Santarena Hotel at Las Catalinas

9.0

Wonderful

421 Guest reviews

9.0

Wonderful

421 Verified Reviews

Read all reviews

Cleanliness9.4/10

Service9.0/10

Comfort9.2/10

Condition9.0/10

Neighborhood8.4/10

Amenities8.6/10

It’s a lovely building but needs a refresh. The pool is tiny and is typically congested. The food is good with plenty of options. However most all items at the breakfast buffet were somehow deep fried. The beach access needs a place to rinse off - the black sand from the beach is annoying.

Area being developed with specifically old European type architecture, going to be very lovely.

Wonderful property and Las Catalinas is amazing. Would love to see more chairs on the shared balconies, and fans in the bathrooms. But those are nit picky, and the rest is excellent.

I really loved the property and staff. Everyone was great and very accommodating, especially the front desk guys. I have to say that dining was expensive and the hotel doesn’t provide the basics like bottled water, robes/slippers, vanity kits etc. The hotel also didn’t provide loungers by the beach. I paid $25 for a chair for the beach for a few hours. The hotel needs to provide more for the price they charge. I wouldn’t say this is a 4 star as far as the amenities available but the service is 5 star.

The beach and the surrounding area are absolutely beautiful but the town is so small and has nothing for you to explore. We ate breakfast at the hotel and it was fine. It was a buffet but I feel like for the price you pay to stay there, the breakfast buffet should at least be included. They have a nice, short beach that was lovely to hang out on or go paddle boarding/kayaking and a hiking trail next to the property with a couple of options for hiking (I liked this). Because this place is tiny and your dining options are limited, everything is really expensive. I would only stay here for 1-2 nights.

If you would like a relaxing vacation by the beach, this is the place to stay beautiful location, beautiful rooms. The service was outstanding. They have a number of restaurants to choose from last night. We had a barbecue on the beach, which was excellent. You can get a golf cart to go to a restaurant that’s nearby so you don’t need to have a car for that. It’s about 45 minutes from the big city beach. I would definitely come again.

Beautiful beach stay

We stayed one night on our trip. It was so beautiful and clean! It’s a quiet area as it’s a new town. They have a small rooftop pool and about 4 pool chairs. The property is right on the beach with 5-8 restaurants in the area.

Access to the ocean and hiking was fantastic!

We might have to go here every year! This is one of the most exceptional locations we’ve been to thanks to the upscale villas surrounding the town and the general beauty of Las Catalinas. The concierge desk was like having personal assistants to any requests to arrange transportation or reservations at other local restaurants or adventures. The staff were very accommodating in every way. Every time you ask for something the reply would be “it’s my pleasure…” All the staff were bilingual, the room was spacious and comfortable, modern and well appointed. We loved walking out of our room right onto the beach where you have plenty of amenities if you choose to indulge in beach sports or leisure. Highly recommend and can’t wait to return.

The hotel is beautiful very well maintained, very clean and updated. The food is delicious!

Very nice

Beautiful property

The rooms are so loud. We asked for quiet rooms and were placed next to the coffee shop on the busiest walk way. There’s construction noise starting early every morning so sleep was difficult. The property is beautifully designed and decorated but other than that, it’s not worth the expensive room rates.

Absolutely gorgeous hotel with great friendly staff, highly recommended

Avoid

I did not do much research first, but Conde Naste calls the area a "town free car" but it is not a town, it is a bunch of overpriced restaurants owned by the hotel. The food was all overpriced and bad and rooms smell of mildew. I don't leave reviews but I recommend booking elsewhere.

Excellent hotel!

Nice, clean and charming. Not much option for dining and shopping. area around the place is a construction site with dirt, dust, noise and daily limited access having to wait an average of 10 minutes every time leaving or coming back to the hotel which was very inconvenient and takes away the charm and at some time is frustrating especially when we had to be at certain place for a tour. Streets are full of pot holes even in street very near the hotel which could have been fixed to make the ride less stressful. For those above reasons unfortunately I don't recommend this hotel in that area.

