Ocotal Beach Resort

This hotel needs some lovin'! Chips in the tile floor of our room, the ice machine by our room didn't work (so we had to hike it to the one up a steep hill from our room), and the hotel restaurant was often out of items. On the upside, the staff was friendly, the location felt very secure, and the pools were nice for watching the sunset. We didn't go down to the beach because the water didn't look healthy. There were much nicer beaches to visit in Costa Rica, I don't think I'd go back here.

We really liked the location of the hotel as it was a short cab ride ($6 each way) to the town nearby (Playas del Coco) where we could experience different restaurants and shops. The resort had great views and the black sand beach of Ocotal was nice. The breakfast was simple but good. The only other meal we had at the restaurant was pizza and it was excellent. We paid a little extra to stay in the bungalo and would definitely recommend it. We had a nice private patio with a small pool outside our room that we enjoyed. We stayed in 210, which was right in between the restaurant/main lobby and the beach, which was convenient. The room was very spacious. The beds were comfortable and the air conditioning worked well. The staff at the resort was very nice, helpful and always smiling. We knew going into this vacation that the resort was not five star, so it met our expectations. For example the bathrooms are not modern or fancy. We would recommend this resort to others who are looking for an alternative to the all inclusive resorts, where you can experience the culture, town, and excursions on the vacation.

Ocotal Beach Resort is far from a resort status. Rumor has it, the hotel is up for sale, and it looks like the owner has not kept up with basic repair. The service was poor. I was very disappointed.

Ocotal Beach Resort was a great way to end a wonderful 2 week vacation, we stayed here, because it was only a half an hour away from the Liberia airport, and wanted to stay on the coast before our early flight out. Although the resort is a little worn, it certainly has charm, and amazing views! If you want a 5 star, with all the amenities, and no costarican authenticity, stay at an all inclusive! Enjoyed the stay!

if you are not looking for 4 seasons enclosed compound, this is perhaps the best and most picturesque place in Costa Rica.

Hightly recomended - Best value for your money if you are not looking to be pampered. Dive shop is one of the best in country. Father Rooster was a recommended place to eat on another review I read but was not all that ----- Hermosa has better .

Unbelievable views from the top of the hill. Modest amenities and a restaurant on the premises, though after 3 days or so we started looking for alternatives. Hotel needs improvements. Rooms are clean but after a heavy rain we had ants in our room for a few days. Local beach is nice.

Staff was very helpful, excursions were awesome. We went on excursions daily the Palo river boat & Nicaragua was my favorite, the kids was The National Park tour & ATV. I felt very safe, & the staff was very accommodating!! We ate for the most part at Father Roosters which was a 5-8 min walk on the beach. The only wildlife we saw on the property were iguanas & a few birds. The Palo river boat tour allowed us to see everything Costa Rica is known for; monkeys, bats, crocodiles, beautiful birds & different trees/plant species. I will stay here again when I return next year.

Initial impressions are that you ARE in a 4 star resort, though you can see the wear on this once nice place. There are two security checks to get in and the weather was nice so we slept with the patio doors open...mistake. Somehow a beach bum sneaked up the path from the beach and grabbed our cell phones and everything on the floor into my roommates bag. Though our big money and passports were in the safe, he managed to get away with a couple hundred dollars. Our contributory negligence notwithstanding, the hotel offered nothing in aide or comfort, much less compensation. In fact, the collect calls to the bank to arrange for more funds showed up at check out as $150 for two calls. I could see where someone would have a great time here, we just couldn't, so I won't recommend the resort The food and drinks in town were neither great nor cheap. The ocean was affected by 'red tide' preventing swimming, snorkeling or recreating at all on the beach for the smell. I got certified to dive there, and the crew was perfect. Completely honest, patient and very friendly. I'm not interested that this review gets posted or not, SOMEone has to have bad karma once in a while and I think both they and we were experiencing it at the time.

While this hotel provides a wonderful view, its extremely remote location and lack of activities left us disappointed. If you are looking for a place relax by the pool, this may be the place for you (but the pools, as well as the grounds could be better maintained). If you are impressed by the "oceanview rooms" be warned that his hotel sits atop a very large mountain and that the beach is a long (hot) walk down and back up very steep slopes to get to the very narrow, rocky beach. Additionally, the black sand looks pretty, but it is extremely hot and it is a sticky sand, so it is not a good spot for laying out. Nearby, Coco Beach is a much bigger beach with nicer, smoother, cleaner sand but it will cost you $6 taxi fee each direction from the hotel. Overall, the view was beautiful, but this definitely should not be considered a "resort", and is not recommended for those seeking excitement, variety, or entertainment--if you are looking to hide away, this may be the place for you.