Occidental Grand Papagayo

We were at the Allegro Papagayo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica from 2/8/13 through 2/15/13. The staff here is wonderful. We were originally put in the wrong room when we checked in, mainly because the Apple Rep at this hotel, Fabio (Apple rep's in Costa Rica are provided by Swiss travel) is less than worthless, and that is being kind. He gave our room to the wrong couple that was checking in at the same time my husband and our adult son and I checked in. Pablo Saborio Martinez and Patricia G. Amador, excellent front desk staff, rectified the situation and we were moved to an equivalant room. A couple other comments about Pablo and Patricia: 1: On Saturday we were told we could make reservations for both the Mexican and Italian resturants if we came back to the front desk on Sunday- mid day. When we went about 5:00 to the front desk on Sunday we were told we couldn't make reservations until Monday. We explained the situation to Pablo and Patricia, and they immediately contacted their manager and they were able to make the reservations for us on Tuesday and Wednesday. 2: Later that day when we were getting ready to go to the buffet for dinner our son, who is diabetic, knocked over the bottle of his long acting insulin and the bottom of the bottle broke. I was in a panic, being in a foreign country late on a Sunday wondering where we could obtain insulin (and the right kind) late on a Sunday. We took the shuttle to the front desk, explained the situation to Pablo and Patricia, they immediately got on the phone, called pharmacies to see if they had the correct insulin and if they would be open by the time we got to Liberia. They found one with the correct insulin that would be open, and had a cab at the front entrance within 2 minutes. My husband tipped them, which they didn't even want to take, as they said they were just doing their job! He left them the tip anyway and we were able to get the insulin and everything worked out great. 3: We saw Pablo and Patricia again on Tuesday when we tried to get our information from the Apple Rep on our transportation time for our departer on Friday. They had been so concerned and worried and we very happy that everything worked out OK, and there were hugs all around! These two employee's were so great, we really think they deserve a promotion! On Thursday night, which was valentine's day, we ate at the buffet. They had excellent food, and a sax player who sounded amazing, reminded me of Kenny G. We were left, I forgot my camera, and didn't even realize it until Friday morning when we were going to walk down and have breakfast and walk the beach before we had to leave for our trip to the Airport. We went to the buffet, explained that I had left the camera the night before. The waiter went immediately to find his manager. One of the waitresses came by to give us an update that the manager would be coming. Within 5 minutes here they came with my camera! I couldn't believe it! We also had excellent experiences with not only the staff and their attention to detail at the buffet, but also with the waiters at the Italian and Mexican returant. We found the food great! We ate at the snack bar on several times for lunch, and they have great onion rings, yum! Check out at Allegro Papagayo, Guanacaste was a breeze. Only took minutes.

We just come home this week from this resort. I don't understand the people who writing negative comments about this resort, because me and my husband and my family, enjoyed every moment , our room was clean, air condition , fridge working well, we got a bottle of rum when we arrived , when we needed all time we had hot water in the shower . The food was great, the fruits all the time fresh,and taste just excellent, all the waitress are kindly, smile, every time they bring to our table beer, wine, cocktails excellent coffee , for my little Granddaughter always available ice cream. The pool was always clean, and some people complain about public washroom , but when I been there, always somebody was there cleaning , and was excellent clean. The beach was nice black send, interesting , we spent so good time with my Granddaughter pick up see shells, she really enjoyed to swim in the warm, clean ocean, there is no jelly fish !!! We saw cute friendly monkeys at the beach area , parrots, iguana, so this was a paradise for my family. The entertainment was just perfect, Stanley and Arthuro are so kind, so funny. They all do the best job.!!!!!!All day, from 10 am to midnight they making fun, activity for us, for the people. At the resort we celebrate my Husband 60.th birthday , he got a cake, we had a nice dinner at the Italian restaurant. We found a new friends ,too.!! So , some day we would like to go back to this resort !!!!!))))

