Hotel Allegro Resort Papagayo

The Allegro Papagayo Hotel is a 30-minute drive from Liberia International Airport. The flight to the Costa Rican capital takes another 40 minutes.

However, if the hotel is less than half full, lots of the usual activities and entertainment are cancelled; for example, the shows scheduled each evening. Between 8 and 16 people take care of the various activities in peak season.

Accommodation tip:
Ask for a room on the first or second floor if you wish to have a sea view!

The Allegro Papagayo was built in 2001 and covers a large area of land on the Gulf of Papagayo. The large ventilated reception area has a panoramic view of the bay, and the numerous yellow buildings with red tiled roofs strike a contrast against the natural greenery of the surroundings. A small road, steep and winding, takes you either by car or by foot to the heart of the complex. A fine open space accommodates the lagoon pool, with a separate children's section and waterside bar. The children's club is open from 8.00 am until 4.00 pm and has a covered area and playground, including a slide. There are also three bars.

The Allegro Papagayo has 300 rooms, each with a balcony, distributed between fourteen 3-storey buildings. Each room has a king-size bed or twin beds. Rooms are functional and unremarkable, the only difference being the view. About 60% have a view over the sea, which will set you back an extra £7. The yellow roughcast walls brighten up the room, which has wooden furniture, terra-cotta flooring and a nice high ceiling. Guests are provided with a television, a safe, individual air conditioning, a fridge, tea and coffee-making kit, and a telephone. The compact bathroom is clean and has a big shower, a hair-dryer and many "Occidental" hospitality products.

A large open-air international buffet offering a highly varied and considerable selection of dishes, is located between the sea and the pool. One rarely comes across such a selection of hot dishes (about fifteen) at lunchtime. This area is separated from the snack bar and its pizza counter, and the swimming pool terrace, by arrangements of potted plants. The big roof is supported on high columns. Two "a la carte" restaurants (reserve the day before), one Italian and one Mexican, add to the dining options in the evening. However, the dining rooms are closed and the decoration is disappointing.

The resort's beach is close to the communal areas but not to the rooms themselves. It is secluded in nature and sheltered under the shade of trees. Although the beach is nice and long, it is not very wide. A ring of mountains surrounds the ocean in front of you, the setting is pleasant, and the water is free of rocks and coral. Deckchairs are set out on the fine black sand. A 20-minute boat journey (reserve in advance) takes you to the white sands of the beach club on the hotel's second beach. A variety of water sports can be enjoyed here by guests.