Papagayo Beach Hotel

We had a pleasant stay at Papagayo Beach Hotel, and the staff were consistently friendly, welcoming, and service-minded. The location is very good, with Papagayo Beach Club just nearby. However, the Beach Club fills up quickly, so it is a good idea to arrive early if you want a good spot. It is also worth noting that renting a cabana is quite expensive, at around USD 90–110 per day. Breakfast at Papagayo was expensive, but the quality was good and we enjoyed it. Dinner, however, was a completely different experience. We tried the beef curry and the bolognese, and unfortunately both dishes were very disappointing. Considering the overall price level, we expected much better food. There were also a few things at the hotel itself that lowered the overall impression. The bed linen in our room was too small for the bed, which felt unnecessary for a hotel in this price range. Around the pool area, there was some green algae along the edges. In addition, there were animal droppings in several places around the pool area that, as far as we could tell, remained there for at least a couple of days. It may have been from the iguanas that roam freely around the property, but regardless, we felt this should have been cleaned up more quickly. We also contacted the hotel by email regarding these issues but unfortunately never received a reply. Overall, Papagayo has a great location and very friendly staff, and the breakfast was good, but considering the price level and the hotel’s positioning, we expected better food at dinner and more attention to cleanliness, maintenance, and the smaller details.

Unfortunately, the staff and the overall level of hospitality completely ruined the experience for me. From the moment I arrived, I felt unwelcome. This wasn’t one unfortunate interaction with one member of staff. I experienced the same unfriendliness and, at times, rude attitude at reception, at the beach, during breakfast and from housekeeping throughout my stay. I can honestly only remember one member of staff who greeted me with a genuine smile. The lack of information started already at check-in. I was simply given my room key, with no introduction to the hotel or resort area and no explanation of what facilities were available or how anything worked. I wasn’t given a map of the property either. When I asked where my room was, the receptionist simply pointed in a direction and told me to walk that way. I then had to ask which building I was actually staying in. Unfortunately, this continued throughout my stay. I repeatedly found myself having to discover things on my own and then go back to reception to ask about them. For example, there was a red card with my room key, but nobody explained what it was for. I wasn’t given any information about whether breakfast could be purchased or where it was served. I also had to ask how to access and use the gym. My first day at the beach was a good example of the overall experience. All the regular beach chairs appeared to be occupied, so I found one of the available daybeds. A member of staff then came over and told me I had to pay to use it. There were no signs indicating that the daybeds cost extra, and when I tried to ask where I was allowed to lie instead, communication was very difficult because she didn’t speak English. Unfortunately, she wasn’t particularly friendly either, which made an already awkward situation even more uncomfortable. Breakfast was similarly confusing. I was only told that I could choose between the buffet and à la carte. Nobody explained how breakfast worked or what was included. I noticed other tables being served smoothies and different pastries while also using the buffet, but I had no idea whether these were included or something you had to order separately. After two days, I eventually figured out that there was a line where you were supposed to give your room number. There was also often no cutlery on the tables, and used plates were not cleared while I was eating. Housekeeping was also disappointing. On one occasion, I was scolded because the bag inside the small bathroom bin had slipped down. It is a very small bin and the only bin in the room with a bag, so the reaction felt completely unnecessary. Yet again, an interaction with the staff left me feeling uncomfortable rather than welcome. The following day, my room wasn’t cleaned at all. I’m not sure why, as I saw housekeeping cleaning the neighbouring rooms around lunchtime. The room was also very poorly soundproofed. I could hear the guests next door extremely clearly, including when they were using the bathroom. The hotel has a great location and nice facilities, including a nice gym. But those things mean very little when you don’t feel welcome. This is not a cheap hotel, and my booking was non-refundable. I actually considered leaving anyway and paying for another hotel because of how uncomfortable and unwelcome I felt. Unfortunately, I would neither stay here again nor recommend it to others.

Location perfect Atmosphere nice Room was great Front desk service by Daya was Superb Only less great were the stairs and the walking paths. Not comfortable or safe for the eldery or even the Cleaning staff. Respect for them, because it is extreme work in these conditions and hot weather. When I saw this, it made me feel sad. Hopefully they get rewarded extra for this extreme hard work. Thank you very much for a wonderful stay

The location of Papagayo offers much to do in the area. Papagayo had numerous positive attributes that I liked and needed this trip vs. my first two years ago at Kontiki. The staff were helpful and courteous. Initially, they gave me a room with an obstructed beach view and another cleanliness issue. They attempted to fix it and changed my room The lounge chairs and sun beds had shady spots which offered a reprieve from the Curacao sun. However, they miss in some key areas on things like cleaning the balcony glass and floor and glass in general which was dirty when I got there and never cleaned to allow enjoyment of my ocean view. I left a note for housekeeping but either no English or low cleaning standards. The mirror above my bed was dirty upon arrival and never cleaned during my stay either. The knob in the shower fell off, the bathroom sink and toilet seat were stained, and there were some slippers in the closet that had been worn by previous guests making me distrustful of the robes as well. F for cleanliness for far below standard. The food, aside from the Caesar salad which had mayonnaise as the dressing, was pretty good at the beach club. The Curacao burger with pulled goat and feta was delicious. My daughter joined me for Italian night but the beef and lasagna were overcooked. We both found the food was underwhelming. Make your way over for Mexican chicken tacos at Zext. Lounge and float around in the beach pool or take advantage of the JanThiel beach access. Enjoy the bands and DJ on Saturday night.

My husband and I stayed in Papagayo to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. The location is great; the pool and beach are perfect. It's quiet and offers a very relaxing atmosphere. There is a supermarket, bars, rental cars, and restaurants nearby. The rooms are big, and the balcony is very spacious, where you can appreciate the sunset. Special thanks to Daja, a member of the reception staff, who is so kind and very concerned about our well-being during the stay.