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“Great Experience”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
This was a last minute vacation and had AAA book it for me and they found me the right price and my experience was fantastic. The staff at Bacello was very polite and accommodating. They offered a variety of activities all day long. I was able to relax and my room was great. The food experience was higher than I expected. A carribean flair - have a open mind - if you want hamburgers and fries or great chicken stay at the snack bar! There drinks at times where weak I had to ask for a stronger one but they were happy to comply. Over all, I found this hotel to be above average. Costa Rica is a beautiful country! I am very happy we went.

“Okay”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Overall the hotel was okay. I would not recommend it for couples. Families and even college students seemed happy. The grounds are nice and the beach is pretty (a bit rocky, but lovely). 

The staff was okay, not great. Took them forever to fix the toilet (still don't think it was fixed, but it was better). Housekeeping did not come until about 3:00. 

The food was okay. Generally, I think it is better not to go to an all inclusive in Costa Rica. The local food is pretty good.

The mixed reviews on this site are pretty accurate. I think the beach is nice, but not for swimmers. It has its own beauty. It is not a Caribbean beach...

“Pura Vida Langosta Beach !!!!”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
we have just returned today from langosta beach and can i just say that it was brilliant !!!!!

this hotel is lovely, the hotel staff are curteous and pleasant and the food is ok too. beautiful gardens well maintained, monkeys, iguanas, racoons, and crabs. 

we booked very late as we switched from another holiday in europe and had very little time to make up our minds. we are very glad that we chose this hotel against hotels in flamingo bay as they are kind of remote to say the least.

Right the hotel. open plan so wear your mossie spray in the evening cos they bite!!!! during the day there is generally a rather large iguana on duty at the bottom of the steps that lead up to reception!!! his mates are in the gardens but no worries they arent a problem just a bit unexpected!!!! 

we stayed in block 4 and had views to the right of the ocean and straight ahead the rain forest and volcanos. oh and some howler monkeys in the trees which was fantastic. try to get a high floor as if you dont you wont have these views due to the beautiful gardens and tall palms. maid service is excellant.

the rooms are huge in this block, the bed is super king, flat screen tv with satellite channels, mini bar stocked daily with water and soft drinks, coffee maker and iron and board. hairdryer in the bathroom and no need to take shower gels they are in dispensers in the bathroom. (maybe take them as cant say that all blocks have this facility )

food is ok , have had better but quite edible and you CAN find something to eat at all times. breakfast was no problem, lunch cant comment on the main restaurant as we were generally by the beach and evening i struggled a bit my husband didnt find it a problem but even so i cant put the food down. cant comment on the entertainment as we were usually out or we stayed in the bar or up in the casino. didnt have problem getting sunbed even in the afternoon. beach bar food for lunch was nice, chicken, pizza, hotdog, burger/chips, salad, fruit, popcorn , nachos.

the beach is more for surfers to be honest as it is quite rough, it runs into an estuary and the current is very strong. the surfers loved it though and although we didnt swim some people did just slightly down from the hotel and i didnt hear any complaints.

the trips we did were fantastic, we went to paolo river and saw monkeys, crocks and birds, arenal volcano (long long coach ride about 3 hours but worth it), then to a town for shopping and finally the baldi spa (fantastic) and monteverde hanging bridges, walking through the rain forest. just a quick word, its very high so if you really dont like heights maybe not but then i cant go up a ladder but i really wanted to see this so just looked straight ahead and conquered it . it was tough on the legs though!!! lots of walking and a very long coach trip but again worth every minute.

the one thing that would send me back to costa rica every time is the fact that no matter what town you are in you can walk around hassle free !!! no one pesters you they offer a taxi you say no they say ok. shops you can actually look around and walk out of without buying or being hassled and parks you can sit in be left alone beach sellers no problem just say no if your not interested in what they have and they leave. the towns that you visit on trips are generally cheaper than say the hotel shop and tamarindo but even so tamarindo has some bargains too.

the airport. mmm well its interesting to say the least!!! there are no buses to take you to the terminal on arrival or departure so if it decides to pour down you will be rather wet!!!! i have never had my bags so quick and cleared customs anywhere else this quick. we were on the coach 20 mins from landing so thats brilliant. coming home not so great as this is a very small airport with limited facilities and no air con. easy enough to get visa etc and check in.restaurant pricey £11 for two burgers and small chips. cant sit there for too long as its too hot and humid but not much better when you clear immigration and sit outside!!! you are under cover but again no air con all open and expect to be there 3 hours before the flight!!!!!

we have travelled to quite a few caribbean and african countries and i have to say i rate costa rica is probably the best.reason the people. the lack of hassle is so nice, the country is amazing with its active volcano, wildlife and rainforest. scenery is stunning and the langost beach is worth booking, we werent disappointed and would happily go back there again.

Pura Vida Costa Rica !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Fantastic”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
I must admit like many other travellers I was a little worried what the standard of this hotel was going to be like but I thought it was excellent. 

I found the front of house staff very helpful, the rooms exceeded my expectations (from previous reviews) we had two king sized beds a decent size bathroom with toilet and wash basin in seperate area. The room was cleaned daily and mini bar re stocked almost every day (soft drinks and much needed water). It was spacious and included a balcony. Also had a large wardrobe with floor to ceiling mirrors that had a set of scales inside - not sure if they were to track my weight gain or to weigh my suitcase before I left!! 

I thought the food very good we stayed for 14 nights and the food was varied over this time, there is certainly something for everyone. The staff in the restaurant were very attentive and friendly. 

The hotel is right on the beach - the sea has a very strong current and massive waves excellent for surfers but not so good for children the beach is part of a reserve and is very untouched not power white sand but beautiful none the less. 

If I have to say something negative about this hotel I would say the pool area needs updating there are a few missing tiles and it looks a little shabby - there are always plenty of sunbeds the hotel only seemed about half occupied when we stayed the Americans only seem to stay a few nights then move on so there was always new faces around.

The walk into the town takes about 30 mins along the road, it is quite busy the locals drive to miss the pot holes i.e on either side of the road! alternatively you can walk along the beach this took a bit longer but a pleasant walk.

We saw and heard howler monkeys in the hotel, iguanas are everywhere you can get really close to them. Raccoons also visited at night and beautiful bright yellow birds have a nest over the sun bathing area. Pelicans flew over all the time too and there were humming birds in the beautifully tendered gardens.

A new ampitheatre opened whilst we were there it is very impressive.

I would recommend this hotel to anyone travelling to CR - and I would certainly go back.

“great holiday”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Flew first choice to costa rica and stayed at barcelo playa langosta. I was a bit scared as I had changed my hotel from the allegro papagayo and I wondered if I had done the right thing as the playa langosta was only rated a 3 star according to the travel agent. 

However for us it rated a 4 star without a doubt. Our room was newly decorated and the queen size beds really comfortable. The gardens were gorgeous and constantly tended.

The food was excellent (put on loads of weight) lots of choice, first class ingredients and well cooked. The fruit was unbelievable and the desserts to die for. They even had fresh cakes by the bar at 3.30 the iced doughnuts were melt in your mouth.

The gym is brand new , lots of equipment and all new machines. beautiful showers and massages available.


The shows were ok, good dancers, but as usual with all inclusive , too many audience participation evenings.However there is a fantastic new theatre nearing completion which should mean better shows. Just to mention Roger and Jonny who were kind enough to dance with me most evenings. I'm a salsa freak!

They are adding on to the main building of the hotel which I think may be an air conditioned restaurant. the work was not obtrusive.

The beach is really a surfing beach and is a national park so there are no umbrellas and you have to drag a sun bed 15 yards if you want one. This was the only downside for me as it was so hot I could not sit in the sun (95 in the shade).

Costa Rica is fantastic and the wild life is everywhere. Racoons came at 9pm to check out the bin near the bar! Two really big iguanas fought over the best bit of garden. On the boat trip fed cappuchin monkeys hand to hand with banana.

I would reccomend this hotel to family and friends.

So pleased we didn't stay at the allegro as met some first choice passengers on the way back and they said it was disgusting and were seeking compensation.