My family and I just came back from this resort and I fully recommend it for everyone who is looking for a relaxing time in paradise for a great value. We took our three year old daughter and she loved every moment of it. The pool was just perfect, there is lots areas where she could stand up in the water. The beach was fantastic, only form the people form the resort used it and it's steps away form the resort, (also the black sand just made it unique). The bathrooms and the resort overall was clean. The food was good, even my picky girl was able to eat something at every meal, we were always able to find a spot to sit no big line ups. The resort is on a hill, but there is a shuttle that comes every ten minutes to take you to your building, so that was never an issue. The rooms were average but clean. The serving staff were very friendly and fast, one gentlemen went out of his was to get my Dad a birthday cake. And last but not least the entertainment staff was amazing. There was a kids activity everyday and a show for them every night. There were also fun things to do for the adults and entertainment at night. A special thank you for Stanley and Arturo who paid attention to my little girl and were very entertaining. We can't wait to back to this special place and I would certainly say it's good for families with children and singles, couples alike.

I read alot of reviews on this hotel before we left. And I agree that anyone who has put negative comments on here just didn't research well enough. It is well written that the hotel is on a hill but there is a shuttle. Also well described black sand beaches so you can't be surprised if you had looked here before you booked. The staff were very accommodating, funny not overbearing and they worked very hard all day! We were in building 9 half way up and was the best if both worlds. A view but without too much of a hike up. Not to loud either. This is a fun place with good food and good drinks.. It's a vacation so relax and enjoy. Just a quick tip .. You can pay for a romantic dinner on the beach any night and any time. It was amazing good and ambiance.. We would totally go back!

This resort was great value for money, especially if you love nature. It is in a protected nature reserve. The resort grounds and the associated beach and its mangrove area provided opportunities to see more types of birds than during any of the excursions we took. Big birds included caracara, black and turkey vultures, osprey, brown pelicans, and a barred hawk. Flocks of parakeets were easily heard and seen. Shorebirds included bitterns, two types of kingfishers, sandpipers, plovers, curlews, whimprels, egrets and herons. Long-tailed grackles and rock doves were the largest birds in the garden areas, but there was also an abundance of kiskadee, flycatchers, orioles and assorted sparrows. Animals included green and black iguana species, howler monkeys (with the black face) and capuchin monkeys (white-faced) as well as coatimundi. We even saw four baby North American raccoons. So don't forget to bring binoculars and a camera. We have stayed in similar all-inclusive resorts in Cuba, Jamaica and Mexico. We are not big drinkers, but did enjoy the beer, white wine and a variety of special mixed drinks. We found the food to be excellent with respect to freshness of the vegetables and the fruit. As with many reviews, the food at the buffet was repetitive, but there was always a good supply of the staples, such as pastas, cold cuts, cheeses, etc. We ate at both the Mexican and the Italian restaurants. They provided a good change of pace from the buffet. Our room was excellent, with superior shower water pressure and easy to regulate water temperature. We always had hot water. The toilet worked well. The air-conditioner worked as did the ceiling fan. We had excellent mattresses for a great sleep. Some past reviews had warned us about lack of shampoo and soap, but we did not have this problem. We always travel with our own face-cloths and noted that one did show up in our room during the last day. I suspect that a call to the front desk would have solved the problem had we not had our own. We enjoyed the black sand beach, as it was constantly changing with the tides. The water was very warm. We took advantage of the daily boat trip (15 minutes) to the hotel's white sand beach on two occasions. This is a must! Just bring your own towel, if you need one. Plenty of lounge chairs, plenty of shade, excellent shower and WC facility and snacks as well as drinks are provided. The water is crystal clear and warm and the small group size, typically around 24, makes for a great instant community. All in all, we will be back.

Customer Service agent Roberto and Nadia, did an outstanding job of getting our refund from another company from the beach when they never showed up for our excursion! Don't book from anybody that sells excursions from the beach folks, use the hotel excursions agents! Thanks again, it was a pleasure doing business with you both we wish nothing but the best for you two! Also, we want to thank Karen the fitness instructor for helping us with our stretching classes which was very helpful for my injured shoulder she personally came over gave one on one instructions with me and my wife and properly showed us how to stretch which gave me instant relief of my stiff and injured shoulder we always felt so much better after all the exercising classes. Thank you, Karen you are a true professional! Oh yeah, your dancing techniques was great along with Mario and the others. Stanley, the Director of Entertainment and Master of ceremonies throughout our stay was extremely funny you made us and many others laugh throughout the whole week! The food was very good and it was the healthiest we ever eaten on a vacation. We loved the isolation of the hotel, however it could use a ATM machine there because they are no banks around for miles.We loved the view and listening to the birds and howling monkeys. Though the beach has black sand which some people don't care for which is understandable. It is great that the hotel provided free 20 minute boat ride transportation to a white sand beach with good clear water and clean facilities and plenty of shade with food and drinks each day. That is a very good service that you provide and we were grateful! That was good that you provided a shuttle bus every 10 min. your steep hills reminded me of a tropical Switzerland which was no problem at all for us; it came in handy for the older people or people with disabilities! I noticed that at Pablo's Bar they were using "Tap Water in the Jugs most other places did use spring water! All in All, we had a very good time here at the Allegro Papagayo Hotel and enjoyed the atmosphere very, very much here!

