Santarena Hotel at Las Catalinas

Hotels
9.1 (391 reviews)
Camino Las Catalinas 2 Calle La Ronda , Playa Flamingo , cr

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
Clubhouse
Electric bicycle charging station
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Clean rooms
Friendly staff
Beautiful surroundings
Cons:
Limited pool hours
Breakfast quality

Categories

Cleanliness
9.28
Rooms are clean and well-maintained, standard quality for this hotel tier.
Service
9.75
Staff are friendly and accommodating, significantly enhancing the stay experience.
Location
9.79
Perfect location close to restaurants, activities, and beach.
Room Quality
9.24
Rooms are spacious and comfortable with good decor.
Amenities
8.27
Rooftop pool is small and limited hours of service, but generally good amenities.
Value for Money
8.23
Breakfast quality does not match the price point, slightly overpriced.
Food and Beverage
8.78
Restaurant has good food and service, but breakfast options could improve.
Overall Experience
9.45
Overall a wonderful experience with lovely surroundings and friendly people.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-16 14:02

Property Description

Beachfront Urban Resort with a Tropical Twist

Rooftop Pool and Sea-View Lounge
Enjoy breathtaking Costa Rican sunsets from our refreshing rooftop pool and lounge, the perfect spot to unwind and relax.

Diverse Dining Options
Indulge in a variety of culinary experiences at our all-day bakery, ground-floor restaurant, and nearby specialty dining venues, offering something for every taste.

Wellness and Relaxation
Rejuvenate your body and mind at the state-of-the-art wellness center with meditation room and yoga studio, or pamper yourself at the nearby Wake Day spa for a range of luxurious treatments.

Experience the perfect blend of beachfront luxury and urban sophistication at Santarena Hotel. Book now to immerse yourself in the beauty of Las Catalinas.

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: LIR

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 1 year old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 10 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for US$30 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

9.1
Based on 391 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.28
Service: 9.75
Location: 9.79
Room Quality: 9.24
Amenities: 8.27
Value for Money: 8.23
Food and Beverage: 8.78
Overall Experience: 9.45
L
Lisa • couple • us
7
Beautiful resort with many activities and restaurants
Pros:

All of the facilities were clearly designed with a specific aesthetic in mind. It’s very stylized and pretty. I liked that there were so many restaurant options and they all had a different vibe to them. The property itself was maintained well enough and the layout of all of the buildings has an old European feel with all of the little walkways leading to courtyards. I felt very safe and comfortable throughout my stay. We had to ask for assistance with a few minor things and the reception staff were very friendly and helpful.

Cons:

The pool is very small and has only a handful of loungers. It’s not a comfortable setting at all. It would be nice to have some loungers available to rent on the beach.

2026-02-12 • via Nuitee
K
Krista • couple • ca
10
Beautiful little spot if you like to be spoiled.
Pros:

Breakfast was superb and slightly different every day. The most outstanding quality of this hotel was the exceptional staff. They felt like family by the end of our stay. Every single one!

Cons:

The road to get there was very treacherous and scary. I would recommend hiring a driver. Everything extra was very expensive and very few places to by snacks and souvenirs.

2026-02-10 • via Nuitee
G
gilberto • extended_group • bi
1
Too pricey
Pros:

Beach

Cons:

Service food

2026-02-09 • via Nuitee
N
Natalia • couple • us
10
2026-01-30 • via Nuitee
M
Maria • couple • ca
8
2026-01-30 • via Nuitee
A
Alejandro • couple • cr
5
Very bad customer service-DO NOT TRUST the valetparking
Pros:

location is just amazing.

Cons:

The customer service from reception at Santanrena hotel is just unacceptable. The staff from the Santarena Restaurant is really terrible, I sent the reception an email to let them know in anticipation that I will be celebrating my wife birthday at their hotel, so they decided to let us know on my wife birthday day: THEY HAD A BIG GROUP of customer booked so basically we would not be able to have dinner that day. I can't explain the terrible service. Please do not trust the valet parking service, I got a big scratch on the truck ( attached images).

2026-01-25 • via Nuitee
A
ashley • couple • us
9
Pros:

Really beautiful room. Amazing staff; above and beyond helpful and kind. It was great having such easy access to a beautiful beach and walkability to multiple restaurants.

Cons:

Would've been nice to have the option of renting beach chairs. The area is lovely but there's not a ton to do or places to go beyond what is right on the resort (which may be a pro for some people) However, there's little towns at close driving distance.

2026-01-25 • via Nuitee
R
Renee • couple • us
8
2026-01-20 • via Nuitee
R
Ray • solo_traveller • us
4
It is my last time staying at the Santarena Hotel.
Pros:

The staff and location were genreally quite good.

