Brisas del Mar by Playa Caracol Resorts

The apartment in Ventanas del Mar didn't feel like the “luxury” place advertised, especially for what we paid. The cabinets had a strong smell and needed airing out, and we saw large black bugs scurry under the fridge a few times. The kitchen table was plastic outdoor furniture. Toilet seats were the wrong size, a door had a hole, and all the toilet paper holders were crooked. There was no water early in the morning, from 7am to about 7.45am, and power cut out several times overnight, leaving no A/C and causing problems for my cpap machine. Every few days a horrible garbage or waste smell came from the front closet and lasted about an hour. We expected quiet, but from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening the complex was packed. You couldn't get an umbrella, the pool was full of kids jumping and splashing, families brought coolers, and there was loud music, yelling, and singing all day and into the night. People from nearby townhouses also came into our pools. Getting there was pure torture because of the winding road and its many potholes over more than 10 kms, though after we'd been there 3 weeks, many had been repaired. The complex itself is well maintained, and the beach is very close with clean sand. Even so, I would never return or recommend it.

The unit was very large, the price was reasonable, and the restaurant was reasonably priced too. It's right in front of the ocean. But the hot water didn't work, one bathroom had a strong odor, and a couple of doors wouldn't close properly. There's no carpeting anywhere in the unit. Most people speak no English, so at the Radisson hotel I could only order by pointing to an item on the menu.

The views and beach are spectacular. The rooms are nice, and the gym is new and clean, though there aren't many amenities yet and the area is still under construction.

The residence apartments have a private pool, and you can have your own BBQ here.