Sol Papagayo

This hotel is operating at about 50% or less than what they are offering. Several major health violations. The pool is a major health and safety concern - water is not above the jets or being filtered by the pump or skimmers (only time you do this is when you are closing your pool - but this pool had covers over the jets and black gunk in the skimmers - ie they have not been used for a long time)- only thing circulating the pool is the waterfall, only way they have to clean this pool is using a skimmer bag to remove leaves ( I have a pool this is not ok). This pool should be closed until they can properly fill it and filter it using the pump and skimmers - pool staff sprinkled chlorine in the pool while people were swimming and we only saw them using a sump pump to vacuum it - but that is not filtering! In a commercial pool - this is seriously hazardous - not just because the water isn't being filtered - but also because they are not taking accurate measurements to determine what chemicals are needed. We also got serious ill (we still are sick) from the food - or improper food care - we often had fruit in the am - that tasted like onions or garlic - so food safety isn't being adhered to either. We were not the only guests that got sick - several others were as well. Also this hotel only had about 12 guests max at any time and only one resto was open (some of the food seemed fine - but after we got sick - we weren't really interested in the food), and only some of the rooms are available - the rest have doors open without locks and no furniture (back in family villas). Our room was not what we paid for (the photos are really of one room - everything else is older) but i admit -i really don't normally care about the room - i don't expect to spend my time there - but it was very old, dated and there was one room next to us that had been fancied up for the photos. The staff were very nice, they tried very hard - but there is no management presence here and nothing is being done to repair anything - real lack of any kind of management leadership at all - I think this hotel is in transition - the owners are not here and don't seem to care about how bad it is - or they are just waiting for someone to buy it - all of my complaints are really about the owners and really Nolitours (Air Transat) and iTravel2000 - should not offer this hotel again until they can guarantee there are no health violations and the pool is fixed. WIFI worked fine for us (no charge). [Details]

Enjoyable for those who lle a more spacious and rugged living space. [Details]

Very nice and clean with good service. [Details]

Resort is located in secluded area and had better days. The closest village located about 3 km away. A public bus stop is 1 km from the hotel. The itinerary - Playa Panama -- Liberia. The bus goes every 1,5 hour (ask schedule at reception). Price - 650 colon or 1.25 $ till Liberia which is 43 km away from the resort. It takes you about 1 hour one way to the city. The resort is very quiet & surrounded from one side by jungle. There are lots of small creatures: Birds (they know buffet schedule) stealing the food from trays and chased by kitchen staff; Iguanas - lazy waking on the tile & posing before cameras; Small monkeys chase each other on the top of the trees; Colorful fish in the ocean - paradise for naturalists & sole entertainment in this resort. No activities provided. We were from 3 till 10 December and seemed just no more than 20 tourists on the whole resort.
Reception - from 6.00 till 22.00. Check in & out fast.
Staff is very friendly & ready to help you.
Bar opens at 10.00 till 22.00 and run by team of barmen. Girls are helpful, boys speak only Spanish. Juice: Orange, pineapple, watermelon. Liquor: Vodka, Tequila. Beer Soft drinks: Cola, bottled water, Sprite - all beverages never run out.
Food is nice especially salads, lots of vegetables & pickles. Fruits: watermelon( always is run out. You need to ask stuff to bring it in), pineapple & papaya (never run out). Yogurt (about 300 gr bulk bowl) (always empty)- definitely not enough for 20-25 people in the morning. Fish is sometimes at lunch or dinner. Meat: chicken and sometimes beef. No sweets !!!! (except dry chocolate cake)
Pool is nice looking. Pool boy is constantly removing leaves from the pool. Beach towels are changed each day
Beach -- sand is black, difficult to see bottom, many sharp rocks 20m away the beach. Bring special shoes to walk safe on bottom. A careful swim is possible during high tide ONLY. When tide is low No swim is possible due many very sharp lava formation. 350 m away is more convenient beach with gray sand. You may feel more relaxed there during high tide. But if you want to experience the real ocean joy with plenty of water activities($) be prepared to walk 1 km to the nearby resort Occidental Grand Papagayo. Beach is about 100m wide with white sand. Water is clear. Corals are about 50m away the beach with abundant sea life: different fishes, small murenas, rays, sea urchins etc. We walk three times per day to the beach making about more than 6 km in total. So it is good exercise for your muscles. If you are ready for the such challenge take good shoes, for you will not wish to rub your feet till scorns after couple of trips to the remote beach or wipe your feet dry of water & clean of sand.
Bring a good repellent with you as oodles of mosquitoes want to suck your blood after sunset.
Room Tip: Room numbers starting with 800 would be more comfortable to stay. Room numbers 600 & 700 series face jungle which result more mosquitoes & crawling creatures in your room. [Details]

