Barceló Tambor - All Inclusive

From the UK stayed 10 nights with 2 boys aged 11 and 9. It is clearly not a 5 star hotel but then we paid 3 star prices so that was expected. The maintenance and cleaning staff work hard to make the place look good but I feel there are some areas being overlooked such as the sunbeds. The grounds were beautiful and probably up to that of a 5-star hotel. The food and service was the standard I expected for the price we paid - we enjoyed all our meals despite a few slight issues. The steak restaurant was really good but the booking system for the a la carte's needs looking at as you need to queue for about an hour before 8am to book a table. We did find our room to be dirty on arrival with a coconut shell and apple core under the beds but superficially clean. Yes the rooms are run down and need refurbishing but I think this is reflected in the price. We would be nice to have a family room option with bunk beds instead of two doubles. The facilities were pretty good including tennis, football, lovely pool, gym, bird sanctuary, archery. But it was disappointing kids could not use kayaks with an adult. Our children couldn’t engage with the kids club as all in Spanish, which we don't speak. The beach was better than we were expecting - lovely for a nice walk around the cove. It's a shame they haven't cleared some or all of the stones, which looked like it could be done without harming the environment / erosion protection. Some members of staff were really lovely - sorry I don’t have names but the chef and main barmaid in the snack bar were both excellent as was the ‘beer’ man in the buffet. However as non- Spanish speakers we struggled to engage with the animation team. The hotel is 99 percent Spanish speaking guests. Everything was in Spanish only and this was a surprise as everywhere else in Costa Rica everyone we encountered spoke good English. I think Barcelo should make this clear when marketing the hotel internationally. Also the place was completely different during the quieter midweek compared to when hoards arrived for the weekend! It did make a lovely restful end to our Costa Rican adventure.

Grounds and pool area were beautiful and well kept. Rooms were the worst we have ever stayed in. Dirty, bugs such as cockroaches, spiders, and ants in our rooms. Hair on the sheets and pillowcases, rust and mold in the bathroom, leaky pipes, stains on the walls, curtains, and a general feeling of neglect and disrepair. Our complaints to staff took multiple attempts as well as our tour guide advocating on out behalf before they moved us to another "better" room which was only mildly cleaner and still had the same above host of issues. The all inclusive food including the free drinks were plentiful but not great. It is a shame because the outdoor setting is very beautiful as it is right on the ocean, and they have a lot of activities going on throughout the day. It advertises as a 5 star resort. Nothing about the rooms gives you a resort feel. We stayed there as part of a Caravan Tour for three long nights. It really negatively affected our feelings about the tour as a whole, which was unfortunate.

The resort is well laid out, beach was quiet and relaxing. Food was decent with lots of variety. Be prepared for a long car ride from Liberia Airport. Very few staff speak or understand English. All the entertainment was in Spanish. Housekeeping did a great job. Caroline at the pool bar made the best drinks. The night time bar focused their service on the locals staying the resort.

The employees do their best to make it a great experience, but the building, the hotel itself it's old and in need of a renovation. Don't believe that of 5 star hotel. Dirty bathrooms, stain grouts, damaged walls, etc. really sad this hotel could be nice but it's owners haven't invest in keep it up. The hotel is full, always at full capacity. They should invest in maintenance. Looks like a 80s hotel, or a roadside Motel 8.

I been here before and it’s nothing to what it has become. Was there in July of 2025 had a horrible experience with my family which we were a total of 18 people.

Room wasnt cleaned by staff. Room phone doesn't work, so the only way to get help is going to the reception. Facilities are outdated and food quality is low. For dinner, the hotel offers 4 restaurant choices, but its impossible to book unless you wait in line at 630 am. So we were stuck going to el tucan every night, which felt like a canteed more than a hotel restaurant.