Hotel El Bramadero

After JetBlue cancelled my flight at Liberia, I needed somewhere nearby for the night. Hotel Bradero worked perfectly for a quick stop: the beds were comfortable, the rooms were affordable, and the restaurant food was delicious.

The hotel has a fun layout, with antiques in the breezeway and lots of outdoor spots to sit and relax. It’s a few blocks from the bus station, with restaurants, a grocery store, shops, and a park close by. The road next to it gets fairly busy, so light sleepers may want earplugs. A few towel hooks would help, but that was my only suggestion. Our room was very clean and had the amenities listed. The staff were kind and friendly about our limited Spanish, and seemed pleased we tried. Breakfast was fresh, tasty, and filling, with excellent service. The pool floor could have used a scrub, though we weren’t planning to swim, so it didn’t bother us. We’d gladly stay again next time we’re in the area.

Housekeeping was the one bright spot at Hotel El Bramadero. The rooms were clean, and after our first day the beds had been made, used towels replaced, and bathroom sanitized. I saw the housekeeper mopping the floors around the pool all afternoon, and left her a generous tip for doing such a great job. I traveled around Costa Rica for eight days with an EF Educational Tours group of 20 high school students and four adults. We stayed in budget lodging in San Jose, Sarapiqui, La Fortuna, and Liberia, and this was the worst of the four hotels. The meals provided for breakfast and dinner weren’t good. The meat tasted old or like leftovers, and fries came with every meal. I would have preferred more authentic Costa Rican food. Most of the adults and teens ended up eating at the McDonald's next door. Fresh fruit was the only thing I enjoyed. We also had several room-key problems. Sometimes the key wouldn’t work, and it took multiple tries to get the lock engaged. On our first day, a staff member warned us not to leave things by the pool because “strangers” who weren’t guests had stolen from guests before. A public bathroom beside the pool lets anyone walk into the pool courtyard. There was also crumbling concrete along about four feet of the pool, with rebar exposed, which seemed like a real hazard for people using it. The plumbing was poor, with the shower and toilet draining slowly. We followed the no-toilet-paper rule at all four hotels, but only had plumbing trouble here. The beds were large but uncomfortable, and the pillows were very thin. I can’t recommend Hotel El Bramadero. I tried to find another redeeming quality, but the excellent housekeeper was the only positive.

Breakfast comes with the room and was delicious. The hotel is centrally located in Liberia, with friendly, helpful staff, and my room was clean with good A/C. There’s secure parking behind the hotel. Just ask at the front desk if you need to use it.