Cons:

The recent change since my staff in October 2025 to move the reception from the building my room was in to the other building up the road and further away was extremely disappointing. Everytime I tried to call for my car, no one answered. I called Vallet, Concienrge and the fromt desk, but no one ever answered. I had to walk up the other building carrying 3 bags to check out and request my car. Even the stay told me how frustrate they are with the changes.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
J
JOSE FELIPE • family_with_children • cr
10
2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
A
Ana M. • family_with_children • us
10
Gorgeous location and great accommodations
Pros:

Santarena Hotel is beautiful! The property is clean and inviting and the staff was so welcoming and gracious. We were looking for a peaceful place to enjoy good food, meet lovely people and enjoy the amazing Costa Rican natural beauty and this place did not disappoint!!

Cons:

There wasn’t anything that we didn’t like. If anything, we were disappointed that we didn’t find it sooner.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
T
Trisha • couple • us
10
Great beachfront stay
Pros:

Proximity to the beach is amazing. It is very close to all the restaurants and shops as well. The staff is very accommodating and helps you with your luggage and valets your car. The breakfast was good and the rooftop pool is very nice with great views.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
M
Matias • couple • us
8
Súper recomendable.
Pros:

La ubicación es increíble en un pueblo que parece un cuento. El personal es muy educado y bien predispuesto. La habitación es muy cómoda.

Cons:

El desayuno es el peor punto. Muy caro para lo poco que ofrecen. La recepción está a unos 100 metros del edificio principal y es un poco engorroso tener que caminar para cualquier consulta.

2026-01-18 • via Nuitee
E
ERIKA • family_with_children • us
10
2026-01-17 • via Nuitee
S
Sundeep • family_with_children • us
8
2026-01-14 • via Nuitee
S
Susanne • couple • de
10
Künstliche Idylle
Pros:

Luxuriöses Resort an einem netten Pazifikstrand. Es handelt sich um ein nachgebautes italienisches Dorf mit vielen Häusern, einigen Shops und Restaurants. Service wird groß geschrieben. Das Hotel liegt direkt am Strand, man kann prima entspannen.
Wichtig zu wissen: die Anreise von Norden ist abenteuerlich - steile unbefestigte Wege. Wir hatten Angst, dass unser Auto schlapp macht, Also lieber von Osten aus anreisen, wenn irgend möglich.

Cons:

Es war sehr touristisch, wenig vom ursprünglichen Costa Rica. Bei den Restaurants hatten wir fast durchweg das Gefühl von unpersönlicher Abzocke. Am besten hat uns das Essen und der Service in der Strandbar gefallen. Liegen am Strand wären auch noch gut.

2026-01-11 • via Nuitee
L
loic • family_with_children • fr
6
Un hôtel très américain, un lieu qui pourrait être très sympa s'il n'était pas aussi fake.
Pros:

Un hôtel aux standarts occidentaux de confort.

Cons:

Très impersonnel, peu authentique.
Manque une douchette pour rincer les pieds au retour de la plage.

2026-01-05 • via Nuitee
M
Maria Jose • couple • fr
9
2026-01-01 • via Nuitee
I
Innakern • Family • Manchester, Vermont
4
Santarena Hotel is undeniably beautiful and set in a stunning location, but the experience falls short
Pros:

The location of Santarena Hotel is absolutely stunning, and the property itself is truly beautiful. Architecturally, it feels like a luxury destination, and the setting has incredible potential. Unfortunately, the experience did not live up to what the hotel promises.

For a hotel positioned as a luxury stay, the lack of basic amenities and customer service was extremely disappointing. I was genuinely shocked by the towel policy—being limited on towels and expected to bring sandy beach towels back to the room after a day at the beach is unacceptable at this price point. A proper towel service should be standard, not an afterthought.

The pool and outdoor spaces are also lacking. There are no comfortable lounge chairs, and the absence of an outdoor shower is baffling for a beach destination. These details may seem small, but they significantly impact comfort and the overall experience.

There was also very poor communication from the start. No one explained how the on-site restaurants work, including the need for reservations, which led to unnecessary frustration. We received a flimsy map at check-in with very little orientation, and the front desk was not proactive or helpful in explaining what’s nearby, how the artisan spaces function, or how to navigate the community overall.

What frustrated me most was the rigidity around checkout. Checkout is at 11:00 AM, and there was absolutely no flexibility—even though we had booked two premium rooms. We asked if we could extend just one room by a single hour and were met with a flat refusal, with no attempt to accommodate or even discuss options. That lack of empathy and customer care was incredibly disappointing.

This hotel is part of a lovely, thoughtfully designed community, yet the lack of information and guidance does that community an injustice. The beauty of the location and surroundings is undeniable, but without better amenities, clearer communication, and a more guest-focused approach to service, the experience falls short.

For the money, there are definitely better places to stay where you don’t feel like you’re roughing it.
Sadly, despite the stunning setting, I would not recommend Santarena Hotel based on this experience.

2025-12-30 • via Tripadvisor
3
333haseebr • Couples
6
Beautiful Hotel, great area
Pros:

The hotel and area are beautiful. The service left a little to be desired with odd interactions at most turns. Digital check in did not work and had to re-request and re-provide everything at check in and the staff could’ve been a bit more accommodating all around (check in, restaurant, bar, etc.). The food and drinks at the hotel were awesome.

2025-12-27 • via Tripadvisor