Hotel and Villas Nacazcol

Hotel and Villas Nacazcol is laid-out more like a gated community than a hotel property, with villas and suites lined along streets and standard rooms set in apartment-style buildings. One of the unusual aspects of this property is that not all the buildings on the grounds are owned by Hotel and Villas Nacazcol -- some are privately owned, permanent residences. Walking around, there is the distinct feeling that some people live here and not everyone you see is on vacation.

The hotel’s unassuming facilities are geared toward guests who prioritize budget over style. From the two basic restaurants to the generic guest rooms, everything is tidy and convenient but not at all stylish. The hotel is popular with local families, many of whom drive up from San Jose for weekend getaways. Non-Spanish speakers should keep in mind that most of the staff speak minimal English. 

Hotel and Villas Nacazcol is located down a well-paved road, a short drive inland from the coast. There’s a tiny supermarket located right next to the hotel, a particularly great perk for guests in villas and suites with kitchens. Otherwise, there isn’t anything of interest within walking distance.

Playa Hermosa and Playa del Coco are both a 10-minute drive away, while the hotel’s beach club on Playa Panama can be reached in about 15 minutes by car. It’s a 20-minute drive to Liberia’s airport, and just under an hour and a half to Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

Guest rooms at Hotel and Villas Nacazcol are tidy but dated, featuring drab bedspreads, older wooden furniture, and tiled flooring. Flat-screen TVs and minibar snacks are set on low tables. Mini-fridges tucked under the tables hold more purchasable items, like water, soda, and beer. Free Wi-Fi is available in rooms, but the connection tends to be spotty. All rooms have tiny sitting areas with a pair of chairs and a table, as well as closet/shelving unit combos that hold coffeemakers, personal safes, and some hangers. 

Simple bathrooms have small tiled vanities with round sinks, as well as wall-mounted hairdryers. A few extras like toothpaste are presented in wicker baskets (along with an accompanying price list). Shower/tub combos have pump dispensers of body soap and shampoo. The fixtures are well-maintained but hardly modern. 

Villas and suites have some additional features, but like the standard rooms, they’re in need of a refresh. All have kitchens with full-size fridges, microwaves, and hot plates, as well as a good range of appliances, cookware, and dishes. Some have ovens and four-burner stove-tops. Each bedroom has a TV, but some are the old-fashioned tube-style. A number of villas and suites include small living areas with sofas, as well as patios with stone tables set amid gardens. 

Features at Hotel and Villas Nacazcol reflect its three-pearl status, and some are a bit lackluster. Highlights include two solid pools. The hotel’s lagoon-shaped, main pool is bordered by a low, manicured row of bushes. The concrete deck surrounding the pool is bare, aside from some basic loungers. A little round kids’ pool is tucked away in one corner of the deck. The second pool area features an angular pool set beside an octagonal-shaped kids’ pool. A canopy tent on one side of the deck shelters some loungers and a table tennis board. This second pool is generally busier than the main pool, with lively families often crowding the deck during the afternoon.   

The hotel has a private beach club on Playa Panama, a 15-minute drive away from the property. Free shuttle service is available every day during the high season, and on weekends during the low season. The beach club includes two simple pool areas similar to the ones found at the hotel, with each pool surrounded by a concrete deck and loungers. There’s also a compact, open-air snack bar with wooden tables and chairs. It’s worth noting that the beach club isn’t actually set directly on the sands -- the beach itself is located just down the road.

Free breakfast is served at the hotel’s main restaurant, Restaurant Captain Morgan, and it offers guests a small selection of made-to-order dishes. Captain Morgan also serves up an unexceptional menu of international and local dishes for lunch and dinner. The restaurant is a plain, open-air space overlooking the main pool, with dark tiled floors, wooden tables and chairs, and a few flat-screen TVs that are usually tuned to local sports. The hotel’s second restaurant, Selva, is a similarly unfussy space that faces toward the other pool. It features an equally unexciting menu of lighter meals and snacks.  

There are a couple of playgrounds dotted around the property, along with a volleyball court and a tennis court. While these facilities have an older feel, they’re nonetheless functional for guests looking for on-site entertainment. Free Wi-Fi is offered throughout, but the connection is only reliably strong in the lobby. Free self-parking is available on-site.