Hotel Praiamar

This tiny hotel that sits just across from the beach feels a bit like staying in a Brazilian inn or guest house, which is exactly how the owners want it. While it's not much to look at from the outside, interiors are bright and sparkling clean. Dark wooden furniture, beige walls and tile flooring, and modern accents all create a look and feel that’s simple, but inviting. Bright wall art and a few sculptural pieces do their bit to give everything a little pep and personality as well. This is a laid-back hotel that's best used as a home base for exploring the area, but there are some spaces for everyone to kick back and socialize, including a terrace with two pools, an adjacent restaurant, and a bar that slings authentic caipirinhas. With it's low-key vibe, the hotel attract plenty of tourist couples and families who prefer a small hotel over large resorts -- not to mention those looking for the beach that's right across the street.

The hotel is situated on Route 17 -- a busy thoroughfare that runs along the Gulf of Nicoya. The downtown Puntarenas tourist district is a 10-minute drive from the hotel, and is packed with dozens of restaurants, shops, bars. It's also home to a cruise and ferry terminal. Aside from the nice beach across the street and a few small restaurants, however, there is little to do within an easy walk. For those passing through on their way to the towns down the coast, Playa Hermos will take 75 minutes to reach by car while Manuel Antonio is a little over two hours away.

The hotel is roughly 90 minutes from San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). While no shuttle is available, private van or bus service is inexpensive and easy to arrange at the airport. Taxi service is likewise readily available, with fares comparable to other Caribbean and Central American tourist destinations. Alternatively, guests looking to venture off-property will find rental car counters from several brand-name vendors in the airport terminal.

The decor in every category of room is simple and straightforward. Done in solid, dark wooden furniture that has clean lines, light tile floors, and white walls, there is a pleasantly bright quality to every room, helped by cheerful green-print bed coverings. All are also impeccably clean. 

Each of the 10 rooms features a unique, one-room layout. A variety of configurations are available that include one or two beds. The smallest rooms, like the Maresias Poolview Twin and Poolview Double, border on cramped. The floor plans are just large enough to accommodate the bed(s) and small writing desk. Upgraded Oceanview Rooms offer more space, many with a small seating area. Several of the hotel’s Oceanview Rooms also have private balconies.

The nice-to-have amenities include air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs (with mostly Spanish language programming), though during our stay, the air-conditioning was inadequate to sufficiently cool the room. Wi-Fi is free, however, we found the service to be spotty and unreliable. Like their respective rooms, the private bathrooms in all categories are clean and simple, with walk-in showers and pedestal sinks plus towels and bar soap. Some bathrooms are quite spacious while others are compact. Those looking for a quieter night's sleep should request a pool-facing room as the street outside the hotel is busy.

As a tiny, mid-range property, Hotel Praiamar’s list of communal amenities is short, but sufficient for those staying just a couple of nights. Most notable are its clean, open-air modern restaurant and a small outdoor terrace with two tiny pools and a bar. Wi-Fi is free, but spotty, and the hotel does not offer parking.

Like most of the hotel, the unnamed first-floor restaurant is clean and bright. Simple pine wood seating and red tile flooring sit beneath a tall, thatched cathedral ceiling. The space’s three flat-screen TVs are typically tuned to international soccer matches. A free, cooked-to-order breakfast is served each morning, and includes eggs plus local sides and fresh fruit. The dinner menu is distinctly Brazilian and includes the country’s traditional dishes like feijoada, moqueca de pescado (fish simmered in coconut oil), and camaron con catupiry (shrimp in cream sauce). Dinner hours can be unpredictable and dependant on occupancy.

The centerpiece of the property is a relatively large outdoor terrace. The space is divided into several distinct lounge areas with canvas couches and wicker seating. Two tiny pools -- one almost hot-tub-size -- sit at either end of the terrace. A dozen lounge chairs and patio dining seats offer adequate seating in-between. While there are no umbrellas available, the courtyard-style architecture of the space provides substantial shade any time of day. At the center, a bar offers light snacks and a full liquor menu of beer, wine, and cocktails.