Pros

  • Two-minute walk from Playa Hermosa
  • Quiet, beautifully landscaped property with a family-friendly atmosphere
  • Simply decorated rooms, some with full kitchens
  • Two large pools, one with wheelchair accessibility
  • Within walking distance of local shops and restaurants
  • Kids' playground on-site
  • Free parking in a gated lot, free breakfast, and free Wi-Fi
See More Pros

Cons

  • Rooms have dated, bland decor
  • No on-site restaurant; breakfast is served at restaurant next door
  • Not much to do in immediate local area
See More Cons

Bottom Line

Hotel & Villas Huetares is a 41-room value property patronized mostly by Costa Rican guests. Rooms have bland, dated furniture and decor, but villas have full kitchens and small dining areas. There are two large pools and a playground for kids, but there are few other amenities besides free parking and Wi-Fi. Although there’s no on-site restaurant, breakfast is included in the room rate and is served buffet style at the restaurant next door. While there’s not much to do in the immediate area, the hotel is just a two-minute walk from the incredibly beautiful Playa Hermosa. Even though Hotel & Villas Huetares has larger rooms and more pools, we prefer the more intimate, family-run Hotel ManGaby just across the street, which has a full-service restaurant.  

See More Bottom Line

Hotel & Amenities Photos

Amenities

  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel & Villas Huetares

Scene

A family-friendly place near Playa Hermosa 

If you’re not looking for it, Hotel & Villas Huetares is easy to miss. The low-lying yellow, Spanish-style building looks similar to its neighbors, and only a faded sign marks the hotel’s entrance. The lobby, with its white walls, white tile floors, and bares-bones furniture is also pretty forgettable. It’s not until guests pass through the lobby doors to the interior courtyard’s gardens and pools that the place shows a bit of personality. Well-manicured pathways overflowing with flowers lead to the hotel’s two large pools, where families can be found throughout the day, splashing around for hours on end. Spanish music plays through large speakers as children run back and forth between the pool and the playground. The atmosphere is family-friendly, and most of the guests (an almost entirely Costa Rican crowd) seem to be traveling with children or multiple generations.  

See More Scene

Location

In Playa Hermosa, a two-minute walk from the beach 

Situated on Calle Principal in Playa Hermosa, Hotel & Villas Huetares is within walking distance of most Hermosa attractions. Calle Principal is lined with a handful of restaurants and other hotels, and there are a few convenience and grocery stores within walking distance. Otherwise, there’s not much else to do but hit the beach. Luckily for guests at Huetares, the beach is all of a two-minute walk from the hotel. Playa Hermosa is a recognized as a Blue Flag beach, meaning it has achieved the highest standards of beauty, cleanliness, and accessibility in Costa Rica. It is without a doubt more beautiful than nearby Playas del Coco or Playa Panama, but some people may find the town itself to be a bit boring. Playas del Coco, which has more shops, restaurants, and touristy attractions, is about a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Liberia Airport is about a 35-minute drive. Major roads and highways in this part of Guanacaste are generally well paved, but side streets like Calle Principal are typically unpaved and riddled with potholes.   

See More Location

Rooms

Bare bones, with little style and tight spaces 

As its name suggests, there are two room types at Hotel & Villas Huetares -- standard hotel rooms and villas. Standard Rooms are tiny and bland, with taupe walls and rust-colored tile floors. They come with two double beds, a small dresser, and a mini-fridge. Beds are covered in thin white sheets, and most of the furniture appears to have seen better days. Flat-screen TVs hang on the wall, along with sun-faded artwork. Bathrooms has single pedestal sinks and large walk-in showers, but otherwise there’s not much space. 

Villas have two bedrooms, one bathroom, a full kitchen, and a small dining area, but strangely no living rooms. Bedrooms are tiny, and each are cramped with two beds and a dresser. Kitchens have full-size refrigerators and gas stoves, but do not have ovens or dishwashers. There are no cabinets, but there is a closet stocked with a few pots and pans, utensils, plates, cups, and bowls. A coffeemaker, microwave, and a toaster oven sit on top of the tile countertops. Superior Villas have two additional kitchen appliances (a rice cooker and an electric skillet) and an additional bathroom. All rooms are air-conditioned, but some guests complain that hot water is hard to come by.   

