Hotel Village Costasur

After two nights with friends and family at this hotel last week, we knew we wouldn’t return. The stay wasn’t cheap, and it was supposedly all-inclusive, but it didn’t feel that way at all. The rooms were neglected. Some main doors had such large cracks that you could see inside from the hallway, some air conditioning barely worked, and there was no hot water in the bathrooms. The food and drinks were another letdown. The snack bar had little variety and only brought as many pizzas as there were people sitting there at the time. The soft drink they served was warm and not cheap. The pool bar never had beer, so we had to go to the lobby for it. At the restaurant they served hot water, the lunch and dinner options never changed, and the only dessert was rice pudding, the worst I’ve ever tasted. The juices had no sugar at all. The coffee was terrible, and all of us wanted to go to the bathroom. Some restaurant staff were helpful, but others gave such bad service that I don’t understand how they’re still there. A few workers were super grotesque in how they treated us, and some were working drunk on the night shift. The shows were embarrassing and unprofessional. I feel every hotel recreation team should discuss what they’re going to present before showing guests such a mockery. The internet was extremely slow too. Not everything was bad. Three women in the restaurant gave us the best attention they could, the blonde girl from the lobby bar was very helpful, and a girl at reception was good too. I wish I’d had their names so I could recognize their work. It’s a shame they work there, because their professionalism is compromised by the poor service and management. I hope this is taken as constructive criticism so the hotel can improve and provide the quality service guests need and that matches the price.

For the price, I personally enjoyed my stay. It’s the cheapest resort in Trinidad, and you get what you pay for. I liked how quiet it was, and the bugs didn’t bother me much. My wife had a worse time because the sunflies seemed to attack some people far more than others, which was obvious from how many bites they had. She was itchy all over for 8-11 days, so bring bug repellent. The bungalows are worth the extra $70-100 or so. They’re large and clean, with hot water on demand and AC in both the living room and bedroom. The beds are hard but comfortable. They’re about a five-second walk from the beach, have a great sunset view from the porch, and room service did an amazing job with the bed and sheets each morning. The beach is very nice, with soft sand and calm water even on windy days because large rocks break the waves. It’s about chest-deep at the deepest point, and Ancon beach is also within walking distance. The sunflies were all over the beach and nearby areas when we went, mostly in the morning and late afternoon. They’re a menace and can make your vacation hell. Repellent might help, or might not. The resort itself is tiny, the smallest I’ve visited, and there were hardly any people when we arrived. It’s quiet, with little of a party atmosphere, which some may like and others may find boring. We never waited for food or drinks and the pool was consistently empty. The building looks like it was built in the 70s and never updated. Staff were hit or miss, but even small tips went a long way to improve the stay. Cubans also come here for holidays or birthdays. My fishing charter escort said the resort offers them cheap day packages. There isn’t much to do besides a pool table and cheap ping pong table. No kayaks, catamarans, or water sports were available, and the gym was closed and barricaded when we were there. Food is typical for a Cuban resort, so don’t expect anything good from the all-you-can-eat buffet. There’s no a la carte restaurant and the menu repeats. Someone was usually available to cook eggs or chicken/beef on request, which became my main food. There’s one buffet and two bars serving pizza, sandwiches, and drinks, one of them open 24/7. The resort is a 15-minute drive from Trinidad, about $5-10 US by taxi or less by bus. Definitely visit the city during your stay. It’s beautiful, and there’s plenty to see south of downtown beyond the tourist area. A 15-20 minute walk farther south brings more authentic places and cheaper prices. We felt safe even at night, though I’d think twice about visiting alone as a woman.

Loved the location, but I hated being left hungry on vacation. There were absolutely no 24-hour snacks available, which is really unfriendly if you stay up late. There was nothing at all after 9:30 pm, even though Sunwing says the snack bar is open 24 hours. LMFAO.

The hotel beach is beautiful and peaceful. A crescent of rocks offshore breaks the waves and leaves calm, still water for swimming. Food choice was good for meat eaters, with chefs available to cook it fresh. As vegetarians, we had very limited options, though we weren’t complaining. Our room in the main building was falling apart, and we were really disappointed. We upgraded to a beach bungalow for a fairly small amount, and it completely changed the feel of our stay. They’re spacious and very comfortable. If you stay here, make sure to book a bungalow.