Pros

  • Hilltop setting offers picturesque views over Playas del Coco
  • Quaint rooms with coffeemakers and balcony space
  • Studios and apartments have full kitchens and separate living areas
  • Outstanding rooftop seafood restaurant and oyster bar
  • Above-average free breakfast with local fruit
  • Intimate ambiance and views suit romantic getaways
  • Pleasant, petite infinity pool
  • Free Wi-Fi and free parking
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Cons

  • Beach is 25 minutes away on foot
  • Few attractions and dining options within walking distance
  • Standard rooms are small
  • Tiny pool
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Bottom Line

Hotel Chantel is a simple three-pearl property located in Playas del Coco with gorgeous views of the surrounding area. The hotel’s 11 guest rooms are cute and tidy with shared balconies, and some feature separate living areas and full kitchens. This relaxed inn offers a nice little infinity pool, widely acclaimed rooftop restaurant, and free local-style breakfast. The hotel’s hilltop setting offers scenic vistas over the surrounding countryside and out toward the coast, but it does place guests a long (30-minute) walk from the entertainment and dining of downtown, and it's almost equally far to reach the beach. Travelers who prefer to stay closer to the beach might also consider the budget property Hotel Coco Palms, although its rooms are far less charming. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Chantel Suites

Scene

Laid-back boutique hotel that makes the most of its impressive views

The exterior of Hotel Chantel looks like an elegant mansion, with wrought-iron balconies and rows of teal-fringed archways. A pretty stone staircase lined with potted plants leads up to the small, open-air lobby decorated with rattan furnishings and tropical-print accents. The pool, the rooftop restaurant, and the guest rooms all face toward an expansive view over Playas del Coco.

The isolated location suits travelers looking for a peaceful base away from Playas del Coco’s party scene. Guests are predominantly couples of all ages, and the vibe is quiet and relaxed. The pool is small, which means there aren’t really any common areas for socializing. Although, The Lookout restaurant and bar on the roof attracts a lively crowd of guests and non-guests almost every night of the week.  

See More Scene

Location

Serene, hilltop setting in Playas del Coco, on the country’s Northern Pacific coastline

Hotel Chantel is located on a quiet hilltop in Playas del Coco, one of the liveliest and most developed beaches in the region. But it's far from all the action: The beach takes about 25 minutes to reach on foot, and the entertainment, restaurants, shops, and buzzing nightlife are about a 30-minute walk. This can be a pro or a con depending on guest perspective.

There’s little within the surrounding streets by the hotel, with a few other widely spaced hotels and private residences as its only neighbors. 

A rental car is the best option, and the drive to town is about five to 10 minutes. Otherwise, the short taxi ride into town is relatively cheap. Liberia airport is around a 30-minute drive away, and the quieter nearby beach destination of Playa Ocotal can be reached in 15 minutes by car.

See More Location

Rooms

Sunny, homey rooms include flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers

Each guest room at Hotel Chantel is individually decorated, but all are homey and simple. Common elements include delicate pinkish curtains, gray tile floors, and beige walls. Bold abstract art hangs over each bed, while large wooden cabinets provide space for storing clothes, and hold coffeemakers and safes. All rooms have wall-mounted flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Sliding glass doors open onto long balconies that wrap around each level of the building. Small patio tables and chairs are set outside each room on this shared balcony, with views toward Playas del Coco and the surrounding area. 

Studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments include separate living areas and kitchens. Kitchens are well-stocked with cookware and cutlery, and feature full-size refrigerators, ovens, and microwaves. 

Bathrooms across categories have gray tiling and glass-doored showers. Bottles of shampoo, bars of soap, and makeup removal wipes are provided.

See More Rooms

Features

Top-rated restaurant with panoramic views, free breakfast, and modest infinity pool

Features at this small hotel are modest, but they cover the typical mid-range facilities on offer. The hotel’s rooftop restaurant, The Lookout, features an imaginative menu of seafood dishes along with Costa Rican craft beers. Its airy interior offers spectacular views over Playas del Coco, stretching toward the coast. One of the most popular restaurants in the area, it attracts large numbers of non-guests, and reservations are needed most nights.