Stayed with my wife and 2 kids (16/12) for a week at beginning of August. We had a really great time!! The resort is rated as 3.5 stars and that is just about right. Alot of people expect more and then are disappointed. Not us!! Wifey called the day before to confirm our reservation and very politely asked to be in a certain building on a certain floor. Although no promises were made, to our amazement, we got EXACTLY what she asked for. The room was clean, AC worked great, new flatscreen TV and we had brought some bug spray to help keep the critters at bay. Throughout the whole week, we saw 1 ant and 1 spider in our room. We heard others complaining about their rooms in different buildings farther up the hill, but they were all moved upon request. The maid service was great - room was cleaned promptly everyday with new towels daily - we asked for extra towels/wash clothes and got them. They actually forgot the 1st day, but we called the front desk and they were brought promptly. We had some trouble accessing the safe (extra $$ per day) and they sent someone quickly. Needed an iron - we let the maid know on our way to the pool and it was there when we got back. The day before checkout, they called to arrange to pick up our luggage from the room, showed up on-time on checkout day and assisted us in getting everything to the lobby (which is at the top of the hillside). The pool area is great and massive, no problems finding lounge chairs - water is super-crystal clear and we constantly saw staffers cleaning, scrubbing, picking up trash around the entire resort. The buffet was very good as well - same stuff for breakfast everyday, which was OK, dinner was a nice variety, but to me, lunch was the best meal everyday with the best variety. We went to the Mexican restaurant, but found the buffet to be better. The snack bar was pretty good as well as neither of my very picky kids EVER complained of being hungry. The black-sand beach is very nice as well and you walk thru a small forest-like area with TONs of monkeys to get to it. My kids had lots of fun feeding the monkeys. We also saw several iguanas, a bunch of raccoons, and several raccoon/ant-eater looking things - can't remember the name of them - something like "Cuotti".. As for the bees - yes, there were lots of them. With all the beautiful shrubbery and people leaving their drink cups around, they were unavoidable. I honestly don't feel it was very much worse than other places I've been in the Caribbean, but my son did get stung when a bee got caught under his shirt. HOWEVER, on our 3rd day, we heard a rumor that someone had complained to the US Embassy about the bees and they forced the resort to take action. I don't know what they did (we heard they either sprayed or removed a nearby hive), but the bees almost COMPLETELY VANISHED. The last 4 days we were there, it went from seeing 50-60 bees a day to UNDER 5 by the pool area - AMAZING!! They were still by the bar and drink dispensers by the buffet but nowhere near what it was like when we 1st got there. The entertainment staff try their best to get people to participate in various activities by the pool - bingo, volleyball, water polo, water aerobics, etc but if they resort isn't packed, it's tough to pull off. My wife did take their drink-mixing class and had fun and came home with a few recipes. They have a disco that opens at midnight, but again, if the resort isn't full, the disco might be deserted. We didn't do any excursions (all pretty pricey per person), but we did take the complimentary boat ride to the "non-black sand" beach (it's not really white or pink). They bring food (cold-cuts/fruit) and drinks (full bar) on the boat with you and set up at a small cabana at the beach, which was very nice. Watch your bags though - the monkeys will sneak up and go thru them if you aren't paying attention. And they get you back to the resort in time for lunch. This is a great resort for anyone with kids looking for a nice vacation on a budget.

