San Francisco de Coyote Holidays from £1,156

Spacious rooms, friendly staff, and a tasty breakfast, with nice surroundings where macaws and other birds are often visible. Families should note that room doors aren’t toddler-proof and balconies could be unsafe for small children. Playa Mantas is nearby (parking can be tricky and costly). Playa Blanca requires additional fee and isn’t accessible through the hotel

This is a very strange property. There are a lot of hotels, private condominiums sharing the same facilities but having separate gated access. The common grounds, however, aren’t being looked after so well. The Selvamar section we stayed in was okay, but a bit tired now. Room was much smaller than anywhere else we stayed in Costa Rica, but it was comfortable. Breakfast was decent, but the restaurant by the main pool where we had a dinner wasn’t the best and not worth the money they charge. Two pools are kids friendly and they are of pretty decent size, but not very deep. Some other activities, like mini golf, are charged separately. There is a new high-rise apartment building buying built right by the main pool area & beach, which will look awful. I wouldn’t stay here again, because it doesn’t provide the Costa Rica experience I like, it’s more like something taken out of Benidorm, but I do understand why some might be very keen on it.

Clean room, helpful staff, beautiful view.