I really liked the 1 Bedroom Bungalows.The buffet was up and down but mostly good.The a la cartes were in the Azure section of the complex are were good also. The drinks were excellent.it is right on the beach and I have to say No comparision to Cuban beaches which are the best. Waves were there everyday.It was hot all the times as the rainy season had not started yet. The Villas section closed Monday for a renovation to the rooms, pool and restaurants.I do not know what it will be like when it opens in Oct/Nov but I expect the price will rise.Costa Rica is an expensive place mostly because everything is so far away.You really have to choose different areas and I should have gone when I was younger.

The villa itself was very nice, the food not so good. Depends on the type of vacation you are looking for weather I would recommend or not. If you are wanting to see the rainforest, volcanoes, or take a tour of the coffee and chocolate plantations I found it was just too far off the beaten path. However the river boat cruise was very enjoyable,got to see monkeys crocs and few different species of birds.

Overall we managed . The beach is nice relaxing. The villa grounds need upkeep better then what was done. The mini golf area is unusable as it is unkempt. Pool ok if you like lots of bleach I guess cloud y water dirty edges walls that you could see. The wait staff bartenders are friendly nice. The meals are ok I ate salad and fruit there beans and ham was good oh loved there meatballs. The la a carte option was grill and chill steak good the rest of my plate not the Italian loved it thumbs up but that is my opinion. They had another beach club option but menu did not appeal to me im not a fish sea food kind of person and I had steak already. As for my room dirty it maybe tidy but dirty floor was slippery when we walked into the room open no privacy to shower no hot water but one day Hydro and wifi went out touler ran on i'm guessing the bug was a cockroach and then these little things that crawled around that. Looked like ants, but they were also in our bed. Which was disgusting constantly wiping it out and make sure you wipe your feet off before you got into bed. That probably was what brought him in there. Air conditioning was good ceiling fan. The blinds were broke hubby fixed those he fixed the toilet. The little shelf underneath the sink was coming out of the wall, probably didn't even bother with that. Because he had no tools to fix that no screen on the patio. Door but in little cheap, little chairs to sit on outside which we're uncomfortable. A lot of iguanas, squirrels, nice to see the oats birds housekeeping, got late in the day, we had AI think, a couple times in the morning and they just make your bed. They don't change your sheets. We did get clean towels when we needed lots of toilet paper. After all, you hover over the toilet bowl all the time. Because whatever's in the water or food or is not nice to your system, even if you are vaccinated and have all the necessary things needed. Now, our biggest thing, when the long ride to the resort was 2 and a 1 hours plus the congestion time over in Liberia. And then when you get to the gate, they didn't have your name, did anything good thing I had in my paperwork. Another couple we spoke to, they had to sit for a while. Because they didn't have a name or they had their paperwork. But they had no listing for them. Whatsoever, then when we got there, we had to stand for 20 minutes or so I don't get checked in no communication. As to where you go, cause, you gotta go over to the other hotel. That's attached to the resort. As soon I guess to check-in. But what the purpose they had your paperwork at the other desk? When you first got there and then the guy was rude to you. It's like that there just when you first got there. After having a long flight and then another long ride and to be treated like that. When you get there, our driver from the resort. From 2 the resort did not really speak any English. So quiet ride didn't see anything as it was dark. Anyway. Uh, U. I've met a few people same thing. A lot of complaints about their rooms as well. Thank you so much. Overall, I would not go back that's the resort ask for the agency that booked. They jacked up the prices for a 3 star hotel or resort. Whatever you wanna call it very disappointed for what it costs. And then I hear what other people's paying, that's even worse.

They had another couple in our Villa the 1st night there. We had to accept a room in a complex further away that had a very bad septic smell. The next morning we still could not have our villa. That afternoon the onsite manager (Hugo) provided us with an upgraded Villa. A short time later the General Manager (Farida) came to our upgraded villa demanding that we pack up again and move to another villa. We lost the enjoyment of 2 out of 5 days of our vacation due to poor management. Overall the resort it quite nice. It is well kept and clean. Very peaceful. The staff is a little slow. The food is good. The beach is nice. Staying in a beach front Villa is the best way to go. The resort just needs a more professional general manager.

My one week stay in this resort is full of disappointment, the food is very bad, the main restarunt is closed and there is only one kitchen serving 3 meals during my entire stay. No buffet, I can choose the meal from the menu and there is no variety. Food qualit is so bad, so I need to ask the chef to customize, so I can remove the items I cannot eat and choose only a few item I can manage to eat. In my room there is a small kitchen but the stove is sealed so I cannot use the kitchen, no microwave and no coffe maker. I never recommend this hotel to anyone

. Loved: Communicating with the front desk via WhatsApp. Wifi throughout the resort. Staff No fight for chairs at pool or beach Heard howler monkeys twice but did not see them. Beach was clean. Some coral in the water but it wasn’t hard to walk in. Warm pacific water. Pool was clean. Quirks: figuring out the shower. Some days we ended up with hot water coming out of the shower head but cold water coming out of the handheld sprayer lol. Not a big deal to us. Room key stopped working twice which leads into the third and last “issue” With the room key not working I was able to gain entry easily through the patio door just the way the balcony lined up. We notified the hotel and they came and fixed it a bit but still didn’t lock. This wasn’t an issue for me- I didn’t fear for our safety at all. Short power outages a few times. Drive to hotel ended up being closer to 5 hours - this was related to traffic and not the hotel or driver. The way back to airport was more accurate, closer to 2.5 hours. Also this is a me issue for not researching it enough prior to going but I did find CR to be more expensive generally than most other countries I’ve been to. They have 13% tax and as a Canadian the exchange was 0.38 cents to the dollar so this ended up being quite more than I thought. As another example the taxi ride to Samara (3.2 km from hotel) was $12.00 usd (not including tip/tax) each way and if you want the taxi Driver to wait for you it is $25.00 usd an hour. Probably cheaper alternatives but I didn’t have any need to go into the town this time. Amstar was the company air Canada works with and we were shuttled from the airport to hotel with them. There was wifi in the van. No air Canada rep on site but available by WhatsApp and they were easy to reach. Excursions: we booked 2 through the resort and they were both great. We did the adrenaline (zip line, horse ride to waterfall, tubing, hot spring/mud) and I would recommend this to anyone that wants to do a ton of activities in a day. It was about 2.5 hour drive one way. The second was a pottery and river tour at national park. The pottery part was short and interesting. The river tour also great, we got to see white faces monkeys crocodiles iguanas and many birds. A couple we spoke to had booked some excursions off resort and said they were significantly cheaper. Food - breakfast and lunch typical buffet. Dinner had to be by reservation but was also buffet lol. I heard that you could book 2 dinners at the restaurants next door at the adults only azure restaurant. Entertainment- there was a few different people singing/ playing guitar a few times during the week we stayed. Not your typical themed big loud activities like larger resorts. Store- expensive but to be expected. We bought coffee and chocolate and had it shipped home. We haven’t received it yet but it’s only been one day since we have been back and it can take 15 days. Didn’t realize we packed expired sunscreen, I had a reaction and had to buy sunscreen here and it was $32.99 USD before taxes. It was the same price at a gas station/pharmacy when I checked another day. We booked last minute all inclusive through air Canada. All was well with in that regard.

