Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique

"First, it's a beautiful property. Exquisitely built and designed. Second, the staff are very nice to a person. BUT... the service is the worse I've experience in a 5, 4 or even a 3 star hotel. You have to go through Guest Services for most requests. They often don't answer the phone. When they say they will get back to you, they never do. Same for the Concierge. I emailed them on Tuesday about boat tours for Thursday and Friday, they call me back Friday afternoon! This was not a one time thing. It happened repeatedly. It became a running joke. Guest Services or Concierge would say they would call us back and we'd laugh. I guess you could go in person, but I didn't even know there was an in person concierge office until Friday! It's not in the lobby, Reception never told us, Guest Services never told us, and Concierge never told us. Someone mentioned that the bathrooms were next to the Concierge office. Oh, and the Concierge never answers the phone either. That's how we found out! At the restaurants and pools, the staff routinely never ask guests if they need anything, rarely scan the area to see if anyone needs anything, you usually have to wave your hand and yell, excuse me! in the restaurants, same thing. Waiters don't check on you, tables aren't bussed. (La Finca is an exception and was up to 5 star level, so was Peacock Alley). And then there's the pool set up... OMG. Beautiful space. Tons of different pools. All beautiful views. But 90% of the loungers have no shade. It can get pretty hot there. It was in the mid-90s the whole time we were there. They have about one permanent daybed w/ canopy set up per area, and then a 2-3 umbrellas (which they often close due to wind). So guess what people do? They get up at 5am to reserve the best loungers, and keep them all day whether they don't start using them until 12, or sometimes not at all. It's this crazy, eery mad dash. Like an easter egg hunt or something. And it generates a ton of animosity among guests. We didn't do it and never got shaded seating until someone would leave, then we'd run. Making hanging out by the pool fairly unbearable. And it's not really a big resort, so there's not really a lot of options but pool or beach (and the beach is sort of the same thing). So, long story, we will not be going back. It was not a cheap 5 star. I'm not sure how they have a 5 star rating other than it has the Waldorf name and it's beautiful. This is clearly a training and inadequate staffing issue, and a failure to figure out the pool issue, which is a pretty big deal at a beachside resort whose big selling point is ten pools. What saved it for us was an amazing upgrade, but had that not happened we would have been terribly upset about paying high season rates for the room we booked."

Suitree Experience Hotel

"The hotel is just as beautiful as the photos. It's very unique, with excellent facilities and amenities. The kids loved it. Highly recommended! I recommend the meal package, which is more economical than ordering à la carte at the restaurant (since this is a rustic luxury hotel, dining out is inconvenient, so I recommend eating at the hotel). The restaurant is excellent and reasonably priced. The meal package is a three-course meal (appetizer, main course, and dessert). Afterward, you'll receive a bill with prices (but not included with the meal package). Drinks are charged separately, and tips are added to the bill. There are five or six main courses, all well-presented and generously portioned. The service is friendly, and I especially recommend the local beer. The lookout at the top is fantastic; watching the sunset and the stars is a delight. The pool is nestled in the mountains, so there are fallen leaves. It's cleaned during the day (but don't expect it to be as clean as an indoor pool), but it's still a lovely, rustic experience. I'd planned to swim in the evening, but I wasn't expecting to see a lot of frogs swimming around. Although I didn't get to swim, it was still fun. You can call a golf car to pick you up from your room to the restaurant, which is very convenient and available on demand. The room was well-equipped, especially the telescope, which was fantastic. The hotel also offers various paid excursions around the area, which can be booked in advance. Since the purpose of staying at Wild Luxury is to relax in nature, staying at the hotel wasn't boring."

CC Beach Front Papagayo All Inclusive

"It's not all-inclusive! It only includes breakfast and dinner! Be careful!"

Nacazcol Hotel y Villas

"We stayed here for one night as a last minute booking because our flight out of Liberia was cancelled and we needed a place for a family of five to stay. I regretted it the minute we arrived. The staff were not welcoming to us. The villa was not clean (our socks were dirty after walking on the floors and there were cockroaches in the kitchen). The bathrooms were in need of major updates. Car alarms went off four separate times that night waking us all up. We left as soon as we could the next morning. I'm confused by some of the decent reviews -- just am not seeing it in the actual amenities or the staff."

Glamping Tortuga Verde

Siwõ Art Guesthouse

"The B&B is clean, well-kept, and the staff is friendly, which I appreciated. The location is about a 6-minute walk to the beach, which is great. However, there is nothing else nearby. To get coffee, food, or essentials, you need to either drive 8–10 minutes to the next town or walk 35–40 minutes through hills. One disappointment was the breakfast policy. Breakfast was not offered to us because it was only included for guests who booked months in advance. I offered to pay an additional fee for breakfast, but that option was not available. I was told they needed to make sure there was enough food for other guests. While I understand planning limitations, it was surprising that basic items like coffee, tea, or water were not available to all guests. As someone who works in aviation and has traveled extensively worldwide, these are typically standard offerings. Especially at a bed and breakfast and in a country known for its coffee. Not all rooms have TVs, which was not an issue for us since we mainly returned to sleep. However, dogs barking at night made it difficult to rest, which affected the overall comfort. In summary, the stay was pleasant due to cleanliness, friendly staff, and proximity to the beach, but clearer breakfast policies, access to basic amenities would significantly improve the guest experience."