Hotel Peace & Lodge

Ali was a wonderful host, and the peaceful, quiet setting left our group feeling completely relaxed. Our rooms had incredible views, and the location was great for our four nights at Hotel and Peace Lodge during our stay in Samara. You'll definitely want a rental vehicle here. Having one gives you the freedom to enjoy this level of quiet and distance from others. Love, love, loved this place!

The pool was impossible for us to enjoy because biting “war ants” covered the deck, chairs, and our belongings. We moved the chairs several times looking for somewhere safe, and Josue told us to sit on the grass. After we complained many times, he eventually brought buckets of water to wash the deck down, but that was the morning we were leaving. We ended up going into town to calm the kids after a terrible night. We had loved our stay at Peace Lodge six years ago, so on our recent trip to Costa Rica we chose it as our only repeat stop. This time, under new management, it was very disappointing. The road to the lodge was in poor shape, and our vehicle got stuck in the mud before we arrived. Once there, we spent more than 30 minutes removing spiders before we could unpack. There were huge webs in the shower and wasps hovering just outside the door. Ants were crawling on the beds in our room. I told Josue, the staff member in charge, but he didn't come to look and only replied, “They don't bite.” Overnight, our six-year-old woke up crying because a centipede was crawling next to him. Later I nearly stepped on a live scorpion, and two wasps flew into the room. We all had a restless, itchy, uncomfortable night. The power also went out while I was showering with our kids, leaving us in complete darkness for about 25 minutes. When we told Josue, he first didn't believe us, then shrugged it off as a blown fuse. The next morning he asked how we slept. I said “horribly,” but he seemed indifferent about the scorpion, centipede, wasps, and ants. We paid over three times what our other accommodations on this trip cost for what was meant to be a restful stay, and got none of that. I have run a bed-and-breakfast and stayed in rustic jungle lodges all over Costa Rica. Bugs are expected, but scorpions on the bathroom floor and ants crawling in your bed all night aren't. This felt like neglect, not nature. We were offered only $20 off the stay, nowhere near enough to make up for the discomfort and stress. At this price, basic cleanliness and hospitality should be a given. I don't usually leave negative reviews, but having a centipede crawl on my son in the middle of the night and nearly stepping on a live scorpion pushed things too far. Unfortunately, we won't return or recommend Peace Lodge in its current condition.

Dinner was delicious, and breakfast was just what we needed. The private bungalow had amazing views of the ocean and mountains, and arriving just before sunset to a peaceful setting and Pedro's warm welcome made the stay feel special. It seems great for families and for a romantic getaway too. We wish we could have stayed longer. Highly recommend.

The hotel felt disorganized and unprofessional, and the lack of care and appreciation for the staff showed in the way clients were treated. I learned the owners had recently taken over, and they seem to have no experience running a hotel. Customer service and the know-how to manage staff, assets, kitchen equipment, the grounds, and suppliers just don't seem to be there. The previous owners had a great reputation. I've owned three businesses, including one that's flourishing now, and I hope the current owners can get their act together and put their money where their mouth is. Costa Rica is beautiful, and there are people here who really care and work hard. Make the hotel beautiful and good again.