We really lucked out with perfect weather and a villa right on the beach, where we woke up to the sound of the waves and a view of a long palm-lined beach, with hardly a soul on it. No thumping music, no "animators" trying to get the crowd excited and noisy. The beach itself is super clean, though not the expected bright white sand. The water temperature was perfect in our April 2024 visit: cool enough to refresh, warm enough to just walk in. Water was not clear enough for great snorkelling, but we did manage one decent outing in shallow water on a small reef just off the beach itself. The food was ok, the staff was super friendly, and the grounds beautiful. The best part of the food were the daily fresh mini croissants. In my opinion, it's not worth bothering with the fancy speciality restaurants. All around a lovely place to spend a week in quiet relaxation.

Hotel is on the smaller side. But that was a good thing. Great place to relax. Pool had lots of sitting.pool bar was great. Beach had lots of room and seats. Great views. Rooms were always clean. Common areas well maintained. Bar was really great drinks were excellent. Staff were all friendly. Great service.

The villas were well placed on the beach it was a lovely setting. The villas only had one outside restaurant. It could do with a couple of more restaurants or outside eating areas. It would have been better if we could have used the restaurants in the hotel where they had three restaurants which looked really lovely. The food was very good at the villas restaurant and bar and the staff were lovely. The housekeeping service was a lot to be desired we were there a week didn’t see a cleaner we went over and got a change of towels ourselves, we kept asking but it didn’t happen. A lot of the villas need an update our key didn’t work the safe did not work and the water went off twice, they did come and fix it pretty quickly. They did move us into a better one.

This was a lovely resort with all the amenities we needed. Very peaceful but also fun with great beach access and a lovely pool and spa. Food was good although menu was a bit limited but what they did offer was generally quite well done. Beautiful sunsets and lots of nature to see. The only thing missing was entertainment, it would’ve been nice to hear some live music in the evening.

It was an amazing resort food was good had lots of choices and options. They also had a Lacarte which was very good and I definitely recommend that everybody go there the pools were wonderful and clean and the staff was great and always helpful but especially the bartenders they were amazing.

Our resent trip to Costa Rica was absolutely amazing. The resort was so friendly and welcoming. The beach was nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. Very quiet and long as the eye can see. The town Samara is magical, small surf town with so many places to eat and enjoy breathtaking sunsets.

Grounds are clean and lush with palm trees and other plants. Plenty of birds sing pretty songs and even colibers fly around. Eguanas are walking around near the dining room chilling in the hot sun. There is even a friendly duck that gets fed by the guests. Bar and dining room staff is welcoming and helpful. They try to be fair and serve everyone equally regardless of how much you tip them. The cleaning ladies are polite and quiet :) ... The beach is amazing except for the murky water makes it hard to snorkel and see anything. But the sunsets over the ocean more then make up for that. The only issue I can think of I had was when we got a "Garden View Room" that had a view out to the laundry facility and parking and the generator was making noise in the afternoon. When I asked to be moved I was denied with a cold shoulder. It was a solid NO and I'm a type of guy that always 'eventually' get a room I like. Would I go back to Villas Playa Samara? YES!!! Way more good things about this resort then the few issues I had.

Overall good ! Expect friendly staff clean rooms , nice grounds , chill atmosphere, no smoking on resort expect a 2.5 hr drive from airport ! Lots of bars and restaurants 5 min taxi ride to town solid 3.5 star

This resort was very nice. It was neat and clean and employees were courteous. Rooms were clean and well appointed. We were disappointed about the amount of chairs available at the beach- this could definitely be improved. There is no entertainment with the exception of a soloist performing at dinner. Also no disco so keep this in mind when booking. This resort is also quite far away from any excursions you may want to take. Overall though we had a wonderful time at the resort and in Costa Rica. What a beautiful country!

Coles notes.... upon arrival be prepared to wait for your rooms 3 hours average we saw most incoming guests surprised and upset about this including us..lesson in patience...Resort clean.. food was repetitive but very good. No smoking at this resort very little service .even if you tip..get your own drinks..food..wait for all other services...must be patient All tours off resort...hundreds of us dollars..car rental in town better..very beautiful country..great weather

We enjoyed our stay at Playa Villas Samara. The beach was awesome, great for walking early in the day or at sunset. The pool was immaculate. The dining room was open air with overhead fans. The food was OK. There was always an assortment of fresh fruit, the desserts were delicious and the main course always had something appealing. The bartenders made delicious coladas; my favourite was a mango colada. The staff was pleasant and helpful. On the downside, it was very far away from any of the Costa Rican attractions. You were looking at a drive of 4 hours for the most popular. The resort did not offer any non motorized water equipment included in your stay.

Much better thank we accepted good to very good. Rain was 🔥.No hummidyty, green and fresh air .Perfect service ,some people's slow,but is Central America, maniana is normal ,and very OK when Is vacation TIME. BIG THANK YOU. Val

We travelled during the rainy season but that did not dampen our experience of the hotel or CR. The villas are super - spacious, clean, comfy bed. We were directly on the ocean and had ocean views out each window. Staff are polite and very accommodating. If you don't like your room, ask for a change. The food...wow! All a la carte due to quiet season, and every dish was 5 star. And the coffee...top notch machine so you can make yourself cappuccinos all day long. I cannot recommend this place enough - if you are a laid back, low key traveller who wants peace and quiet to enjoy CR, then this is the place for you. If you're looking to be entertained with music and games, go elsewhere. Grounds are beautiful and the whole place is reminiscent of a bygone era. Big thank you to all staff at villas playa samara!

