We visited Costa Rica and the El Nakuti/Rodes Paradise Resort April 2006.
After reading the reviews I wasn't sure what to expect. I should preface by saying my husband and I are fairly easy to please people who prefer a smaller resort to the mega resorts. El Nakuti fit the bill for us. It's spread out like a little neighborhood, no building over 1 story. The grounds were nice and fairly well maintained, the pool we found to be clean the entire time. It is situated on a calm bay with dark sand, while the water isn't clear it was clean and warm, great for swimming. We didn't experience the jellyfish so that was nice. There is plenty of beach, great for walking. The Howler monkeys visits were a real treat, they spent quite a bit of time around the hotel. We also saw Iguanas, what must have been Costa Rican squirrels and a pack of Vultures seemed to like hanging out as well.
We loved the food. Served buffet style at all meals, timed such that we never had to think about when we had to eat. Breakfast consisted of the normal breakfast items good selection. Lunch and dinner always had soup, salad, fruit, meat, chicken and fish selections often 2 of any one and often cooked in delicious sauces, sides included rice and beans, wonderful vegetable dishes, potatoes dishes, etc. A selection of desserts were always available and looked great though honestly we were always too full to eat dessert. The coffee is wonderful.
The people were friendly and attentive though they are definitely failures in service. The front desk was almost impossible to reach by phone for wakeup calls etc as they apparently only have one line and someone at the front desk was always on (what seemed to be) a personal call. We did not get messages we know were left for us, their system seemed to be a bunch of stickys around the edge of the desk. We did experience some water pressure problems and the maid service was not stellar but it was completely acceptable.
We booked a short round trip to Playa Coco with the travel desk at the hotel and were left stranded there after the driver was unable to pick us up and no one got the message. After taking a cab back we did get our money refunded in full and they were very apologetic. The same folks were very accommodating to us when we needed a last minute day trip to Arenal on Easter Sunday, they found another couple at the sister resort and took just the 4 of us so we were overall very pleased with the experience with them.
Important note, we needed to book that trip last minute due to the fact that Grayline tours cancelled the tour on us the afternoon before we were to go. Unbelievably, after confirming and paying in full for the Grayline tour (with a confirmed minimum of 2 people) a full month before going they actually called us the day before and said they would not take us as there were not enough people. They were not forthcoming with any refund and I could not get a response, I had to contest the payment with Visa. I would never go with Grayline again.
Additionally we did the Canopy zip line trip which was very fun but more of a thrill ride than a good way to see the forest. The guides were hysterical and we met some nice Canadians so it was a great experience. Our last day we rented a boat half day with 2 others from the resort, they picked us up in the bay, took us fishing and to remote beach with caves as well as snorkeling at the reef by the Four Seasons, the water is not totallly clear but enough so that plenty can be seen. The coral wasn't the nicest but tons of fish and we even saw a sea turtle. Overall, we very much enjoyed Costa Rica and El Nakuti.
