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Reviewed August 23, 2013

Positive reviewers are right:the staff is friendly, the breakfast OK, the rooms clean (may be with a somewhat chemical smell) and we felt safe. BUT...there are some negative aspecs to relate too: perhaps the staff is sometimes too friendly. We tried to sleep at Villa Dolce one night when there was a big group of American schoolgirls (and maybe some boys) in the hotel. They had a lot of fun. At 10 PM the staff tried to calm them down, but the laughter and loud talking went on until 1.30 AM. No staff acting anymore. So we were personally asking the girls twice to realise there were people in the hotel with the purpose to sleep, but their fun was more important. At our appearence the started even screaming as if we were gosts comming from an other world!
As all the rooms have view on the garden, the communal area is also in this garden and as the garden is surrounded by 4 walls (2 where the rooms are) everyone can enjoy everything hapening in the garden very clearly. For us this was not fun, as we had planned to get up early!
Second remark: this hotel has been the one and only place in Costa Rica where they charged us an other extra10% when paying with our Credit Card....

Room tip: If you know there is a big group in the hotel....try to find an other one!
Date of stay: July 2013
  • Trip type: Traveled with family
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Thank Inehop
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed August 18, 2013

Great hotel in what looked like an iffy neighborhood. Not to worry very secure. Staff was super helpful, rooms clean. Would definitely stay here again if I had to catch an early morning flight or had just come in very late.

Date of stay: July 2013
  • Trip type: Traveled with family
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Thank shrinkwrapped3
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed August 14, 2013

While pulling up to this hotel i was terrified. It was 12am and we were tired after driving 4 hours so we decided to check it out. The location is not in a safe area at all. We booked the room for 2 for $70. We ended up having a 3rd person and instead of first discussing the extra card he ran my credit card without letting me know if the price increase. We get into the room and put the suitcases in front of the door to feel more safe. At least if someone breaks in the suitecase will fall and we will hear it. A few of the pillows had dried blood on them and the bed were like sleeping on rocks. I imagine a jail cell feels safer and more inviting. Do not stay here! Fine anywhere else!

Date of stay: August 2013
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4  Thank RRonay
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VillaDolce, Owner at Hotel Bristol Aeropuerto, responded to this reviewResponded August 18, 2013

Dear Sir, Madam,

Thanks for the review and the email you sent us.

Villa Dolce is a family managed hotel and we do not have 24 hours OPEN reception service. The owners of the hotel wait and welcome their guests arriving late personally. You told us you would be arriving at midnight and you arrive at almost at 2 am. Mr Franco waited for you, he offered you drinks and advised about the Wi Fi. You wrote that the person was rude, but maybe that he was tired is a more of an accurate description at 2 am?

I trust this review is primarily related to the charge for the extra person. You booked for 2 adults, you arrived and checked in as 2 adults at 2 am and in the morning we realised there were 3 adults in the room. Every hotel in Costa Rica has an extra charge for the 3rd person. We did advise there would be an extra charge, as listed on our website. It is not true that we did not tell you, as you paid at reception and had to sign for the credit card slip. I am sorry you did not appreciate this, but a 3rd person cannot stay for free.

The mattresses are the best on the market, all orthopaedic. If clients are used to a much softer mattress, this is up to personal taste and not the quality of our mattresses. We have people asking us where they can buy the same mattresses because the guarantee a healthy and good night sleep.

Hotel Villa Dolce is a safe place. We never had any issues with criminal activity or breaking into the rooms or the cars parked outside, and we have operated the hotel since 1996. We have a nice garden and the owners live on site. It is safe, hence I am not sure why you felt unsafe. I can only assume you were tired after driving until 2 am in Costa Rica where roads are not well illuminated, etc.

We take pride in the cleanliness of the hotel, and many reviews reflect this, but we will review all pillows and sheets to make sure we maintain the high standard that we strive for.

I am sorry you had to pay for the 3rd person and that you did not enjoy your stay. It is always sad to hear.

Best wishes.

