The Hideaway Hotel Playa Samara

Tucked away in a quiet location along a narrow gravel road and guarded by a tall stone wall and two iron gates, the Hideaway Hotel lives up to its name. Guests enter the one-acre property beneath a covered loggia into a bright reception area with a long, granite-topped front desk and a small seating area with classic rattan sofas finished in a lively coral and palm fabric. Here guests can consult with the manager regarding local activities and arrange excursions to the national parks.

The lobby flows directly into the restaurant, a somewhat dimly lit room with a collection of dark wood tables set with cobalt blue tablecloths and small vases with fresh flowers. The room is decorated with prints of generic beach scenes, and the biggest enticements here are the dual-sided bar with service from inside and outside the restaurant and the lovely covered terrace with round cafe tables and chairs overlooking the pool.

The hotel is a collection of nondescript, two-story white buildings surrounded by neatly coiffed gardens. Borders of flowering hedges as well as hibiscus and palms line the stone pathways that lead guests away from the main building to their rooms. The small pool, ringed with cushioned blue and green striped lounge chairs and matching blue umbrellas, is a magnet for guests, mostly couples, looking to relax, read, and gaze at the surrounding tree canopy with hopes of spotting a howler monkey. A soundtrack of tunes (1990s rock and dance songs) plays in the background. The bartender churns out his specialty frozen mango margaritas and other concoctions at the bar. A blackboard on the terrace announces daily specials such as tropical shrimp, grilled mahi-mahi, and homemade ice cream. The restaurant serves three meals daily, but closes early, leaving guests feeling a bit pressured to have dinner before 8:00 pm. Those seeking a later reservation, and a slightly livelier scene, can try the restaurants in Samara, a 10-minute drive away.

The hotel is located off the main road that connects Samara to Carrillo, along a narrow gravel road that leads to a small parking area at Playa Samara. Across the street from the hotel is a fenced area that holds cows and horses.

• Five-minute walk to Playa Samara
• Five-minute drive to Carillo
• 10-minute drive to Samara
• 15-minute drive to Playa Buenavista
• 50-minute drive to Nosara
• 90-minute drive to Barra Honda National Park
• Two-hour drive to Tamarindo
• Two-hour drive to Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, Liberia
• Four-hour drive to Juan Santamaria International Airport, San Jose
• Four-hour drive to Arenal Volcano National Park

The hotel has 12 Deluxe Rooms on the ground floor and second story, which have a beach-inspired blue and white color palette that balances the same color scheme found at the pool and restaurant. Floors are finished in ivory ceramic tile, white walls feature large blue canvases depicting Costa Rican wildlife, and the beds are outfitted with white linens and topped with blue-striped bed covers and coordinating throw pillows. Overall, the rooms are tidy and spacious but a touch outdated and somewhat antiseptic, lacking true Costa Rican ambience. Amenities include old-fashioned tube TVs, empty mini-fridges, and coffeemakers, and there is either one king bed and a double sofa bed or two queen beds and a seating area. Each room also has a vase with beautifully arranged fresh flowers picked from the property's gardens. Tiered open shelving, in lieu of traditional closets, hold safes, irons, and ironing boards. Rooms have small terraces with hedges as privacy screens or second-floor balconies, offering guests a private place to enjoy morning coffee or an afternoon read. Rooms on the second floor at the back of the property overlook a forested area that's popular with howler monkeys.

Bathrooms are also generously sized if a bit generic, offering large granite vanities and walk-in showers finished in beige tile that coordinates with the granite. Wall-mounted toiletries, hairdryers, blue glassware, and small vases of fresh flowers add the final touches. 

Above the main building, which houses the restaurant and reception, is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom Penthouse Suite. It is accessed via a private entrance adjacent to the lobby and is well-suited for families. An open kitchen with breakfast bar features granite countertops, mahogany-stained cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and all the amenities needed to prepare gourmet meals. The kitchen overlooks a joint dining and living area with a long table with seating for six and an L-shaped rattan sofa facing a flat-screen TV. The living space flows onto the huge crescent-shaped terrace that looks directly down at the pool through a screen of potted palms. Outfitted with plastic chairs and a dining table, the terrace begs for a pair of cushioned lounge chairs, an amenity that one would expect in a villa of this price point and class. The decor here is quite similar to the rooms, offering neutral tile work in the bathrooms, blue-themed bedding, and a collection of contemporary and Costa Rican-influenced artwork and decor.

The hotel's on-site restaurant is an intimate retreat overlooking the pool. Guests can sit indoors in the air-conditioned dining room or dine alfresco on the poolside terrace. Breakfasts (included in the room rate) include made-to-order items paired with fresh fruit and Costa Rican coffee. Lunch, afternoon poolside snacks, and dinner are also served. A blackboard displays daily specials such as tropical shrimp and grilled filet mignon but the restaurant also offers staple menu items such as chicken with porcini mushroom sauce and grilled fish. Freshly made guacamole and mango salsa paired with homemade chips are ideal for snacking poolside with a mango margarita or fruit smoothie. One of the most popular items on the menu is the homemade ice cream, which comes in flavors that include chocolate mousse, cinnamon, chocolate chip, or mango sorbet, made even more decadent when paired with a chocolate brownie.