The hotel is a dump pulling up... the lobby is small so there's no where to hang out.. the town is way too small.. not enough restaurants/ shops. The food/drinks are good and the staff are very nice... they won't let you smoke there and they will try to rip you off left and right. Avoid this place.

Great remote location to relax, If your looking for a place to unwind this is it. Beach was excellent , people were friendly, the gym and some rooms were tired and aging though. Monkey tours company had great excursions if you keep at them to get enough people for minimum tour size. Keep in mind its a 2+ hour drive from Liberia airport. ( Diego at the swim up bar is the best )

We traveled as a family of eight for a one week stay at this resort. Four adults and four children (ages 4-8). We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The resort is about a 2 hour bus ride from the airport, so travel days are long. We stayed in a one bedroom bungalow. There was a queen bed and two single beds. Perfect for two adults and two kids. The room was nice and the service was good. The staff are very helpful and pleasant. They were very patient with the kids as they ordered their Shirley Temples. There is no kids program or evening entertainment. That was fine for us, but other travelers might miss it. Both the beach and the pool are great, lots of swimming, walking, and search for seashells and crabs. We went on two excursions, one was on a riverboat where we saw lizards, bats, monkeys, crocodiles, and lots of birds. It was a full day and lots of fun. The second excursion shouldn't be missed. It was an evening excursion (about 20 minutes from the resort) where we saw young sea turtles being released into the ocean, and witnessed a mature sea turtle laying her eggs. It was one of the highlights of the trip. We did not use the al a carte restaurant. The buffet was great, they change it up every day, and the food is high quality.

Good: Quiet hotel, the food (at the start of the trip), the weather. Wi-Fi worked in room. Pool was nice and clean! Appreciate the swim up bar Bad: The food (buffet). Limited drink options (bar closes at 10 pm) only one restaurant (there were times where no food was available). The beach (full of rocks & logs). Everything closes at 10pm including all restaurants. No entertainment staff or night life at all. Location (anything worth walking to is 30 minute + walk). Major construction next door as a new hotel is being built. Any excursion that visits a volcano is a 3+ hour drive, hotel is 2.5 hour drive from Liberia Airport Ugly: Bugs found in room (cockroaches), geckos/spiders/snake all found in rooms. Verdict: Comes down to what you paid, I found a great last minute deal and lucked out with perfect weather so I enjoyed my trip. Would be careful booking here..

Good food, nice room, friendly staff. Beautiful beach with beautiful horses coming to visit daily. Only downfall was too few beach chairs and the day they ran out of beer in one of the bars. Fixed that by getting in cans. Real nice walk along the beach to town.

Everything was nice, but the restaurant menu could have more choice. The villas were nice, big, comfortable, beautiful interior, there was coffee maker, but only one package of coffee for the whole stay .

False advertising: stated buffet and lunch dinner but only breakfast buffet. Lacarte lunch and dinner same munu everyday. Very little choices no vegetables. Reheated food again and again. Some menu items not available. 99% of the staff has no idea about hotel management nor do they understand English. Only plus was the room was ok but some towels were not good condition. Roof in the verendah was leaking, no hangers in the room. No telephone for emergency though from the reception. Will never use aircanada vacation. Kept at the airport waiting for others but not even a bottle of water provided. Our money and phone was stolen at the nearby beach (not the hotel) terrible people. Tripcentral price was higher than aircanada website promised to match but did not

This place will be amazing when all the villas are renovated. As of right now though it is still really nice and better then some larger 4 star all inclusive resorts. We stayed here May 15-22 with a 4 year old and 2 year old. The staff were amazing with our boys and the beach was great for them to run and find shells. There was only about 30 people staying at the resort and so there was no buffet and every meal was a la carte. The food was the best I have ever had and we were blown away by the a la carte suppers. The shrimp were enormous. The snacks and lunches were basically pub food but was as good or better then most Canadian restaurants. Javier was the best and friendliest waiter and was on top of his game. He was very patient and friendly with my 2 year old also. Service was at the forefront for us. We were in an unrenovated villa and just asked for a room with a tv for our kids for some quiet time before bed and Andrey the concierge hooked us up with one of their renovated one bedroom villas on the beach. It was literally the best room on the whole resort. We were 20 yards to the beach and since it is such an intimate resort we were still only 100 yards from the restaurant and 60 from the pool. Everything is nice and close unlike the huge resorts. There is construction going on next door on the sister resort but it was nothing very intrusive. They are also busy renovating many other villas and they are huge and beautiful when they are finished. The ones that aren't complete yet are still very nice and nothing to complain about. There are iguanas everywhere which the kids loved seeing and the beach has horses running down the beach from a farm where they escaped. We were able to see howler monkeys just beside the resort and across the road and Brainer the security guard showed us pictures of a monkey right in the middle of the resort by the beach. This is something that adds to the reasons to choose Costa Rica as a vacation destination. The pool was nice with the shallow entry for the kids and the waterfalls and jacuzzi area kept them entertained. Marcos, Allan, and Javier were great in the pool bar even though they had to double between there and the lobby bar. We never had to wait more then a few minutes for a drink and Marcos is an artist with the detail he puts into his drinks. We had the best all inclusive vacation ever here because of the beauty of Costa Rica and this resort being so empty. It is safe enough to be able to walk outside the resort and check out Samara and Carrillo Beach. The cons are the 5 hour flight and 2 hour bus ride. Even though the drive is long it is beautiful and there is tons of amazing landscapes and towns to see. A perfect resort for honeymooners and people looking for a quiet vacation at a picturesque intimate resort.

I loved this small resort that was within 1 minute walk of the pool and beach. The meals were delicious with lots of variety. The beach sand in front of the resort had no stony or rocky areas - beautiful sand with shallow water extending 50-75 ft out - great for kids. Water has some larger waves so knowing the tides is important. Resort rooms were roomy but basic - lovely showers and King beds - mattress could have been more comfy and pillows were not great. Staff were VERY friendly and helpful. Dinner entertainment was very nice. Since we went in the off season (early May), excursions sold at the resort were based on minimum numbers. HIGHLY recommend Canopy Tours Ziplining and surfing lessons in very near by Samara village. I would definitely return to this resort!