It’s such a magical place. The entire condo is simply beautiful and clean. The architecture is amazing. The tall roof and beautiful windows. I love it and I’ll definitely come back.

Fantastic!

We enjoyed the mix of resort feel and nature, loved the beach, pool, the staff and the dining scene!

Beautiful hotel! Right on the beach. There is lots of construction in the area.

A lot of construction going on.

We loved staying at the hotel. Everything was very convenient and it was an exceptional location in the area.

Great holiday. We just got back two weeks ago.

We were influenced by convincing marketing and a very misleading article in a certain "French sounding" US travel magazine, into believing we were going to be staying at hotel in a quaint small beach town. The problem is that it isn’t a quaint beach town, it’s a planned resort community which pretends to be a town. It's all a big, artificial somewhat soulless place, started in 2006, owned by 1 company, with a few noncompany owned businesses, that work as concessions within what is really a resort. If you like early 2000's pastiche mediterranean architecture, you will love it. Personally, I think it feels more suited to Southern California outdoor mall architecture, than something that should have been "plonked" into a pretty Costa Rican bay. Why did they have to build this here ? Interestingly, although described as a "mediterranean" town, we also were told that it was inspired by Cuban, Colombian, and Moroccan architecture, so it really is a bit of a "mash-up". The Marketing is beautiful, really clever photography that show the resort finished, I just looked at the photos again on the website it gives no clue of the huge next phase of construction which is happening in the hills behind the hotel. Construction seems to go from 6.00am to 8.00pm 6 days a week by the way. The first thing you see when you drive down the hill entering the resort, past the other hotel, the very attractive (modern ?) Chameleon Hotel is the construction spreading across all the hills to the right

Perfect for Romantic Getaway

Perfect hotel for couples. Romantic with few big families made it a lovely stay and we'll most likely be staying again. The service and rooftop pool view were the highlights of the trip

Boutique style size and guest services. Staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Twice daily room cleaning. Room amenities and bed were first class.

Santarena Hotel has a quaint and tranquil mood . The beach is beautiful and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from with different cuisines and vibes. Staff were friendly and helpful.

Loved it. Nice place, friendly people and staff. The resort town is beautiful. Enjoyed our time here

I felt like I belonged there - like I had been there my whole life. Everything seemed to slow down upon arrival. The only challenge was with one employee who really did not seem to care about helping us with an issue. He said he was working on it even though it was an easy fix. I waited most of the day and reminded him multiple times. When I asked someone else and it was taken care of in most minutes.

The only downside was that there were very few foot washing stations between the beach and the rooms.

The moment we arrived, the staff was very friendly and professional, from valet to bellman to concierge to reception to barman to servers. Every aspect of our stay was amazing; from dinner at Celeste, very comfortable bedroom and huge clean shower, beautiful ocean views from our large terrace. We would definitely stay here again and recommend this hotel to anyone. Only comment is that there is currently a lot of construction going on affecting ease of getting around by car, and everything is accessable on foot since the community is only about 4 square blocks. our large balcony.

everyone super nice, beautiful hotel, would recommend to families and couples

The property and service itself is impeccable. No complaints about the cleanliness, the beauty, or the staff. HOWEVER, if travelling with kids, there will be some inconveniences. For example, no umbrellas , shade or chairs by the beach- this was hugely problematic as I travelled alone with my son who wanted to play at the beach every day. With limited shade available, we had to go indoors or to the pool area (which was extremely hot, without a breeze), every day between the peak sunshine hours 11-330/4pm. For this reason alone, we will not return. In addition, it would have been nice to have a small balcony chair so I could sit on the balcony and have my morning coffee. I wake much earlier than my son, and wanted to have my coffee and read on the balcony while he slept, but ended up standing on the balcony or sitting inside. I wanted to make the most of my outdoor time while I was here, but found myself limited due to these lack of facilities. The store that rents chairs is extremely expensive for a rental and did not have umbrellas. The Beach: would have been also helpful to know at check-in that there are huge rocks in one area of the beach. We learned the hard way when we were hit with a huge wave, falling and hurting ourselves on the rocks. The rocks are sharp and hard to see bc the water isn’t clear (it’s clean, but the dark sand makes it hard to see the bottom). Btw, waves were huge.