“Exceeded expectation”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
After reading several poor and mediocre reviews on this hotel we were not expecting much, however, we were pleasantly surprised!
We usually book our flights and hotels separately online but after wanting to visit Costa Rica for some time we saw that First Choice were now offering direct flights to Liberia.
The service offered by First Choice was excellent (we did upgrade) although the only airport they fly from is Gatwick which meant another 5 hours on our journey from Bingley.
Liberia airport is a tiny wooden building with a tin roof which was perfect as we were'processed' very quickly. An hour long bus ride to Tamarindo followed - although it was only approx 60km all journeys take longer due to many local roads being unmade.
Check-in was smooth (We were on an all-inclusive package). The hotel was clean and well planned although there are extension works being carried out.(The noise did not bother us).
Room:
We stayed in one of the older rooms it was also clean and spacious - there were 3 of us and the room had 2 double beds. The air conditioning worked well as did the TV and the hairdryer.
Our room was cleaned every single day - there was a mini bar where the maid left fresh bottled water although not every day. She also left fresh flowers now and again.
Food:
The restaurant was open 3 times daily and in between guests can get fast food from the pool bar. We were very pleased with the standard and variety of the food offered in the restaurant. I cannot see that anyone would have reason to complain.
Some of the bar snacks were cooked in the morning and left for guests to help themselves (nachos, pizza, fried chicken) so it meant that you didn't have to wait.
Staff:
Without exception the staff were friendly, some chatted more than others but nothing was too much trouble.
Entertainment:
The animation team came out around 10am and organised games such as pool volley ball, darts, table tennis, aqua aerobics and every afternoon there was a beach volley ball match. There was entertainment each night which ranged from a music quiz to a full dance,singing caberet. The hotel band were superb and played most lunchtimes too.
Wildlife:
during the day you would see geckos/iguanas around the beautifully manicured gardens but most nights we saw racoons, frogs and skunks. 
We saw howler monkeys twice in the trees to the rear of our room - a troupe of about 10 including babies.
We took our 13 year old daughter and she now reckons she's moving there!-She loved it that much. we could give her the freedom of staying out with friends until the entertainment finished around 11pm.
I do have to point out that the hotel was at less than 50% capacity which made it a very pleasant peaceful stay however they do have tour groups that come just for the night or for the weekend and the difference is shocking - they were loud and boisterous. If it had been like that for 2 weeks - my review may well have been different.
Americans do make up the majority of guests - sorry,
but you can hear them before you see them! Groups of teenage 20 something guys - not offensive but they do tend to monopolise the bar.
Tamarindo is a 20 minute walk along the beach (low tide) - it's a lovely walk better than the road and it's dusty and there are no footpaths. Taxi cost $5.
All in all it's a good base for various trips to the rainforest, volcanos etc but there are massive plans for development - low rise building may well compliment the surroundings but the multi-storey hotels are already going up and that is something the place can definitely do without!
I went for the monkeys, crocodiles and a bit of sun and sea, my husband went for the scuba diving - booked online a place in Tamarindo (Agua dive I think) - he went out 6 days and felt they were great value for money. Saw sharks,rays and turtles.
Would we go back - yes, probably, although there is alot more of the world we have yet to see.

“A lovely hotel”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
I arrived at Barcelo after spending 5 nights at the Best Western in Tamarindo, it was like arriving in heaven. It only cost me $25 a night extra, I should have done it days earlier (I booked Barcelo last minute on Bookit.com for only $105, it was only $80 if there were 2 of you).
I though it was great value. The room was exquisite. It was huge, clean and beautiful. It had a nice big TV, a fridge, a coffee maker, a fan, safe, bathrobes, A/C and lots of toiletries. 
The bed was enormous, and really high up, I felt like a princess climbing onto it.
The bathroom had nice touches like a pull out clothes line to dry stuff, and dispensers on the wall containing shampoo, conditioner and bath gel. There were plenty of towels. There was no plug for the bath (and the way the drain was, you couldn't have put one in anyway), which was disappointing. But perhaps this is due to water shortages.
The beach wasn't perfect, but I don't think you will find a perfect beach in this area. I liked the fact that it was almost empty a lot, so it felt peaceful. I felt safe leaving my stuff on the beach when I went in the sea.
The hotel grounds were stunning, complete with lizards and racoons. I wasn't that keen on the crabs though, as they managed to get into my room somehow. If I hadn't drunk any alcohol I found that their shuffling about kept me awake at night.
I found the room service unprofessional. I ordered a bottle of wine one night to my room, at a cost of $15, as I was sick of going back and forth to the free bar. The guy who brought it to me came in and spent several minutes trying to uncork it, he failed. He asked to use my room phone, he made a call and another guy turned up to help him, he also couldn't do it. Finally one of them went to get another bottle. I finally got my wine. Then the guy demanded payment, even though reception had taken an imprint of my credit card when i checked in, for "extras". So I gave him some money, I had to wait 10 mins for him to come back with my change, which was slightly short. I didn't say anything though. I just wanted peace and quiet, which is why I ordered room service in the first place.
I liked the food. I found the drinks generous. The pool area was lovely. It did get slightly loud at times with music blasting most of the day and lots of load Americans. They seem to shout rather than talk, but they are harmless, and worth a snigger when they do the pool aerobics.
I stayed there for 5 days before I went off to explore more of Costa Rica. It was an ideal place to sunbath, relax and fill up with food. I may have got bored there if I had stayed longer. However Tamarindo is only 15/20 minute walk away. You can go via the beach in the morning, but because of tides it is best to go via road in the afternoon. The road is rather dusty, but pleasant. I saw monkeys in the trees there. I would take a torch if you do it at night though, I didn't have one and felt a bit vulnerable as the cars hurtle along and there is no pavement.

“Good Hotel in a Wonderful Part of the Country”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
My husband and I stayed at the Barcelo April 19-26. Overall, I would say that this resort is pretty good, but there are some areas that they could improve on. I thought that the set-up and the landscaping of the resort were really nice. I liked that they used indigenous trees and plants as part of the landscape design, and also that the buildings containing the rooms were spread out through the winding landscape. The rooms were really beautiful, and looked recently redone, although they smelled VERY strongly of cedar. This took a few days to get used to. I suppose they use cedar wood to keep the bugs out. (note: did not see one bug in my room) When we first got to our room, I was disappointed because our view was just of the woods behind the resort (we were in building 5). However, this location proved to be great for spotting wildlife. Howler monkeys slept in a tree right outside of our room, and their growling would wake us up every morning. We also saw a ton of really beautiful birds, some strange looking squirrels, and a family of skunks. The breakfast buffet and the snack bar lunches were pretty typical AI stuff........not horrible, but not terrific either. Dinners were OK, but I really think that they need more variety. I am not a picky eater, but I was really sick of the dinners by the end of the week. We did go off site to Carolina's one night for dinner, and I really recommend this restaurant. Delicious dinner, and excellent service. I felt that this resort's weakest point was it's customer service. We have been to CR before, and stayed at a different AI resort, and the people were so friendly that we felt like they were family by the end of the week. We have done many AI vacations all over the world, and I have to say that the employees, especially the bartenders and waitstaff, are usually very friendly. At the Barcelo, however, we did not find this to be the case. We tried really hard to engage many members of the staff, took time to learn their names, and spoke to them in as much spanish as we could. We just couldn't seem to break through their indifferent attitude. They weren't rude, just completely indifferent. To them this was just a job, and they would do their job and no more. This really suprised us, because the CR people are so kind and helpful. I have to say that this really lessened our experience at the Barcelo. A big part of a vacation for us is the people, and we know that the staff at the Barcelo are not indicative of the CR people. Anyway, back to the resort....a lot of people complained about the beach, but I thought that it was absolutely gorgeous. Yes there are volcanic rocks directly in front of the hotel, but if you go a little to the right, you could safely swim, and if you crossed the estuary (which we had absolutely no problem doing) you had an absolutely beautiful deserted beach all to yourself, which was perfect for swimming. The town of Tamarindo has gotten mixed reviews on this site. I think it's about knowing what you are getting. Tamarindo is a funky little surf town with dirt roads, that caters to a younger, less refined surf crowd. So people say that it's a dirty little town filled with cheap souvenier shops and drugs and prostitution. It has dirt roads, so yes, it's dusty. It does have inexpensive souvenier shops, but that's because of the crowd that it caters to. As far as the drugs and prostitution go, it's a tourist town. Those things can be found in any tourist area, so why is Tamarindo any different. Prostitution is legal in CR, so of course there would be a call for it in a tourist town. We were never approached to buy drugs in town, and we were there many times. We were however approached to buy drugs three times in Aruba, and that island is supposed to cater to a much more upscale clientele, so who knows? We really liked the funky laid back feel of Tamarindo, and would definately visit again. The beach at Tamarindo is absolutely perfect, you could not ask for as more perfect beach on the pacific ocean. Clean, Clean, blue water with soft sand and small waves that make learning to surf a ton of fun. We really enjoyed our trip to this part of the country, and are definately planning a return visit. I would like to say we would definately stay at the Barcelo again, but I'm just not sure that we would.

