Baldi Hot Springs Hotel Resort & Spa — Hotel in La Fortuna

The rooms are like cheap motels with a television the size of a computer monitor. The food looked and tasted like it had already passed through someone's backside. The hot spring is like a dirty water park. I felt unclean and more tense. I WOULD NEVER STAY HERE AGAIN. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND A STAY HERE.

They charged me twice. I paid $26 for a small underwhelming margarita. The night manager also refused to provide me with any contact information or his name so that could follow up with a complaint. I had to argue with him for well over 15 minutes including recording a video before he provided an email. He kept dismissing me saying ‘I am done talking to you’. He was talking to me in an elevated volume, rudely and dismissively. This entire stay was awful. I was staying at a hostel for 20 dollars and the day pass for this hot spring is about 50. I could have paid 70 for this awful experience instead I paid $500 dollars. As soon as I exited the taxi, a security guard started to demand who I was and if I had a reservation. He never said hi, welcome, how are you, or provide any other form of salutation. He then proceeded to follow me to the reception. The reception is visible from the parking lot, so I really don’t need him to walk me there. He then demanded I identify my name on a piece of paper. After I provide my name and showed that I have a reservation he just walks away. He leaves me at the reception where we’re standing and I have to go through the entire process again. The entire interaction was extremely unwelcoming. They also don’t share that room service is an additional 15 dollars. Thankfully I saw this posted somewhere and never ordered room service. Especially because my room is right at the front near the main restaurant and bar. The receptionist that checked me in for the hot springs told me breakfast was included with my stay at the hotel. But when I went to order around 9pm they said the kitchen was closed/closing and they could not take my order. Of course they never shared that with me until it was too late. My order should then have been taken at check-in. They told me to come back just before 1450 to check in. I came at exactly 1450 and they said that was too early and I need to come back to the desk at exactly 1500. When I came back at 1500 it took over 10 minutes to get my bags. I didn’t arrive to room until nearly 1530. When I checked into the hot springs before I could enter my room I didn’t get a towel or anything. Even though I made a deposit at that time and provided my credit card and identification. My luggage was kept in a storage locker but you have to ask someone each time you need to access it. I went to use a locker in the showers to store items I wanted to access over the next few hours. I even told the reception that’s were I was going and she didn’t mention there was an additional cost. I even said it in Spanish. I went to the showers found a free locker and opened the locker. I stepped back to get my bag and in that moment someone closed it. So I opened it again, this time a worker mentions that it’s an additional 7 dollars. There were so many opportunities to mention it. Another awful experience. I ate at the primade restaurant. It was the worst food ever. The ingredients are low quality, the food was almost cold. I felt physically ill and could not even return to the hot springs for a few hours. The silver lining was that I had a room and could lay down. The bartenders are friendly nice and the other guest are nice as well. Though you will not socialize with anyone else. Other places in La Fortuna are better for meeting people or socializing. I made friends each night at the hostel and did...

