Paraíso Orocay Lodge

We can't recommend this hotel or see ourselves coming back. The poor service and staff communication were astonishing, and this is simply our honest account, not an attempt to be malicious. A couple of weeks ago, we held our wedding nearby and had reserved all 16 rooms, booking about five months ahead for our 37 guests. We thought we'd arranged a small gathering after the wedding: snacks from the restaurant kitchen until midnight and fire pits ready when we arrived. Most of our group were close friends and family, including children and parents. We only wanted to roast marshmallows, have a few drinks, and talk about the wedding, not throw a wild party. The person we spoke with initially, whom restaurant staff identified as the manager, was actually the owner's son and restaurant manager. He said noise wouldn't be an issue because we had the whole hotel and there were no nearby neighbors. Email communication with the reservations contact went smoothly until the week before our stay. When my husband called to confirm the room check-in details and restated what the person at booking had promised, the owner got upset and yelled. He said he didn't need the money and wouldn't allow the gathering, even for an extra $1,000. He also said the person we had spoken to had no authority to make those arrangements, since he was the owner. We couldn't find another hotel with enough space for everyone. After our stay, the owner said we'd stained a towel and charged us for dry cleaning. We explained that my hair dye caused it and said it would wash out easily, but he still insisted we pay. Other guests told us mixed things: some liked the view, while others felt the restaurant was expensive, the included breakfast was below par, and the owner inspected rooms closely at checkout for damage that wasn't there. The owner doesn't seem to take responsibility for negative reviews, instead blaming guests or pointing to financial constraints. I expect he'll say we broke clear rules about parties, but that wasn't true.

The manager wasn't rude, but he wasn't polite either, and the other problems made the night difficult. Our bathroom didn't work, and he didn't help, so we spent the whole night without one. The shower had no hot water, and the water was muddy. There wasn't a bottle of clean water in the room. I paid for a mountain view, but all I could see were windows from another room. The white blanket was dirty, with a brown stain. I asked for a king bed and got two single beds pushed together with one blanket. Breakfast was included and tasted good, but the serving was very small and basic.

For the price, I don't think I'd return. The view was lovely, but the hot tubs were drained and out of order, and the restaurant was closed. The room had Wi-Fi, Netflix, and safe parking, but no fans or AC, only screened windows. The included breakfast was pretty basic: one slice of sandwich ham, two pieces of white bread, scrambled eggs, and fruit. We came down for coffee and were just handed plates without being asked what we wanted. When the only other guests arrived, the same guy asked them what they'd like and offered them traditional desayuno.

We had a quiet lunch here and the restaurant seems like it would be good for dinner too. The Orosi Valley views are wonderful, and the food and drinks were very good, with fresh ingredients, generous portions, and care in the details. The menu is extensive, and there’s a nice range of drinks, including local artisan beer and sangría. I’d highly recommend the restaurant, and imagine it would be a lovely place to stay overnight as well.