It was such a treat to be invited to stay at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica and to be able to see this beautiful resort. But going to a new place for me can be a little stressful because I am a picky eater. I say that I have the palate of a 10 year old, and that probably isn't far from the truth. So I worry about having things that I will like to eat whenever I go somewhere new. Then going to a new country throws a whole new set of stresses into the mix.
I'll spoil the story right in the beginning, I really enjoyed the food at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica. I had no issues finding something that I wanted to eat, not just something I was settling for to eat. There were many choices available in the different restaurants so I'm confident foodies would also be happy. The chefs are very talented in their presentations, and the flavors were delicious. The bartenders were just as skilled. Everyone raved about the creativity and the flavors of the drinks.
One of the many good things about this resort is it is an all-inclusive resort. So that means most food and drinks are included with your stay, which can certainly be dangerous lol, especially when it comes to dessert. There are some drink and menu items that do have an additional cost so be sure to pay attention.
There are several restaurants around the resort, a large buffet, a coffee shop, two pool bars, a lounge in the lobby, a sports bar, a small bar near some of the restaurants, and breakfast room service was available.
On my first day, I decided to check out So Cal, the buffet for lunch. It has several stations with assorted foods of different cuisines for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It does have set hours for each meal so you do need to pay attention to the schedule.
For dinner, I went to Gusto, the Italian restaurant, which was open for dinner. I tried the petit filet which was very flavorful and cooked well.
The next morning, I stopped by the coffee shop, Fuel, to check out the different pastries and finger sandwiches. The shop also offers specialty coffees and ice cream. I have to admit, I did have to "test" several of the items from there, for research of course. I may or may not have had ice cream each day.
Dinner was at the Sunset Strip, the steakhouse. Since I was there with a group, we had a special dinner. It was very good and a fun experience. I got a kick out of the pepper service.
Then the next day, I needed to try out Guy's Burger Joint by Guy Fieri. This is a fun stop near the pool to get burgers, fries, and chicken fingers. We had a cabana by the pool - I definitely recommend a cabana - and the attendant can even bring your burger to you along with your favorite beverage.
Dinner that night at East, the sushi and teppanyaki restaurant, turned out to be my favorite meal. I had the chicken and the beef since I'm not a fan of seafood, but everyone was raving about the sushi, shrimp, and fish. The chef was great, and he really tried to put on fun show for us.
Blue Star, the Tex Mex restaurant, was a big meal with several courses for us. I am not a big fan of Mexican food, but I still enjoyed the beef tenderloin entrée.
Just because this is an all-inclusive resort, they didn't slack on the beverage skills. The beer of choice in Costa Rica seems to be Imperial, but they had other options on tap. There was a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. I was happy that the soda on property is Pepsi as that is my first choice.
The water is safe to drink in Costa Rica so there is no worry about the tap water or ice cubes. I didn't have any issues while I was visiting.
There is the OT Sports Bar in the resort as well. If there is a big game playing or a big event, they will have it on the TV in there so no fears about missing it while on vacation.
Star Class is the concierge level of the resort, and there is a lounge just for Star Class guests that is right off the lobby. In the lounge, there could be finger sandwiches, pastries, fruit, soda, beer, bottles of water, and alcohol options. Star Class guests also have beverages stocked in their in-room refrigerators.
One PSA note, this is an all-inclusive resort, but gratuities are not included with the room price. Please bring extra cash with you to tip your servers and bartenders. They appreciate your generosity.
If you want to make sure all-inclusive meals aren't hitting your waist line too much, there are even bathroom scales in the rooms.
Overall, I really loved my meals at Planet Hollywood Costa Rica. There are plenty of healthy options on the menus along with several choices to keep your sweet tooth happy. When you're ready to escape your home and take a real vacation, Planet Hollywood Costa Rica could be the perfect destination for you.
Thank you to Planet Hollywood Costa Rica and Blue Diamond Resorts for inviting me to stay your beautiful resort!
April Botta is Co-Owner of Coasters & Castles Travel. Coasters & Castles Travel has professional travel advisors which specialize in theme park vacations, ocean and river cruises, all-inclusive resorts, fun & sun vacations and European travel.
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