Had a wonderful time at this cozy resort. We had a family group of 22 people in age range from 7 months to 64 years and everyone and I mean everyone had a fun time. Felt very safe and comfortable. Staff so helpful and so pleasant.Great beach, great food with a good variety. Especially liked the snack time fare in the afternoon....Yummy burgers, nachos, fries etc. Super pool bartender . I hope to be back soon. Sue

WOW.... we had such an amazing time at Hotel Villas Playa Samara. There is a real family atmosphere at the resort and because of this we met so many wonderful people during our stay. The pool bar is the highlite, because it is so hot we made our way to the pool bar by 10:30am, where we stayed most of the day. Eduardo, my friend with the biggest smile. Marcos makes the best mojito's and Allan a favourite for the colourful shots. They are an amazing crew managing the pool bar and the dinning area. Do not expect speedy service, they should have at least 2 ppl serving the pool bar. They do their best but more help would be wise. Order 2 drinks at a time! The beach was amazing, a few people experienced some jelly fish stings, not a big deal, have the staff cut you a lime and place it on the sting area. GONE!!!! Our room was spectacular, we were in a newer building! Stunning rooms! They were cleaned daily and provided clean towels. Hot water everyday, never an issue. Thank you to the staff for ensuring our stay was memorable. They are building a new hotel, so there is some construction but i was never bothered by it. Wifi was available and we found it was much better at the beach and in the room. A few monkey's made their way into the resort, they were having a lot fun jumping from limb to limb. We did walk the beach to town, about 30minutes, go early it is hot.If you walk back make sure you begin your journey before the tide comes in, otherwise you may find it difficult. Cabs are easy to get and it is a 5 minute drive. Rages from $6 - $12 US depending on the number of ppl. Its worth it to exchange US to their currency. You will get more value for your money. See horses are on the beach everyday and in town, they walk right up main street!! Town is safe, everyone is wonderful. If you are looking for some comforts of home, go so Nikki at Arriba sports bar. AWESOME!! http://arriba.isamara.co/#/Arriba If your looking for an ATV excursion go so Issac and Christian at the OUTBACK adventure. They will take care of all your needs. https://outbackquads.com/ If you are comfortable driving in the country, rent a car, drive to all the excursions and pay a minimal fee $10. I would definitely return to this resort!!!

First visit to Costa Rica, amazing country, the town of Samara is super hipster. LUV Burger is AMAZING organic vegetarian food! As for the resort Playa Samara Villas. We learned very quickly to hang our beach towel each day as there were many people who went 3 days with no towel at all! The food is decent but it is the exact same thing every day. Open air buffet so there are a lot of bugs flying in the food. Updated rooms are very nice but the older ones are filthy. (ie couch and curtains) Limited drink choices and the bartenders are definitely not in a hurry. It would be nice if the hotel offered kayaking or paddle boards inclusive. Chair shortage so get it before 7:30 am on the beach. I would not return to this resort but I will definitely visit Costa Rica again and stay in hostels.

We were not sure as we were suppose to be in the new sister resort but choose to go anyway. We like small resorts. We were very happy we did. Resort was better then expected. We had a one bedroom Villa. Had living room, kitchen, deck, lovely big bedroom and bathroom. The bed for me was not that comfortable. The buffet was limited. Always found something to eat or went into town for a snack. Bar was limited. No premium drinks again we would just pick up what we wanted in town. Service was good, the staff worked hard and did their best. It goes high on my list as I would return. Costa Rica is beautiful and clean. Walked the beach everyday to the town. You need water shoes here. Beautiful to see the natural beauty. Horses walking on the beach, the monkey’s, beautiful birds and butterfly’s. Lot’s to see and do. I will return to Costa Rica.

I did have a good week at this resort, but - Construction - so very noisy - after all i was there to rest. I was disappointed about that. - Food was not the best, and sometimes trying too hard to be "american" when really Costa Rican real food would have been great. - Maybe propose nuts and cereals in the morning rather than cold cuts? - Hard to get coffee/tea/cream sometimes... Plusses - Costa Rican are very nice people, and I found them really honest, which was refreshing - My room was really nice and clean. The odd bug, but nothing serious - Beautiful beach, although the water was not the cleanest... I guess with all the fisherman boats around, it's normal. We went on a different beach one day, and it was simply gorgeous! The bus ride to get to the resort was great, but the bus ride back to the airport was horrible. The driver, a young man, was not feeling well we were told. However, when I complained he was going over the limit and people were getting sick, he basically slowed down a bit and stopped going crazy around the bends. However he ignored the speed limits! i am not usually so sticky about speed limits, but when it says school zone and its says 25km and he goes 60km/h, I get concerned. Or when he goes 80 in a 40 zone, I am worried. Although I told the guide about it, he continued driving like that. I felt it was arrogance that comes with being young... Once he passed someone and got back on the right right on time, with the car coming the other way beeping his horn big time! Taking unnecessary risks really. I feel this driver needs a talk for sure. Thank you. C. Devaud

Loved this place. Very small resort, easy walk from our cute little villa to the pool and the ocean. Our room and the resort were kept very clean. The food was great! Always a good selection and variety. Chicken, beef and fish always tasted great and were cooked in different ways. Lots of fresh fruit and salad selections. We have been to many resorts, but the staff at this resort went above and beyond any resort we have been to. Fransella and Danni at the front desk, Sergio from Monkey Tours, Remi from Monkey Tours, Marcos the bartender at the swim up bar and many others that I just can't remember their names. We had a few glitches with our air conditioner and safe and they came within 15 minutes and had things fixed up. We loved the beach. Water was clear and warm. We were able to walk the beach into the little town of Samara. Beautiful walk along the ocean. A few rocky patches, but I was still able to walk in my bare feet. The beach in front of resort was beautiful sand and waves for swimming. We walked 10 minutes down the road from the resort to another beautiful beach. Very peaceful place to relax and fall in love with Costa Rica.

