Hotel Nantipa, an SLH Hotel — Hotel in Cóbano

I travel often with my family and spend a considerable amount of time choosing a hotel. I am a Hyatt globalist (over 60 nights a year) and try to be loyal to the brand when possible. Hotel Nantipa is part of that family through SLH. This property has one thing going for it. They are located on a gorgeous spot along the coast, however that is it. The staff all seem like they have never worked in hospitably before. The breakfast is a mess. You can get the same quality at any Holiday Inn. Don't get me wrong, but if you are going to charge people a premium price for rooms and food, you should be expected to deliver something of equal value. Dogs!! Yes...Dogs. I DO NOT expect to eat any meal of my day at any hotel anywhere with random dogs walking around peoples tables and scrapping with each other every day! Unacceptable!! I tried to cancel and check out the first day, but was held to the cancellation policy which would mean 100% loss. I tried multiple time to talk with the "manager" however it seems they were not on property when I asked. Sure. What else??...ants and caterpillars as daily guests in the room?? sure , why not. Santa Theresa is not the easiest place to get to when traveling to Costa Rica, so anyone looking to make that effort, please think hard about spending your money here. It looks on paper to be the best choice in the area and other reviews seem to cater to their ego, but they to take a serious look inward and stop lying to themselves, because I am sure most people are just silent about negative issues. Please spend your hard earned money elsewhere. P.S. Pictures of bugs and DM's with manager upon request

Follow up to managers response: Hotels, including yours, set their own cancellation policies, yours is 30 days prior to arrival to avoid a100% total stay penalty fee. I understand the Hyatt policies very well...that is why I had their concierge contact the hotel on the first day to see what that fee would be since I booked using award points. Instead she told me that the hotel requested I speak to them directly...I tried in person and was unable. To make the statement in your response that my "discomfort" arises from this issue is a perfect example of being out of touch with your own shortcomings. My discomfort was caused by lack of professionalism, dogs eating breakfast with me, untrained staff and insects...

We stayed in this hotel for a week to relax on the beach after an adventurous holiday. This Hotel is lovely and does have the relaxing vibe however there are some issues. The main issue was the “inclusive” breakfast. The menu is very limited. The standards of each day seemed to change constantly. Comparing photos with what is served showed very different dishes. The service at breakfast was mostly terrible sometimes taking 20 minutes to get a coffee when the tables are mostly empty. Usually it was quicker to go up to the bar and get something yourself as the staff seemed to forget. The fruit come out tasting odd I don’t believe the chopping boards or knives are washed therefore making the fruit taste garlicky or meaty. However, there are some staff who are very helpful and good at their job.

The second issue came around with our room for 3 people which we paid extra for. The bed wasn’t made before and there were no towels for the 3rd guest. After requesting for the bed to be made, towels and other amenities were still missing (coffee cups water glasses etc). Only after the 4th ask was the towel brought over still missing the rest which I gave up with ever getting. The bed was also made with the original sofa cushion which was very uncomfortable, the mattress was under the bed frame which I switched out myself. If you’re going to offer a room for 3 people please set it up for 3 as this is what we are paying for.

One of the best thing here was the incredibly helpful front desk staff. They helped without hesitation on many things including booking ferries, car help and surf board rental. They went the extra mile which made this place feel a lot more luxury which is its aim.

We spent most of our time lounging on the beach which is lovely and a beautiful spot. However, the music here is the same everyday. Our family could now probably sing all the terrible cover songs in order. This is an easy fix of finding new playlists. Overall, this hotel is stunning and has some lovely staff but does need to sort out some issues, mostly with consistent service P.S I have read the low rating reviews where the hotel has responded about these guests not being found on their records. We stayed here from 21st to 31st of December...

Update:

After posting our initial review, we were quickly approached by managers Alina and Jason, who made it clear how seriously they take guest feedback. From that point on, our experience was completely transformed. The service became near white-glove—thoughtful, personal, and incredibly attentive. They even moved tables and chairs from the Manzu restaurant closer to the ocean so we could enjoy the sunset and the sound of the waves, which made for a beautiful and memorable evening.

Dinner that night was absolutely delicious—we ordered the tenderloin beef with chocolate sauce and added shrimp for a surf-and-turf twist. Maitkol, our server for both dinner and breakfast, was warm, attentive, and made us feel like true VIPs. I'm also terrified of geckos, and the staff went out of their way to ensure none were in our room, which I deeply appreciated.

Thanks to their efforts, what began as a disappointing start turned into a truly special and enjoyable anniversary celebration.

My husband and I chose Hotel Nantipa to celebrate our anniversary, arriving with high expectations given the premium price—especially for the bungalow. Unfortunately, the experience fell well short.

First and foremost, the hotel comes across as unusually stingy for the price point. The included breakfast is extremely limited, and we were constantly encouraged to pay extra for basic additions. It felt more like a budget hotel with luxury pricing.

The on-site dining experience was further diminished by the presence of dogs around the restaurant, which took away from what should have been a peaceful, upscale beachfront atmosphere. Even the food and the so-called “cleansing juices” lacked flavor—surprisingly bland for a resort of this caliber.

While the rooms are spacious and well-appointed, the nightly rate is far beyond what the experience justifies. At half the price, it might feel reasonable—but at full cost, it’s simply not worth it.

We’re truly disappointed that such a special occasion was marked by such underwhelming hospitality.

P.S. Before management responds with "we reviewed...and do not see you on guest list..." This account is an alias. Last...