds and wildlife. Cristina Sasso (csasso@reserva conchal.com), the resort’s general manager, is also readily available to assist. We loved the two-bedroom suites in Malenche, especially 423B and 320B, with a large living room, dining area and kitchen fronted by huge glass panels opening onto a wide terrace with center-stage views. Nice touches included comfy beds with feather duvets, generously sized closets, a master bath with a Jacuzzi and a laundry room. For large family groups, book a two-level, four-bedroom Penthouse Suite with 3,300 square feet of living space. We recommend 627B in Malenche, where, on the first floor, the great room has carved mahogany furniture, a massive dining table that seats eight, an open kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and an expansive terrace. A jungle scene with a monkey adorns the hall leading to a master bedroom with a four-poster bed, cherry wood floors, a wall of glass overlooking the sea, a private terrace and a marble bath with a glass-walled, jetted tub and double sinks. Two large closets have built-in shelves. The master bedroom on the penthouse’s second floor has similar highlights, plus a high, barrel-vaulted ceiling, a mural with a sloth in a bamboo forest and a scarlet macaw painted over the jetted tub. A family room and two additional bedrooms with marble bathrooms round out the spacious quarters. Clients with children ages two to eight will be interested in the Kids’ Club, which is open seven days a week and has its own pool, clubhouse and activities program. Contact Carolina Orlich Arias (corlich@reserva conchal.com), club director, with any questions. Recommend treetop zipline tours for older children and adults; there are beginner and extreme options. The galleries and boutiques in Tamarindo, 10 minutes away, will satisfy avid shoppers. For the ultimate thrill, have Madrigal arrange a helicopter tour of active Arenal Volcano. Unlimited golf and prime reserved tee times at Reserva Conchal Golf Club will entice golf clients. Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed this par-71 course, which features water views from three holes. The Ahuia Signature Massage with warmed shells and aromatherapy oil is the most popular treatment at the recently opened Ahuia Spa. The outdoor hot- and cold-jetted pools are great for pre- and post-treatment relaxation. Hint: Tell your clients about the free five-minute chair massages by the pool, and your golfing clients about the 20-minute post-golf chair massages. The spa and fitness center are part of the new Beach Club, featuring a lap pool, water sports center, open-air lounge and a restaurant. Don’t miss the sixcourse tasting menu prepared by Costa Rican chef Edward Florian, presented with flair by waiters trained in synchronized service. Pre-order groceries through the Express Market Service; better yet, suggest the private chef service for in-suite meals. 32 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | July 2008 http://www.usairways.com http://www.usairways.com http://www.aa.com http://www.delta.com http://www.continental.com http://www.continental.com

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Luxury Travel Advisor - July 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter California Coast Tuscan Villas Ranch Vacations Gansevoort South Rancho Las Cruces Reserva Conchal Spas of the Maldives St. Lucia A Gentleman's Touch The Pulse Just Back Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - July 2008

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