We had an amazing family vacation here. It was the perfect spot for 21 of us aged 7 months to 64 years old. After a bit of confusion with the rooms when checking in, Andreas went out of his way to make sure it got settled promptly. We soon found our way around the resort which is the perfect size and very well laid out. The pool is a very good size and never was terribly busy. The wet bar was great except the bartender, Marcos was at times overworked. Though he never hesitated to serve you your drink with a smile. Marcos was awesome. His drinks were over the top! Our villa was absolutely perfect for what we needed. The bed was very comfy and the a/c was much appreciated and needed to sleep. We were happy with the dining room. Food was good and even sometimes great. Always plenty to go around. The staff were excellent, especially Eduardo who always seemed to go out of his way to please us. At times they seemed a bit overworked but they always served you with a smile. I don't think I have ever seen such hard working staff that were so happy. The entertainment in the evenings was very good. Unfortunately it ended a bit early at 9pm. We went out to the bar The Flying Taco in Samara a few times as we weren't ready to stop the party at 9pm. It was lots of fun and just a short 7$ taxi ride away. The beach was always clean. The water, although nice and warm was a bit murky I found. We much preferred to take the 5 minute bus ride to Carillo where the beach is amazing and the waves a lot of fun to play in. The security guard at the beach front area (I believe his name was Brenev) was the nicest guy. He was quick to answer all our questions, joked around with us and always had a smile. My family did a few excursions. One was off shore fishing and the other was zip lining. Both were very good and worth the price. Also huge shout out to Raphael who does the kayak tours. He was so kind and helpful when it came to educating us about Costa Rica. His knowledge of the area abundant and was much appreciated. In general I would say I was completely satisfied with my stay here. We were all sad to leave and hope to go back maybe even next year. It was worth the 2 hour drive from Liberia which was part of the adventure! The staff really made it a great experience but it is also a beautiful location. We felt extremely safe and travelled many times off the resort to Carillo and to Samara. I never felt uncomfortable and the locals were always friendly and accommodating. I would give our vacation a 5*+ because of the resort/staff and location. I would give the resort a 3.5 - 4*

Staff are super friendly and helpful, however there is only one bartender at the pool bar which means that he is constantly working like crazy to cater to everyone's needs, the very least would be to have 2. Villa was nice , however didn't get new towels on 2 of the days. Food was ok, considering it's a resort. Atmosphere was good however there lacked activities during the days , they should have someone animating or something to get people moving and meeting one another , rather than just everyone drinking in the pool . I could see water aerobics in the morning due to the average age of clientele . They had big fires on two occasions on the beach, however I think most guests were not made aware which resulted in a handful of people going . Pool was very hot. Final and most important remark, there is a big resort addition being built right next door , so there is noise all day from construction. We also met guests that were duped and had booked rooms in the new addition, even though it hadn't been finished. Ownership seems to be misleading people...

During our stay the visit was so pleasant - the room was very clean and spacious - we were in 3505 villa and outstanding staff that cleaned our room - we really enjoyed the food and there was plenty of it for everyone - the variety was very good - the a la carte restaurant was also very good - the grounds were so clean and very nice to see how the staff looked after the grounds - we both love small resorts and this had everything that we needed and then some

Upon arriving I was nervous but the minute you step off the bus they have people making sure every need and question is answered. Every little detail is tended to the people that are amazing I had tons of questions which they already had the answers to before I even asked the resort was the up most refreshing environment. I felt safe I felt comfortable I felt relaxed. The staff were the up most friendliest and helpful. The food was an amazing assortment of flavors and textures and even if there was nothing there that appeased your appetite they, accommodated your needs

We were in villa 11A which I highly recommend. We went Mar 4/18-Mar 11/18. Beautiful weather and landscape. Resort was not busy which was fine for us. There is construction next to the main building (a new resort) and there was construction noise not overbearing but there. Food was ok, nothing remarkable. Looking at previous reviews, we were apprehensive on our choice, but we were not surprised either way...good nor bad. A new guest services manager and a new food and beverage manager had just started a week prior to our visit, so perhaps improvements will be in the future. Housekeeping was adequate. There are only 2 bars, the pool and main. Pool bar closes at 6pm. Time for us to get drinks was not terrible, but we did have to wait. I would expect if the rsort was busier waits would also be longer. The grounds were nice, except for the pool and main building area. Lots of birds and bird do-do. At no time during the week was the patio/pool area washed down....which would have been nice. Staff were great with special recognician to Andre (front desk), Thaddius (new guest services manager) and Victoria and Marco (pool bar). Beautiful area, 1/2hour walk to Samara of 15 minutes to Carillo Beach which is beautiful. With some attention to food and drink and cleaning the grounds, this would be a huge benefit to the guests. Definately 3 to 3.5 stars, better food would bring it to 4 plus. But anything higher would require renos to most villas and increased guest services.

Location can't be beat - on one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. Beach is over 3 km long with the resort at one end and the little town of Samara at the other about a half an hour walk away. The water was warm and the sunsets were amazing. Grounds are well kept. The resort is upgrading the villas and a number of them have been turned into rooms which allows them to increase their occupancy, There was a buffet and an a-la-carte restaurant. Food was good but service was spotty and you would have sometimes wait for plates or cups. The bars tended to back up and waits for drinks could be lengthy. This could be solved by adding an additional bar-tender and dishwasher. The drinks, once you got them, were good. A sister resort is being built next door and how much this impacts your say will depend on the location of your villa in regards to the new resort. We had to go to the front desk every day to ask for towels and face clothes. When they arrived at our room they were fresh from the dryer, obviously they need to increase their supplies. Staff were generally friendly and when asked would do their utmost to comply with your request. With the great weather, beach and location you can enjoy your stay if you don't let these inconveniences bother you.

On the plus side, we enjoyed the hotel services in general. The highlight was the excellent prepared meals. The chef was very imaginative and creative. We particularly enjoyed the Italian themed Friday meals. As an example, the beef Ossobuco in tomato sauce was authentic Italian fare, with the meat balls as well as a very surprising eggplant parmesan. The grounds are kept very clean and tidy. The villas are spacious and very comfortable. Our unit had new kitchen and bathroom fixtures. The pool is a very good size. The staff is very friendly, courteous and accommodating. They aim to please. On the minus side is the Air Canada experience. We booked in August 2017, and when we arrived at the ticket counter, my wife and I were informed that our seats were not next to each other. This is not acceptable for an all-inclusive vacation package, As experienced. vacationers for the past 10 years we had that never happen to us before. This was our first Air Canada vacation and frankly we do not anticipate taking another. The seating situation, the cramped quarters of the Airbus. A319 without a video screen for entertainment are too spartan for a comfortable vacation, All-inclusive vacations experiences should begin at the gate, and not only when you arrive at the hotel. We were on the plane for 6.5 hours approximately, gate to gate. Air Canada needs to drastically improve its guest treatment or get out of the vacation packages business altogether. We would recommend this hotel but suggest that they do not book with Air Canada.