If you're a nature lover please read! This place is great for what it is (super touristy overpriced people who like to be catered to) I wish we picked elsewhere bc of our own travel preferences and the flaws- and i am NOT picky. I researched a lot and do not know how I ended up choosing this after being here. So for my adventurers and nature lovers, this is for you. This is Def a higher end resort that caters to people who like to vacation a certain fancier way. Which is great if thats what ur into then here it is. We'd rather be surrounded by nature and get to hear it vs hear kids and people and cars. It is pretty grounds, the people working there are very nice. The rooms are nice hotel rooms. The reason -2 star is because they charge for every single little thing and they charge a lot. We left and I saw I was charged for coffee in the morning as part of the mini bar. I get the extra snacks and alcohol and soda is a charge but was shocked to learn to make coffee in your room is a 4000 colones charge! Not just once, but each time. That's super expensive for that too! I was making 1 tiny cup. Lol. U have a good view if you're not on the first floor (if you are u have no view) of the volcano which was nice. But all you hear is tourists outside. The pools are super awesome and nice. But once is enough. There are free hot springs in the river but those do get super crowded to the point of not enjoying so i am glad we came here...there are many tomes u have a pool to yourself. Cold pools too. And it never feels too crowded on them. They have all different degrees too. I would've much rather done a day pass to see them tho and then get the heck outta there. Lol. There's so many beautiful tucked away more nature friendly places to stay near by with even better views and more wildlife. This place had no wildlife besides a few birds. The Italian restaurant with the breakfast buffet was good. The "more traditional" restaurant they have was awful, another reason for less stars. Don't go there. There's so many great local restaurants right near by that serve actual good costa Rican food. It was 22 a person for very limited choices buffet and it all actually tasted bad. The places drinks and everything is very expensive there for just touristy stuff. Which, we semi expected in arenal area but for the price to stay here as a guest it's a little ridiculous. Gave a decent review bc it is a nice hotel and the view is good. People are nice. And I can understand it is just not my style of place since we usually do eco lodges and surround ourselves more off the beaten path. If you're someone who likes extra luxury, wants a spa and to feel fancy and not submerse yourself in the beauty of this country, wants a party or wants a place for your kids to run around all over it is a good place for that. And I know some like that and that's OK, I appreciate it for what it is.:) good location (as are many others) to hikes and town too. But I promise you if you're into nature and want to take in costa rica more than touristy stuff go elsewhere. For me this was a 1 star for my preferences but understand some things just aren't my scene so tried to not be biased. I am always a very happy easy to please person and I'd be lying if I didn't say that the entire time we were staying in this hotel I wish I...

Safety/dangerous update while here, super dangerous slippery tile floors at the hotel portion of Baldi. Just saw a woman totally wipe out and fall on the tile, another woman yesterday slip and almost fall, my mother would have gone down last night had she not been holding my arm, and my son slipped and nearly fell the first few minutes we were here. I'm not a Karen or an overly cautious person, but I'm shocked they haven't been sued. It is a hot spring, it's in a rain forest, the floors are going to be wet. To choose a tile this slippery is insane. It is very old looking tile, so there have probably been a ton of falls. Seems extremely irresponsible to not put down some simple traction strips on the highly traveled section from the entrance to the elevator, which is probably only 50-75 feet max where I've seen all this.

And the adult slides are extremely dangerous, my son went down and hurt his back pretty badly. Numerous other reviews about how fast and dangerous the slides are, be aware!

Rooms: The normal rooms (called superior in the website) on the first three floors are pretty outdated, they haven't been updated in probably 20-25 years. Might have just been my room on the third floor, but the pics of the bathroom did not match my actual room (pic looked more updated). They do have a small porch. The normal rooms leave a lot to be desired unfortunately. Also, no smart TV, which was fine bc we aren't here to watch TV, but the upstairs deluxe TV IS smart TV w Netflix etc. Odd all the rooms don't have it. The "deluxe" room upstairs on the 4th floor are a bit nicer bc they are larger, have high ceilings, have a small separate seating area at the front, and are floor to ceiling wood for a much nicer look (including wood floors instead of the 90s slippery tile in the normal rooms). Deluxe room also has a large balcony w a small outdoor couch (third floor "Superior" room was the very outdated one"). We had both room types in the same stay for a larger family. We were okay with the deluxe, "superior" left a lot to be desired. However, it was clean, AC worked well, etc.

The hot springs themselves are amazing, extremely well done, updated, and enjoyable. Just heads up the 4.5 rating is more bc of all the day pass reviews rating the hot springs (a 5 for sure), the rooms I'd call a 3 or 2. Knock a star off for the unsafe floors.

The Junior Suite looks more updated online, and i saw they are separate buildings from the rooms I'm commenting on, so they may be legit, I don't know.

If you just want a clean accomodation very close to the hot springs and you'll use the hot springs daily, it is all good. If you're thinking the superior or standard room will be a resort style stay, you will be let down, stay elsewhere and get a day pass here.

Service at the bars were top notch, all great gentlemen. Cleaning crew also very nice and helpful.

Food, there is a buffet which is passable at best, pretty plain. Also an Italian restaurant downstairs that is more sit down style and I believe does the...