“Great resort!!”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
My husband and two friends and I just got back from a week at the Barcelo Playa Langosta. We were a bit nervous booking this hotel because it was so affordable and the reviews were mixed, but we were more than pleased with the accomodations and the view. We stayed in a new building (building 4) and although it was a 2 minute walk to the pool (you eat enough at the buffet to justify walking a little on vacation) the room was wonderful and overlooked a nationally protected area of forest and mountains and a river. Tell you the truth, we went to the Sandals Regency Resort in St. Lucia for our honeymoon two years ago and the Barcelo's room was much nicer! The food was great for breakfast, lunch and dinner, although it did get a bit tiresome after 5 or 6 days. We ended up only eating out in Tamarindo one night. The pool was great, never crowded, the beach was a good escape from the pool, although it is a bit shelly and rough on the feet. The people that worked there and the excursion coordinators in the hotel lobby were very friendly and helpful. There is a hut by the pool for Iguana Surf Excursions, but they were never there and not knowledgeable at all. The bar at the pool was easy to get drinks at, and the bar in the lobby area was a great place to sit and relax at night. We walked from Tamarindo to our hotel once and it only took 15 minutes. We didn't do it again just because we went during the end of the dry season and it was very dusty because of the unpaved roads. There's cute little shops right by the resort and some restaurants. Overall, I'd go back and stay there again anytime.

“Great time”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
my husband and I just spent a week at the barcelo, had a great time, the rooms were beautiful, clean and spacious, the food was good, always find something to eat, and the fried chicken in the snack bar was awesome.
Only down fall was they didnt open the bar in the lobby until 5pm so the other bar was always packed, they should of opened the lobby bar for coffee, juice etc during the day for the people hanging out there. (they are building another huge building on the property which looks like it is gonna be another bar and the stage,
the beach was nothing special, but then the water was always really wavy.
best part while we were there i didnt see any bugs, nor get bitten by any (for once) althou at the airport those who stayed at the papagaos resortS got really bad festering bug bites.
if your only there to relax this is the place for you, and great for families, not much action happening. 
I is close to Tamarindo but not much shopping there, it is mostly surf shops (great for the surfer or wanna be)
Loved it but would have to think about tamarindo next time the construction for new homes is out of this world

“Great stay at the Barcelo!”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Myself and four friends stayed at the Barcelo 4/12-4/18, 2008. PLEASE don't buy into all of the negative hype about this resort. I researched our trip for months, and we decided on the Barcelo. I've noticed alot of people's negative comments, and I think many people's expectations of Costa Rica are way off (the 4 and 5 star resorts in Guanacaste have similar bad reviews). CR is NOT the Caribbean. You will not find soft, white beaches with clear water. You do not travel to CR to stay at your resort for the week, there are way too many things to do and see. So, we figured the resort was not the most important factor. 

Check-in and the resort: Check-in was quick and friendly. We were placed in connecting rooms in the 4000 block. Our rooms were brand new, and very clean. Our a/c was controlled from a single central unit, so it never broke down. I did however notice many a/c's breaking down in the older buildings (older buildings have one a/c unit per room). The resort grounds were beautiful, and very well maintained. The pool was very clean, though the "hot tub" was colder than the pool. Food and drinks are heads and tails better than what other all inclusives offer. We were all very happy with the buffet selections every night. The ala carte dinner was great! Nightly entertainment was very good for a small resort. One very nice point, NO BUGS at all! No one got a bug bite until we left the resort to go into town (we walked). Overall, the resort was a great jumping off point to see the countryside. Definately not a mega resort, but, no 15 min walks from the pool to your room. 

Tamarindo: wow, was I shocked. Tamarindo is a nasty little tourist town. This was probably the only let down on the trip. The bars and clubs at night were very sketchy. I have never seen so much drug pushing, and prostitution, in my life (keep in mind i live within an hour of NYC, and have been there, Boston, and Montreal many times). You will be totally safe if you just use common sense while out at night. WALLET IN YOUR FRONT POCKET, first and foremost. During the day, it is mostly souvenir shopping.

Excursions: BOOK THROUGH TAM, NOT SWISS TRAVEL. We heard many complaints about swiss travel, so we went with Tam. This made our trip. The TAM rep at the resort was friendly, and very helpful. We booked a full day tour of Arenal Volcano, Tabacon hot springs, with a rainforest canopy tour. This day trip is what we came down there to see. We saw arenal erupt a little!!
It is a 4 hour drive, but ask for Gustavo. He made the drive wonderful by telling us everything he knew about the history and peoples of CR and Nicaragua. We also booked a snorkeling cruise, which was amazing. All in all, our excursions made the trip!!

In general: Costa Rica is a middle income, 2nd world nation. They are by far the most developed nation in central america. They are a very egalitarian people. You will not see the extremes in the haves, and have nots, that you would see in mostly all of Latin America. Most people are middle of the road economically.
Driving in CR should be done with extreme caution. If you have driven comfortably in Europe, you should be fine. The roads are narrow, people do not signal, and pass without care. Be Careful!!
If you want to see natural beauty that is unparalleled for the price (the only other place with volcanoes, rainforests, and black beaches is Hawaii), check out Costa Rica. If you have the right idea on what a trip to CR entails, then the Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo would be a great choice for pretty much anyone. Young singles can party in town. Families can relax and go sighseeing.
We had a great time! We're going back to CR in August!

“Perfect Vacation”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
My husband and I stayed at this resort from March 20-28: during Easter break. We were looking for a relatively quiet resort with good access to surfing and touring around Costa Rica, and this resort met all of our expectations. 

The beach is perfect if you enjoy the water: tides at the Estuary mean that at certain times of the day, you have the entire beach to yourself, as no one seems to venture beyond the Estuary. We rented surfboards in town, and spent a few hours each day playing around in the reasonable-sized waves. We tended to avoid the busier pool area.

Tamarindo is a cute town, that is easily accessible, and made for a good outing if you're up for a walk (20min by road, a bit more via the beach), and we taxied there many times for $5.

Distances in Costa Rica are not that far, and we rented a car to visit Monteverde and Arenal: both about a 4 hr drive.

The resort itself is beautiful: lots of lovely landscaping, flowers, palm trees, etc. When we first arrived, our room was near the pool/bar/theatre area, and was admittedly quite loud until 11pm that night. Front desk staff were very accomodating though in giving us a new room in one of the newest buildings, which was very nice: clean, great ocean view, comfortable bed, access by stairs or elevator, very nice private balcony.

Food was great: lots of variety in buffet items, and the one night of "a la carte" that was included was an amazing surf and turf: lobster and steak. Staff at the restaurant and bars were very friendly and accomodating.

Overall, a great experience. There is still some construction going on at the resort, so it may be changing a bit in the next few months (looks like a larger "theatre" area under construction). Likewise, Tamarindo is growing with lots of condos appealing to the North American market, so it will likely be growing and changing too.

“Barcelo was close to town”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
The Barcelo was very clean. Food was good. Drinks were domestic only and others pricy. Found bar staff and reception staff to be unhappy but not rude. Not the expected happy crowd. Hotel was overrun with seniors. Entertainment was okay but the same program and songs every day. Internet was only one computer in lobby with very sticky keyboard and twice the price of the internet cafe up the street.

“Loved the Barcelo”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We very much enjoyed the Barcelo in Tamarindo. Check in was quick and easy and it was small enough not to be a big deal to run to the room for something you may have forgotten after you arrived for a meal or at the pool.
The people were very friendly and there was always someone close by if there was a language barrier. The pool area could use some more lounge chairs - there always seemed to be a shortage.
The food was great and the desserts were spectacular - haven't had such good desserts since the Tamarin in Aruba. 
I felt safe at the resort and security immediately stopped people coming on to the property wihout bracelets.

I would definitely recommend this resort to anyone.

“Pleasant place”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We were redirected to this resort by our travel agent after our first choice resort was oversold. Generally -- we have no complaints, but also no great raves. It was an okay vacation/resort but no wonderful highlights.

Staff at the resort was friendly and service in all areas was good. BUT -- don't count on the front desk to make the promised wake-up calls (and you need them for the early morning departures for excursions). Take your own alarm clock. 

Rooms - we were in a 3rd floor room in what appeared to be a new building. No problems with anything there. The room was clean, well serviced daily. The mini fridge was restocked with water and sodas every two days. Our room had a loft and the stairs up were very steep. It wouldn't have been a great location for children or anyone with any mobility problems. The little balcony was quite private. I really liked the little clothes line on the balcony -- great for your damp bathing suit or anything you had had to wash. If you want an ocean view room, you need to be in one of the higher buildings and on a high floor. The trees between the resort and the ocean have grown a lot since the resort opened, so that rooms that used to have an ocean view now have a forest view. But that lets you see lots of birds -- and the howler monkeys travel along the trees. We didn't see them but we sure heard them!