Location, location, location. People, people, people. the greatest strengths of this resort. The beach was clean, quiet and peaceful. Virtually everyone from dining to mtce. were warmly receptive. The food was remarkable and surprisingly never repeated in our 10 day stay. Simple evening entertainment during dinner was a perfect blend of variety. Indeed on Valentines Day there was a fabulous beach bonne fire, entertainment, blankets and drinks. This resort COULD BE SO VERY MUCH MORE however. It's infrastructure is weak. No loaner bikes or paddle boards as advertised. Bed linens and towels are old, grey and thin. Water and power supply are oddly sporadic with no backup generators. Guaranteed water will be off at night time a few evenings per week. important to know if you 'need' the toilet. We experienced a 5am-11am planned power outage by the local hydro, for which the resort make no apparent backup plans. Phones are non-existent on site. Our washroom a breeding ground for small black winged drain moths. It would seem this older side of the resort may be a cash-cow for the new development adjacent. The departure tax was a conundrum. The TripCentral agent did not know that the tax was pre-paid by Air Cananda, basic information that would have save waiting in a hot line at Liberia.

This Hotel/Resort was grossly misrepresented by the Air Canada Vacations Sun Collection Brochure. It was not a 4 star, or even a 3 star hotel. They did not offer the promised extras like non-motorized water sports, bicycles, boogie boards, stand-up paddle boards, deluxe renovated rooms, or preferred room location. There is a brand new hotel being built right against it (50 feet away) and we had constant dust, and construction noise 7 days a week from 6:30 am until 9 pm daily. We did not get moved to a renovated room with promised TV, ceiling fan and mini fridge until day 4 of our vacation. There was not an Air Canada employee as our destination representative. The Rep. worked for a company called Swiss Travel Costa Rica and only act as an Air Canada Rep., and we don't feel he could do anything to help us with our complaints and problems. We have forwarded a detailed complaint letter to the Trip Central customer service email (customerservice@tripcentral.ca)

Hotel Villas Playa Samara is the smallest resort that I've been to, but the amenities (restaurant, pool, bars) were on par with the number of guests. The staff were welcoming and friendly, our renovated room was very nice and spacious and the food was great! The beach was by far the best thing about the resort-expansive, very clean and not overly crowded. I would suggest they invest in more lounge chairs for the beach area-it was nearly impossible to find a chair after 7am (this was also due to the fact that some guests saved chairs and then didn't use them).

pleasant small hotel, so the place never few over crowded. people are friendly and delicious foods. Hotel 2hrs drive away from airport. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This is a small, quiet Resort. We had a one room Villa. The Beach is very child safe, clean and not too busy. The Resort has only one Buffet Dining and one A La Carte Restaurant. The Buffet has a good Fruit and Salad selection every day and good selection of International cuisine daily. The A La Carte had poor service, it overbooked and very limited menu. Room was very clean although the Maids sometimes forgot to leave towels. I would rate this Resort 3 Star. I would recommend it.

we went there for one week in the end of July 2017. we were never told neither by AIR CANADA Vacations nor TRIP CENTRAL about any construction taking place at this resort during our stay..we were told about some construction and possible small noises as we arrived by shuttle bus from the airport upon arrival to this resort. we stayed in the east corner of the resort with constant noises from nearby construction starting at 6am daily. it was not possible to relax and sleep in the early mornings as we heard continous constuction noises coming from near by site which belongs to the same resort... the whole resort is very nice,staff is super friendly and professional. nature is amazing and rooms are clean. food is good,service superb. our room was always cleaned well and on time. night music and singing at 9pm was nice and we saw the staff really doing their best. pool was clean,beach was very nice..

Bonjour, J'ai passé 8 jours au l'hotel à Playa Samara pour le moment et oui il y a des travaux de construction Un superbe chantie, job commance a 6-00 AM et pendant tout la journée j'ai attend l'exavateur , drill ect. Il est bien situé à la sortie de la ville, et pas très loin de la plage, à environ 2 minutes de marche Les personnels souriant et respectueux, et la nature abondante , le service internet wi fi gratuit, la chambre était très bien le service de nettoyage était assez bien.

Great week, no line ups, fantastic food, nightly entertainment, super service from the front desk people and the servers, who could ask for more. The room/townhouse complete with kitchen was clean well set up and everything worked all the time. It had a great view of the beach and was surrounded by nature, with many of the great birds, reptiles, and animals common to Costa Rica all around us. Many great walks on the long and amazing beach, c/w nightly sunsets and daily horse visits, and swimming in the warm ocean made for lots of fun. We explored town, rented quads for some back country exploring, walked to the neighbouring beach, bought fresh fruit from street venders, went on a fishing excursion, rented kayaks to explore the local island on our own, and of course spent some time at the pool bar. Check in and check was seamless and the 2 hr drive was a great opportunity to see more of the country side on a very comfortable bus. Thank you Playa Samara for a great week in your beautiful country.

The staff is great, villas are beautiful, food is very good but there's not a big variety of food. Quiet resort, offers one intertainer a night and a variety of excursions during the day. The beach is beautiful and the village of Samára is just a couple of kilometres down the beach for the people who want to explore the area.

This is a nice, very quiet hotel. The staff are really nice, the food is good and fresh, the villas, rooms and the pool are beautiful and clean. You get to see lots of different animals. Beach is wonderful. Not the place to go if you're looking for night life and entertainment though.

We stayed in a 1 bedroom recently renovated villa with a Garden view. Resort is small and everything is within easy walking distance. Buffet was great with 1 a la carte restaurant. Parts of the resort are under construction near the entrance. Beach was nice and not crowded. Not the white sand and clear waters of the Caribbean.

