Paradise Hot Springs

The room was clean and really nice, with a big luxury bathroom and good temperature control. We also enjoyed the hot spring pools, which had several different temperatures, and the staff were pleasant. Breakfast being included was a plus, and the coffee was awesome. The other food wasn't great, though, and prices were high. Mixed drinks were especially pricey, $12 for a two-shot piña colada. At $8, I think people would buy more and the place would still profit. It was a nice stay for my first trip to Costa Rica, but I'd try somewhere else if I came back.

The thermal pools were nice, and the food was very good, but I wasn't happy with the room. It was spacious and had a volcano view on paper, though trees blocked the volcano. There were only beds and no comfortable chairs, so nowhere to sit, and the floor felt cold without a rug. For $400 a night, there should be better options in the area.

The hot springs were enjoyable, though busy in the afternoon. The hotel guest pool has a great view but is noticeably cooler than the others. At its terrace bar, the four pork tacos were very good and could make a light lunch or dinner for about what two casado meals cost at a soda. Breakfast was an okay, typical American-Costa Rican spread. We looked at the dinner buffet briefly and left: it had less choice than a hometown buffet and seemed outrageously expensive for what was being served. My two-star rating is about the price. Tourists are dropped off here for excursions, and the motel 6 towels in the bathroom and ratty hot spring towels don't feel in keeping with the cost. With a great off-season rate, it might be worth it. Our deluxe suite had a king bed and a luxury bathroom, but the ground-floor sleeping area was dark and dingy, with a view of stairs and people walking past. When the springs were open, the rooms were noisy, then things quieted down. We could clearly hear people banging the metal railings by the front of the units, maybe children or intoxicated adults going up and down the upper stairs. Getting out of bed at night would probably wake your partner. The wooden bed frames rattled badly and need tightening. We could even hear the rabbits mating in the room above. The bathroom was lovely and bright with natural light, a sharp contrast to the consistently dark bedroom, but the toilet door and bathroom entrance were awkwardly close together, leaving plenty of wasted space. The bedroom furniture was dark too. Its window faced pedestrian traffic at eye level, so the shades stayed shut. The website photos are deceiving. If I stayed again, I'd book the cheapest room or the level just above deluxe. Rooms at the back of the complex might be quieter and have less foot traffic.

BUYER BEWARE Our stay at Paradise Hot Springs began well, but the billing policy was “sign and pay at departure,” and we preferred to pay as we went. We ate at the one restaurant each evening and paid after every meal. On the first night, a credit card machine issue led to three identical charges. My wife caught them when our card company flagged the transactions. We told the front desk right away. They said a manager would review it, and we carried on assuming it would be resolved. Before leaving, we followed up while settling the spa bill. The manager wouldn't be in until 10 a.m., but we were leaving at 7 a.m. We were again told they'd look into it and credit any discrepancy later. A few days after we got home, the hotel messaged to say we'd only been charged once and told us to contact our credit card company. The provider confirmed there had been three payments. We disputed them and won. Future guests should check their bills carefully before leaving. There were some real positives. The staff around the property were friendly, the grounds were beautiful and well kept, and the hot springs were very clean. The spa was great and professional, and the volcano view was spectacular. Our room was clean and nice, though there was a privacy issue: in our ground-floor room, the shower and toilet had small, high windows. One morning I noticed an employee sweeping outside them and we briefly made eye contact. It felt uncomfortable. The main hot spring pool was excellent at 96°F. There were also smaller pools that looked like Jacuzzi tubs and fit about four people, but day-pass visitors often occupied them for a long time, making it hard for hotel guests to use them. I understand all guests can use the facilities, but it was frustrating at times. The hotel also sold day passes to outside visitors, and even as hotel guests we struggled to find chairs and umbrellas. The VIP area was meant for guests, but it was small and the access rules were rarely enforced. People left the keycard gate open, so visitors could come in despite the signs. Many paying guests avoided the main resort areas because there wasn't much privacy or control. One staff member had to bartend, serve and watch the area all at once, which led to uncomfortable moments when drinking day-pass visitors came in unchecked. The food was fantastic when ordered from the menu. I'd recommend the Sea Bass, 3 Pepper steak, tuna tartar appetizer, and the tuna poke bowl in the VIP section. The all-you-can-eat buffet seemed aimed mostly at day-pass visitors, and its quality was below expectations, more like a budget meal than something at a five-star resort. Drinks could be great, but weren't consistent. Management should have Jimmy in the VIP train the staff so things are done the same way. You're supposed to be a 5 star resort. We'd really looked forward to this trip, but it didn't fully meet our expectations. I hope management considers the feedback and makes some improvements.