As destination wedding planners, we’re often invited on familiarization trips (FAMs) – property-sponsored visits where we’re shown the best of a resort’s accommodations, dining, spa, and event spaces. These trips are invaluable. They help us understand a venue’s capacity, logistics, and offerings so we can better advise our clients.

But this isn’t one of those posts.

This was my own personal vacation. I spent six nights at Nekajui purely as a guest – booked, paid for, and experienced just as any of my couples or their guests would. That distinction matters, because what follows isn’t a curated showcase. It’s a firsthand account of how the property feels when no one is trying to impress you – only to take care of you.

A little side note: I’m always searching for properties that deliver a true luxury experience while staying firmly grounded in ease and comfort. We’ve all been to, or are at least aware of, those destinations that are more about being seen – trendy hotspots that attract influencers and celebrities for their name recognition rather than their substance. Those aren’t the places I’m drawn to. I look instead for experiences that stand on their own, without relying on pretenses. Sometimes it’s a “you know it when you see it” kind of distinction.

All images credited from the Nekajui website

Why I Booked Here

This wasn’t my first time at a Ritz-Carlton Reserve property. I had experienced another one previously and was struck by how different it felt from traditional luxury resorts – more personal, more grounded, and more about ease than performance. So when I learned that a brand-new Reserve had just opened in Costa Rica in March 2025, I was curious to see how it compared.

Costa Rica itself was also new to me. The appeal was both the destination and the ease of getting there. From the U.S., reaching Nekajui was no more difficult than reaching Riviera Maya or Tulum resorts by way of Cancun. The travel was straightforward, and aside from the fact that Costa Rica doesn’t observe daylight savings (meaning I technically shifted one time zone), it felt effortless.

It was exactly the kind of combination I look for: a trusted brand with a reputation for doing luxury differently, paired with a destination that’s accessible but not overdone.

Why Nekajui Fits My Philosophy of Luxury

From the moment I arrived, I knew this property was different. There was no performative luxury, no stiff choreography. Instead, every detail felt rooted in ease and sincerity – qualities I always look for when I evaluate destinations.

It reminded me of a phrase we hear in storytelling: “don’t tell me, show me.” Nekajui never once told me I was in a luxurious place – it simply showed me.

• Arrival & Welcome – More like being invited into someone’s home than being checked into a resort. That natural warmth is what makes guests feel instantly comfortable.
  
• Dining – Elevated but never showy. Meals flowed as part of the day, which is the same seamless integration that makes a wedding weekend memorable.
  
• Accommodations – Thoughtful, restorative, and private. Not about flash, but about creating the kind of comfort guests talk about long after they leave.
  
• Wellness & Leisure – Every option was available, but nothing was forced. Guests could take part in as much – or as little – as they wanted, which is exactly the kind of balance I want to see in any destination property.
  
• Distinctive Scenery – Probably the base level request in any destination wedding location is beautiful scenery, but truly no view at Nekajui wasn’t gorgeous.

A Note on Guest Experience

One thing couples often wrestle with is wanting an elevated wedding experience without creating a dynamic where some of their guests feel out of place – or priced out – by an ultra-exclusive resort. That’s where properties like Nekajui matter.

Even though it’s firmly in the luxury space, it carries an ease that makes it approachable. Guests who may not typically vacation at a five-star resort would still feel comfortable here. They wouldn’t feel like outsiders in a space that was designed only for the few – they’d feel included in a celebration that was both extraordinary and welcoming.

That balance is powerful. It shows couples they don’t have to choose between luxury and comfort for their guests – they can offer both.

The Bigger Picture

Experiences like this are what I’m always chasing for our couples. The kind of luxury that doesn’t rely on being trendy or seen, but instead quietly delivers something unforgettable.And the fact that I experienced it on my personal vacation – not as part of a curated planner trip – made that clarity even sharper. Nekajui reminded me that true luxury is unpretentious – it doesn’t need to shout, it just needs to create ease. And when couples ask what sets a destination apart, it’s that ability to show rather than tell that makes the difference.

Final Thoughts

Elevated experiences don’t need to be loud to make an impression. The best properties – and the best events – carry a quiet confidence that leaves space for guests to truly relax and for the love stories being told to breathe a life of their own. Nekajui embodied that distinction beautifully, and for me, it set a high bar for what thoughtful, experience-driven luxury looks like right now. In the end, it lived out the same truth that applies to the best stories: don’t tell me, show me. And Nekajui did exactly that.