Occidental Papagayo reviews
7992 TripAdvisor reviews
Don’t go preimum! It’s a gimmick!
Elisha T on Jun 15, 2025
We had an amazing view of the bay from our room.. he upgraded to premium plan and seems we got a full or a queen bed and highly regulated AC. Pay more, walk further for “premium”, sleep little because room was always a nice balmy 80 degrees at night in our room making hard to sleep. Met some great folks and their room had it all to include a door for toilet, views of monkeys, early of am that woke me via sound not knowing or could not see and a cool “temperature”room. Can’t say “we” would stay again. First night empty fridge for “premium” and told by person who helped with bags would get tomorrow. So we had to go collect own water prior to bar closing so spouse could have coffee.. Three nights stayed one turn down”full service”, bed not made but I got a coke “gross, and chocolate left for me nothing for cowboy! Had to again go collect water for our room for night and morning coffee. No refills supplied for two nights is our stay. Eat at the steak place but be prepared to have little choices. The place beautiful, staff so nice when they see you. Those working your rooms seem to be an after thought and don’t care what you paid for. In all our travels of almost 14 years, this by far least far. Staying in a Airbnb in mount biea we paid for more than what we received as we could not even get water had to collect ourselves. Ring all adult and traveled many places all adult usually we can drink wherever and fridge always replenished as states in notes of stay and upgrade. No Sharee does it state you have to go o4 our you provided a map for all premium. All inclusive usually give card for pool towel nope not here. You deal down lots of stairs to go to beach and there is a vendor with whistle on you. I don’t care for we kindly declined as daughter can do same for us has enough beads no regulations on small beach we took pic and left. Only to learn at pool we had to go main walking many more stairs to get what we would like. Never have we ever I. All all inclusive we have paid more for and could not get an aperol spritz. I will let my director know my experience as they may not be in for same.. at least she’ll know before she goes.
Great stay, amazing staff!
Maribel T on Jun 12, 2025
Our stay was a great one! Stayed a week in June 2025. The staff really made it quite special. Three in particular were the bartenders we met, Bryan and Joaquin in the lobby bar were extremely friendly, kind, and welcoming on our first night and continued the exceptional service during our entire stay. Bryan went above and beyond to make first timers feel welcome to Costa Rica. The third was Yuediel at the pool bar. He was such a blast!!! He would greet people as they came in the area and would give the cheered goodbyes when his shift ended. He connected many guests at the bar in English and Spanish! He was the best atmosphere at the bar. He too, went above and beyond. One day they couldn’t offer a spicy guaro shot (highly recommend) the next day he made sure they were stocked! The property itself is beautiful with spectacular beach access. The food was themed each night, the Italian restaurant was wonderful. The other group of people that also deserve some attention are the entertainment staff. Unfortunately I didn’t get their names but it was two young men and young lady in particular during our stay she had some braids. They came to our table during dinner and invited all the guests to karaoke and man did they bring the lively atmosphere. They encouraged everyone and hyped everyone up when they sang. They were all around great, happy, kind, welcoming individuals really brought the guests together so it made the stay even more impactful since we all sort of bonded. The only recommendation we really have from our stay is to extend the pool hours. They closed the pools a bit too early for our liking. Along with the pool hours that should mirror the towel exchange hours as well. We would find ourselves having to keep our wet towels every night and exchanging them in the morning. Not terribly inconvenient but not ideal either. Highly recommend this resort. It’s my second time and I’ll be returning again!!
Stressful Vacation
mellanie h on Jun 09, 2025
The surrounding area is beautiful. Our room flooded twice. We switched rooms 3 times and each time was worse than the other room. Our first day there and went to the snack bar and the food was covered in flies. I would not stay here again.
not bad
MOgal22 on Jun 05, 2025
Truth be told, we stayed here for 1 night after 5 days in la fortuna. The beach was beautiful, and highlight of this stay. Would come back for the beach. The room and food were okay. Just okay though you know. Not bad for the price.
The Activity Staff Made the experience worth the stay
Navigate55302398049 on Jun 02, 2025
The Activity staff were amazing. They made the whole experience at the resort worth staying. They worked very hard and they deserve a raise if not a promotion. The Activity staff was the best department on the resort. The Activity department made sure we had the best experience. The Activity staffer who was a female with short hair, who taught the dance classes, hosted karaoke and did a million other things was Amazing. She needs to be promoted with a raise. That staff person made sure the guests enjoyed ourselves and felt comfortable. When some of the guests were rude and disrespectful she kept her professionalism and calm. I would like to give Roger the Activity staffer a virtual high five for the kayak tour. There needs to be more security guards on the resort. Some of the male guests were out of control. There was a male guest who was grabbing female guests on the resort. I was one of the females grabbed by that man. The second night the man was there, he grabbed another female guest and was kicked out of the discotheque by the security that was there that Saturday night. Security should be on the property at all times. There was another incident where a guest almost assaulted one of the staff members. Edwin the server in the buffet was amazing. He made our whole meal experience fun. The rest of the server staff need more training on patience and respect with guests. The Oriental restaurant needs to go and be replaced by a Latin fusion restaurant. The food in the Oriental restaurant took an hour to get and when we got your food is was incorrect, over cooked or raw. Everybody at my table had one or the other. Again at the Oriental restaurant some of the staff was rude. In closing the Activity staff was the best. When I think Occidental Papagayo I will think of the Activity Staff. The other people in my group feel the same way.