We stayed at Issimo October 3-13 2012. We arrived at the hotel at 1:30 am after a three hour tour, he he, from San Jose airport. The front desk personnel, bellhop and security guard all met us smiling and ready to help. I Couldn't wait to write this review as this hotel is off the hook. From the stunning view as we open the drapes and reveal floor to ceiling glass looking right at the Pacific Ocean, monkeys that joined us while enjoying our delicious included breakfast, very nice pool with 12 foot deep section,10 minute walk to the beach complete with iguanas, warm ocean water, afternoon trade winds and an occasional rain shower to cool off, Manuel Antonio SP 2 km away, everything you could possibly dream of doing close by and the warmest most accommodating and happy people that make Costa Rica so welcoming and unforgettable!!!!!
Greeted each dayfor breakfast by either Dixon or Alexander, we enjoyed fresh tropical fruit, fresh squeezed juice, banana pancakes, muffins and the best coffee on the planet. After this for an appetizer you are handed a menu to order your breakfast:
Local (Gallo Pinto, {Rice and black beans}, eggs, fried plantains and toast)
American (Eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast) or
Healthy (Granola, yogurt, fresh fruit)
All food was served hot, pleasingly presented, and we were taking care of like royalty. The staff is wonderfully attentive and very friendly. We also enjoyed two dinners while there and they were just as good if not better. Fresh fish is out of this world, Steaks were good too. Edgar was our waiter, again, happy, polite, warm caring and attentive.
The room was absolutely stunning!!!! Greis was our room attendant and every day we had different sculptures created from our towels, fresh flower petals all over our bed, the hot tub and the sink. King sized bed with fabulous memory foam, whirlpool hot tub, daybeds by the front windows, great lighting, fans and AC that really worked. Open floor plan with plenty of room to move about, including a primo deck that also looks at the ocean, open shower, walk in closet, safe, fridge, microwave and wi-fi so I could post daily photos and notes to all our family and friends back home, rubbing it in just a bit, poor working stiffs!!!
At one point after hearing how the northern area of Costa Rica was so beautiful and offered all the zip lining and cloud forests we just jumped in the rental truck and drove 7 hours to the wonderful towns of La Fortuna and Monteverde. We left in such a spur of the moment rush we didn't even tell the staff at Issimo. We returned 3 days and two nights later to meet with Tim, the owner of our castle away from home and the staff at Issimo waiting and truly concerned for our welfare, at 1 am!!!!! The concern for their guests and their welfare, on top of pampering us beyond imagination is unheard of. Apologies don't suffice but afterwards the running joke was to hide our eyes as we walked by as the staff laughed and Tim told them to put a GPS tracker on us. These people truly CARE about their guests, like I have never experienced. Sorry again Tim!!
Our days were filled with the beauty and splendor that defines Costa Rica. Everywhere we went we were warmly greeted and welcomed, this was a large part of what made the trip so pleasant. We zip-lined, walked the suspended bridges, visited the butterfly garden, massive insect collection, 3rd largest in the world, and snake and frog exhibition. We visited the breathtaking La Fortuna waterfall and swam in its pool. It poured rain all the way down then cleared up for the walk out. Visited Arenal Springs where they have pools filled with the water that is heated by the Arenal Volcano, again verrrry beautiful. We kicked it on fabulous beaches and hiked through unimaginable jungles. We wandered through quaint little towns and stopped at unbelievable vistas, we saw monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles, birds of every color, butterflies that defy imagination, tropical fruits growing wild and flowers so mesmerizing they seem almost fake, and stunning sunsets, this country is truly exquisite. The thing that amazed me is I missed Issimo and was glad to drive back in the middle of the night.
I currently live in Los Osos on the Central Coast of California, in its own right a slice of paradise. I have lived here most all my life and regularly say that I don't really see any need to live elsewhere, this was before I had the pleasure of visiting Costa Rica. If you want a vacation filled with adventure and excitement, a destination that will amaze you with beauty and nature, a place where you can go all day or relax to your hearts content then Costa Rica is for you. If what you want is all of these and on top of it all, to stay at a place that will make you NOT want to go home, the Issimo Suites must be your destination. To EVERYONE, at Issimo Suites please accept my deepest appreciation, what you do is above and beyond my wildest expectations. What you do and how you do it is a big part of what made this the vacation of a lifetime, one I will never forget and that I will not be able to get back soon enough to do again.
Room Tip: We stayed in room 112. It faces the ocean, shares an outside deck with 111. Room was perfect!!!!!!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.