Hotel Belmar

The rooms were nice, but the service left us feeling intimidated. The owner wouldn't speak with us directly and handled everything through the receptionist. After we questioned paying the full price, he threatened to call the police and said they would make us pay and do something with our immigration credentials. We booked because the hotel was meant to have a restaurant and a bar with happy hour. When we arrived, there was no restaurant or bar, the hotel was empty, and all the lights were off at night.

Alejandra at the front desk was incredibly kind when my daughter arrived with a bad sunburn from an earlier beach trip. She cut fresh aloe for her, which helped her feel much more comfortable. We also enjoyed the food, slept well in a comfortable bed, and had a lot of fun with the group activities. It was a great place to unwind after busy days of sightseeing. The establishment is a little rustic rather than luxurious, but we had a great experience and the service was excellent.

The food in the restaurant was good quality, though service there was snooty and we had to keep going up to the waitress for drinks, food, and the bill. The hostel's location and layout were lovely and looked quite boujee, but that impression didn't match the shared dorm. We weren't given towels and had to pay for them. The single towel outside the shower got used over and over by us and the other people in the dorm, and it became gross without being replaced. The shower stayed cold however long we ran it or fiddled with it. The kitchen had neither a microwave nor a kettle, and the fridge smelled bad. For what we spent, the stay could've been much better.

The thin walls made for a restless night, so we decided to move on the next morning. The receptionist asked why we were leaving but didn't mention we'd be charged for the nights we wouldn't stay. We had been encouraged to reserve all three nights in advance because there seemed to be few rooms, and nobody told us that changing plans meant paying the full price for the unused nights. Back home, I found we had been charged for all three. Customer service refunded one night but hasn't addressed the lack of communication about the cancellation policy. Selina is close to the Monteverde Preserve and well located, but I wouldn't recommend it if your plans are flexible or you need a quiet night's sleep.