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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Our Stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort in Hawaii

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

We’re typically low-key travelers who prefer affordable places to stay that are easy to get to and conveniently located near the activities we enjoy. However, the booking of our Hawaii trip was a bit last minute because we had to cancel our Puerto Rico plans. That meant that almost all the Big Island hotels in the Kailua-Kona area were near capacity and we had to book whatever was left. We decided to venture a bit farther north to the Waikoloa area because we had skipped that part of the island on our honeymoon trip in 2014. We had heard there were some beautiful beaches nearby that we wanted to check out. With the help of Ebates and Priceline I was able to find a deal on a stay at the Hilton Waikola Village Resort, so we went for it despite the slightly higher price tag than we are used to paying. (Use my referral link to get started on Ebates; you’ll get $10.) Today I want to share the pros and cons of staying at the Hilton Waikola Village Resort.

Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort in Hawaii

Waikoloa Village was like a small village. (Actually someone we met in town called it their Disney World.) We had to take a tram to our hotel room tower and walking to the lobby from the room could take up to 20 minutes (if you’re preggo like me). Overall, though, we enjoyed our stay at the resort. This was where we waited in the basement during the false ballistic missile alert in Hawaii, too.

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Hawaii

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

 

Pros

  • Activities are plentiful.
  • Nice views from the rooms.
  • The lagoon was convenient and perfect for V to swim in. There are plenty of lounge chairs to use and you can rent kayaks, paddleboards and other equipment. You can also snorkel and see fish and turtles!
  • Just about everything you need is available.
  • Close to Hapuna Beach.
  • Spacious, comfortable rooms.
  • The walkway to lobby was also a museum with incredible artwork.
  • You can take a tram or boat to your tower.
  • The resort is gorgeous.
  • Nice shops.

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

 

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

Cons

  • Not convenient to leave the resort.
  • Parking was $20-something per day for self-parking. Also, parking is far from your room.
  • Dining prices were higher as to be expected.
  • Resort fee was $20-something per day.
  • Construction near our tower was an eyesore.
  • Waikoloa is a bit of a drive (30 minutes or so) from Kailua-Kona and seems a bit isolated.  We didn’t like having to drive so far for more food and activity options.

What kind of accommodations do you prefer when you travel?

Watch our videos:

 

RELATED POSTS:

EXPLORING HILO, HAWAII
PU’UHONUA O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN HAWAII
Unforgettable Beach Day: False Ballistic Missile Alert

 

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau | Kid- and Vegetarian-Friendly Option in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

 

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

When choosing a family-friendly activity to do on the Big Island, a luau was an easy option. Why? It can keep a toddler entertained! We selected the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau at the Royal Kona Resort in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

A bonus is that you don’t need to pay for a separate ticket for children who are 5 and younger! (Tickets for adults were $72 each for us.)

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

To be honest, I don’t really think I need to go to another luau in Hawaii every time I visit, but it’s good for first-timers and kids. We didn’t upgrade our seats to the front tables, but I found that it wasn’t necessary. We could see just fine. My only complaint: We were the last table to grab our food. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem but I’m pregnant, so I am constantly hungry! Actually, I would probably still be hungry even if not pregnant, who am I kidding?

Tip: Arrive early to check into the luau. People were in line by 4:15, even though the confirmation tells you to arrive by 4:45. General seating is first come, first served.

Another bonus is that a luau experience can cater to meat and veggie eaters alike.

What to eat as a pescatarian/vegetarian at Voyagers of the Pacific Luau:

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

You might not think a luau is the place to go if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, but it’s possible to eat well at one. This is what I ate as a pescatarian/mostly vegetarian at the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau:

  • Garden salad
  • Potato mac salad
  • Hawaiian sweet roll
  • Three-bean salad
  • Island fish (for pescatarians)
  • Hawaii sweet potato
  • Pineapple chunks
  • Coconut cake
  • Pineapple upside-down cake

Note: The website says they can prepare a gluten-free or vegan option if notified 24 hours in advance.

