Bahia Esmeralda

The rooms were okay, and the staff were friendly, but I wouldn’t stay here again. The pool is small and had lots of leaves in it, while the air conditioners were fairly effective but noisy too. Road noise was the bigger issue. The hotel sits right beside an intersection, with huge trucks rumbling past from around 6 in the morning and loud motorbikes continuing late at night. The beach is close, but for the price it didn’t feel worthwhile. I’d also avoid the beach bar/restaurant: I ordered sea bass, and it was fish, but definitely not sea bass. Probably tilapia.

The staff made this place for us. They were so friendly and went out of their way to look after me and my wife. Just tell them what you need, and they’ll help! The area can get a little busy, and there’s sometimes traffic noise in the morning, but that was a minor drawback. There are loads of food options near the hotel, from Costa Rican dishes to pretty much anything you might be looking for. The ocean is only a short distance away. Thanks again to everyone for being so helpful.

Nothing major went wrong, but this place was just alright. The room felt dated and the bedroom was small. The air conditioner worked much less effectively if we left any of the doors open. There was a multicolored tips envelope beside the rules sheet under the bedroom TV, plus a tip jar on the concierge desk, which took away from the atmosphere. The staff were reasonably professional, though not especially memorable. I never felt like a valued guest, just another person staying there, and that added to the room’s less appealing details. One more thing, wash your own utensils before checking out or they’ll charge you a hefty $20!

The grounds were nice, our room was clean, and the location was quiet. By the pool there are plenty of lounge chairs and a couple of hammocks. There are also several grocery markets within walking distance. The hotel is at the north end of the beach, which isn’t a great spot for swimming. You’ll want a car to reach the beach and more restaurants.