What “Concierge & Trip Planning” Actually Covers

So, what does a concierge actually do? Check out our guide below!

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Common Concierge Questions

  • Concierge support becomes dramatically more valuable when:

    • you’re traveling with kids or multiple households

    • you have 20 or more people and arrivals are staggered

    • you want private dining, boats, or celebration events

    • you’re coordinating the trip through a travel advisor

    Villa Alberti is often used by larger groups (it sleeps up to 21 in beds), so the concierge layer is not “nice to have”, it’s what keeps a big week calm.

  • A true villa concierge should help you shape a realistic itinerary for your group, usually a few anchor experiences plus flexible downtime. In Las Catalinas, this often includes trails, beach time, and add-on excursions coordinated around your group’s rhythm.

  • It typically means a point of contact who can adjust reservations, coordinate vendors, handle restocks, and resolve issues quickly. If the home has on-site staff, support is usually faster and more seamless.

  • In a concierge-style villa stay, transfers are typically arranged in advance through trusted drivers sized to your group and luggage. Confirm whether transfers are included or billed separately, and how flight delays are handled.

What makes a good concierge?

Before you book a villa stay, most “concierge” questions are really logistics questions: Who picks us up? Will groceries be in the house? Can someone build an itinerary that fits our group? What happens if something changes mid-stay? The trade-off is that villas offer more control and privacy than hotels, but the experience depends on how clearly logistics are planned and supported.

Airport: private transfers coordinated from LIR (about 1 hour drive) 

Groceries: pre-stocking available; essentials like water/coffee/tea are standard at Villa Alberti 

Planning: itinerary guidance + reservations coordination

During stay: on-call support; on-site team support at Villa Alberti

What guests mean by “concierge” at a villa

In a resort, the concierge is often a desk and a phone number. In a private villa, concierge support is typically more operational:

  • Pre-arrival planning (transport, groceries, reservations, experiences)

  • Coordinating third-party providers (drivers, boats, guides, childcare referrals if available)

  • On-stay adjustments (timing changes, extra shopping, weather pivots)

The goal is to reduce friction so your group can arrive and immediately settle into the stay.

Airport transfers from LIR (Liberia): how it usually works

For most Las Catalinas guests, LIR (Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport in Liberia) is the most convenient airport.

What to expect from a well-run transfer setup

A villa concierge plan typically includes:

  • Pre-arranged private vehicles sized to your group and luggage

  • Coordinated arrival timing (including late arrivals)

  • Optional stop requests (pharmacy, quick groceries, SIM cards) if desired

  • Clear pickup instructions (driver name, contact method, where to meet)

What to clarify before you book

To avoid last-minute confusion, guests should know:

  • Is the transfer arranged for you or simply recommended?

  • Are transfers included in the stay or billed separately?

  • How many vehicles are needed for your group size?

  • What happens if the flight is delayed?

For large groups, the most important detail is vehicle planning. A concierge who asks about luggage, surfboards, car seats, and arrival waves is doing the job properly.

Itinerary building: what concierge planning should include

In Las Catalinas, many guests don’t need a packed itinerary. They need a well-designed rhythm with a few anchor experiences.

What makes villa itinerary planning different from resort planning

Villa planning should be:

  • Group-aware: naps, grandparents, teens, mixed appetites

  • Logistics-aware: drive time, pickup windows, weather dependencies

  • Privacy-aware: experiences that don’t feel like tourist cattle calls (when possible)

The best concierge experience feels like someone has done this exact week before.

On-call support during the stay: what “support” really means

Guests often ask, “If something comes up, who do we call?” That’s the right question.

What on-call support usually covers

  • Adjusting reservations and pickup times

  • Adding a grocery run or restock

  • Coordinating last-minute experiences (subject to availability)

  • Handling minor issues quickly (repairs, troubleshooting, vendor coordination)

How staffing changes the experience

When a home has an on-site team, issues get solved faster and the guest experience is smoother.

That doesn’t mean “no problems ever happen.” It means guests aren’t stuck figuring out solutions alone.


When concierge-style trip planning matters most

Concierge support becomes dramatically more valuable when:

  • you’re traveling with kids or multiple households

  • you have 20+ people and arrivals are staggered

  • you want private dining, boats, or celebration events

  • you’re coordinating the trip through a travel advisor

Villa Alberti is often used by larger groups (it sleeps up to 21 in beds), so the concierge layer is not “nice to have”—it’s what keeps a big week calm.

Virtual Tour of Villa Alberti in Costa Rica