Anyone recently visited Villas Playa Samara? Staying there in February first time to CR. Have read reviews about this resort being a rundown dump(?) Anyone out there with something good to say?

We stayed in Playa Samara two years ago and took a look around Villa Playa Samara just out of curiousity. I didn't think it was rundown at all. We went inside one of the villas and it seemed pretty nice. The complex, itself, seemed a little too family-orented for us (it was just me and my wife), but if we had young kids, I think they'd love it. It's right on a long and fairly empty beach.

We were there for a couple of nights in 2004. Would not stay again. That's not to say it wasn't an okay place to stay. I just thought it was a bit too pricey for what we got, and we were not particularly impressed with the office. We had our daughter with us and the cost for a third person in the room was too much. For sure it was VERY family oriented. There were so many families with kids in the pool that we didn't want to get in, etc. The villas were a little dark as well.

We managed to get a villa fairly close to the beach, which was a plus. Long story short, it's not a bad place to stay--just not up to par for the price.

I would be very interested to hear what you think of it. Do write a trip report when you return. Very few people have mentioned Villas Playa Samara on Fodor's, so I'm curious about the opinions of others. Have a great trip. You will love Costa Rica!

Thanks for the information. We are doing a family vaca with daughters 14 and 10 so hoping what VPS lacks in resort comfort and convenience they make up for in family activity and atmosphere. The recent trip advisor review I read about ants crawling on you while you try to sleep sent my BP up we are pretty easy and can deal with bugs - but for the price I am paying that does not meet my minimum expectations. My CR web travel consultant said VPS is very nice (she would stay there) but I have emailed her again about possible changes in their hospitality since the ant post and asked about changing our reservations to another resort but have yet to hear from her. My international travel experience is limited to rv'ing in NZ (which we loved) but you seem to have heeps of info. - what would you do if you get to place where you have prepaid reservations (9 days at VPS)and you are unhappy with accommodations - management doesn't respond and you want to leave - do you call your CC company to withhold payment? Please advise

Will you have a car? We stopped by to look at this place 3 years ago and it is a ways out of town. If you can switch hotels I can recommend Brisas del Pacifico (two pools, restaurant, on the beach, very close to town) and others on this board have mentioned Villas Kalimba favorably. It had not yet opened when we were last in CR.

Haven't been reading this recently, but we stayed in Villas Kalimba in 8/04 and loved it. The folks were great and the accomodations were perfect. We (parents and 15 yr old son) were pleased in every way...they have a good website so you can get more info