This was the one place I didn't read reviews of before we went and wish I had. Heads up: if when you get to a resort and they give you a "rules" sheet right away where printed in bold it says if you're not satisfied with your stay there will be no refunds, that might be an indication this resort has a high attrition rate and/or a few problems. If you're looking for a place that can boast some serious views, ok food and service from the kitchen, but a kind of depressing room/grounds, then this is your place. We were on our honeymoon and this was our last stop. Up to that point we had an amazing trip and experienced such wonderful Costa Rican hospitality. My first notice of the grounds/hotel was that it was a little outdated and "sad". There was a feeling around the place that was a little oppressive and/or depressed. It really contrasted from our previous hotel stays in CR. Although the entire resort was almost empty, they put us in a room that was right next to a very noisy generator that was on all night long. Little things were noticeably off, like the picture in our room was literally nailed into the wall very crooked, like really, obviously crooked, not just a little bit. That's not a big deal, but it does suggest a lack of pride and represented many little things like that we found. The owners didn't seem to care about keeping the place up. We were put on the ground floor and there is no privacy option whatsoever if you want natural light in your room. It's either you turn on the lights or you completely expose one side of your room to let in light or see the view (the entry door is all glass as is the wall, floor to ceiling...which sounds like it would be a nicer thing if on the 2nd floor away from foot traffic, but literally if open anyone can see everything in your room). There were 2 cheap plastic chairs right outside our door to look out at the view, but they're essentially feet from a main walkway and again no privacy. Going to a resort that boasts: "Ocotal is a four-star beachfront resort, a leader among Costa Rica's hotels and resorts, known for its outstanding style, comfort, and service," one expects more. They also apparently won a sustainable tourism award.....huh? I saw no effort in this regard. This was not a 4 star resort by any means except for the views, which really are extraordinary because it's right there on the cliff overlooking the sea. I would say stay here if you want an amazing view but a Motel 6 or less equivalent room. Our server Alex in the restaurant was really delightful and for his sake it saddens me to write this review. Just not worth the price, even with a groupon. We ended up just eating the cost of the last 2 nights we had reserved there and headed up the street to Villa Vista Mar which is like a 4 star resort but at a Motel 6 price....the best decision we made on the trip.

I first visited Ocotal in 2001. Although some of the rooms show their age, they are still great accommodations. The view from the rooms as well as the restaurant. The staff is excellent and will go above and beyond to serve. The dive operation is first class with great boats and a very good staff. EAN is available and although many new dive shops have opened in the area, this shop is well established and run is a safe manner with experienced staff personnel and crews. The included breakfast is enough to hold anyone over to lunch time. If given the opportunity, I will return to Ocotal.

If you like to travel like a local, fit right in with the ticos, and just have a fantastic time surrounded by nature, then go to Playa Ocotal and stay here! We have been to CR a few times and stayed here twice. We love the views, the property, the comfort and the proximity to nature. Everyone is so very nice. The breakfast is delicious and breathtaking as you eat over looking the Golfo de Papagayo. There is always much wildlife, flora and fauna to wonder at. They have several pools, bars and rooms. The villas are very nice, each with a private pool. We stayed in one of the villas with our children and they just loved it. The beach has black sand and is right in front of the hotel. Father Rooster restaurant is a short walk down the hill and you can drink and eat right on the beach all day! It's just paradise!

The bathroom was not clean when we arrived. The food was revolting, the fish I ordered wasn't fresh (baffling as this hotel is on the coast). Exactly how the kitchen managed to find such revolting fruit for the breakfast is confusing). I live in Costa Rica, and wouldn't be able to find such unripe fruit if I really tried.

Only one receptionist was helpful, one was very rude. One morning there were many dead crabs around the swimming pool upstairs, I went to ask twice for someone to come up and remove them, and on the second request the receptionist advised me to go and someone else to address the issue (she suggested head towards the kitchen to speak to someone. This suggestion left me in almost utter disbelief). Awful customer service.

The bathroom facilities serving the upper pool weren't cleaned the whole 8 days we were staying there. Consequently the smell of raw faeces coming from the garbage can became so overwhelming we had no other option but to use the toilet in our room, rather than confront the revolting environment of that bathroom.

Our bedroom door was left unlocked and OPEN after the housekeeping service had come round.

There was iguana mess all over the place - I absolutely understand that there are many animals around the hotel, but after seeing the same piles of mess day after day, it became apparently that noone working at the hotel saw it appropriate to clean it away.

The path down to the beach, and to the suits overlooking the beach, is really dangerous. The paving is unsafe and unlit after dark.

The lady working on the tours desk in reception was not knowledgeable about any of the tours that she had advertised. It was very frustrating speaking to her.

No internet access in the rooms, and no access outside of the rooms either. Access only available in the reception area. Reception closed at 10pm. Totally inconvenient.

The walls were paper thin, as other reviewers have mentioned, you can hear everything from the next room. The TV didn't work properly.

The 'jacuzzi' overlooking the ocean was always full of crabs.

A bitter disappointment, the only highlight of this stay was the koati that came to hang out with us beside the swimming pool upstairs. We were ripped off by this hotel.