The property is beautiful, staff are amazing BUT the thermostat in our room was not working. It was 38C outside, our room temp was at 24C.We tried to change it to 21C and the temperature never changed. The front desk told us that the rooms will never be at 21C.OK, but the annoying part is that they had the front desk and lobby at 20C. Only complaint.

The service was exceptional, world class. I could never remember all of the names, but certainly want to recognize Carla and Arturo, Edgar, Eli, Randall we’re all fantastic. I would highly recommend the Santarena

I wouldn’t rate this property as highly as other reviewers. There’s no effort to have guests entertained or be involved in any activities. The beach area was totally occupied by the locals on the weekend and no lounge beach chairs were provided by hotel so how do you market yourself as beach front property when guests can’t even enjoy the beach under the extreme heat. Most staff didn’t speak English which’s odd since the hotel is in an area heavily visited by tourists. Breakfast was less than average, other restaurants around the property deserve a five star rating for quality and service which was the highlight of our stay. Wouldn’t recommend as an upscale hotel. Our room was barely cleaned. Rooftop pool not cared for properly and not maintained enough as my husband had so many bites from it. We travel quite a bit and this is the first time leaving a review since there were too many complaints. Description of where the hotel is could be more clearer, the trip to get there from airport was bad. No body seems to care to speak English. Also it was definitely a very hot week weather wise.

Karla, the concierge was excellent and very helpful. The room was large and beautiful with a very nice bed. However, it was very noisy with children outside, the air conditioner leaked causing the floor to become slippery and dangerous at night walking to the bathroom. Also, the shower was a bit difficult without a hand spray and the beach accommodations were very inefficient managed by a third party. Overall, our visit was very good pleasant and we enjoyed.

Very good service

Our stay at Santarena Las Catalinas was fantastic! The rooftop pool was incredible to watch the sunsets and the beach was very close by to enjoy as well. Lots of restaurants around, but nothing was inexpensive, which is fine / expected when you stay at a place like this!

It was a beautiful place to stay and very comfortable

This was a wonderful place to spend a week. The Santarena is beautifully situated close to the beautiful beach, but with a leafy shaded area in the back, where we had lovely well-prepared breakfasts and dinners. We liked the small size of the hotel, its tasteful decor and its open feeling. Everyone working there was friendly and the concierges were particularly personable and helpful. The town center, a beautiful upscale condo development, hiking trails and a neighboring deserted beach were all within easy walking distance, as was a unique outdoor gym. We look forward to returning.

Great service people and a beautiful views!

Beautiful property right next to the beach and dining options. Food was excelllent at the hotel restaurant so we ate there twice. The only negative comment was that the rooftop pool did not have enough loungers. Unfortunately the Beach Club main pool was under construction while we were there. Hotel staff were very accommodating.

Nice hotel, but very small pool, no chairs available for the beach. The car is parked without shade and it takes a while to get it from the valet parking.

The hotel is beautiful and the service was what you'd expect from this higher end type of property. However, with the hotel being on the beach and the rates that they charge per night, I expected that they would provide beach chairs for their customers. There is a rental business next to the hotel (not associated with the hotel) that charges $85 per person for 4 hours of rental for water sports equipment including beach chairs. This meant that if I only wanted to rent the beach chairs, it would have cost me and husband $170 for two beach chairs for 4 hours!!!!

Absolutely amazing. Hotel is small, clean and absolutely beautiful!!

Everything was amazing! the hotel was as clean and the staff could not have been more helpful and accommodating. I can’t wait to go back!

The customer service was superb! Everyone was so friendly and helpful.

