tropicalchick

Hey gals - I stayed at the Barcelo Langosta in March 2012 with 54 friends and family for a fantastic wedding week! Our group loved the hotel. The size was perfect, the pool amazing, and the food was really good. The snack bar was a hit every day and the drinks were really good too. The beach is nice, but being west coast the waves make it difficult to swim but you can hang out just inside the estuary where it's a little calmer. The wedding planner Argeri, (at the time was awesome) but we decided we didn't want to get married in front of the beach bums. And the wedding area on the beach is right infront of the snack bar. The dinner would have taken place inside the a la carte restaurant which is air conditioned and lovely. But...it is right beside the theatre. The kids show starts around 8:30pm so, noise could be a factor. Our group ended up being a bit large for this option and no other option was really available. So--> you have a few choices. Head down the beach to Cala Luna point and have a private ceremony at a beautiful part of the beach. It is about a 10 minute walk on the beach. There are no facilities here though but is absolutely perfect for sunset photos (if you have a good photographer!). Then you could return to the hotel to have your reception in the cool airconditioning. This would be preferred in hot months like February/March. Or you could stay at the hotel but have your entire wedding offsite at a place like Langosta Beach Club or like I did at a quaint little beach restaurant/hotel - La Laguna del Cocodrillo. Not much from the outside but the garden area was perfect. I loved my off resort wedding but we spent more then 2x's what it would cost at the Barcelo, and we used a private wedding planner which was a waste because I did most of the planning anyways - so I would suggest Day of Coordination only (if you plan on taking a planning trip - if not you will want a full coordination) The party at the Barcelo is over at 11:00pm I think and then would move to the Disco or Lobby bar. We thought this was an issue but really, it wouldn't have been because people were ready to leave the wedding anyways by 12 because the heat makes you exhausted. Our guests had an amazing experience but our wedding was not cookie cutter. The weddings at the resort are definitely more cookie cutter. We had some well traveled people with us, and we ourselves travel at least twice a year and would definitely pick this resort again for wedding or vacation. Sometimes, just because of the cost, I wish we had just done it at the Barcelo - but in the end happy about where I was married. As for a planner - I used Four Winds Weddings and wouldn't again. For who I would - not too sure, I've heard good and bad all over. Photographer - I used Costa Vida Photography. Instead I wish I had used http://www.wedding-costarica.com/ If there is anything else I can help with feel free to email me. Have fun and enjoy all a wedding in Costa Rica has to offer!!! Canadian brides, feel free to contact me for assistance in planner your wedding in Costa Rica as we will be spending extended time there in the future. I am a certified wedding planner in Ontario. Leslie

We didn't have many drinks but they were all good. As far as night life, not much. Coco Loco wasn't open when we were there but I think they have some entertainment in the evenings. There are a couple of bars too, in Flamingo - one at the Marina and one just a short walk from the hotel. It wasn't open though - maybe because of the time of year we were there as it wasn't prime season. It will be great no matter what!

Also - just to help a bit, at this resort you have the option of All Inclusive or Not All Inclusive. You could always book it so that your guests have that option. There is only the one restaurant and the all inclusive meals would get a little monotonous. We did enjoy every meal we ate at the restaurant though (every breakfast is included no matter what- buffet and a la carte). There are also a few restaurants within walking distance to the hotel although not inexpensive - again were delicious, namely Marie's & Angelina's. Every dinning experience in Costa Rica has been enjoyable - not a bad meal. There is a newer place right on the beach called Coco Loco that has beach volleyball, events, entertainment and a nice light menu. There is a Sushi Place just before entering into Flamingo on the main road. Also just before this there is a restaurant called Pura Vitali which feels like its in the middle of no where but has a really nice atmosphere. It was really quiet when we were there so the service was great and the food was really good and the cheapest meal we ate. There is also an Economy car rental across the road from the Flamingo in the plaza for those that want a car. It was very easy driving there. Some guests may find the hotel a little small but knowing that there are other options close by will reassure them. Hope that helps!

Hey there! Just wanted to direct you to a review I did of our wedding in Tamarindo this past March. We too stayed at the Barcelo Langosta and our entire group of 54 loved it. It was perfect for a group. There are a few vendor recommendations on my review. If you are still looking for a photographer, let me suggest this. You may want to contact a photographer in your area to see what it would cost to have them come. Some will do it just for the cost of the trip plus a little extra. This was the biggest disappointment for me of the entire wedding, and the one thing that needs to be absolutely perfect. If this isn't an option, I did like the look of Toh Goutenoirre. I would not recommend Costa Vida Photography or Four Winds Weddings & Events located in Playa Langosta. http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/79083/tamarindo-wedding-review If you would like more info please contact me. Congrats! Leslie