See More Rooms

Features

Two pools, a playground, and a few freebies 

It’s not hard to see why guests choose to spend the majority of their time around the hotel’s two pools. Both pools are surprisingly large, considering Huetares’ small size, and the lively atmosphere means kids are free to splash around without fear of causing too much ruckus.  The larger of the two pools has a Roman shape with dark blue mosaic tile entryways. The second pool has a freeform shape with a small waterfall, whirlpool area, and a wheelchair-accessible entrance. There’s a third, round, shallow pool for babies and toddlers. In keeping with the family-friendly atmosphere, the hotel also has a well-equipped playground just a few steps from the pool. However, besides the pools, the hotel offers few other amenities. The hotel has a gated lot where guests can park for free, and there’s also free Wi-Fi, but don’t expect it to be the fastest you’ve ever used. Like most small Costa Rican hotels, Huetares includes free breakfast in its room rates, but because there’s no on-site restaurant, breakfast is served buffet style at the restaurant next door.  

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Hotel & Villas Huetares

Scene

A family-friendly place near Playa Hermosa 

If you’re not looking for it, Hotel & Villas Huetares is easy to miss. The low-lying yellow, Spanish-style building looks similar to its neighbors, and only a faded sign marks the hotel’s entrance. The lobby, with its white walls, white tile floors, and bares-bones furniture is also pretty forgettable. It’s not until guests pass through the lobby doors to the interior courtyard’s gardens and pools that the place shows a bit of personality. Well-manicured pathways overflowing with flowers lead to the hotel’s two large pools, where families can be found throughout the day, splashing around for hours on end. Spanish music plays through large speakers as children run back and forth between the pool and the playground. The atmosphere is family-friendly, and most of the guests (an almost entirely Costa Rican crowd) seem to be traveling with children or multiple generations.  

See More Scene

Location

In Playa Hermosa, a two-minute walk from the beach 

Situated on Calle Principal in Playa Hermosa, Hotel & Villas Huetares is within walking distance of most Hermosa attractions. Calle Principal is lined with a handful of restaurants and other hotels, and there are a few convenience and grocery stores within walking distance. Otherwise, there’s not much else to do but hit the beach. Luckily for guests at Huetares, the beach is all of a two-minute walk from the hotel. Playa Hermosa is a recognized as a Blue Flag beach, meaning it has achieved the highest standards of beauty, cleanliness, and accessibility in Costa Rica. It is without a doubt more beautiful than nearby Playas del Coco or Playa Panama, but some people may find the town itself to be a bit boring. Playas del Coco, which has more shops, restaurants, and touristy attractions, is about a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Liberia Airport is about a 35-minute drive. Major roads and highways in this part of Guanacaste are generally well paved, but side streets like Calle Principal are typically unpaved and riddled with potholes.   

See More Location

Rooms

Bare bones, with little style and tight spaces 

As its name suggests, there are two room types at Hotel & Villas Huetares -- standard hotel rooms and villas. Standard Rooms are tiny and bland, with taupe walls and rust-colored tile floors. They come with two double beds, a small dresser, and a mini-fridge. Beds are covered in thin white sheets, and most of the furniture appears to have seen better days. Flat-screen TVs hang on the wall, along with sun-faded artwork. Bathrooms has single pedestal sinks and large walk-in showers, but otherwise there’s not much space. 

Villas have two bedrooms, one bathroom, a full kitchen, and a small dining area, but strangely no living rooms. Bedrooms are tiny, and each are cramped with two beds and a dresser. Kitchens have full-size refrigerators and gas stoves, but do not have ovens or dishwashers. There are no cabinets, but there is a closet stocked with a few pots and pans, utensils, plates, cups, and bowls. A coffeemaker, microwave, and a toaster oven sit on top of the tile countertops. Superior Villas have two additional kitchen appliances (a rice cooker and an electric skillet) and an additional bathroom. All rooms are air-conditioned, but some guests complain that hot water is hard to come by.   

See More Rooms

Features

Two pools, a playground, and a few freebies 

It’s not hard to see why guests choose to spend the majority of their time around the hotel’s two pools. Both pools are surprisingly large, considering Huetares’ small size, and the lively atmosphere means kids are free to splash around without fear of causing too much ruckus.  The larger of the two pools has a Roman shape with dark blue mosaic tile entryways. The second pool has a freeform shape with a small waterfall, whirlpool area, and a wheelchair-accessible entrance. There’s a third, round, shallow pool for babies and toddlers. In keeping with the family-friendly atmosphere, the hotel also has a well-equipped playground just a few steps from the pool. However, besides the pools, the hotel offers few other amenities. The hotel has a gated lot where guests can park for free, and there’s also free Wi-Fi, but don’t expect it to be the fastest you’ve ever used. Like most small Costa Rican hotels, Huetares includes free breakfast in its room rates, but because there’s no on-site restaurant, breakfast is served buffet style at the restaurant next door.  

See More Features

Hotel & Amenities Photos

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Cable

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Free Breakfast

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Smoking Rooms Available

  • Supervised Kids Activities

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.