Food: we thought the food was great. Some people complained that there wasn't enough variety, but lunches and dinners always had four meat choices (chicken, beef, pork, fish) -- how many more do you need? They were prepared differently each day. The serving trays for the hot food were refilled frequently -- so hot food was hot. There was lots of fresh fruit and juices at every meal, and great desserts. Saturday night we were surprised by a steak BBQ -- not shown on any menu or notice board until we arrived for dinner. Advice here is trust the chef to know when the steaks are done to the ordered level. A couple of the men in the line thought the steaks were left too long (well done rather than medium) so asked to have them taken off the BBQ -- then they ended up with very rare steaks. 

Restaurants: we didn't eat at the poolside one but everything there looked good. The a la carte restaurant is really just part of the buffet restaurant, with menu choices and table service. The food was, again, very good. 

Beach/pool/activities: There are miles of beach to walk on and lots of tide action so many tide pools to watch at various times during the day. It's a surfing beach rather than a swimming beach -- no easy snorkeling. The pool is a good size and deeper than many resort pools. It was very well used -- maybe too well. After a few days we saw some scum accumulating on the water surface and on the tiles around the edge of the pool. I think it was the result of so many people and so much sunscreen in the water. The resort is within a National Park and while we were there the beach was closed from 6 p.m to 5 a.m. -- it was nesting season for the leatherback turtles so only the park staff and volunteers were allowed on the beach. I don't know if the restriction applies all year -- but there was a huge permanent sign showing the restriced times. 

This is the only all-inclusive resort we have been to that didn't have free water activities. Kayaks, surfboards, snorkeling equipment all had to be rented from a subcontracted group on site.

Excursions: This resort is some distance from where the excursion companies have their bases -- and from the places you'll want to see on excursions. This means that there is a lot of time spent on buses going to and from the volcanoes, parks, etc. We found the excursions to be a little pricey, not outrageous, just a little pricey. There were several (four?) companies with sales desks at the resort -- lots of choice for size of excursion (small group, large group) and type (adventure, nature, travel).

Other: the weather was great -- very hot and dry. No insect problems at all, but this could be different at other times of the year. 

December and January are summer vacation months for Costa Rican schools, so the resort really filled up with families on the weekend. If you're looking for a quiet vacation, you might want to avoid these months. 

This resort had a more international group of guests than some other places we've been -- many Costa Ricans, Mexicans, and Europeans (Spanish and Scandanavian) and well as people from Canada and the US. We liked this atmosphere.

We've added some of our photos around the resort -- but none of the resort itself since the hotel photos included on Trip Advisor are quite accurate.

“Quiet and relaxing..”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Just got back from this resort this past Monday. Although this hotel is not part of the Premium class of the Barcelo chain, it is clean and quite comfortable.
The rooms were quite nice and had enough room to fit a cot in for the third person in our group. The buffet was very good and although there is some repitition, it was tasty. Stay away from the a la carte.....horrible. The steaks are tough and you aren't given a steak knife. Lobster tails are very small and not very tasty. We ended up going to the buffet to eat.
The beach is ok but not much to it. I'm a little spoiled having been on the carribean beaches a few times.
If you're looking for quiet relaxation, this is a decent place. If you're looking to party, you might want to look elsewhere.
The bar staff and wait staff are very friendly. The front dest...not so much. Thier command of english is quite limited.
Tamarindo is 2 klm's away and there are bars there. We went one night. Lot of hookers....a few transvestites, I was told by the barkeep...and you get asked to buy cocaine every 15 minutes by someone.
We were going to go to the Monkey bar on the Friday night but glad we didn't. We talked to others that did and they weren't too happy about the police locking the doors and asking everyone for their papers. Apparently, they are looking for illegals and drugs.
It would be a very good idea to make photocopies of your passport to carry on you when venturing out.
The town is also undergoing road construction. Its a real mess right now and they say it will be fixed by the end of the month. At the rate they were working, I highly doubt that!..lol

“Great relaxed and friendly atmosphaire at a very nice hotel !”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
After traveling around in Costa Rica for a week we ended up with one week of ralaxation by the Pasific Ocean. We stayed at the Barceló Langosta beach. After having read some really bad reviews about this hotel we had our doups.... But we were happily surprised that this hotel wasn´t bad at all. We got a warm and friendly welcome at the reception. Arriving at lunch our room wasn´t ready so we took a little walk around the area and then had lunch. Directly after lunch we went to our room. Opened the door to see that it was a very nice room. As at all other hotels during our stay in Costa Rica the beds were comfortable and big. The room was nicely furnitured and in warm coloures. There were rubs and great coffee facilities. Also a minibar with complimentary mineral water and soda.
We got a room with a terrace facing the ocean (but you couldn´t see it because of bushes, palmtrees and other trees) and it was very relaxing to fall into sleep listening to the waves from the ocean. We had like a little private garden outside and was totaly left alone. No pedestrians outside. Felt great. Some mornings we woke up by the noice from a big monkey family sitting in the trees outside our room. 
Our maide kept our room very clean and it was somedays also decoratet with flowers.

We have not been into All Inclusive before, on the contary we have always avoid it because we have heard that the food usuly in not so good and a bit boring. Now we trayed it and we don´t regret it. The varaity of the food was very good (around 15 different warm dishes for every meal) and also well koocked. Tasted good. The desert table was delicious. The vaighters were so friendly, we liked them a lot. You could drink the housewine, it wasn´t bad at all ! We also liked the restaurang because it didn´t feel like there were so may guests. There were never any long lines, in fact there were no lines at all.

We saw a coupple of shows at the poolbar during our stay and we were very surprised ower the high standard of the shows and the dancers. They were very good.
The coctails at the poolbar were OK most of the nighst but if you felt for a very good coctail the best place to get it was at the lounge bar. The bartenders there made perfect and delicious coctails so we spent most nights at that bar.
When not laying by the big pool we went for long walks along Langosta Beach, it felt great to walk along the beach almost totaly allone. The beach was also beautiful.

One nice extra thing at the hotel that we liked was the vaightress who walked around the pool area with a trolly serving coffee and freshly baked coockies.

The pool area was big and good planed. The shildren (and they werent many) stayed at one corner of the pool and for us who prefer a moore calm situation we stayd at the oppesit part of the pool. The poolarea was fresh, very green and didn´t felt owercrowded at all.

The atmosphere at the hotel was so relaxed and friendly so our last week in Costa Rica for this time was truely great !
Don´t hesitate to stay at Barceló Langosta Beach !

“Paradise”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
I was apprehensive about my stay after having read the reviews, but it was amazing! The beach, the grounds, the staff, the room, the food and the drinks were great! If I were to complain about anything it would be that I was under the impression that boogie boards were included in the booking, but they weren't. I have stayed at better resorts in Costa Rica, but for the price, this was a good choice.

“Beautiful Place, Wonderful People”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
After traveling on the bumpy roads of Tamarindo, when we made it to the Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo we were very happy. The property was gorgeous. The beach is located right on the property, and was not very crowded. The drinks were flowing, and not at all watered down. In my husband's and my opinion the food was great, prepared well and good quality. The entertainment staff was a blast. The shows kept getting better each night we were there, and the dancing was phenomenal.

The rooms were spacious and comfortable, the air conditioning worked well, as it was very hot there. The cleaners decorated our room with fresh flowers everyday too.

We could not have asked for a better hotel for our honeymoon. We took a Catamaran snorkeling sunset cruise, surfing lessons and an ATV tour, and we were able to book all these activities right at the hotel.

“Just okay ...”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
I just returned from a weeks stay at Barcelo Lagosta in Tamarindo.

Overall the pool, beach, restaurant staff, activities staff, food and the hotel grounds are quite nice. Food had a lot of variety and was quite tasty.

The problem here at this resort is the unapproachable and unfriendly front reception and bar staff. Wow most of them seem miserable with lots of frowns. Asking for a single refreshment seems like the biggest inconvenience to them. Asking a question at front reception came with a lot of run arounds.

If you are looking for good customer service and a smile once in awhile then don't come here.

“Not a standard Barcelo chain hotel”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Travel group: 6 of us..4 gals, 2 guys...in our late 20's to mid 30s.

Overall hotel...I would rate as 2-3 star. Stayed at another Barcelo chain before in the Mayan Riveira...that was 4-5 star.

General staff...very friendly and helpful, however front desk staff....were not very helpful and be very weary when asking to speak to hotel manager. They will tell you that he's not around, but if you ask the other staff members around the hotel, they will tell you that he's in the office. They need to be pestered. 

BEWARE: construction zone at hotel...noise starts @ 6am..jackhammers, drilling etc. 

Beach at hotel..has good surf waves and surfers come over from Tamarindo town to surf. Good for watching, wading and amazing sunsets. Can have strong undercurrents.

Food @ hotel: nothing fantastic. Basic buffet, pretty good desserts. Only one restaurant..so it is tiresome by day 3. We ate out often...good restos/food in town and not pricey.