we visited here the first week of august. We went in with really low/moderate expectations, having read the reviews, as well as having stayed at some less expensive hotels in south america, and not thinking it would be like the nice AI we've stayed at in Mexico. The rooms were dated, but everything worked. Wifi was hit and miss, food was mediocre, but we always found something to eat (usually ice cream) and pool and beach were nice. There were bees and of course with no air conditioning in the restaurant it was difficult sometimes to maintain an appetite We would still come here again though simply for the wildlife, especially the monkeys!! This is why we picked this place over places like the Hilton etc. We also used this place as a base to do excursions since this was our first time in CR. Every excursion, no one from other resorts that we were with had seen much of monkeys. we literally were with them every morning and evening. it was the highlight of the entire 2 weeks (we stayed here for 5 nights). The staff was very nice, although they weren't as helpful/outgoing as other places, but again, we got everything that we paid for and we're very satisifed with what we got. Go here mainly for the monkeys, not for a vacation of sitting around the resort, otherwise you'll be disappointed. P.s. on a side note, there is a trail down below the lobby that leads to where howlers and white face monkeys are.....also, forgot to mention, hills are high, but we never used the shuttle.

I had a great time with my wife and 7 year old. The beer and food flowed like water and the staff was wonderful. Do yourself a favor, if asked by Marilyn, Karen or Enrique (in the fun club), to do an activity, do it! You won't be sorry! These folks are great with adults and kids. Good job, friends! Can't wait to return, hope to see you soon. Pura Vida!

My best friend and I recently stayed at the Allegro Papagayo for a 9 night stay. After reading some of the reviews from the previous month we were worried about what we would find when we arrived. I will first say that this is not a 5 star resort, nor does it advertise itself as such so we went in expecting to get what we paid for, which we did. We had a wonderful experience at the resort. Our room was cleaned in a timely fashion every morning, towels were always replaced, and the air conditioner worked great. The only issue we ever had with the room was the occasional centipede crawling along the floor, but we were in the middle of the jungle so it was to be expected to see a few bugs. Plus we weren't in the room very often because we were out enjoying what the country had to offer. We took most of our excursions with Costa Rica Bestrips who I would highly recommend! They were wonderful and the tours are private and more affordable than the tours that the resort offers. You can also check them out on tripadvisor. They have a buffet and two other restaurants to choose from for dinner. We only went to the Mexican restaurants once because the buffet was very good and had a ton of options. The breakfast was the same every day, but they always had a wide variation of dishes for lunch and dinner. The staff did a great job of picking up used plates and replenishing the buffet. The staff was also great about keeping the public areas clean. The pool was always free of debris and they were on top of picking up drink glasses to keep the bees at bay. There were a lot of bees which is something we had read about and were worried about before arriving. We made it through our entire stay without getting stung or having too many run-ins with the bees. My tip to keep the bees away would be not to keep sugary drinks around your space, when you are done get rid of the cup or have the staff take it. Also, mint and peppermint are a natural neurotoxin to bees so before I left I filled a small spray bottle with about 1/2 mint and peppermint extract and 1/2 rubbing alcohol. It actually seemed to help. The bees would fly around us, but would not land if we had sprayed the mint. There were some animals that wondered the resort in the evening looking for food, but in my opinion they were more entertaining than a nucense. There are also always spider monkeys on the beach that were hours of entertainment to watch, but make sure you don't leave your bag unattended around them, they will steal your stuff! Lol. Overall we had a great stay at the resort and saved a lot of money by staying with them so we could do many of the exciting excursions around the area. I would highly recommend this resort if you are looking to make your money go further at an all inclusive resort. I would definitely consider coming back in the future.

Our room in bldg. 10 was very nice. Fantastic view. Thanks to Marvin for getting us "old people" a room at the bottom of the hill. Great AC, clean & plenty of towels. Our only complaint was the lack of bottle water in the room. The "teens" loved Christopher. He was a great entertainer. Carlos took good care of us on our side trips. We have been on over 50 all inclusive 3 to 5 star trips & the food here was some of the best. The small bees were a nuisance, but you could swat them away. The people that complain should just chill & enjoy the fact that the are in the tropics. We loved the monkeys. This resort was a bargain.

Friendly staff, great food, black sand beach with great scenary and wildlife. There are wasps but we were not stung. If you leave them alone they won't sting you I suppose. There is a $2 charge per day to use the safety box. By the resort it is black sand beach which I enjoyed. Everyday except on Tuesday there is a boat that takes people for free to a white sand beach if you prefer the white sand. If you love nature, you will love this place.