This hotel is very very quiet. If you are looking for excitment, this is not the place for you. We found that it was just what we were looking for.Complete R&R. The rooms are spacious and clean, as are the grounds. There are not too many stairs so it is suitable for the elderly. There are many monkeys on the grounds that keep you entertained. A family of 16. Igaunas everywhere that eat from your hand but be careful, they do bite. The staff is very helpful and the cook is amazing. We ate off of the a la carte menu during the week because there were only 12 Canadians. On the weekend, the buffet was set up when locals came to vacation. There was always a chair available.If this resort was full, I don't know if they could handle it though.You can walk to many other beaches in the area or just walk the beach in front of the resort. The sand is a dark volcanic colour and in some place it is quite rocky. Overall, we would go back and do it all over again if the price was right. If the base price was more than 500$ before tax, I would think twice. [Details]

We got this hotel for $533. It was a steal because flights to CR can cost up to $1000. The hotel was basic and isolated but great value for the price we paid. [Details]

first of all, there is a beach but nobody swims in it
because of the rip tide and the black sand throws up mud when you move in the water. the next beach over is a good 10 to 15 walk. there are chairs there but no other services. the next beach is hermosa and it is a good 30 min trek or $15 us taxi ride...one way. there is a pool but why travel that far to dip in chlorine!!!
secondly, the food is fine if you are a light eater, vegetarian and/or you don't mind repeats of the lunch buffet at night! a piece of cake in the evening becomes finger food dessert at noon the next day. the table cloths were changed once during the time we were there. go figure!
thirdly, some things like bottled water and kleenex would be much appreciated in the room. as well an improvement in the quality of
linens would be rather nice...even a thread count of 100 would be wonderful!
and to add a few more things...
there are no activities
the liquor is local, the beer has a cap on it at least.
a great place for anyone that just wants to stay
put for their holiday! [Details]

Very quiet resort - we often felt we had the place to ourselves. Good choice of day trips. Food a little monotonous. Staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. Few amenities, but some small touristy towns nearby. [Details]

This resort was a bit secluded.The only problem with that is they had no entertainment (no pool activities,live music,or skits).Its a great place to go if you want to relax and be very quiet.The staff are very friendly but had a hard time communicating.The ran out of beer on more than one occasion and needed a little more training for the bartenders.I met several nice people there and made the best of it.However it would only get maybe a 2 1/2 star from me. [Details]

I travelled alone, and I just needed complete relaxtion. The spot was perfect for what I was looking for. It's not recommended for children. [Details]

Satisfactory. 2 Star rating.
Most of the advertised items not available or located. Location good for a quieter vacation with the exception of the Howler monkeys (which I loved)
The food was 3 star from 5. The room cleaned daily and exceptionally well. So was the pool. The beach...well dont go here for the beach. The bar tenders very attenitive. Disappointed about the Al a carte...book early..other wise you wont get in. Recommend..only if you expect a 2 star with limited services available. Does not meet up to hotel listing on the website. [Details]

Very nice experience
good food and water and service is also great! [Details]