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Reviewed July 27, 2013

I am so confused by all of the positive reviews that when we got to our room (which they so kindly upgraded us to a 1 bedroom because we are a family of 5) I actually went back onto my iphone to recheck the TA reviews. This is not a 4 1/2 O hotel. The man at the front desk was friendly and helpful, but the grounds are rundown (looks much nicer in the photos) and our room was like that of a motel- bare bones and not comfortable (especially the beds.) It was very clean, but to the point of not being able to get the strong chemical smell out, even with all of the windows open and ceiling fans on. There was no a/c so we had to sleep with the windows open (bars on windows was a little strange)- the noise was unbelievable! This hotel sits between and is very close to, the new freeway and a major road! The owner is a gruff Italian man that is ready to retire from hospitality. His pizza was good, however it was $46 for 2 10-inch pizzas and 2 salads! The neighborhood isn't attractive- I would recommend staying somewhere nearby that is in a green area, maybe near Xandari.

Date of stay: July 2013
  • Trip type: Traveled with family
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Thank designsfortravel
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VillaDolce, Owner at Hotel Bristol Aeropuerto, responded to this reviewResponded July 29, 2013

Dear Sir, Madam,

We are very, very sorry you did not enjoy your stay at Villa Dolce. We do appreciate that we cannot please everybody all the time, even if we strive to do so.

We hope that the majority of excellent and very good reviews will represent us best.

We upgraded you to a villa with kitchen and living room, which is much more expensive than a room with two queen size beds, as it was 5 of you. Guests normally love our villas. If you did not feel comfortable there and reported it to us, we would have gladly moved you back to a quadruple room.

We are always surprised when guests do not report any problems to us during their stay.

We are very close to the airport, which makes the location surely slightly noisier than staying in a hotel near Xandari in the middle of nowhere, up the mountain, but being just minutes away from the airport we are very strategically located so that clients can have a quick and stress free journey to the airport, no matter what time in the morning. Again, we hope that the numerous positive reviews will represent us best.

Surely Xandari is a lovely hotel, but we are talking about hundreds of Dollars to sleep there, not comparable to the convenient rate people find at Villa Dolce, without even mentioning the duration of the drive to the airport.

We are sorry you did not like our rooms. The photos on the website have not been modified in any way so what you see is what you get. About 6 months ago, we changed all our bedspreads and added elegant new mirrors, and there is quality wood furniture throughout. I never slept in a Motel, but do not think a motel is so nicely decorated. All our mattresses are orthopaedic and most guests tell us they had a great or the best night sleep. We bought for our guests the same mattresses we use at home for ourselves!

Lastly, a dinner with 2 Italian size, freshly made pizzas with toppings, 2 large salads, drinks and service for 46 USD is quite a bargain for Costa Rica. Excuse me Sir or Madam, but let me ask you where did you eat during your holiday in Costa Rica to find our restaurant expensive? Our pizza dough and tomato sauce is freshly prepared every morning. I trust Pizza Hut charges about 20 USD for a takeaway pizza. Also, if guests prefer to sample local food, which can be cheaper, we have quite a few takeaway menus available at reception and there is a local restaurant 10 minutes walk away.

Again, is saddens us to read such review, but we do appreciate that, as much as we would like to, we cannot please everybody and this comes with the territory.

With our best wishes,
Management at Villa Dolce

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Reviewed July 7, 2013

We stayed on our entry and exit from San Jose airport. Randall made our arrival from airport
very specific so there was no confusion who to go with. Villa Dolce is situated in a great, secure area and is so lovely as soon as you enter their gate. Rooms were very comfortable, a/c, hot water, free wi-fi, and clean. Nice pool area and sitting area.
Franco and Maria, owners, were a delite to visit with and he makes great homemade pizzas!! The vegetarian was so flavorful!! Breakfast is included with your room and very good and fresh.
Randall arranged for travel to our destination resort with a very reliable driver who also picked us up for our return from the resort. US dollars were accepted. Randall arranged for our driver back to the airport and for him to stop at a merchandise factory to purchase our last minute gifts and that was a great place. THanks Randall!!
We will stay again on our next trip.

Room tip: all rooms would be nice # 5 was close to the sitting /eating area. and a great view out your window
Date of stay: June 2013
  • Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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Thank Debbie S
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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