When world traveler Susan Money chooses where to stay on vacation, she prefers smaller family-run hotels. Not as small as a B&B, but preferably not a corporate establishment.
“I feel taken care of at a well-run corporate hotel or resort, but I like the friendships you create at smaller family-run hotels,” said Money. “This is especially important to me because I travel alone a lot.”
Money is a hotel owner herself, in Costa Rica. She runs her fabulous beachfront hotel on Santa Teresa Beach – Pranamar Oceanfront Villas & Yoga Retreat – with the same travel philosophy.
“The Pranamar experience is a unique one. Rather than the typical corporate model, we work under the family model,” explained Money, who runs the hotel with her husband, Greg, and daughter, Nancy. “Our staff works together like family. They work seamlessly together.”
The concept does not go unnoticed by Pranamar Villas’ guests.
A guest at Pranamar in January 2015 commented on TripAdvisor: “Loved that this place is a family run, quaint/cozy accommodation and not a packed resort. Just a great vibe about it from the time you come in.”
Money says the biggest difference between a family-run hotel and a corporate resort is that guests are able to interact more with each other and staff. People greet each other by name around the Costa Rica beach hotel, and even staff work shirts are embroidered with “Pranamar Family”. This leads to better customer service and even staff longevity; one staff member has worked with Money for 27 years.
“Guests have their privacy, but definitely people form friendships here and feel they belong here like home,” said Money, who gives out her personal email to guests so they can contact her about anything. “We get so many return guests and referrals from guests that I see it makes a difference.”
A guest who visited the hotel in January for a Costa Rica yoga retreat summed it up on TripAdvisor: “I travel frequently for work and often help support events. I have been blessed with good service but rarely with the truly exceptional service that was offered by the team at Pranamar. They operate seamlessly – hardly needing to speak to each other to provide outstanding restaurant, housekeeping and front desk service ... they are incredibly friendly and accommodating -- I've never been greeted so often or with such genuine warmth and concern for my comfort -- anywhere. The team goes above and beyond.”
On award-winning Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica, on the southern Nicoya Peninsula, Pranamar Oceanfront Villas specializes in Costa Rica yoga retreats and Costa Rica surfing vacations, with daily yoga classes for hotel guests and the public.
Article by Shannon Farley
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