Free freshly cooked breakfast is served at The Lookout each morning. The well-prepared plate is virtually the same every day: scrambled eggs, rice and beans, fresh fruit, bread, and queso fresco, as well as coffee and juice.  

The pool is small and offers little deck space, but its infinity ledge highlights the hotel’s wonderful views over the surrounding area. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and there’s free parking on-site. The hotel can also arrange airport transfers (for a surcharge), as well as wedding receptions and local tours. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Chantel Suites

Scene

Laid-back boutique hotel that makes the most of its impressive views

The exterior of Hotel Chantel looks like an elegant mansion, with wrought-iron balconies and rows of teal-fringed archways. A pretty stone staircase lined with potted plants leads up to the small, open-air lobby decorated with rattan furnishings and tropical-print accents. The pool, the rooftop restaurant, and the guest rooms all face toward an expansive view over Playas del Coco.

The isolated location suits travelers looking for a peaceful base away from Playas del Coco’s party scene. Guests are predominantly couples of all ages, and the vibe is quiet and relaxed. The pool is small, which means there aren’t really any common areas for socializing. Although, The Lookout restaurant and bar on the roof attracts a lively crowd of guests and non-guests almost every night of the week.  

See More Scene

Location

Serene, hilltop setting in Playas del Coco, on the country’s Northern Pacific coastline

Hotel Chantel is located on a quiet hilltop in Playas del Coco, one of the liveliest and most developed beaches in the region. But it's far from all the action: The beach takes about 25 minutes to reach on foot, and the entertainment, restaurants, shops, and buzzing nightlife are about a 30-minute walk. This can be a pro or a con depending on guest perspective.

There’s little within the surrounding streets by the hotel, with a few other widely spaced hotels and private residences as its only neighbors. 

A rental car is the best option, and the drive to town is about five to 10 minutes. Otherwise, the short taxi ride into town is relatively cheap. Liberia airport is around a 30-minute drive away, and the quieter nearby beach destination of Playa Ocotal can be reached in 15 minutes by car.

See More Location

Rooms

Sunny, homey rooms include flat-screen TVs and coffeemakers

Each guest room at Hotel Chantel is individually decorated, but all are homey and simple. Common elements include delicate pinkish curtains, gray tile floors, and beige walls. Bold abstract art hangs over each bed, while large wooden cabinets provide space for storing clothes, and hold coffeemakers and safes. All rooms have wall-mounted flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi. Sliding glass doors open onto long balconies that wrap around each level of the building. Small patio tables and chairs are set outside each room on this shared balcony, with views toward Playas del Coco and the surrounding area. 

Studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments include separate living areas and kitchens. Kitchens are well-stocked with cookware and cutlery, and feature full-size refrigerators, ovens, and microwaves. 

Bathrooms across categories have gray tiling and glass-doored showers. Bottles of shampoo, bars of soap, and makeup removal wipes are provided.

See More Rooms

Features

Top-rated restaurant with panoramic views, free breakfast, and modest infinity pool

Features at this small hotel are modest, but they cover the typical mid-range facilities on offer. The hotel’s rooftop restaurant, The Lookout, features an imaginative menu of seafood dishes along with Costa Rican craft beers. Its airy interior offers spectacular views over Playas del Coco, stretching toward the coast. One of the most popular restaurants in the area, it attracts large numbers of non-guests, and reservations are needed most nights.

Free freshly cooked breakfast is served at The Lookout each morning. The well-prepared plate is virtually the same every day: scrambled eggs, rice and beans, fresh fruit, bread, and queso fresco, as well as coffee and juice.  

The pool is small and offers little deck space, but its infinity ledge highlights the hotel’s wonderful views over the surrounding area. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and there’s free parking on-site. The hotel can also arrange airport transfers (for a surcharge), as well as wedding receptions and local tours. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Free Breakfast

  • Full Kitchen

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Pets Allowed

  • Pool

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

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.