After the show, which lasts until 8 p.m., you can purchase your souvenir arrival photo for $20 if you want, but we skipped that. You can also take photos with the dancers. V really wanted to see two of them, and we were happy to do so.

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Have you been to a luau in Hawaii? What did you think?

Watch our video of the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau:

 

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Related posts:

Royal Lahaina Luau, Maui
Exploring Hilo, Hawaii

 

Toronto and Niagara Falls Trip Tidbits

I already recapped the highlights of our Canada summer road trip, but I left out three more tidbits I wanted to share about our trip. We found that we needed much more time to really experience Toronto and Niagara Falls, but we are glad we visited when we could!

  • We were starving when we arrived in Toronto, but we had not made any reservations for lunch. Many restaurants around the harborfront had long waits, and we even tried going to Amsterdam BrewHouse only to be told they were no longer accepting dining parties — for the weekend. We walked around the area near Rogers Centre, opting for lunch at an arcade restaurant named Rec Room  simply because it was one of the first suitable places we saw. It ended up being a perfect place to go with a toddler because we played games while we waited about 20 minutes for our table. The only non-toddler-friendly part: They gave us V’s drink in a glass cup, which she knocked over and broke during the meal. You would think they would give a child a plastic cup. This reminded me I should bring a cup and toddler flatware to restaurants while traveling, but it wasn’t that big of a deal. The outside of the restaurant is an old train depot also shared by a brewery. It was a popular spot before the Toronto Blue Jays game.

 

The food was decent, but I really enjoyed the blueberry mojito! Our appetizer was calamari, and we ordered chicken and salad for Victoria.

 

 

 

 

  • We stopped by a park called Col. Samuel Smith Park on our way from Toronto to Niagara Falls to fly the drone. Most of the Harbourfront area was a no-fly zone, so we decided to find a park that allowed use of the DJI Mavic Pro. The park was beautiful. If we lived in the Toronto area it would be a nice place to walk your dog and spend time with family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • I also want to share our amazing hotel accommodations at Niagara Falls (Canada side)! We stayed at the Radisson Fallsview and our 13th floor room had an awesome view of the Falls. We couldn’t stop staring at it! I would highly recommend booking a waterfall view room if you stay at this hotel. Note: Part of this stay was paid for with complimentary points I earned as part of a campaign I did with Radisson over the summer.

 

 

Have you been to either Toronto or Niagara Falls?

Trip highlights:

 

July Goals

If you read yesterday’s post, you know how I am always go, go, go nowadays. I’m not complaining — I’d rather be pulled in many directions and be able to stay home with V than have to leave her at day care in order to work. I love spending my days with her and I know they will eventually come to an end when she begins school. I’m savoring this time with her now. With that said, some days I feel like I can’t keep up with life and time. How can it possibly be July tomorrow? How?! Setting goals is a way for me to make a game plan and try to stay on track when it feels like life is barreling past me. Today I’m sharing my July goals, but first let’s check in on my  June goals:

Family:


Fitness:

  • Start half-marathon group training with my coaches on June 28. I had a work trip so I have to start group training next week. I plan to run on my own though.
  • Film a yoga video. I filmed one but didn’t post it. I plan to re-film it this month. 
  • Attend two yoga classes in the studio/local park/garden. I didn’t make it to any classes.

Career/blog:
Travel:

  • Decide on the dates and destination of our winter family trip. We finally booked our winter vacation! We went back and forth on destinations for many reasons, but I’ll share more on that later.
  • Add to our travel fund. Done. I also plan to set aside part of my work bonus for travel, as i always do. 

July goals:



Family: 

  • Finalize plans for our Canada trip.
  • Go on a date night.
  • Plan activities for my nephew’s upcoming Chicago visit.
Fitness:
  • Start marathon training. Run at least 25 miles this month.
  • Go to two yoga classes.
  • Film a yoga video.
Blog/Career:

  • Surpass June’s sponsored/freelance income. 
  • Film five YouTube videos.
  • Post consistently on my blog and social media.
Travel:
  • Find accommodations for our winter trip.
  • Explore two new places/activities in Chicago.
  • Add to travel fund.

