Occidental Papagayo reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4.0 Very Good

  • Cleanliness 4.1
  • Location 4.2
  • Rooms 3.9
  • Service 4.1
  • Value 3.8

8503 TripAdvisor reviews

TripAdvisor users rated this property 4 out of 5

I give it a 7

Delphine F on Jun 06, 2026

The people were awesome and accommodating. The place was fabulous and the grounds were kept. The food could be better. Loved room service. The drinks were too watered down. Had many drinks and no buzz?? There needs to be more activities at the pool and the lobby. The night life needs beefing up. Just not what I expected for a 5 star hotel. Overall it was just ok

TripAdvisor users rated this property 2 out of 5

Disappointed

melissahholden5 on Jun 04, 2026

The landscape is the only thing that was good about this resort. Quite boring, repairs are desperately needed, service is fair at best.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 1 out of 5

This is the most disappointing hotel experiences we have ever had

Stephanie A on Jun 02, 2026

Abril de 2026 This is the most disappointing hotel experiences we have ever had. We visited last month with very high expectations. When you read “Adults Only,” you imagine a premium, relaxing, well-organized experience designed for comfort and quality. Unfortunately, this hotel was the complete opposite. It feels more like a marketing trap than a luxury resort. Starting with check-in: the welcome was cold and unprofessional. After waiting almost an hour, we were finally taken to our room in the only internal shuttle available for the entire property — meaning guests, luggage transfers, and transportation between amenities all depend on a single vehicle. From the very beginning, everything felt understaffed and poorly managed. The food was another major disappointment. You can survive on it, but if you are traveling from another country expecting a quality culinary experience, do not come here. Most meals felt basic, repetitive, and uninspired. Some days we ate simply because we had to, not because there was actually anything appealing. The liquor selection and cocktails were equally bad. The brands served were extremely cheap and unfamiliar. We even paid extra for the “Platinum” experience expecting better quality, but the difference was almost nonexistent. The only bright spot during the entire stay was Gabriela at the VIP bar during the evenings — one of the very few employees who actually delivered kind and professional service. Service overall is terrible. Staff members constantly acted annoyed when guests asked for anything. You could clearly see frustration and attitude everywhere. One example: the wet bar regularly closed 20 minutes early because the bartender had to catch the bus — and there was apparently no backup staff. That perfectly summarizes the entire operation: the hotel cuts corners on absolutely everything, and guests are the ones who suffer the consequences. Entertainment was painfully boring. Karaoke, aerobics, activities, and shows had such little energy that most guests simply walked away and moved to another pool area instead. The rooms were another huge disappointment. We paid for one of the highest-tier beachfront rooms, and it honestly felt like staying in an outdated cheap motel from the 1990s. Not “vintage luxury” — simply neglected, old, and poorly maintained. Everything looked worn down, with no evidence of proper reinvestment into the property. Even worse, despite being in Guanacaste, the location of these “premium” beachfront rooms does not even offer a proper sunset view. The gym was shocking. Old equipment barely functioning, located inside what feels like a ranch in the middle of the jungle, no air conditioning, dirty conditions, spiders everywhere, and almost no maintenance. Completely unacceptable for a resort claiming luxury standards. But what truly made this experience unforgivable was the way management handled a lost personal belonging. We lost a very precious gift in the buffet area and reported it immediately the same day. This was not even the first time we had lost belongings at hotels — in the past, items were always recovered because staff actually cared enough to investigate. This time, cameras clearly showed where the item was left, including timestamps, yet management and security simply ignored the situation. They ignored our emails for days. We had to escalate the issue repeatedly just to get the attention of the General Manager, and even then, nothing has been solved as of today. The most frustrating part is not even the lost item itself — it is the complete lack of care, urgency, accountability, and professionalism. Honestly, it becomes concerning beyond just customer service. If they cannot properly handle a clearly documented lost item captured on camera, how would they respond to a serious emergency involving guest safety or security? We genuinely felt treated as though nationals were “less important” guests. Sadly, this was not only our perception. While speaking openly during meals, three other couples joined the conversation and shared the exact same experience. At that moment, it became obvious this was not an isolated incident — it was a pattern. We absolutely do NOT recommend this hotel. There are far better options in Guanacaste where guests are actually respected, valued, and treated with professionalism.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 1 out of 5

Do NOT Stay here!

268gaylened (Fort Saskatchewan, Canada) on Jun 01, 2026

Dirty, terrible service, food barely edible. This resort is old and needs and update and the staff is very unfriendly to Canadians. They were very friendly to the locals.

TripAdvisor users rated this property 5 out of 5

A Great Addition to Your Stay

Rhonda P (Houston, Texas) on May 31, 2026

The Spa is a great addition to your stay. The atmosphere is peaceful. We enjoyed a relaxing massage, mini facial, and sauna. Silvia and Lorena were very professional and ensured our experience was enjoyable and relaxing.

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