Tamarindo town is a USD$ 5 dollar cab ride away...cute and laid back surfer town. Friendly locals and many expats that live there.
Nightlife is pretty fun. Few key spots to go to on specific nights.

I would recommend going on a private tour if you can round up a group of 5 and up. Better timelines and you get to do what you really want to do/see.

Otherwise..loved Tamarindo town. However. would choose to stay somewhere else instead. 

Write me @ further details or questions.

“enjoyable place to stay”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
My visit was from Nov 12,2007 to Nov 19,2007.

The hotel and the staff were good, and helpful when needed.
Grounds were well kept and the staff that looked after them were also freindly.

I had a problem with my first room and they changed me right away and there was no problems with the second room enjoyed it and it was clean. The maid were very good and a couple of dollar tip per day they provided little extras in the room, flowers etc.

The food was good for an all inclusive they all begn to look and taste the same after 5 days but they did a great job of adding something new everyday!!

The Entertainment was cheesy at times, but they sure did work hard to try and keep you entertained.

Weather was great!! 30's everyday!! and sunny

Beach was good once you dicovered where the rocky areas are and just avoid them, but another great things is that you could walk a long way on the beach...bring lots of sunscrean!!!

Pool was very nice, lots of chairs to relax on did not have to get up at the crack of dawn to hold one.

Adventure tours were very good and well organized and reasonable. i took a one day trip and a 1/2 day and really enjoyed it, and it's good to get away from the resort.

Pool bar was not very good terrible drinks, but at 5 pm the Lobby Bar opens and the drinks there are 100% better.... don't forget to tip the bartenders!!! not required but it's a good thing...

Security could be improved as when my key did'nt work they just asked what my room number was and gave me entry?

Be prepared for an 1 1/2 hour bus ride from the airport and part of if is rough but it's all good...

The Towne is cute and there are some fun bars there and few good eateries if you want to get off the resort and it's only a 5.00 taxi ride.

overall i had a great time, and recommend this place to anyone who just wants to get away for a week and relax, eat swim and does not require someone or something to enterain them in the evenings.

“Fabulous”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Well, let's see we arrived in a torrential down pour as soon as we hit the lobby 3ish pm the heavens opened, but that only lasted for about an hour there was a bar in the lobby - the weather was amazing the entire time.

Food was the best I've ever had at any all-inclusive resort. The selection was great, from pasta to seafood, it changed everyday.

It was very clean - no floating cig butts in the warm pool.
Staff were very friendly and helpful - even if English was not their first language.

Front desk staff, well the usual a little confused, but heh you try working 8hrs a day straight for a month with only five off. Let's see how you happy you are 100% of the time - this goes for all staff.

The beach was a little rocky for me but give it a week and the rocks are gone, changes from week to week with the tides.

Over-all I'd go back.

“Wonderful place to stay”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
After reading many reviews about this resort I felt compelled to add my two cents. I think it is really important for people looking to travel to, or who have already booked a stay to remember that this is just my opinion and that we all have very different tastes.

In terms of the overall resort, it is very clean and the grounds are very well kept. It is a very attractive resort in terms of the landscaping. We also had many opportunities to view iguanas roaming around and sunning themselves. The pool was very nice and the staff went to great lengths to keep it clean and free of leaves/bugs/whatever else wandered in during the night. The water was also always temperate and refreshing. The beach was accessible from behind the pool and was nice. The sand was soft to walk on. While we were there the waves were high and the rip tide was strong so I can't comment on the swimming at the beach. The rooms were fine, they were well air-conditioned and had ceiling fans to help move the air around. However, it is a very humid place, and no amount of air conditioning is going to remove this from the air in Costa Rica! The rooms could use some updating, but they are perfectly fine as long as you are not planning on spending your vacation in the room. We consistently had hot water, although during a few of the more vicious afternoon storms (it is rainy season after all...) we did lose water for an hour tops. The electricity only ever went out for a matter of moments and always came right back on (quicker than following some storms of similar magnitude here in the States). 

The staff at the resort were very nice and accomodating. If you make some attempt at Spanish (even learning hello, thank you, and good bye) you will be met with gratitude and greater attempt on their behalf to speak English.

I found the food at the resort to be the best of any all - inclusive hotel I have ever stayed at. The drinks were also good, and if you feel they are weak, most of the bartenders are willing to add a little extra liquor. 

Overall it was a wonderful trip. I highly suggest picking up the free tourist guide in the lobby, it offers great insight to local attractions, tours and restuarants. It is also probably one of the funniest tour guides I have ever read (brutality honest folks!)

“Pura Vida”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Me & my boyfriend just got back from the Barcelo, and for the most part we loved it. (we're late 20's early 30's, but there was all ages there) As previously stated, the food gets tiresome after a few days, but going into town was absolutely lovely. Some days the buffet was better than others (seemed thurs and friday were best) Breakfast is wonderful. Staff was great other that some guy named Jorge at the front desk (he works nights anyhow) He refused us a voucher for 1 ala carte meal we were promised & was very rude in general. We aren't ones to argue, so went into town instead. The pool is HUGE, the beach is gorgeous, the atmosphere was nice. The entertainement staff tries hard, and were ok. The rooms were very nice & clean, air conditioned worked very well. We were next to the construction, I mean right next to it, and it didn't bother us once. Door closed, air on and couldn't hear a peep. The town of Tamarindo is awesome! We went to the local bars,surfed, shopped and got to know some locals. They are so nice. We booked 2 excursions with Dolphin something (they have a desk at the resort) The prices were good, had a wonderful variety to choose from. The zip line/slide & hot springs was great. Giovanni out guide was sooooo knowledgeable & funny...he made our day! I would recommend this to anyone who is a little adventurous. I can see someone getting bored here if all you want to do is lay at the pool. It's more of a place where you pay less than others in Costa Rica (all inclusive) for a reason. It allows you to have that extra money to get off the resort and actually see Costa Rica. For those who complain about no remotes for the tv, bugs & construction....what were you think taking a trip here? The whole country is under construction. Who watches tv on vacation and can't get up to change a channel? .. and bugs? HELLO..its Costa Rica (we had none in our rooms, we asked for the 3rd floor, maybe that helped) We saw monkeys in the trees above the pool. Lots of parrots between 4 & 5, and a few iguanas and of course cute little gecos. Anyways, wonderful place..would pay to go again in a heartbeat. Only regret is not staying 2 weeks. Pura Vida!

“Near faultless”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Having left the UK on the back of the latest two reviews on this site(both poor), I couldn't wait to get back to add some balance to the debate.

On returning, I find my job has already been done by others.

As previously pointed out, this is not Mexico 5*, but it isn't too far behind. 

I find a smile and being polite from the customer helps, and at no stage were any of the staff anything other than most courteous and helpful throughout our stay, perhaps because we were courteous to start off with.

The food was excellent, with plenty of choices of meat, fish, chicken, pasta and salads. Yes, there are only so many ways you can cook meat, so it may look repetetive, but this was the best choice we have had even including Mexico. The desserts were not up to Superclub Breezes Brazil standard, but the never ending supply of fruit more than made up for this.

The hotel was generally quiet for the first week of our stay. It looks as if the hotel did not take booking for one day, as a Costa Rican mountain bike race ended one day at the hotel, and all the riders and support staff stayed overnight. With few customers around, the pool scene was subdued, but this did give plenty of peaceful days, before it livened up in the second week. This did not detract from the efforts of the animation crew who were superb.

The sea was fantastic if you avoided the rocky areas, which was easy. You could walk a couple of hundred metres and still have the sea barely up to waist level. However at this stage the waves were starting to build up, so you could still have your feet on the surface, but have waves engulfing you.

My three lads missed some UK company(there was only one other British family in the hotel), and found that the Americans were only staying for a few days, so as soon as they had made friends with them they were gone. At no stage, however, did they get bored.

The night time shows ranged from good to cheesy, but being in bed for 11pm, aided by some good beer, meant that I was fit for a 7am start to the day, and the best of the weather.

We went on a couple of trips and would recommend the white water rafting, even though I lost my prescription sunglasses to the bottom of the River Tenorio!!! 

Overall a fantastic holiday, and highly recommended.

“Nice place to stay...don't believe all the bad reviews!”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
After reading most of the reviews that people have left about this hotel, I was a little nervous about staying here. What I found was that the people who wrote them must have expected a 5 star hotel. This was a nice hotel!

LOCATION: What we loved most about the hotel is that it's not on the main road of Tamarindo. The town was insanely crazy! The hotel Dira backed right up to a busy road, so I'm glad we didn't stay there. This hotel is on a circle and backs right up to a great surf spot. Yes, there is construction around, but we never noticed any noise. 