What are your July goals? What did you learn or accomplish in June?

Celebrating Canada’s 150th Anniversary & a Giveaway!

I recently read an article listing Canada, which is honoring its 150th anniversary, as one of the best places to travel in 2017, which sparked my interest in finally setting dates for our trip. Because we can’t take a major vacation until winter, we’re instead looking at places to explore that aren’t too far of a drive from Chicago and have lots of activities to do as a family, especially outdoors. I’ve written about my desire to go to Toronto, Ontario, on this blog before, but now that trip seems more like a possibility. I’m eyeing an extra-long weekend in September to celebrate our third anniversary, and I can’t wait!

I’m finding that the trip is a lot more affordable than I initially thought. Radisson makes it easy to book a Toronto hotel room within our budget. To get the best bang for your travel buck, you can also join Club Carlson, which lets you rack up points that can be easily redeemed for hotel nights. I know this based on personal experience: When I redeemed my Club Carlson points in January I had no trouble at all finding available rooms. I was able to use the rewards at a variety of hotels, including Radisson Blu, Park Inn by Radisson, and Country Inns & Suites By Carlson.

Club Carlson hotel rewards points allowed us to take a family vacation during the dreaded Chicago winter while saving us some cash. We had two of our hotel nights accounted for, which left more in the budget for Orlando and Clearwater, Florida, fun! We stayed at the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration in Kissimmee, which was nicely decorated and conveniently located for all the activities we wanted to do on our road trip. We also stayed at a Radisson-Carlson hotel in Atlanta on the drive back, and the room was similarly comfortable, clean and nicely appointed. On this particular trip, we will be staying at the Radisson Hotel Toronto East (shown below).

Radisson Hotel Toronto East

For our Canada road trip, we plan to take advantage of a new Radisson rewards redemption option with Petro-Canada. With just 18,000 points, we can get a Petro-Canada gas card to use on our drive, and we’re already on our way there with the points we have left over from our last family road trip. Plus, Radisson has a free interactive map feature on its website where you can visualize your road trip and plan your things to do.

 

15 places to explore in Ontario, Canada:

Our upcoming Canada road trip from Chicago will be an 8-hour drive, which is nothing compared to the distances we have covered in the past. We have a list of family-friendly places to go that reflect our love of the outdoors and family-friendly fun. These attractions are all located either on the drive to Toronto from Chicago, in Toronto or close enough to make a day trip from the Radisson Hotel Toronto East, where we plan to stay.

  1. Point Pelee National Park of Canada: Exploring the trails and seeing the wildlife. It would be a pit stop on the way to Toronto.
  2. Niagara Falls: Taking in the views of the waterfalls on day and night cruises. Victoria was intrigued by photos of the colorfully illuminated falls at night.
  3. Skylon Tower Observation Deck: Getting another view of the falls.
  4. Toronto Botanical Garden: Taking one of the free weekly tours of the grounds.
  5. Toronto Blue Jays game: Crossing off another MLB ballpark.
  6. CN Tower in Toronto: Checking out the views from the building.
  7. St. Lawrence Market: Strolling and grabbing lunch.
  8. Harbourfront Centre: Admiring the visual arts installations or just walking along the Boardwalk.
  9. Toronto Zoo: Saying hello to our animal friends.
  10. Royal Ontario Museum: Getting lost in the museum that contains more than 6 million specimens, objects and artifacts.
  11. Canada’s Wonderland: Riding the amusement rides and eating too much food.
  12. Casa Loma: Touring the majestic castle.
  13. Clifton Hill Skywheel: Riding Canada’s largest observation wheel!
  14. Hershey Chocolate World: Treating ourselves to too much chocolate.
  15. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada: Our toddler would love this place!