We didn't get married there but we did stay there for our planning trip. It was a bit small but very clean, compact and the beach was fantastic (big waves though). The swim up bar was quite good. The area for the wedding reception is facing the ocean and also overlooking the pool/entire resort. It is above the restaurant. It is open air with a thatched roof and really is quite nice. We saw several weddings there and it looked like a good space. Although it is not where we ended up having ours, I would be very happy with a wedding here. Good luck & have fun! That's the main thing! Leslie

Our reception was a BBQ. It was held at a restaurant in Tamarindo, La Laguna (del Cocodrillio). We had chicken, fish & shrimp, along with potatoes, fried beans, tortilla's, salsa, fried plantains with cheese and salad. They could have done beef as well. It was delicious. There are other locations but we found it more difficult to work with them to get what we wanted at a reasonable price. If you are having you wedding at a villa or private house, you could look at hiring a caterer. Saritas Bakery in Tamarindo did our cake / cupcakes and I know her significant other does catering and could do something like this, http://www.jaysprivatechefservices.com. There is also www.costaricacatering.com. I didn't use them but they did offer me a quote for a cake and they do all types of catering. Depending on how many guests you are using, I would also highly recommend Jason from the Garden Market Grill in Playa Grande - we took a group of 38 to his little garden restaurant and it was amazing. You can find them on Trip Advisor. Honestly, ever meal I have ate anywhere in Costa Rica was awesome! Good luck... Leslie

Hi - I can't think of any Adults only AI hotels in Costa Rica. If you are really opposed to the chance of having kids at the hotel, you might be better renting a Villa or 2, depending on the size of your group. As someone else mentioned in another post, Casa las Tortugas is quite nice in Playa Langosta. You might also want to search in Playa Grande as there are some beautiful villas there and it is a beautiful beach. Good luck! Leslie

So it worked - here goes... We traveled with a group of 55 people from Toronto, ON. I was the travel agent and booked with Sunquest Vacations, Thomas Cook. We chose to stay at the Barcelo Langosta in Playa Tamarindo. It is approximately 75 minutes from the airport. The price from Toronto was great, about $1200pp tax in All Inclusive. I chose this hotel because we knew there would be alot of drinkers so we definitely wanted AI but we also wanted something that was walking distance to a town. Tamarindo is alot of fun. Our group loved going surfing, ziplining, beach combing, and into the National Parks & estuaries to see the crocodiles. The Barcelo Langosta was perfect in every way for our group. As I am a travel agent and have traveled alot - I have pretty high expectations. The food was really good, for every meal and snacks. The snack bar served the best onion rings and chicken wings! The drinks were yummy and plentiful. The rooms were clean and spacious. All in all it was a perfect resort for our group. We had alot of first time travelers so it was nice that everything was included. The area is perfect for surfing, right in front of the hotel. The resort however, was not our first choice for our wedding because we wanted something more personal where we wouldn't be the middle of sunbathers saying our vows. We had our wedding at a small restaurant / hotel in Tamarindo called La Laguna Resto Bar / La Laguna del Cocodrillo. It was about 5 minutes drive from our hotel. The garden setting looks out over Tamarindo beach but is set back in an estuary so it is more private. It was important for me to be able to Skype our wedding back to my father who is ill. We wouldn't be able to do this out on the beach so we chose to do it in their sandy garden area which was lined with fuschia bouganvillias. My colours were fuschia and lime so it was perfect! My dad got to see it with the restaurants free WIFI. We dined by candle light under the palm trees and stars, with beautiful lighting surrounding us. It was very tropical. The food we chose was a Costa Rican BBQ and it was very good. A plated meal was also an option. The did an open bar for us and the prices were reasonable. The meal & bar for 4 hours was somewhere around $75 pp (plus tax/gratuity). The staff at La Laguna were excellent and I would highly recommend it. Alicia Repetto is the owner/coordinator and she was easy to work with. I had hired Four Winds Weddings and I wish I had not. There may have been other planners in the area that would have been worth it but in my opion, they weren't. For hair & makeup I used Maravilla Weddings - [email protected] For cake/cupcakes I used Sarita's Bakery - [email protected] For transportation I used a private company - [email protected] I would not recommend my photographer so I won't provide his contacts. The venue was not incredibly fancy, it was actually quite rustic. It created a perfect, tropical experience for us though, exactly what we wanted to represent us. If you would like more specifics, please let me know - I'd be more than happy to help. The best way would be to email me directly at [email protected] Best of luck with all your wedding plans!!! It will be beautiful no matter what you decide.... Leslie

Hi everyone, I browsed this site alot when I was planning our wedding so I wanted to post some info to help everyone else out. This is my test to make sure the post works before I write it all and it won't load! Leslie