PEOPLE: We found the staff to be most helpful. No one was rude and every one had a smile on their face. I found it interesting when I left a couple of dollars for housekeeping on the desk in our room(which in my opinion is a proper thing to do..hey they work hard) she didn't take it. I caught her in the hallway and gave it to her. She was genuinly appreciative. At no time did I feel unsafe in this hotel. There are, no kidding, 3 security guys watching all entrances to the grounds of the hotel. 

ROOM: Our room was nice. Large sliding glass doors that were tough to open from time to time, but opened to a nice view. Now our room had an ocean view, but there was so much foliage you couldn't really see it. But hey, I wasn't planning on staying in my room much. The king size bed was a bit hard for my taste, but not unbearably so. The rooms were fairly big with high ceilings and large bathrooms. We stayed in the 800 buildings. We heard some music from time to time, but nothing that kept us up at night.

FOOD: The buffets were great! There was a great variety of food every day. From American cuisine to Costa Rician fare. The snack bar by the pool was great for the inbetween meal snacks. Drinks were pretty good. The beer was great. And bottled water whenever you needed it. 

ENTERTAINMENT: The staff at the hotel work so hard to get people included in the various activities. The night time shows are Vegas like. Obviously not the same quality, but you can tell they work pretty hard at it. During the day the staff gets people to play darts, ping pong, water aerobics, beach volleyball and many other things. There are some things for the kids to do, but not much. Nice playground and big kiddie pool. Apparently there is a mini golf course, but we didn't see it. There is one computer on site for internet access. $5.00 for 30 minutes and you don't need to use all 30 minutes at once. The casino was small, but we are not big gamblers to begin with.

SHOPPING: Tamarindo is becoming very Americanized. In my opinion, the shops are on the pricey side. Even the souvinier shops were high for the area. I really did expect lower prices, but I guess since they cater to tourist, they can get away with it. The roadside juice bars are excellent. You've got to try a fruit smoothie! Almost everywhere we shopped they took dollars and/or credit cards. Don't be suprised if someone is hovering over you while you look around a store. It's the custom there.

TOURS: If there is any one tour to take in Costa Rica its' the Off Road Adventures in Costa Rica. This was THE BEST fun you'll have. Taking your very own off road vehicle through knee deep mud, going down a fast zip line and seeing some amazing scenery and animals. It's worth every penny. DO IT!

All in all we had a great time in Costa Rica. My best advice is to use a travel agent. We used WorldwideAdventures.com and everything went so smooth. Not one single hiccup. Enjoy the trip and soak up the atmosphere.

Got questions, email me. I don't mind.

“Awesome Place”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We stayed here for our honeymoon May 6- May 13th, 2007 we had an amazing vacation. I read about this place for over a year all the reviews and learned the good and the bad from peoples reviews. I did find it very helpful and anyone I contacted from the reviews were super helpfull. This is Costa Rica not a 5* in Mexico, it was perfect for us. We have been to Cuba and Dominican and will probably only ever go back to Costa Rica. My husband wanted to surf and only wanted to go somewhere he could do that. THIS WAS THE PLACE!! 
Resort Food - Was really good. Everything didn't taste all the same and they had a different variety every night at the buffet. The Nachos and snacks from the Pool Bar ROCKED! We gained a little weight! Drinks were good, the beer was yummy. Oh and I loved how you could get bottled water anywhere when you asked for water here. I drink a lot so it was nice to know the bottled water was included.
People- The front desk people were the only people I found not that kind. Everyone else - very friendly.
Rooms - Our room was great - we left a pack of candy and $1 every morning for our made and we had a stocked fridge, clean room, flowers everywhere and towels. A/c was perfect, tv and water were great! We were in the 300 in an older building off to the side of the park area. Was perfect location. Just the older building but still good. 
Weather - I worried about rainy season, we had it a couple times around 4 or so but by then it was like ' bring it on' It was so hot I had a hard time walking on the hot sand.
Pool - we spent a ton of time in the pool in the afternoon just sitting on the rings or in the cooling pools having some drinks b/c it was so hot, or lying on the lounge chairs around the pool under the huts reading. Very peacefull. Wasn't busy at this time of the year. 
Beach - It was a rocky beach, but we could walk either way for probably an hour and maybe pass like two couples, it was so peacefull and beautiful. The waves constantly crashing. They were so much fun to play in and get knocked around. The first few days we watched the surfers at morning and late afternoon at hightide. We finally took a lesson with Iguana surf in Tamarindo, my husbands only regret was not doing this the first day. He learned a lot from it. We then rented boards and by the middle or end of the week he was surfing morning and night at the hotel. Even though many locals told him this is more expereinced spot. But having watched it for a few days he figured out where the rocks were and where to stay. So he was lucky he didn't break a board and he said it made his trip sitting in the ocean waiting for a wave and watching the sun go down! Incredible.
Tamarindo - we went here almost everyday. We did the shops, spent a couple days on the beach there. Great place, tons of building going on. Can't wait to go back in 5 years and see the changes. 
We did the canopy tour - that was awesome as well. 
Anyways - next time we go back we have figured out a few beaches where we would like to go and stay at for a couple nights each. We would most likely come back to this hotel for a couple nights. 
Oh I miss it there! Feel free to email me with any questions. Cheers.

“Good buffets - great service”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
I HIGHLY recommend The Travel Agent, Inc. in Carmel, Indiana. Their website is not the most impressive ((--)), but I have used them several times now and have never been disappointed. Debbie kept us of all flight changes and, most importantly, kept the Costa Rican travel agent, Swiss Travel Service ((--)), informed of the same.

At the Liberia airport, we were greeted by uniformed transportation guides from Swiss Travel Service. The polite, professional, English-speaking driver and guide loaded our luggage and drove us 1.5 hrs in a private air-conditioned van to our first hotel, which was the Barcelo Langosta in Playa Tamarindo.

We had heard the Caribbean coast had more luxurious resorts like we have stayed in the Riveras, but we chose the Guanacaste area because we were told it would be the best area to catch a Marlin in the month we were going. (We chose to travel in May because it is the beginning of the rainy season and the rates were slightly lower than at the end of April.) During our drive from the Liberia airport, we saw the most beautiful mountain top views, lush vegetation and cattle as we winded up and down and in and around (thank goodness the van had good shocks and soft seats). The farmer’s cows seemed much skinnier than those here in Indy. We were told that was because it was the start of the rainy season and the grass was just beginning to turn green enough for the cows to “over indulge”.

The sunny, humid weather seemed perfect in Tamarindo since we spent most our days in the ocean (or in the shade in a chaise lounge by the hotel pool). The public beach entertained many surfers, spectators and dog lovers. They were fun to watch but not so many that it felt too crowded to picnic, sunbathe, swim or surf yourself. We heard so many beautiful birds and saw flowers that seemed too flawless to be real. The palm trees were the tallest I had ever seen (protected I was told). Teakwood is their most protected tree. I was told that they must plant four trees to every one they cut down and those must have reached a certain age. (Wish they did more of that here in the states!) The hotel grounds were a home to several iguanas and other *critters*; yet, they never seemed intrusive. (I did not feel the need to use bug repellent or crawl up on top of a table one time while staying on the coast.)

The Barcelo Langosta in Tamarindo is an all-inclusive hotel, which spoiled us. I had read mixed reviews that the food was not that good, the service not that great, etc. Our experience was to the contrary! I.E. We loved the three daily buffets (al a carte restaurants were also available for an extra charge). My husband and I still crave the nachos they served at the pool snack bar. They also offered daily hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, etc. They offer more sodas, fresh juices, cocktails and beer than any Human Being should ever consume! The main pool was large enough to accommodate several activities at once. We enjoyed volleyball, water aerobics, swimming laps and just floating along lazily on life preservers. The water temperature in the larger pool was lukewarm. The smaller pool was slightly more refreshing. The Barcelo offered nightly entertainment with free dance lessons and Karaoke, an informal lobby bar overlooking the pools, snack bar, billiards, darts and ping-pong. They also had a gift shop and salon… everything you would expect at a 4-star hotel. The ONLY complaints we had regarding our stay at the Barcelo Langosta were: (1) Our bathroom light kept going off (then back on). We reported it twice but it was not fixed during our 4-day stay and (2) When we checked-in, the front desk hotel clerk did not stress the importance of returning the towel card at the end of our stay. When we checked-in, they gave us one towel card each (two per couple). You can trade them in for towels for use at the pool and beach. When you return the towels, they give you back your card. We never used our cards, but when we went to checkout, the front desk asked for them. Luckily, we had not thrown them away because they were going to charge us $20 per card! It took a while for our friends to find theirs packed away in their luggage along with the rest of their souvenir brochures, etc. So, remember to return these along with your room key to the front desk when checking out.

