Villas Río Mar Hotel — Hotel in Bahía Ballena

I'm staying my last night here tonight. I woke up last night a to a guy in my room stealing my $230 in cash. He had the tools and knew exactly how to dismantle the the security grate on the outside of the window (draw your own conclusion from that). I'm 6'1" and about 230 lbs so when I woke up he was gone, he was on his way out when I woke up, he leaned through the window after cutting the screen and grabbed my money (my curtains were drawn, he knew where the only table in the room was, my AC was on, he knew someone was in there). I told the staff who sympathized and called the cops. The resolution was a free meal at their restuarant which I didnt take because it was silly to begin with. The wifi/ power also both cut out since I've been here. At the end of the day offering a free meal for waking up to a stranger in my room stealing my cash is absurd. Especially if you are traveling with kids, this place isn't safe. They said they would double security just for tonight (my last night here), I'm still sleeping next to some extra security. They wouldn't refund any money and I already paid for it, for what they charge I would suggest you stay at one of the other Dominical hotels.

11/18

Just to update, even though the hotel said they could file the police report because I was on vacation and obviously had plans. Now the manager who hasn't given me his name and won't tell me who the owner is says I had to file an official report with the cops (which was not what I was told at the time) so they won't do anything about the small amount of cash that was stolen.

11/19

Lol the owner just blamed the whole thing on me and acted like it was all about the small amount of cash. He admits that he knows full well I got robbed in my room he just thinks I could've handled it better 🤣(there isn't room for the emails on here but the owner Chris Vijselaar is saying anything to not make it right which is fine I don't need him to), I told I wouldn't accept any compensation after he insulted me like that. He also lied to me (or his staff lied to him) and said my story changed at some point after I checked out. LMAO I left the first review while I was still staying there! Read the review Chris, I haven't edited that since BEFORE I CHECKED YOU...

This was honestly the WORST hotel stay I have ever had in my life. I am quite a reasonable person and being in Costa Rica you have to take things as they are. However...

#1 WiFi did not work in the room at all as they have advertised

#2 The staff were rude, unprofessional and unhelpful in general. When we asked the girl at the front desk about the WiFi she didn't even look up from here phone and just said "there’s nothing we can do" she always had a sour attitude.

#3 Get this, they gave us a ROOM THAT HADN’T EVEN FINISHED BEING BUILT. Literally we woke up to a whole team of 4-5 workers laying cement, drilling, using machinery and making windows on the room we were staying in. After asking the staff if we could move they replied with the good old "nothing we can do". Oh also the room was at the edge of the property against the dirt boundary wall with barbed wire and a road for construction vehicles was literally on our doorstep and they would constantly be driving noisily by…how peaceful.

I have traveled extensively around the world to some of the most remote areas and hotels, this is by far the worst I have ever come across. Sad to end such a great trip on a bad note. Management and the owners should feel ashamed. (You can see in the photos where they were working laying cement, had a car parked and running right...

Another excellent lodge style hotel nestled in the beautiful forest foliage associated with Costa Rica. The accommodation is dotted around in small blocks with each room having its own porch area and amenities to enjoy while staying here. ||The rooms have nice big bathrooms and good showers. Nice comfortable double bed. And a spare single in my room. Good air con and a fan if you don’t like the cold a/c going at night. Loved staying so close to nature. Great layout with paths going around the complex. ||Two pools. One main one near the restaurant and catering for families. The deep end to me is unnecessarily deep for a hotel pool but the size is a big bonus. The other is a smaller rectangular shape slightly away from here. ||The hotel has a great restaurant and bar with lots of seating and is very comfortable. Enjoyable meals here each night, as was the drinks at the bars used at the pool and the evening, Enjoyed happy hour cocktails. ||Good reception service and WiFi throughout the complex. Good base to visit attractions and nearby town to walk to...