This quiet resort was just what we were looking for. Close enough to a local town to walk and explore, small enough to not be busy all of the time and good food selections. We enjoyed our time, though some of the website information is very misleading (ie they have no hammocks, you're not able to rent water equipment from the resort). You are able to book excursions right on site. Aside from Javier, the staff was mediocre and it's mostly on you to get another drink at the bar if you'd like it, instead of them bringing one too you. Overall we had a good time and it lives up the the three stars

My husband and I enjoyed the resort's grounds. However, they are in the process of building more rooms and it's quite unpleasant to be in the middle of renovations. Also, even though the beach is long and beautiful, there are rocks right in front of the beach property and it is unpleasant to go into the water (which is merky and has lots of seaweed at the shore). Wouldn't visit the same resort, but I would definitely go back to Costa Rica!

Just came back from a fabulous stay at Hotel Villas Playa Samara. When we arrived at the airport there were 2 buses waiting for us to take us to the town of Samara. The bus ride is 2 hours but very comfortable air conditioned bus and you get to drive through valleys and little towns with pretty views. The hotel check-in was fast and efficient. Now the food, oh the food is fantastic!! they have all the basics covered and everyday there was a STAR of the show. Everything is fresh and local. Every day they had a different local fruit drink including mango, papaya, watermelon. All the staff work really hard to make everyone happy. The Pina Coladas and Strawberry Ds were the best I've had at a resort made with real fruit!! the beer was cold and refreshing. The desserts were mouth watering. We were extremely with happy food and service. The little casita we got was two bedroom with 2 beds for my kids and a full kitchen. It was always clean and relaxing with the rooms that you sleep had A/C for comfortable sleeping. It was facing the ocean and had a little porch where you could just sit and relax. At night we fell asleep with the sound of the waves. It is that close! The beach is very nice but you do need your water shoes. If you forget these you can walk towards the town. There is no coral at the beach near the town or you can always buy some shoes at the local town. We went on two tours. The snorkel and kayak which was very good and the dolphin tour that stole the week! we got to see a group of about 30 dolphins. They were beautiful and playful with the boat. The gardens are covered with mango and other fruit that you can pick. And you get to see all kinds of iguanas and once we had a monkey on one of the trees. Overall, we had a great time and would defenetly recommend it.

We stayed at the resort from march 11-19 : Great location on the beach and walking distance to Samara. We loved the food but it can get repetitive. The staff was friendly and very helpful - Thanks Marcos and Daniel for the exceptional service! We felt a little pushed aside when there was a wedding on the resort, but we ended up eating at a good restaurant called gusto beach in Samara (the food was excellent)! The kayak/snorkling excursion was fun and surfing was great for beginners! If you ever decide to go to this resort, bring water shoes!

This little resort was nice. The food was really good, the rooms clean and the pool and beach were good - although the sand was too hot to walk on and the sand in the water was full of shells and rocks - we needed water shoes. It was also too cloudy to see any fish. The restaurant buffet area is tiny but it wasn't crowded most of the time. On our final day they ran out of food several times unfortunately. It is a very quiet place without any entertainment at night and zero kids activities but decent wifi. There are no other hotels or resorts close by and it's almost 3 hrs from the airport - it feels very remote and one can really relax here.

The resort was lovely and fairly well kept. The staff was wonderful, accommodating and fun. It was a 2 hour drive from the Liberia airport but a pretty drive. The rooms could use an update and a note thorough cleaning each day. The beach was beautiful, quiet and had a great view of the sunset. The food was good, a variety of foods more often would have been nice. The pool was great and the swim up bar was fantastic. There was not much entertainment (live music 3-5 times when we were there) or activities to do/rent on the beach. There needs to be more beach chairs as well. There was construction beside the resort but it wasn't too bothersome. It was a beautiful 40 min walk down the beach to the town where there are cute bars, surfing, kayaking and restaurants. All in all it was a great experience.

This was my second time in Costa Rica and I was pleasantly surprised by this resort. Villas are spacious and clean, grounds are beautiful, food was plentyful and delicious. Staff was friendly and efficient. The beach was breathtaking - but watershoes are a must because of the rocks/corals on it. The resort is located at a conveninent 30 min walk on the beach from the town of Samara where you can find great restaurants, and many small shops. I would go back in a heart beat.

Highly recommend this resort. No complaints about anything. Resort is small, staff very accommodating, clean. Relaxing atmosphere, beautiful beach. Quiet, lots of day excursions available. Very hot, not a drop of rain. Keep hydrating. Food good, much better than Cuba or Dominican. Might be a little too quiet atmosphere for some.

This resort was more than I expected. When we arrived it was sunset and I must say It was breath taking. The beach was fantastic. The wild horses on the beach where so great to admire. They where right at home. The room was great. It was a type of small villa. Only 25 min walk to the village of Samara on the beach. Food was ok. The staff at front desk and for the tours where fabulous, they really know how to make you feel at home.

Beautiful resort! Landscaping is lovely and the resort is situated on a lovely huge beach. The staff were very helpful, the decor in our room was lovely. we had the most wonderful view of the ocean and sunset every night! Considering there were only 2 restaurants, there was a good variety of tasty food every day. Being an animal lover, I loved having beach dogs and kitties around to spoil since I missed my own from home. Also, some local horses got loose and had a wonderful romp up and down the beach one afternoon. Quite a wonderful sight! However, it would be nice if they had a different bartender in the main bar. He totally cleans his station every time he makes a drink, BEFORE he gives you your drink! Also, the resort needs some TLC such as more chairs by the beach and replace the broken ones! Pads for the chairs would be nice as well. Replace burned out lights, especially on the walkways and by the pool. And no TV or telephones in any of the rooms that I saw. While this may not bother many folks, I did feel a bit out of touch with the world and had to walk to the reception for any issues encountered.

Hotel Villas Playa Samara was perfect. The beach was large and mainly unoccupied, with no vendors; the swimming and snorkelling was safe and the food was super delicious!! The chef prepared a beautifully cooked black sea bass for the buffet one evening and it was the best fish I'd ever tasted. There was always lots of healthy food (great salads, mains and desserts), the staff was terrific and the grounds were clean, green and well maintained. We requested a renovated garden villa well in advance and also requested it when we arrived. Despite this we ended up in an older style garden villa but it was fine and the air conditioner worked well. Overall the value of this resort is really good so no worries about which villa to stay in. Lots of birds to see and Isla Chora is a short 10 minute kayak away. My only criticism is that the bikes, SUPs and kayaks that were showing included on the Air Canada site are no longer available. Instead of doing the kayak tour I rented a kayak for the price of $10 an hour from Carmen and was able to kayak and snorkel at Isla Chora three mornings during our stay. The kayak/snorkel can be done in an hour. If you have snorkel gear bring it and you may see lots of fish and perhaps a turtle or two. Andre at the front desk was great and Julian our waiter was lovely. I would definitely return to this resort.