My husband’s dream had always been to catch a Marlin so we had pre-booked a full day of fishing on a 36-ft cruiser with A/C cabin through Swiss Travel Service. These three Ticos did not speak much English but they fed us local beer and the most delicious (thick) sandwiches and fresh fruit with constant smiles. They allowed us to sit on the edge of the boat, up top in the breeze in front of the Captain or down below in the cabin. (The cabin restroom was small and somewhat of a challenge because of the rocking of the boat but nice and clean.) Eight+ dolphins swam in front of the boat and along side us for quite some time. We also saw some really LARGE sea turtles as they headed North to Nicaragua. (Unfortunately, we were so excited we forgot to take pictures!) My Hubby did not catch the Marlin he intended but he did catch (and release) a beautiful sail fish as well did two of our best friends during the last few hours of our trip back to shore. (They later teased that the Captain was too good because he backed the boat up so well they hardly had to fight too reel the fish in as they had seen other fishermen do on TV.) Overall, we had a great time but most likely will not book a full day again. (We prefer to spend less time cruising and more time catching fish!)

Our last evening at the Barcelo Langosta, we did the most fantastic jeep safari with "Off Road Adventures Costa Rica" after seeing the ad in the local magazine in our hotel room: "DRIVE YOUR OWN FULLY RESTORED VINTAGE LAND CRUSIER ON OUR GUIDED TOURS THROUGH THE GUANACASTE BACKCOUNTRY!" The owner, Ted “stop working so damned hard” Horwitz (that’s what his website calls him) was a successful American businessman from San Francisco, CA. After visiting the Guanacaste area, Ted decided to make it his home and led our jeep tour himself! Check out his website at (--) (or Google "Off Road Adventures Costa Rica" if the web address gets removed). Ted has learned a lot about the Costa Rica culture and enough Spanish to hire the most friendly and professional assistants I have ever encountered on any foreign excursion (and I have been on many hiking, horseback riding, ATV, jeep and other adventure tours in Alaska, the Caribbean and other parts of Central America).

Not only did we learn to make conversation with the dominate male Howler monkey as we stood under trees filled with families of Howler monkeys, my husband and best friend took Ted's challenge of eating live termites. (They said they tasted like lemons - NOT like chicken.) Ted had many other insightful things to teach us about Costa Rica's nature but I will wait to let you discover it for yourself. His is one adventure you will not want to miss! Best part is he offers a great variety of adventures: Full-Day Extravaganzas, 4-1/2hr Day Trips, 4hr Sunset Tours (which is what we did), Canopy Combos (Beach Cruising or Jungle Exploration & Zip Lining), Surf Safaris and Multi Day Trips. Visit Ted’s website. Send him an Email so he can devise a custom trip to fit YOUR needs! (And, no, I am not being paid for this testimonial.)

Before the end of our jungle jeep adventure, we took a brisk swim at the loveliest private beach. There were the most powerful currents there! We later sat and watched the sun go down. (Ted and his crew provided the chairs.) We lingered for a while to share stories and eat fresh pineapple before heading back to the hotel. Well worth the few hundred bucks we paid for the four of us! PS: Ted also has acquired a great deal of knowledge in regards to Costa Rican Real Estate, if you know anyone interested. I asked him about Notaries having also to be Attorneys, as I had read in the local newsletters. He warned that there still were a great many "scam artists" out there. I have a friend who is seriously interested in investing in properties and eventually retiring in Costa Rica. Because of the time my husband and I spent talking with Ted, we feel in our hearts that Ted Horwitz is a very knowledgeable, professional, ethical, down-to-earth honest man. I will recommend him to everyone we know!

After four days in Tamarindo, we headed inland to the rain forest area of Arenal. See the rest of my review under “Tabacon” or email me for the full details of our 7-day vacation in Costa Rica. (If you like Mexico, you will LOVE Costa Rica!)


“great pool area with the beach in the back yard”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
For the money; the place is hard to beat. The food is alright with a good variety, nothing real special but I'm not that much into food. Now the beer was cold but the glasses were paper wax cups, so bring your own plastic. the mixed drinks were not the best and the wine was adequate, but I tend not to drink the best wine. Don't let this get you down because the resort is in a great beach location but a long walk the town. You can cab it for 5.00.
The beach walk at low tide is the best. About a mile or alittle more, but well worth it . and places to eat and drink as you near town. Our room was nice and clean, be sure and leave a small tip for each night and you will be rewarded. We went fishing a couple days and caught a few out of a charter. I didn't have my rod but some were being caught from shore near the resort. We rented a car without any ploblems but be sure to check it over before you leave and I mean the undercarrage, hood, you name it. I will go back. There is no other place I would stay in tamarindo. I got caught in a bait and swich on a t shirt, but that was my fault. Do not leave anything unattended. Best western monkey bar is the place to be at sunset.

“Forget the Bad Reviews!!”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Forget all those negative reviews about the Barcelo Langosta...this hotel is perfect! The rooms were clean the staff was nice and always hard at work, the entertainment was swaded towards Americans, but other than that is hotel was GREAT!!

I have to give the entertainment staff credit though, they try hard and are there everyday. The band is awesome and I don't think they get enough recognition. I would like to see the shows have a more authentic feel, but it was entertaining.

The bar by the pool has weaker drinks than he bar in the lobby, the pool and games are "closed" while the performers are on stage. The beach behind the resort is nice for walks and what not but if you ant to swim you're going to have to walk a little bit. But nothing to complain about.

The food was excellent for breakfast lunch and dinner. There is something for everyone! The other reviews made it sound like the food was grabage but it was great, and there was a wide variety.

The town Tamarindo is pretty neat. The bars are fun and the people are friendly. I never once felt like my safety was at risk. I suggest hitting up the Mambo Bar, and have a dinner on the beach.

My friends and I went on a few tours, booked through Swiss travel in the hotel lobby. The Mega Combo Tour was my favorite. We took a bus ride to the rainforest, when we got there we hopped on some horses (some not so willing) and rode them down to a spa in the middle of the forest. There we sat in a sauna for a bit then rubbed volcanic mud all ver ourselves, dried off then sat in some hot springs. After that we took a tractor ide to a waterslide located in the middle of the forest. It was about 1400 feet long, it required rubber bumpers, helmets, and DIAPERS no joke...but only for the girls to make sure their bottoms didn't get scraped up. Lunch was included and after we did the zip lines which we my favorite part! If you have any worries the staff will make you feel a little better because they are very skilled and knowledgable.

Our next excurion was on a sailboat. We sailed out to a black sand beach and went snorkeling. he crew on board was real friendly. When we got back to the boat there was food all laid out for us. Oh and drinks included. We headed back to Tamarindo just in time to watch the sunset over the ocean!!!

The wildlife was amazing as well, crabs tucans, monkeys, colorful fish!!! What more could you ask for?? It was sunny the whole time we were there expect for one night of thumnderstorms. But to be honest it was refreshing!!!

I would love to go back and I suggest that anyone who wants to visit Costa Rica should stay at the Bacelo Langosta.

If you have any questions feel free to email me at

“a pretty beach resort on a beach where we couldn't swim”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
This is a very pretty place with a welcoming and helpful staff. Our rooms were spacious and comfortable, with a lovely view of the ocean. The pool is large and beautiful, and there are ample comfortable chaise lounges both in the shade and the sun.

The food is what you would expect from an all-inclusive place: okay, with your best bets being fresh fruit, vegetables, and simple dishes. (If only these places would serve native cuisine! Costa Rica's is simple but delicious.) Servers are lovely. (You wouldn't believe how many tourists don't say so much as please and thank you, though.) The free alcohol is, let us say, not of high quality, and after the first night we bought some nice wine at a nearby grocery store to have with dinner (the dining room serves wine-flavored water, but the local beer is good). 

We weren't into the night life, but there was an enthusiastic band. If you don't want to hear it, be sure to ask for a room that isn't close to the pool.

We were traveling with teenagers, but there is a nice playground for little ones and you can arrange child care.

The hotel will arrange excursions for you. They're expensive but of very good quality. 

My only complaint about this place was the beach, and that was a major disappointment. We were so excited about swimming and bodysurfing, but when we got there we found that there were big rocks and dangerous rip tides. There was one section of the beach where the hotel said it was safe to swim, and though there were no rocks there, the rip tides were still very strong. An estuary empties into the sea right next to the hotel, and it looks placid but has a rapid current that makes it equally dangerous to swim in. I had seen a remark about this on an entry on this site, but when I asked my travel agent about it, she said, oh, nonsense, I've booked lots of people here and no one has ever said anything about rip tides. I guess they never left the pool, or they were surfers, who are in heaven around here.

Playa Tamarindo is not far away, and it is placid, but an American we met who lives there year round said to avoid that beach, because the hotels in Tamarindo empty their sewage into the sea. I believe it -- the town (a horrible place) smells so bad that I couldn't walk there for long. Pretty bars facing the beach, though, where you can sit under the palms and watch the ocean.

