Val Hotel Manuel Antonio

The staff were friendly and agreed to let us leave without charge because the accommodation was so poor. I checked out immediately: the room was very damp and smelled strongly of mold, and the damp absorber was full. The mattress was rock-hard and moldy. The safe sat unsecured in the cupboard, with no key to use it. Not recommended.

The location took me a while to decide on, maybe four or five stars. It’s quite far from both the park and town, but right between them. That turned out well: people were always walking along the road, but it didn’t feel as clogged as the streets in town or by the park. Val Hotel helped me plan activities and downtime, including using the pool and hot tub. They listened to what I wanted and helped at every step, from booking tours to finding necessities and figuring out how to get around. My room was perfect for me, small and clean, with a porch overlooking the forest and a hammock chair where I relaxed each morning before breakfast. Gallapinto or pancakes, it was a perfect start to the day. I loved Manuel Antonio and every second was thanks to Val Hotel. I highly recommend staying here.

We were on a tight budget but still decided to cancel our last night because of the state of the hotel. I don’t usually leave bad reviews because I like to give small businesses a chance, but this needs saying: don’t book here. The hotel didn’t look like the photos. The rooms and bathrooms were dirty, damp, and very dated; the pool was dirty, and the “hot tub” was freezing. Our balcony roof had completely fallen through, but they still thought the room was suitable for us. Staff played the TV at 5.30/6am, loud enough for the whole hotel to hear. The bedding was dried out in the open on a dirty roof where guests could see it. The place generally needs some TLC, and the photos aren’t accurate. When we canceled, staff agreed to refund 1 x night within five days, and at that point I was told not to write such a negative review. Six weeks later, after countless emails, WhatsApp messages, and phone calls costing £3 a minute, there was still no sign of the refund. Then I was told it was our fault we didn’t like the hotel and they wouldn’t issue it. I can’t afford to keep calling to argue about this. It also put a negative spin on our time in Manuel Antonio. I suggest supporting one of the other lovely local hotels.

We booked this place at the last minute, and it turned out fine. The furnishings felt a bit dated and some maintenance seemed overdue. Since it's on the main road, traffic was noisy, though it eased off for much of the night. They played loud music during the day, but we were usually out then. Reviews seemed split, some making it sound worse and some better than what we found. We'd stay again if we couldn't find a better option, which is reflected in our rating.