Stayed here during our roundtrip in Costa Rica. First of all, the surroundings are beautiful, but the city of Puntarenas itself is decayed and looks abandoned from time to time. Lots of people hanging out in the streets, and also lots of pimped cars driving around slowly.
Pros: looks as one of the best hotels in Puntarenas from the outside. Check-in is smooth. There is a fenced parking lot at the back of the hotel. There's a beach if you cross the street. Pool is fine, refreshing. Everything is there in your room, including a fridge, AC and safe. Bed is nice and big.
Cons: An elevator is missing, so you'll have to carry your (heavy) luggage up the stairs yourself.
Although ther is a safe, it isn't attached to anything in your room, so in theory they can steal your safe and open it elsewhere.
The shower gets cold every 30 seconds. There's also a bathtub, but it can't be used because the drain can't be closed watertight, so water keeps running away. The bathtub also tends to bent below your feet, so it feels like it's going the break or something like that.
Breakfast is mediocre, scrammbled eggs are more like soggy eggs.
Most staff only speaks Spanish. The girls behind the desk do speak English, but they simply seem not interested and unfriendly.

We we very pleasantly surprised with Hotel Alamar. Our room had lots of light, was clean and everything worked (a/c, TV, safety deposit box) and the WiFi was excellent.

We enjoyed the pool and the breakfast.

Staff were very friendly.

One small thing: When we packed up to leave after two nights (after all, Puntarenas isn't the most interesting place to stay), we noticed that the safety deposit box sitting in the wardrobe was loose and not attached to anything. So someone could have stolen the box and its content.

We were expecting the worst from this place but needed somewhere to sleep for one night before we took the ferry the next morning. They offered the best price, which included breakfast so we checked in and went up to the room.

It was lovely!! We had a very clean, twin room which was kitted out in two queen-sized beds. LG flat screen TV. Internet. Bathroom was kitted out with a spacious shower, plenty of towels and organic, natural soap, shampoo and conditioner.

Breakfast was a simple buffet with a variety of traditional Tico brekkie along with fruit, coffee, toast and cereal.

Hotel is equipped with a pool including a separate children's pool and hot tub. Additional towels for the pool and hot tub are supplied at check-in. It also faces Puntarenas beach which is just across the road.

We arrived in Puntarenas mid-afternoon on a whim and decided to stop. The Alamar was certainly the best offering in our price range. Check-in was smooth, the room was clean and neat and the air conditioning was much appreciated. My biggest complaint was the lighting, especially over the sink. I could hardly see in the mirror! We lounged by the pool and met some missionaries who had just arrived. We walked the beach and shopped the open market booths. We fully intended to eat at some local soda on the beach but many we closed or very dark so we came back to the hotel. Our meal was fair. Breakfast was included and it was okay.The staff was very helpful here as well and they had a locked parking lot which we appreciated.