From P. Schapiro, Maryland
Where I went: Poro Poro Resort (an Exclusive Resort) at Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rico
Why I went: Vacation
Who was on the trip: We were invited to stay with friends who are members of ER and another couple
When: Sept.15-22, 2007
Who organized it: Friends
Who it’s right for/wrong for: It’s a remote area, so great for tennis and golf, but there’s little else to do than sit on the beach or by the pool. We had a fun day fishing in the rain.
What I’d go back for: Beautiful scenery and great service from very friendly people.
What I wish I knew in advance: The rainy season can mean rain all most all day, not just a few hours. We never got to sit on the beach.
What to skip: I wouldn’t skip anything.
What not to miss: Leave the peninsula to get a sense of what Costa Rica is really like. Also, the Four Seasons next door has a fabulous spa and equally fabulous restaurants.
What we loved: The great golf course (at the Four Seasons) with challenging grass for putting and amazing scenery.
To book: Poro Poro can only be used by Exclusive Resort members, but I would recommend the Four Seasons next door, based on the public areas there.
EDITORS’ NOTE: As part of the burgeoning destination club phenomenon, Exclusive Resorts (or “ER”), a collection of over 350 luxury homes and apartments located throughout the world, advertises itself as a more flexible alternative to fractional or second-home ownership. To join there’s an initial fee (which is 80% refundable) as well as annual dues. Members then have access to ER’s vast real estate portfolio for a certain number of days each year. An elite-level ER membership, for instance, costs $459,000 with annual dues of $34,900 and allows use of the various properties for 45 days out of the year (the maximum stay for each property is 14 days and reservations must be made in advance). Private chefs, a concierge service, housekeepers and, on occasion, the facilities of nearby resorts come free of charge.
Pora Pora, a collection of ten glass-front houses, which opened this past summer, is part of Exclusive Resorts’ options on Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo. Known for its combination of rainforest and pristine beaches, Peninsula Papagayo experiences daily rain showers from May to October, so you can expect the dry season to be considerably more crowded. A new Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course set to open near Pora Pora in 2008 should give the one at the Four Seasons (done by Arnold Palmer) a run for its money.
Getting there: The closest airport is Liberia, Costa Rica, which is about an hour’s drive and has daily flights from many U.S. cities, including Miami, Atlanta and Houston.