I am not sure if we can get to all of these amazing attractions in just one trip, but we will sure try to cross off as many as we can.

We are excited about going on a Niagara Falls boat cruise!

Finding more affordable things to do in Canada this year would be no problem: Canada’s parks, historic sites and national monuments are free in 2017 in honor of the country’s 150th anniversary. While researching our trip we found more than 40 national parks, monuments and historic sites in Ontario alone. We could easily swap out a stop at one of those free sites if we wanted to save some cash.

To help you plan your own getaway, Radisson is giving away a one-night stay certificate to use on your Canada trip! See details below to enter. You can also save on a two-night stay (12 percent off) with Radisson’s Summer Promotion.

Are you a member of Club Carlson? What’s your ideal Canada vacation? Use the interactive map feature and let me know where you would go!

Enter the Radisson Giveaway!

Plan your trip with Radisson.
Victoria was captivated by photos of all the fun offered at Niagara Falls.

 

One reader will receive a one night stay certificate. The winner will be picked at random on July 7. To be eligible to win, you must:

1. Share my Facebook post.
2. Tag @Radisson.
3. Comment below!

 

Note: Winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner will be asked for an email address to send the certificate. Hotel certificate may be used in U.S. or Canada.

Click here to learn how to travel to Canada on its 150th anniversary.

 

Ways to Save Money for Travel

** This post contains referral links that I could receive compensation for. It helps me pay for travel!

In 2007, I decided I wanted to travel to a new place every year. I was inspired by the Dalai Lama quote you often see on Pinterest: “Once a year, go some place you’ve never been before.” Back then I had student loan and credit card debt, and I was living paycheck to paycheck. I worked at a newspaper that had furloughs or layoffs every year, too. (I loved the job, though!) Despite all that, I knew I wanted to make travel a priority, even if it meant traveling to nearby cities I had never been to and saving international travel for later. That’s how this blog started. It was a way for me to see new places and experience new things. Now I am in a better financial position, but I still take many of the same small steps to save cash throughout the year for travel.

  • Using Ebates for online purchases and transferring cash-back checks to savings. I only recently started using Ebates but I’ve already accumulated $111.06. Tip: If you’re headed to a store, try shopping online first using Ebates and then pick the order up! That way you earn for purchases you would already be making. Also, I only shop online if I get free shipping.
    • Ebates Coupons and Cash Back
  • Also, booking hotel rooms and airfare with Ebates and using deals sites! Example: I recently used Priceline via Ebates when it was offering 12 percent cash back. I booked an Express Deal, which was 30 percent off on a 4-star hotel. My room was even more affordable! (You don’t know which hotel you are getting with Express Deals, but I have practiced figuring out which hotel is the secret deal.) Orbitz, Expedia, Hotwire, Travelocity and Booking.com are also on Ebates, along with many other travel sites. When booking airfare I almost always use a site on Ebates.
  • Keeping a good old-fashioned change jar and enrolling in automatic transfers to savings. It works. You’ve heard it before because you really do build up some savings. When Graham and I saved for our honeymoon, we had enough loose change to pay for our car rental for about a week, plus some gas money! If I pay with something with cash, I put all or most of the change into the jar. 
  • Sharing referral and affiliate codes and links with friends and family so that if they use a particular service you recommend, you get paid! For example, Booking.com offers a referral bonus of $20 for you and $20 for the friends you refer; I’ve used the booking site many times to find affordable lodging options. I try to reciprocate by using friends’ and fellow bloggers’ codes as well.
  • Freelance writing and editing. Do you have a side hustle? It could help you pay for travel!
  • Decluttering and selling extra items on eBay, Craigslist, Poshmark and other sites. I regularly sell books, clothes and handbags I no longer use. I use cash-back sites to sell old electronics, like laptops, cellphones and cameras. (I have used eBay and Gazelle.)
  • Participating in no-buy months for specific categories of items, such as makeup, clothing and books. Overall, things I don’t spend money on include getting nails done, shoes, books, magazines and going out to bars. Identify what you can go without. (I have only bought two or three pairs of shoes in the past year and I received my new running shoes as a gift. Also, I allow myself one or two brunches with friends a month, but during most months I don’t even go once.) I’m not saying these are bad items to spend money on, but I have found that I can go without them. I also find that good friends will let you borrow books when they are done with them. 
  • Analyzing subscriptions and cutting back on them. I had an Audible subscription until recently, when I decided to put it on hold. I plan to revive it when a certain book is released soon. Cancel memberships you’re not using!
  • Save a portion of all bonuses, raises or overtime pay for travel. Whenever I get a bonus at work I use half for bills and half for fun. 
  • Using Spothero to save on parking costs in Chicago. Paying for parking and transportation is unavoidable here, so I might as well find ways to save. I regularly get emails from Spothero with promo codes that I keep in mind when we need parking. I have found spots for $10 that are normally more than $25 in the Loop. Sometimes I take the train so that I don’t have to pay for parking at all (Train tickets are $3-6.).
Saving during travel:
  • Stay in accommodations that have kitchens so you can cook at least part of your meals.
  • Share accommodations with friends and split the cost.
  • Pack snacks and drinks in a cooler (if you’re on a road trip) and shop at grocery stores for at least some of your meals on vacation. 
  • Bring a water bottle to refill.
  • Camp at your destination! Graham and I camped on Maui and it was amazing! It saved us hundreds on lodging.
  • Bring your own snorkel or beach gear to save on rental costs.
What are some of your tricks for saving money for travel or fun?