I'm staying at the Barcelo Langosta - we leave in a week. Our wedding is going to be at a little beachfront restaurant at the Tamarindo Estuary called La Laguna. I will let you know what I think of it when we return. The planning process has not been easy and we are using a local wedding coordinator. I am totally having a bit of regret in not just keeping it more simple and doing it right at the Barcelo. The wedding planner at Barcelo - Argerie, is great! I think she would pull off a great wedding and you wouldn't feel like you were being overcharged for everything. The reason I decided to go off of the resort was because the restaurant where you hold your reception is right beside the theatre. The show starts at 8:30 and we were told it would likely interfere with our dinner - the noise. However, we are likely spending $4000-$5000 more than what we anticipated. So.... my advice is to be really sure what is important to you and stick with it. It's easy to get swept into all of the details and before you know it you are in over your head! I'll share my full reviews soon! Leslie

I leave in one week for my wedding in Costa Rica. I researched quite a few venues and will provide a full report in a couple of weeks. We are doing a beach wedding in Tamarindo but did look at other alternatives but found it complicated because our group was over 50. So size does matter. One area that I've seen some photos of that has a really dramatic backdrop is near Arenal Volcanoe with the volcanoe in the background. Amazing. I'll let you know more soon! Leslie

No matter who you choose for a wedding planner here are a few tips & reminders. -verify what the wedding coordinator will actually 'do' and what she would expect you to do -very carefully read the contract, even if you have read it several times, and have to make a change. They can always add or omit something without you realizing it -you might wish to clarify upfront what additional expenses are not included in the package you have choosen -always ask for references and speak to these references -it may not be in your best interest to let one person or company be ultimately responsible for the most important elements of your wedding. For example, some full coordination packages include photographer, officiant, flowers, decor, etc. If this person is unreliable, you are entrusting a large portion of your event to them. -go with your gut! Your initial instincts are often the most accurate. If you don't get a good feeling right away, think twice before signing You want to hire someone who truly is working for the right reasons, not just because they are trying to make a quick and easy buck.

Hey fellow CR brides - We are getting married in Costa Rica March 21,2012. We still do not have the location booked! We are staying at the Barcelo Langosta with 50 friends and family. We can't decide where to hold the wedding. Cost is a big factor for us. To have the wedding reception at the AI would save us about $4000 for the cost of food & alcohol but it is a closed, air conditioned restaurant which is located above the amphitheater. It apparently get's pretty loud when the show starts at 8:30pm. It's not really what we wanted, as we wanted outdoors, tropical etc. We are going offsite for the ceremony and there are several nearby places we could have the dinner/party but we just can't decide. Anyone who has suggestions or comments - I'd love to hear from you! We need to decide really soon!

WOW!!! I'm so sorry that you had such a bad experience with Tropical Occasions. I'm so happy I am not working with, but it still makes me worry that my coordinator will do the same. I work in the wedding industry in Ontario and it's people like this that make it so hard for the true professionals.... I'm happy that you were able to make the best of it! I'm sure your day was amazing despite them!

Cala Luna is open now. I believe they re-opened in October 2011. I was just in Tamarindo a couple weeks ago and we did a walk through of Cala Luna. It looks like a lovely boutique hotel. We did not look at the rooms, and only looked at pool area & main reception. Plus we walked down to the beach. But yes - they are open!

I am using Kirsten from Four Winds Weddings. Our wedding is in March 2012 and I really have just started to process. I work as a wedding planner here at home but I really just needed to know I had someone working with me there who had some better contacts and on the ground access to things. I chose her because she lives in Langosta and that is where we are staying. So far she has been reliable in responding to my emails and we were able to meet her in person a few weeks ago when we went down for a holiday & planning trip. She was nice and I feel that she is confident in her abilities to assist us. From any photos/examples I have seen of her work - her florals are exceptional which is her area of expertise. You will feel some relief as soon as you hire someone.... I would consider location. Where is your wedding and where is the planner located? You don't want to have to pay travel fees.... Good luck!

Sorry that post was directed at kristinalily. I'm still trying to get the hang of this!

Just a suggestion for your smaller size group - why don't you get a live Mariachi band for the cocktail hour and then for after dinner instead of a DJ create a great playlist on your ipod and ask the wedding planner to hook it up to a speaker system if they have one. If not, bring a docking station (speaker) with you, some of them have great sound quality and then you will have for the rest of your trip and at home too! (if you don't already have one!) Good luck! I was hoping for a smaller wedding group but have now hit 52! Yikes

Everything looks amazing! Great colour choices.... congrats!

Thanks for the tips!

I too am considering CR and trying to narrow down a location for my group. Does anyone know if there are any venues for a ceremony in the tamarindo or Guanacaste areas that could provide a live wedding webcast?

Hi - I'm unable to start a new thread. I've tried on several days and in different threads. I am using IE8 and also tried Firefox (not the newest version). I cleared cookies, browsing history and turned off pop-up blocker and I don't use a smart toolbar or other things mentioned. Message is No Data Found several threads but most recently :http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/list/22/just-venting-or-funnies Would like to post for sure....hope you can fix it for me!