Hotel Cipreses

Great breakfast, served early enough, with vegan options, and the check-in and breakfast staff were especially kind and helpful. The location is very good, and the rooms are nice and clean. Hot water was a problem and wasn’t really available. My partner also needed a hair dryer, but the hotel apparently has fewer dryers than rooms. When other guests don’t return them promptly, that causes a problem.

The concierge guy was incredibly kind and helpful, but I had a rough stay otherwise. The shower and drain were broken, and water flooded the bathroom and part of my room. When I got back late that night, after midnight, I couldn't find any staff to help. There was no mini fridge or AC either, which surprised me since I've seen plenty of small 2- and 3-star hotels with a fridge.

The nearby bakery opened at 6am and had great coffee, generous servings, and nice service. That was a bright spot in what was the worst hotel experience I've had in Costa Rica so far. The rooms were drafty and cold, and you had to sign up for breakfast the day before. Watch your toes around the bed legs, they're awkwardly placed. The bathroom siphon didn't work, so there was a sewer smell. The restaurant felt uninspiring, and its lights were so bright, around 5000K or more, it was like being in a butcher shop. The room lights had the same problem, when they worked. 2700K or lower would've made the place feel nicer. The TV was Spanish-only, so useless for non-Spanish visitors.

Room 38 was quiet, though old, and the sink was loose. The shower has a setting to switch between the head and feet, but the switch only worked about 80% of the time. Breakfast was okay. The location is very good and the staff were really friendly.