Hotel Mountain Paradise

After a busy day out exploring, the warm pools were just right for relaxing, with beautiful views and wildlife all around. We had a lovely time at Mountain Paradise Hotel. The swim-up bar food was incredible, and the staff were so kind and friendly.

The property is beautiful, full of all kinds of wildlife, and the rooms are clean and distinctive. We loved the swim-up bar and the easy access to the surrounding area. Just don't expect many restaurant choices if you aren't into seafood. The one steak we ordered medium-rare came out cold and blue, which cost the hotel a star, though it was a minor issue overall.

The breakfast service was what ultimately made me leave. The food itself was basic and underwhelming, but the way I was treated was much worse. After choosing not to continue breakfast, I went to complain and then decided to leave the hotel. It affected my mood for the whole day. I hope management takes this seriously and improves staff training and service. Security and reception staff were polite and professional, which I appreciated. The breakfast area was large, with no staff at the entrance to guide guests. Many tables looked recently vacated and hadn't been cleared, so I sat at one with clean plates and cutlery visible. Only later did I realize it might have been set for a larger group. Nobody had indicated that or directed me elsewhere. When I asked a staff member about coffee, he looked annoyed and complained about my choice of table. I calmly said I hadn't noticed and immediately moved. His manner didn't improve. When I asked about coffee again, he was rude, and when I asked whether he was complaining about me, he said yes. At one point he reached across my seating area to serve juice to other guests, which felt disrespectful and uncomfortable. As a paying guest, I don't expect this treatment at a hotel that presents itself as four-star. I'm a frequent international traveler who regularly stays in hotels and shares travel reviews, and this was one of the most uncomfortable service experiences I've had. I understand the hotel promotes a nature-integrated experience, and I didn't even complain about things like ants in the room. But poor service isn't acceptable at any standard.

We had a good base for La Fortuna and Arenal, with beautiful grounds that were worth walking around on their own. The resort is tucked away from the busier part of La Fortuna, and the setting was stunning. Usually you'd have a view of Arenal Volcano, but fog covered it during our visit. Our room was spacious, clean, and still quite nice despite looking a bit dated. It had three beds, including a king, and a cool bathroom with two showers: a regular one and a waterfall-style shower flowing from a rock formation. There was also a private tub on the outdoor patio. The included breakfast buffet was great, and the on-site restaurant had some good room-service options at night. Be prepared to be cut off from everything. The WiFi didn't reach our room, cell service didn't work out there, and our TV was broken. It did give us a chance to unplug.