I'm glad I only listened to the good reviews. We stayed for two weeks and the resort was so wonderful with the lush grounds, great beach to walk, good food, good drinks, beautiful room in the luxury suites. The whole staff was wonderful, especially Arianna at the breakfast and lunch bar. She always had a big, wonderful smile to greet us with. The cultural entertainment in the evening was great at the dinner hour. The pool with pool bar was good also, but we are definitely beach people. From the beach you can walk 5-10 minutes and see the howler monkeys and then twenty minutes the other way is the beach town of Samara. On the beach is where all the action was with wild horses up and down the beach all day and all the iguanas on the property. I would definitely return to this more intimate resort.

It was all good. Just as expected. Friendly staff. Got a room upgrade. It's Costa Rica, Yah. All the neigh sayors people on here, please stay away. I will be back. Some great tours to be had. Shop around though, better deals in town. Some great food and entertainment in Samara as well.

The purpose of our vacation was to relax and basically enjoy the sun and beach. This resort has lots of that. The positives, very clean, nice staff, gorgeous grounds, awesome beach, safe, awesome sunsets, beautiful weather. Negatives, not much really, however many kids on weekends who take over the pool, the pool bar, and pool area. For us we enjoy the beach so not an issue. The other minor issue was the choice of food, it's pretty basic, but always fresh, plentiful and satisfactory. The reservation restaurant is poor, extremely basic and not work the visit. Overall if you want a quiet relaxing, walk the beach and get sun vacation, then this is the place.

Our stay was very pleasant.The staff at this resort is really nice and accommodating and the food and drinks are great! Samara is a gorgeous beach community so go exploring and you'll find some real gems. They really should clean up the beach surrounding the hotel, it's a pity that it isn't really usable.

Iguanas everywhere, underfoot, fresh fruit heaped high... fish on the grill..drinks in-hand, BEST beach sand, between our toes, palm trees waving, Birds heard, birds seen, birds delight, Smiling ticos, Walking slow, Pura vida means breathing in, breathing out, we know that Samara is a perfect place, Happiness beneath blue skies.

The thing we liked most about the resort was it's connection to the outdoors. The lobby, bars and restaurant are essentially under a canopy and even the villas can be opened to the magnificent outdoors.

Lovely small resort. Very relaxing and laid back. Beautiful beach. Food was good but did get very sick the first day. When talking to others turns out a lot of people were I'll during their stay. Service was good and room was clean.

travelled with adult Son and Wife, (stayed in two Villas), loved everything about this hotel: friendly staff, wonderful villas, great food and perfect location..... will definitely return next year!!!

Great villa, fantastic staff and the a la carte restaurant was phenomenal!! Note to those travelling - this resort is 2 hours from the airport, and therefore most excursions will take 2 - 2 1/2 hours to get you there. But it is a great place to go and relax and enjoy the hot sun :)

Beach: Clean, view is beautiful but the water is murky due to volcanic ash washing into the ocean. There is cleaner, quieter beach to the left of the cliff. You can walk, bike or get a taxi there. It isn't far. There is no beach bar or music to relax to. We met a Canadian living in Costa Rica and he said that the beaches in Samara are the nicest compared to Tamarindo and other areas that are more up north. Pool: Only one pool and pool bar. The drinks are way better when their ordered there. Snacks are pretty good (hamburger was tasty). Bartenders seem disorganized and confused about how to efficiently take orders and serve patrons. And there being a language barrier at times makes things a little bit more difficult. Either way try a MICHALADA (beer, lime juice, salt and tabasco). Service: Some servers were awesome while others didn't speak English and had no sense of urgency. It could be that they were not trained properly by new management that has taken over. Overall, if you're patient, you will get what you ordered. Food: Good selection, good quality for breakfast/lunch/dinner. Desserts were lacking in flavour/variety. Everything is all naturally grown and the chicken/beef are all farm raised. Juices had pulp and tasted freshly squeezed. Rooms: We had room 474, it had a TV, king bed and everything was modern and clean but it did not have a view. However, others we spoke to did not have a TV and/or there were other issues or the room looked older than ours. Hotel: Pretty far from any place you really want to go to. It is a 2.5 ride from the airport and pretty much anywhere you go for an excursion. Roads are curvy and bumpy so be prepared. You may get car sick, make sure you take gravol. Wifi available at reception and in rooms but some areas may lack a strong signal. Felt safe at this hotel - security at entrance wise. Do not go walking at night on the beach with your personal belongings, a guest had her purse stolen while walking back with her friends. Lost her passport, wallet, ID and had to travel to San Jose to get to the US Embassy. Grounds are kept clean. There is no nightly entertainment or group activities. Generally gets quiet at the hotel around 10 p.m. There is a bit of construction going on around the restaurant/gym area. The power did go out the last day we were leaving so many of the rooms and restaurant area were without any electricity. Not sure how long it took to get back up but they had some minor issues going on. But our room did not have any problems....so you may want to request it :) Convert your money if you decide you want to spend more than $100-200. This hotel will not have enough money to convert more than $50 US. Town: Approximately 30 minute walk to the right of the beach. 20 minute bike ride (but watch out you don't come back around 3-4 p.m. when there is high tide. There are a few vendors, convenience stores, restaurants that you can check out. It is very small and safe if you leave important belongings in your hotel. You can pay with US or colons Excursions/Car rental: Book through hotel (Monkey Tours) or at Downtown Samara area (it may be cheaper). If you want to book a car, make sure you check prices on their websites because they will charge you an arm and a leg in person. You can pay by credit car, cash US or colons. Remember to Bring: Water shoes (it will save your life, especially if you're going to do any excursions), bug repellent (you will need it but the hotel does not sell it), gravol (I don't get sick on the plane or car or boat but needed it when I was on the shuttle back to the airport - I think my body had enough of those crazy rides). **This hotel has just recently changed management and are new to the all-inclusive hotel business. Over time, I see them doing well but for now, it doesn't hurt to give them a chance. It has its own charm.