Stay at the Islander Resort | Islamorada, Florida Keys

When searching for an affordable, beachfront hotel option in the upper Florida Keys, I came across the Guy Harvey Outpost Islander Resort. The photos caught my eye, and the resort had decent reviews on Booking.com. I booked a three-night stay for us to explore the Keys during our recent trip.

When we drove up to the resort, an outdated sign greeted us. I didn’t remember seeing that in any of the photos, and the rest of the resort was in better condition. The lobby was decorated nicely and the front desk agent was super friendly and energetic. She informed me that we were in a poolside suite, which according to her is the best option. 
We drove up to our unit and opened our door with a good old-fashioned key (no hotel key card). Our room had a full kitchen, something I appreciate because it helps save cash by allowing us to cook some meals. There’s also a screened patio area and lounge chairs outside.

We typically request rooms with two beds so we don’t have to share with our toddler. The room contains a large closet and drawers with plenty of room. (That’s where I found the safe, which wouldn’t open. I didn’t bother asking the front desk for help.) As I found out during our stay, the poolside location is nice, but it does get a bit noisy sometimes during the day. It was convenient when we wanted to go to the pool, restaurant or beach, though.

Have a seat and admire the view from the pier. 

The A/C in the unit was also a bit loud at times, but it wasn’t an issue. We weren’t in the room that much anyway and we only needed it one day.

The laundry came in handy. I was able to do laundry one day for $1.50 per wash and $1.50 to dry. There is no detergent vending machine, though. I bought a $1 bottle of detergent at a nearby dollar store. 
I enjoyed both restaurants at the resort, especially breakfast at Bonefish Flats. The service was great at the latter. (See my previous post for more details on the food and prices.)
Was Islander Resort the fanciest option? No. But it was comfortable and not too expensive. The amenities were nice (You can rent kayaks and other gear at the beach!) and the location was convenient for us. Nearby we found many parks, the scuba diving museum and lots of shops and restaurants. It was about 40 minutes from the Turtle Hospital in Marathon and about an hour and a half from Key West. I would stay here again.

Have you visited the Florida Keys?