The Santarena Hotel is beautiful!! I loved everything about the hotel and the grounds. The staff was very accommodating. The concierge, Arturo was extremely helpful booking our adventures outside Las Catalinas. The hotel restaurant was delicious and the breakfast buffet had plenty to satisfy every taste. I would definitely recommend this hotel if you are looking for a low key, relaxing experience.

i liked the unique colonial setting/village style of the area by the ocean and the people at the hotel - very helpful and friendly.

A great place to destress & rejuvenate! Beach, mountains, dining options. Very hot & humid in February. Hiking areas have much less green leaves so there is no shafe.

35th anniversary

My wife and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary at the hotel and loved our time together. Beautiful hotel and setting.

I had such an amazing stay at Sanateria Hotel! Clean, comfortable, and friendly. It's right on the beach and offers beautiful views on the roof. I would recommend booking a room with a balcony. The area, Las Cantalinas, lefts a lot to be desired as far as shopping options and restaurant options. The town in itself is just beautiful! I love that walking or biking is a requirement, and I love how eco-friendly the town is. Finally, the people are just beautiful inside and out- both on and off of the hotel. Thank you for hosting me!

Wonderful resort!

Our room was incredible! The room and the shower were enormous, and the view was beautiful. We loved the calm, swim-able beach. The food and service were wonderful, and everything is convenient within walkable distance. We would love to return.

Great people, very helpful. Cozy little town

This was a fantastic property to stay at. It’s a bit out of the way but worth the drive up the hill every time. Staff is out of this world, and the views second to none. Would recommend this place to EVERYONE

A perfect vacation spot

A beautiful hotel with impecable surroundings. The weather never fails to be perfect.

We had the very best experience! Everyone was so accommodating and polite. We love Costa Rica and will be back to stay at Santarena for sure!!

Fine vacation spot

Love this hotel!

Beautiful hotel. Our room was spacious, clean, comfortable and peaceful. Roof top deck with the pool is also gorgeous. The bar and inside the lobby was also very pretty. Staff was so professional, kind and helpful. The town of las Catalinas, the beach, trails was absolutely gorgeous with cute little town with some restaurants. Highly recommend!

The infinity pool and view of the town and ocean were amazing! The beach and ocean were soo cool and all of the staff were helpful and accommodating

Mucha paz y tranquilidad rodeado de una belleza natural

A truly lovely hotel in a stunningly beautiful natural setting. Staff was lovely room was great and location....could not be beat. Make sure and visit Hector and his crew in the lobby bar for an expertly crafted cocktail. The on site restaurant is also lovely.

Love this place!!!!

Nice central hotel, spacious rooms, lovely rooftop pool, good restaurant. Direct access onto the beach

Easily the most beautiful view of Playa Danta. If there is a better view of the sunset, I haven't seen it yet. The staff are overly friendly and eager to make your stay as special as you want it to be. definitely coming back!

While the property and service are outstanding all local food options were very expensive. There were many flies around the uncovered food at the $40-for-2 breakfast buffet and there was no information available to navigate the complexities of working the television (I.e. switch the tv to HDMI 2 > navigate to APPS > select ROCKET TV then choose from hundreds of channels - of which many froze after 2-3 minutes). Overall, just too much work to be enjoyable or relaxing.

Lovely spot for a true relaxation

My room had no view and it was on the service road of hotel and restaurant kitchen

The best place in Costa rica to get away.

This is not the usual stay for a costarican, but we decided to treat ourselves and enjoy a few days at Las Catalinas. It was a great decision. The Hotel, the little town, the staff, the multiple dining options make the stay very convenient. We would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a spectacular location to rest and relax for a few days.

Los Catalinas is an incredible town situated right near a beach. Hotel was incredible and the staff were polite. Would recommend this hotel to friends if they’re looking for an elevated stay.

The hotel was great, staff was super friendly and the location is amazing.

Beautiful place, beautiful location, great staff, great on-prem restaurant.

Cheap and poor constructed hotel in a good location, completely overpriced, food was disappointing, bad design in shower/bathroom leakages all around the doors, air-conditioning sounds horrible at night and pillows were terrible, the pool is tiny and super dirty/greenish water. Some areas around the hotel looks neglected and poorly maintained. Not family oriented, zero entertainment for kids neither pool. The balcony doors were finicky and balconies on second floor were shared, not double lock on main door. Definitely there are much better options for that prices.

