Hotel El Maragato — Hotel in Carmen

My "Special Requests" note upon making my reservation stated that I must have Internet near or in my room. Many Costa Rica hotels define Internet as a router somewhere on the property and many times with signal not strong enough to function. I run my business on the Internet and this is a condition of how I choose a hotel. This was clearly stated. I live in Costa Rica so I'm accustomed to this situation. Upon arrival the manager acknowledged me by name from the Special Request. He quickly informed me that the Internet was not working properly on the 5th floor where I would be staying. I offered to test the router and see if I could help them fix it. After an hour working for free trying to help them I let them know this isn't going to work and I need to find another hotel. They could not refund my room because it was booked through Travelocity. Since then, Jan 7 I have been fighting with Travelocity to give me a refund. Travelocity keeps reminding me that there are no refunds. Travelocity has contacted the hotel for approval and the hotel, Hotel El Maragato, has also denied the refund!!!! They state that "there is a public computer workstation on the 3rd floor for guests to SURF THE INTERNET". SERIOUSLY!?!?!?!? I don't want to "surf the Internet". I need to work! Should I install 150 programs from my laptop onto their public computer and wooden chair? I have gone back and forth with them and Travelocity and both keep reminding me of the no refund policy and that there was a public computer. by the way, the pubic computer is also garbage. I didn't even touch the sheets on the bed let alone use the room and they refuse to refund us. Terrible Internet. No refund. Lying manager. Terrible service. The owner is a jerk. No one in the hotel is available to manage problems like this. Most of all they keep denying the refund for a room that wasn't used when they didn't give the service they...

Spent 7 nights but literally just for sleeping and showering—I would be out early in the AM and back late at night after touring/sightseeing—and exactly for that is what this place is good for. ||I found the service good and the guys at the reception helpful. The one in the morning shift (sorry can’t remember his name) was very friendly and also helped booking my taxi back to the airport. ||I decided not to pay for their breakfast and instead went to cafes in the area to experience more of the city and Costa Rican eateries as it’s a good location for exploring. There’s actually a grocery store right around the block turning left, which is a plus.||My room was on the inner side of the building, 7th floor, so I wasn’t affected much by the street noise, except for a weekend night or two but all went quiet around 11, I think—so didn’t really bother me. During weekdays the area was dead by 10. Their AC did make a weird noise so I ended up using ear plugs for that. ||The room was spacious, had basic furnishing, including a desk if you need one, a mini fridge, ice bucket and cups but no coffee maker. There was a safe but no instructions on how to use/program it. I could’ve asked but with the inconvenience opted to leave my passport and some money in the safe of my friend’s room who was staying at the Exe since it was a much nicer hotel and had a safer vibe.||The walls and carpet were stained and my bedding had cigarette burns, which made my room feel icky. I understand this is a 2-star hotel and I did want a budget room as I was staying solo but still cleanliness should not be compromised and for that I would look elsewhere if returning to SJO. ||Given the price (payed $42/night, would not pay more than $50) and use I had for the room, it was a...

We’ve been going to Hotel El Maragato for over a decade. WARNING! There’s a thief with access to the room keys. On Nov 29th, 2019, we locked our room and went to dinner. At 3am, I discovered my MacBook Pro missing as we went through airport security. The only time it was out of my sight is when we went to dinner.||||I alerted the night clerk immediately. He checked the room and found nothing. It’s now Dec 11th, and I’m STILL waiting to hear from the manager. I’ve called repeatedly. I'm always told that the manager will view the security footage, then contact me.||||Meanwhile, a charge appeared on my credit card from UNIVERSIDAD FORMARTE SAN JOSE. This is an online trade school. (Huh?!) It’s owned by El Maragato’s financial advisor. The amount is the same as our hotel bill. Are they trying to hide their revenue?||||Overall, the hotel is good for the price and location. Bring earplugs. The inside rooms away from the main street are quieter, but you’ll still hear noise all night long. There’s hot water, but use it when the other rooms on your floor are vacant. Otherwise, you’ll get a trickle every time someone else turns it on.||||The staff has been very nice on the majority of our visits, including long-time manager Daniel Venega. (Although he was rude when we had a complaint a few years ago.) Regardless, if he won’t view the security footage to catch their thief, more valuables will be stolen. For my part, my laptop was the most valuable thing I owned. I’ll never go...