Phoenix Travel: Camby Hotel

Last week was yet another whirlwind. In my life, weeks are either super slow or an avalanche — there is no in between. On Wednesday night Graham and I went to his work holiday party. At 4 a.m. the next morning I was on my way to Midway Airport to travel to Phoenix for work and for my holiday party. I landed in Phoenix about 9 a.m., changed into Phoenix-weather appropriate clothing and worked a full day in the office. I couldn’t keep my eyes open at this point, so I returned to my hotel room that evening for one glorious night of uninterrupted sleep, a rare occurrence in my life as a new mom.

My blissful sleep was at the Camby Hotel in the Biltmore area of Phoenix. The best way I can describe the Camby is quirky. I’ll let the photos do the talking:

I loved the chandeliers throughout the evening and lobby. 

This neon mixed media saguaro was my favorite. 
The artwork/light in my hotel room was my favorite.

The bathroom was well appointed.


After coming home to one of the worst weekends I’ve had lately. I wish I were still at the Camby right now! What’s the best or quirkiest hotel you’ve stayed in? Share in the comments below!

Tortuga Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica

Our first stop in Costa Rica after flying into San Jose was Tortuga Lodge in Tortuguero. It’s a village on the Caribbean side of the country that is known for the turtles who nest and hatch on its beaches. The village is only accessible by boat or plane. Our options were to rent a car, drive to a nearby village and take a boat, or we could take a 30-minute $90 flight (for both of us) to Tortuguero. We did have the option to take a guided tour with everything included, but we prefer to be on our own.

The Nature Air flight made getting to the lodge extremely easy. We called the lodge the day before we landed and told them we’d be arriving at 7 a.m. They said they’d have a boat waiting for us at the air strip. When our flight landed, we deboarded the plane to see a young man, who asked if I was Mrs. Flora. He was there to help us with our bags and escort us to the boat that was waiting. The boat took us on a two-minute ride across the river to the lodge. How convenient is that?!

 

 

We were early for check-in and our room wasn’t ready yet, so we headed to the lodge’s restaurant for breakfast. We ate al fresco while admiring the scenery. I opted for the gallo pinto breakfast.

 

After breakfast, we checked into our room, which was located in the building next to the office. On one side of our room we had a view of the river, and on the other we had a view of the grounds, which led to a nature preserve area that is part of the property. We received a map of the trails on the property; they allow you to hike on your own and see monkeys, birds, iguanas and tiny dart frogs. Guided nature walks are held every morning around 6 a.m. and you can also book private walks at any time. For your convenience, rain boots, walking sticks and maps are available at the start of the trail (behind the office). It was such a treat being able to hike whenever we wanted. The hikes allow you to see animals in their habitat, but the iguanas weren’t shy about roaming the grounds.

 

 

We hiked every day we were there. It was so beautiful and serene. We could start our hikes right outside our door, and we roamed every trail on the property several times a day.

 

 

 

 

 

Each morning, we awoke to the sounds of howler monkeys, which the lodge called nature’s alarm clock. You really have no choice but to adjust your schedule here because the lodge rooms have no windows, only screens. Every room has hammocks and chairs outside your door where you can sit with your coffee and watch the sunrise. You are open to nature, and this trip is about relaxing and exploring. You won’t find a TV or A/C in the room; the lodge considers itself eco-friendly. We found that we were OK with the fans that were provided. At any time we could ask for ice from the bar or a wet towel.

 

 

 

 

Another nice perk is that free snacks are offered every night before dinner. You can lounge in the bar area and grub on hummus and chips or whatever they provide that night. Coffee and tea are always ready as well, along with cookies or crackers.

The property also has a pool and hammock area.  Boats wait at the dock and regularly take guests into town. You can also book a water taxi if the lodge boats aren’t running. If at any time you want to go to the beach on the other side of the air strip, you can ask for a boat to take you and they will gladly do so. When you want to return to the lodge, you simply wave your arms in the air. People in the office will see you and send a boat to go get you.

 

 

Various tours are offered by the lodge. We booked a nature tour ($100 per person) on the rivers and canals and when we returned, we had lemonade and wet towels waiting for us. It was a much-needed treat on a hot, sunny day.