This hotel was very pretty. I wasn’t sure what to expected but the rooms were beautiful and very clean. The balcony was nice. The staff is very friendly and helpful. It’s located in a resort town called Las Catalinas. It’s a beautiful town with villas people can rent. We did night walks around the town. We plan to go back and rent one of the villas

Service and staff were outstanding. The whole community is so warm. Scary how friendly everyone is - pura visa!

Enjoyed our stay here! The hotel was great with easy access to the beach. The staff was great and everyone so friendly and helpful. I would like to call out Karla who is at the front desk and concierge for the hotel. She was fabulous and most helpful with our tours, transportations, last minute reservations, etc.

excellent location with beautiful views.

Lovely weekend visit.

We had a delightful weekend. Hotel staff were all extremely helpful. Bed was especially comfortable. Good breakfast. Pleasant sunset dining. We enjoyed swimming and snorkeling, seeing nice variety of fish and a pair of turtles around the point to the north of the hotel.

Amazing!

We just returned from 5 glorious days at Santarena Hotel. This was one of the most special properties we have stayed in. The service was impeccable. We especially would like to give a shout out to Oscar at the restaurant and Eli, the amazing bartender. Both are highly trained professionals and take a lot of pride in giving great service. And really, everyone was amazing. We had a car and the valet service was consistently prompt and professional. It was wonderful to have it included in the stay. The breakfast buffet was super delicious and varied a bit each morning. Then there was the actual physical property. What a beautiful location right on the beach, with an amazing sunset view from the plunge pool on the fourth floor. It is a bit remote if you don’t have a car and want to leave the property but there are enough dining options in the little town, hiking trails, and a beautiful snorkeling beach to keep one busy and happy without ever leaving.

Amazing property increidble views. Staff was so friendly and professional, would def stay here again

Beautiful property, amazing views

I asked about free continental breakfast, but they respond it was not included .

Love poolside

.

Beautiful hotel

Relaxing stay at a tasteful hotel and quaint town

Amazing and relaxing stay! Enjoyed the endless pool on the rooftop, breakfast outdoors, listening to the ocean waves while sipping Costa Rican coffee! The breakfast menu included gluten free and dairy free options and they were absolutely delightful. Cocktails at Ponciana bar were exquisitely garnished and delicious too. Staff was beyond friendly and we truly enjoyed our stay at Santarena.

This is a very beautiful property, the staff was wonderful.

10/10 Stay, can’t wait to come back and stay here. Everyone was inviting and welcoming and ensured anything I need it the request was handled.

Beautiful stay in Paradise

Wonderful stay as usual. Lovely staff and the restaurant was fantastic.

Fabulous hotel, wonderful service!

It is a beautiful hotel. The hotel and its surroundings are designed with Italian architecture. It's a nice place to visit and stay.

Fabulous Stay

The hotel experience was fabulous and we will definitely come back. The hotel has an elegant feel, service was impeccable and the Las Catalina's area is an amazing and evolving walkable town.

Property was as shown on pictures. Rooms were comfortable and excellent service.

The AC was not working. They said it would be fixed within 30 minutes, after 2 or 3 hours when we returned the room, it was still not working. We got moved to a villa outside the property, far away from the beach and pool, we were then moved on second night since they only booked 2 out the 3 nights in the first villa. Second villa was near to a pool but further away from the hotel, beach and restaurants. All of this happened with an 8 month old baby, making every move very complicated (crib, cooler with baby food, and three more bags with her stuff and toys).

great hotel, excellent room service.

I was not happy that we went 3 days with a broken AC. And until we continued with complains did we get moved to another room.

Excelente servicio al cliente

Excelente estadía, el hotel muy limpia la habitación, el servicio recibido muy bueno de parte de todos los colaboradores del hotel. La comida deliciosa. Recomendado para viajar en pareja o familia y relajarse.