I just left the allegro papagayo resort and I just have to say don't believe any of the negative comments on here. Honestly you get what you pay for. I have nothing bad to say. The food was awesome, plenty of activities, make sure you play volleyball with Chris! He makes your vacation worth it. Also Marilyn was so friendly with my friends child she would take her and do activities for a few hours to give us a break. The shows at night were so much fun! Chris, Marilyn, Enrique, & Karen are amazing and so friendly. I left today and I felt like I was leaving my family :( I will be back soon. Thank you guys for an amazing time!! I love you and I miss you!!!

Wonderful place!! The hotel staff were friendly and so helpful! The a/c in the rooms was wonderful, and the showers were spacious and had great pressure. Rooms were also equipped with safes. The resort is on a hill so the hotel conveniently offers shuttles around the resort. One of my favorite things was seeing all the local wildlife that wanders into the resort. Every evening the hotel offered amazing shows and entertainment. They also had day activities such as aqua fit, volleyball and dancing! The pool was beautiful and equipped with a bar. The food was delicious and they offered such a selection! Quite a few bees but they were harmless and it was understandable with all the drinks people left laying around. But the hotel staff was on top of it! The beach is also a wonderful place to relax! We enjoyed our stay here!

I'll start off saying that without the amazing resort staff this stay would have been "meh". However the staff Chris, Marilyn, Karen, Caro, Jas and others who I am forgetting to mention, made my stay so much fun! If any of them are lost the resort will be losing a huge part of what makes them decent. Good job guys!

My boyfriend and I (age 20 & 24) visited Costa Rica for the first time and stayed at the Occidental Allegro Papagayo from May 18-June 1. This is a great resort with lots of activities and friendly staff who ensure that you have an amazing trip from the day that you arrive until the day that you leave. The resort is built on a very steep hill, but rest assured, if you are unable/unwilling to walk around the resort, there is a shuttle bus service that runs from 7am-11pm. The food at the resort is also very good, with plenty of variety. We went on a total of 4 day tours which we booked from a guide in the lobby building. All of the tours are worth the money, trust me! Our room was a typical hotel room with a bathroom (stand up shower), television and a patio. Room service tended to our room everyday around noon and did an excellent job. The entertainment staff put on a dancing show every night, with the exception of karaoke one evening per week. The staff are very friendly and go out of their way to learn your name and spend time with you. Previous reviews stated that the alcoholic drinks were far too weak and contained very little alcohol. This is not true, and a few times we had to ask for less alcohol to be put into our drinks. If you choose to visit the Allegro Papagayo you will most definitely not be disappointed!

I loved this all inclusive. I have been to other all inclusive resorts, and this one has the best food. Every nite was a different theme so you never get board. The brace is private and beautiful. Plenty of hammocks, enjoy the monkeys and birds and iguanas. It's paradise, it's surrounded by nature so expect little lizards around your room, and centipedes, in the morning we would see the workers stomp on them and clean up the walkways. Go to the Congo canopy tours on your own, you will save a lot of $. Rent a car and explore beautiful Costa Rica! I am dying to go back. Hope this helps!

We were there in the off season (May 2013) so it wasn't very full which means that not all the amenities were up and running (which was understandable but also sort of a bummer). The staff was pleasant, and while they were able to speak fluent English, there was still a communication barrier that caused a lack of comprehension for what was being asked. The hotel itself was ok not excellent but not terrible and it is situated at a beautiful location. The hotel has definitely seen better days but there has to be a reasonable expectation when you look at the price point in comparison. It is of note that the inclines are incredibly steep so the shuttle is a necessity. A couple of the days the maids made towel art which was a neat touch. The food at the buffet was ok, always plenty of fresh fruit which works for me. We paid the $25 for Wifi (which was good all week in public areas) since we didn't have a cell signal there but i have an iphone so we were able to put in a facetime call to let our loved ones know we were there safely. There was a surprising lack of monkeys and abundance of racoons.

Our trip to Allegro Papagayo was nothing short of amazing! Carlos was extremely attentive with any needs at the restaurant and also provided great recommendations on "must see" attractions outside of the resort. With this advice, we rented a car and were able to see local volcanos, beautiful waterfalls, and beaches. Thank you for making this trip so memorable!!!!