i stayed like in 5 hotels in costa rica
and i could say that barcelo tambor beach was the best hotel; i had a really good experience over there and people is very nice. my friends and i are planning on going soon (:

Recently stayed at the Barcelo Tambor from March 10th - 17th, 2008 with my wife and 2 kids 18 and 16. Booked through Sunwing. Flew to Liberia - brochure indicated 5 1/2 hr land transfer, picked up by 2 very pleasant Costa Ricans who indicated that the trip would be 4 1/2 hrs - half on pavement and the last half on dirt roads. It turned out to be 3 1/2 hours but made a very long day after a 2 hr delay in Toronto (snow) and a 5 hr flight. However, we arrived safe and sound to a very nice resort.

Rooms: Very clean but a little tired - can be noisy if you're close to entertainment which goes to midnight.

Pools: In the middle of March break it felt like there was about 50 people at the resort. Very few lineups, no problem getting chairs at pool or on the beach. Very clean, warm pools.

Beach: not a Punta Cana beach but very picturesque and can walk for a couple of hours unbothered by anyone. Warmest ocean water I've ever been in.

Food: Standard fair at a tropical resort. Specialty restaurants were good - Seafood (tables almost on the beach), Steak - go for the Filet if you're not a big meat eater. The steaks seemed a little tough.

Golf: Golfed next door at the Los Delfines - very nice 9 holes course which we had completely to ourselves. 1st tee-box - monkeys in trees and scarlet macaws flying across the fairway.

Activities: rented ATVs for 4 hrs and went to 2 falls - Montezuma and Mal Pais. Lots of fun but could be a little dangerous if you're not experienced.

Horseback riding: took the 1 hr beach tour which was fun.

Wildlife: saw snakes, iguanas, monkeys, macaws, all kinds of different birds, geckos, a type of racoon

This was the first time we stayed at the Playa Tambor, and it was a very nice experience. We decided to take a small plane (12 passenger capacity) on Sansa Airlines from San Jose, which was only a 25 min flight, instead of the 5 hour bus ride. We did not regret it! The flight left on time, and the airport is less than a mile from the Hotel. WORD OF CAUTION: Do not book a transfer from the airport to the hotel, as they will charge you $30 when there are always mini vans waiting at the airport which will charge you only $2 per person. Technically, you can walk to the hotel from the airport, though I would not recommend that. AT THE HOTEL: The staff was very friendly and helpful, but also made sure that you did not get more than you paid for. For example, there are 2 restaurants to which you can only have dinner in if you stay for 3 consecutive nights, and only once during your stay. No exceptions. The pool was nice, and the beach, though a bit rocky, was clean, with many hammocks and loungers available. There is also a nature park on the premises. The atmosphere was very family-like, and there were many locals. The food was excellent, and there were many options. The rooms are clean, but a bit old, and in need of renovation. Not 5 star, but more like 3 star. Each room had a balcony, though not much of a view. However, you are only a 7 minute walk from the beach, and the weather is generally favorable. All-in-all, it was a great experience.

We stayed at the Barcelo Tambor from Feb.13 to 27, 2008. We took the commuter flight and it went well. The flight is about 25 minutes from San José. The airport at Tambor has a single landing strip and is just a few minutes away from the hotel. You could actually walk to the hotel.

The hotel was OK - clean but would probably need new beds as they were not very comfortable. The staff was very nice and always eager to help and make you happy. A little tip and they would remember you for your entire stay. The food was good. Lots of variety - just remember that there are a lot of tourists with different tastes and culture. We tried new foods and always found something good to eat. You must really try the natchos and salsa and also the chicken at the snack bar - really good!!!

The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. The Eco-Park is nice,. Expect to see caymens, raccoons, birds, old trees, butterflies and howler monkeys. The beach is beautiful and 6km long. You can walk to the village of Tambor via the beach. There we found souvernirs and a small grocery store. Souvernirs at the hotel are same price but visit the small town - it's worth the trip.

We did a few outings. We rented ATVs from the sharks on the beach. It was well worth it. It's a good way to really see the country side and the flora and fauna. We also went to Tortuga Island and Curu Park (from our Nollitour rep). We were very happy to have done both on same trip because spending half a day at Tortuga Island would have been a waste of money. It's a nice place but it's just a beach.... Curu Park was excellent. We had a great tour guide who knew his stuff. We also tried the zip line from Montezuma. It's a must.

The Entertainment at the hotel was ok. We stayed for two weeks and the second week was a repitition of the the previous week. Hotel should have a two week turnaround show. Jose and Braydon from the entertainment crew were amazing. We had lots of fun with those guys. They really enjoy their jobs and it really shows.

We really enjoyed our stay at the Barcelo Tambor Hotel and would go back in a heart beat. Lynn, our travel rep from Nollitour was great. Always available.