It is a small, clean, comfortable & quiet resort for low maintenance people.
No daily or evening activities. Beautiful pool.
The bedroom & bathroom are big with plenty of storage space. The towel service was poor because we only received wash cloths once & the towels were only changed once during the week.
The phone didn't work & wasn't fixed.
The buffet is fabulous & the employees are friendly & helpful. Some of the employees don't speak English which is 1 of the reasons the problems were not solved. The beach has black muddy sand with stones. We walked the beach but didn't swim there.
There are 2 other beaches within walking distance. Lighting and a guard rail should be installed beside the low,empty fountain for safety. [Details]

we had great time at this resort. staff is excellent, swimming pool area great. Loved seeing the howler monkeys in the trees and lots of birds around. IF you want good service quiet peacful area you cannot beat it. if you want nightlife, and expect food be like it is at "home" stay home good Costa Rica food. OHH and did I say the satff was great. [Details]

Our expectations were just about right with what we had read from previous visitors to Sol Papagayo. Also the staff has a very relaxed atmosphere, I was told by another traveler down their that Costa Rican's don't have as high a level of trying to please the tourists with quick service as say Mexican's do, due to the fact that Costa Ricans are well educated ( free schooling including university).I'm sure if you tipped them constantly they would have been much better with quick service.Clean rooms, good food, but capable of being much better. Beautiful weather. [Details]

This was our first all-inclusive through Sunquest and it was a wonderful experience for us whereas not everyone in the group shared that view. Much in life has to do with attitudes and even a week in the sun requires realistic expectations!
Sol Papagayo is a beautiful but simple resort, past its prime and it could benefit from some more maintenance but when considering the price we paid for it, we could not have asked for better. The buildings are one-story with typically 4 units to a house connected by nicely landscaped walk-ways. There are tall trees, Howler-monkees in the tree-tops, a nice pool to welcome you in a quiet setting that is soothing and relaxing. Because of the small bay the resort is located at, the beach is very sheltered and does not afford a view of the Pacific as one might envision. The mixed volcanic sand is often dark in colour but there are other beaches within walking distance that might be better suited for the open ocean experience. The staff is very friendly, the meals are plentiful, simple and typical of Cost-Rica. If you are used to a 5 star hotel, you will be dissapointed but if you paid attention to what you booked, then your holidays at Sol Papagayo should be rewarding. This is not a place for the jet-setters, it is a place for those that enjoy the quiet, for people that are able to provide their own entertainment, have initiative and believe that life is what you make it. Maurice, the Sunquest representative was very helpful, accommodating, polite but unfortunately, had to deal with some other Canadians that expected 5-star services for a 3-star price. [Details]

We enjoyed ourself at Sol Papagayo. The property is lovely and we liked the fact it was quiet and small. Overall we enjoyed the food, although we had one issue with it. My boyfriend does not eat meat or shellfish- and one of the dinners had beef and shellfish only. One other dinner had a chicken offering, but it had ham in it- and he does not eat ham. This was only 2 of meals on a 7 day stay, but I think there should always be a chicken or fish offering as many people do not eat meat. [Details]

Hi there. I don't know what you are expecting, but do not expect what they say on their website...There is no a la carte, there is no beachside and lounge chairs, the food is not that great, the people are not that friendly. I was very disappointed, because I feel that this is very misrepresented. [Details]

Having been to this hotel, we knew we were going to have a quiet, restful, clean place to stay. Staff was warm & welcoming. We enjoyed waking to the exotic birds & howler monkeys. We were glad to fall asleep early with no loud music playing. This is a great place if you are looking for a clean, quiet room to come to after touring, with dependable substantial meals. No Frills, no Disney. [Details]

We liked very much a small and very personable venue in a wonderful country. The resort was ideal if you wanted a quiet time. The food was amongst the best we have experienced having spent time at the very good Riu resorts the food and the service was better. The staff were also great. [Details]