If there were a secluded sea-side inn you could truly relax in, and it came with an exclusive restaurant serving delectable meals and an innkeeper who thinks it’s his mission to make your every dream come true; would you want to go there?
“Villa Romantica is a mix of high class service and food, yet secluded and romantic,” shared one Villa guest. Originally, Villa Romantica was a private home on Isla Contadora, now it has been converted into a six room hotel and restaurant with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the lovely Cacique Beach.
The traveler’s review compliments are significant: “Villa Romantica is an excellent choice for lodging if you are staying on Isla Contadora. The entire staff is extremely friendly, and the owner, Charlie, will do everything to make you feel welcome.” Villa Romantica offers six optimal rooms with an incredible ocean front view for a price per night varying from $80 -$160, depending on the season and number of guests in your party.
To plan your stay at the well designed and comfortable Villa Romantica, book a year in advance for a time around Christmas; but for the midsummer, around July, you might be able to show up and have just the lodging that you want…without long term planning.
Pics @ http://www.villa-romantica.com
Villa Romántica, (507) 250-4067, www.contadora-villa-romantica
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The Hotel Punta Galeon is very compact. Its 48 rooms were built almost at treetop level on a rocky point of land, with a series of wraparound terraces that provide dazzling sea views. Yet, be aware, the Punta Galeon’s beach is very public. Not only do the planes fly overhead to land at the island airport, but this is also where the island’s ferry docks, picking up passengers right off the shore.
“The rooms at the Punta Galeon are small, simple and whitewashed, with built-in beds and bedside tables and cozy balconies attached. The bathrooms showers are attractive and clean, and the water takes only minutes (rather than days) to warm up. This is a hotel best suited to adults; since there are good places to read, and not many places to run around,” travelers have recorded.
The two restaurants at the Punta Galeon are à la carte, one outside for lunch, and one indoors and open only in the evenings. A lunch costs about $20 for sandwiches, salads, and such, while dinner, which could include sea bass, as well as lobster and shrimp, could run as high as $50 to $60 per person, including wine. Lodging at Hotel Punta Galeon for a couple will range from $85 - $130 per night, plus the 10% tourist tax.
Hotel Punta Galeon, (507) 214-3719, fax (507) 214-3721
Hotel Contadora is the largest of the inns on the island with 354 rooms, perched on the seashore near the airport end of the island. The property offers: two outdoor pools; three tennis courts; and a casino, in addition to beach activities. But I encourage you to consider other lodging on Isla Contadora, as this property is remodeled and upgraded.
There are a number of tough reviews on the hotel from previous guests. Some compliment the spacious accommodations. Other guests aren’t so complimentary; “We were directed to a building that was like a SLUM, and that is being kind. Air-conditioning was not working. Bathroom was dirty, and had no hot water. Sliding glass doors did not have locks and were kept closed by wooden sticks. Linens were ancient, with only two small, grungy bath towels.” Most of those things are maintenance issues, but it doesn’t sound like my idea of paradise holiday lodging. Is it yours?
One reviewer noted: “Service is very poor, rooms and facilities are in bad condition, the food sucks and no one warned us the water wasn’t safe for us-so we got ill from it, AND the hotel charged in advance for the whole trip.”
It appears the members of the management company have taken the messages from their guests to heart, and the buildings, restaurant, pool and grounds are getting an urgent update. This resort has great potential with right management, better upkeep and TLC. With the “New Contadora” flag on their new (Spanish only) website: http://www.hotelcontadora.com - maybe…it’s happening now.