The weather tends to be unpredictable. It might start off raining but turn into a gorgeous sunny day. Or vice versa. That’s why those rain boots are necessary! The lodge has umbrellas and bug spray waiting outside the office for guests to use at any time. You can sit and watch the rain from chairs that are set up with a view of the river.

 

The service was excellent. When our transportation out of Tortuguero left us, one worker called multiple times to straighten out the situation, and another waited with us and tried to console me. I really appreciated their kindness. I would definitely stay at the Tortuga Lodge again.

Have you been to Costa Rica? What was your favorite thing to do?

Read more about Costa Rica

 

Research**:

 
** This post contains an affiliate link.

Physis Caribbean Bed and Breakfast, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

If Graham and I owned a bed and breakfast, we would want it to be like Physis Caribbean B&B near Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. It’s clean, comfortable and adorably decorated. It’s also relaxing and has amenities we loved.

Physis Caribbean Bed and Breakfast

We arrived in Cocles on Graham’s birthday after being delayed for three hours. We were tired and hungry. We were welcomed by two friends of the owners who were taking care of the bed and breakfast for a few days. They were so warm and welcoming, and they had welcome drinks for us, which was much-needed after a long day. They showed us to our room, Room 3, which had an outdoor shower. It is located downstairs of the two-story home. The room had both queen and full beds, closets, a safe, a fridge and satellite TV.

Outside our room were two hammocks, a drink station, shoe racks, books and lots of tropical plants. A calming water feature and a vibrant mural on the wall added to the relaxing ambiance. In the back of the yard was the third room and a picnic table. A cat named Mr. Lucy roamed about. We often found him snoozing in a seating area located in the front of the bed and breakfast.

The bed and breakfast offered several breakfast options, and we tried nearly all of them: eggs and toast with a cup of fruit and tea or coffee; pancakes with fruit; and French toast with fruit. The upstairs dining area has no windows, so we always felt the breezes and watched the rain. Each morning we met and chatted with our fellow guests. We met a couple from Argentina, a businessman from Tennessee who was looking for his retirement home and a couple of Germany. We loved hearing their stories and about their long vacations. I envied the fact that most of them were spending weeks in Costa Rica.

Physis offers bike and snorkel gear rental. Bikes are $8 a day and are a great mode of transportation in Puerto Viejo, Cocles, Manzanito and the other small towns on the Caribbean side of the country. You see many people riding bikes on the main road. It was also nice to have the option to rent our own snorkel gear and snorkel at Cahuita National Park. Many online sites had said you need a guide, but some people we met told us they often do it without one.

Our hosts were happy to book a ziplining tour for us and tell us how to take the local bus to Cahuita. The owner Emily gave us a schedule to take with us and Jeremy gave us a recommendation to get sandwiches at Bread and Chocolate and take them on our hike. Good call! The bus stop actually stops at the end of the street leading to Cocles, so it’s easy and cheap. A cab ride to Puerto Viejo was only $4.

The best part of our stay at the Physis bed and breakfast was the service. When we lost our GoPro, the first host’s husband, Chad, helped us look for it in the water for more than an hour. He then gave us a ride back when we gave up looking for it. Owners Jeremy and Emily encouraged us and gave us advice about owning a bed and breakfast in the future. If we return to Costa Rica, I would love to stay at Physis. It’s a well-run, comfortable B&B.

 

Read more about Costa Rica

Tortuguero boat ride
Nature Air flight to Tortuguero
Ziplining in Costa Rica
Pescatarian diet in Costa Rica
Whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River
Caribbean Costa Rica itinerary
The lost GoPro
How I prepared for a Costa Rica trip
Cahuita National Park
Ecothermales Hot Springs
Getting Around Costa Rica without Renting a Car

Research*:

 
*Affiliate Link
 
 
 
Have you been to Costa Rica? Share with me your favorite place to travel in the comments. 
 
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