sarahmL3994KI
Google
I am a yoga instructor who hosted a retreat here. I couldn't have asked for a better experience, especially seeing as this was my first time hosting a yoga event overseas from the U.S. We stayed for 5 days and 4 nights. My main contact was Angelina - she was an angel. She helped me every step of the way leading up to and during my retreat. She was extremely accommodating to my needs and gave great suggestions. ||Upon arrival, everything was perfect. It's truly even MORE beautiful than in the pictures! All of our rooms were lovely - I know some reviews talk about spotty wifi or "outdated" room decorations, but all of my guests and myself felt each room was comfortable and bright. The hammocks on each balcony are a huge plus - great to take a cat nap on if you are tired from the sun. Beds were comfortable, too, and all of our rooms had a ceiling fan and A/C.||All of the staff were once again super accommodating. Although there were some language barriers occasionally, they did all they could to address any of our concerns, including food modifications for dishes. The dinner menu changed each night which was a nice touch. Breakfast includes a buffet as well as items from the menu, so you can have hot coffee with some cereal and a small pastry while also enjoying a made to order omelette. ||Angelina helped us greatly with our excursions. We all went to Playa Rincon by boat - highly recommended! It's a wild, fun ride against the choppy waves, and it only takes 10-15 minutes to get there. Some of us also decided to horseback ride down to Playa Madama with a small walk on foot along the cliffside - this was an amazing excursion. Just ask Angelina about Karin's La Hacienda Hostel. ||Also recommend checking out La Playita. It's a little beach just a 10-minute walk from the hotel. It's beautiful and they have some great food - just go to the white tent to grab some shrimp, calamari, and freshly made french fries! You could make this an afternoon since it costs nothing to go there. Just bring a beach towel from reception as well as an umbrella (looks like a golf umbrella) since there are none to rent at this beach. ||Overall, I would recommend this place not only if you are a vacationer but also as a yoga instructor looking to book a venue. You could not ask for a place that embodies paradise - it's very private and serene with no crowds or loud music, you will have the beautiful outdoor yoga shala all to yourself, and you will make amazing memories with your guests. Thank you, Hotel y Restaurant Villa Serena for making my 1st international yoga retreat so special!