So I ended up paying $50 to get a driver to take us to Playa Conchal, a beautiful beach that you have to walk into via the unglamorous little town of Brasilito, because the Playa Conchal Resort owns all the property that backs into the beach, and they won't let non-guests enter. I could only do this once, so we had one nice day at the beach, and that was that. The rest of the time was in the pool, which during April is the temperature of a warm bath.

If you can afford that place on Playa Conchal, it sounds fabulous. Some people staying there were on one of the nature excursions we took (the Palo Verde river -- highly recommended!!), and they loved it. But $$$$$.

“Barcelo good choice for some”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
My husband and I (middle aged and rather active) took our third trip to CR last month and stayed at the Barcelo Langosta outside Tamarindo. The last two times we went we stayed at the Paradisius Playa Conchal. The Barcelo was half the price of the Paradisius and is a possible choice for some travelers, but go well informed. If you are looking for true luxury, golf, excellent drinks and/or excellent food, the Paradisius is your choice. If, on the otherhand, you want a clean, small hotel with decent breakfast and lunch on a beautiful and interesting beach with surf, all at a good price, then you might consider the Barcelo. Don't choose the Barcelo if you plan to do a lot of drinking--very watered down. Wouldn't even bother with the wine (half water), or you get bored easily with buffet all-inclusive food and can't afford dinners out. Other things to consider: pool area small but very nice. Entertainment better than you would expect ( tango!), wonderful little restaurants all around, Tamarindo nearby, surfers a lot of fun to watch, fishing possible right off the beach, older crowd, not much going on. 
The bottom line was that my husband loved it because he could fish and fish and the breakfasts were good. I was bored. We ended up buying our own wine and rum at a store in the neighborhood because the drinks were undrinkable. We ate out every night at restaurants run by ex-pats from around the globe. They were wonderful.


“Enjoyable stay at the Barcelo Langosta Resort and Casino”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
The Barcelo is a "small" resort with only 140 rooms. The rooms are located in two or three story buildings. The room we had came with a king size bed clean towels were on hand and the mini- fridge had 1 soda and 1 water. The room was clean and the A.C. was already on when we arrived.( good thing because it was 95 in the shade) They assigned us a room in the 700 building complex. This was good and bad. It was far enough away from the music (especially at night) to be able to sleep. However I notice that construction was taking place directly next door to our room. I called the front desk and said that the room was not satisfactory and asked for a room in the 300 or 400 buildings.( I had read on Trip Advisor that these were the best rooms for location in the Resort) In a matter of moments the switch had taken place. We tipped the maids on a daily basis 2-3 dollars and found the service to be outstanding . We had more than enough soda, water and towels after that .
My wife and I have stayed at many A.I's in the Carribean and Mexico and this Resort was outstanding in many area's. We found the food selection to be varied and quite good. The fruit was fresh and the lettuce crisp. The buffet area is extremely clean and the restrooms were spotless. The mixed drinks were disappointing. We ordered two margarita's and they were just awful! I asked what brand of Teqiula they used and tried the 1800 the next time for only 4.00 dollars more. The drink was still bad so we kept to the beer most of the time and it was just fine.
The casino itself is a very small room (with little ventilation , so if you're from the states and forgot how it was with smokers in a confined space then you are in for an awakening). Because of the over whelming smoke problem we really didn't enjoy the casino as much as we would have liked too.
The wait Staff did a great job of seeing to our every need. No Attitude here!! You need not tip the wait staff all the time because it is an all-inclusive,but we found that a little graditude goes a long way . This resort is really not for little kids or young teens because there is little to do at the resort itself for these youngsters. The staff tries extremely hard to engage people but most of the tourists are out on excursions everyday. It did not have the party atmosphere of Mexico. No loud music blasting out all day. (quite relaxing I'd say). The entertainment at night consisted of a small cast (6) dancers. The shows were entertaining and the troop works very hard. Not only do they put on a show every night they also double as the day staff around the resort organizing games and the like. Victor( he seemed like the leader of the troop) is a great guy and he told us they work 28 days then have 4 off. from 9:00am to 12:00am. 
The beach was divided into two area's. To the left and across the river/stream is the beautiful sandy beach with "NOBODY" around . ( Its advisable to cross the "stream/river at low tide. High tide could prove to be extremely dangerous)You literary have the place to yourself. At low tide the beach is just incredible. No Vendors are on the beach anywhere except at the entrance to the Resort from the beach. To the right is a rocky beach (No swimming here unless your crazy). It looks like volcanic lava that ran to the ocean and hardened. It is quite a sight especially at low tide. We took our morning walks to the left and you can go about 2 miles before you trn around and head back.
The resort is located near the town of Tamarindo. you can walk the short distance to town( 20-25 mins. not olympic speed) or take a cab for 4-5 dollars one way. There was no danger from the locals walking into town but always watch your stuff because theft is a common problem here. The town is run down to say the least. The smell of sewage is present in certain sections. It's a surfing town and made up of alot of Vendors and small shops. Many local restuarants on hand. we felt safe but never saw a police officer once . If you have teenagers this is the place they'll want to be because all the action is here!! (The good and the bad so beware.....we were approched to buy "whatever we needed" if you catch my drift).
The Barcelo Langosta Resort is a good place to stay if you enjoy a more laid back atmosphere. No disco's (yet) No over the top crazy things happening just a nice place to hang your hat. We would certainly return and recommend this resort to you.

“Not perfect, but lovely”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
This hotel is beautiful, on a beautiful piece of property. The food at the buffet was excellent. Of the hotels in this area, it seems that this hotel has the easiest access to the beach. There were a few minor things that were disappointing, such as no frozen drinks (what's a tropical getaway without a frozen drink?), but one must go with the flow. We were in an end room right next to the construction, which did start very early, but it was actually the howler monkeys that woke us up the earliest! It was easy to book tours from the hotel with large tour companies. Keep in mind that the roads are lousy and most tours require a significant amount of car/bus time. Stay at La Fortuna if you want to see the volcano - it's a 5 hour ride (we stayed at the Arenal Volcan Inn).

“Love Costa Rica and the people”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
The hotel was really nice - better than we had heard. The food was good - I really liked the variety of fruits and fruit juices. If you go into town or on specific tours, you can get more authentic Costa Rican food. The hotel has people you can book all your tours through - go to Alberto at vacaciones Barcelo, he's really nice and helpful. Arenal Volcano and Palo Verde were great tours. The snorkeling and diving are also great. The best time to see the turtles is in December (we were there for the end of the season, and they saw turtles once in four or five days). 
They also have Iguana Surf by the pool where you can go to schedule surf lessons and rent boogie boards or kayaks. The hotel beach is rather rocky. Sometimes you can't see all of the rocks at high tide. 
The entertainment staff is very friendly and talented. There was a band most nights - the sax player is really good. They had a karaoke night, a game night, and danced and sang the other nights. The dancers are really good. I wish the entertainment went a little longer - it went until 11:30, (the bar is open until 12, and the casino is open 24 hours). 
We also enjoyed watching the Howler Monkeys from our balcony and listening to the sound of the waves at night. Above all, I love the people I met. Everybody is extremely nice, friendly, and happy. I liked it so much, I didn't want to come home!

“Not the four seasons, but still a good time”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
I was a little nervous about the Barcelo given the reviews here, but overall it wasn't a bad place to stay. If you don't go expecting the Bellagio, then you'll be just fine. The property is obviously not brand new but seemed fairly well maintained and the grounds were just beautiful. Front desk staff had varying degrees of helpfulness, from barely courteous (the AM staff) to extremely friendly and helpful (the PM staff). Minor problems that we had with the room (phone did not work, slow flushing toilet) were dealt with promptly when we asked. Shower and A/C worked well. I did not have problems with insects at all. We had a third floor room in the 600 building with a lovely balcony and great view of the ocean. At night, I could only hear a bit of the base from the band - suprisingly this did not bother me very much and I am a very light sleeper. I would request NOT to be by the pool if you want a quiet room. Per advice of other people, we left a small tip on the pillow for the maid every day, and were rewarded with nice service and fresh flowers in the room.

One day there were howler monkeys in the trees by the pool and iguanas crept across the property daily. Sunsets were amazing. Other hotel guests were very friendly and I met a lot of neat people.

Food was generally good, but I can see why some people might not like it (some different salads/main dishes, but hey folks you're in Costa Rica so you might as well try something different). There were many choices and I could always find something to eat at every meal that was tasty.

The only problem I had was that I got more information about the "all inclusive" program from other guests rather than the hotel staff. They have daily activities, including water aerobics, pool, ping pong, eco-walk on the beach, kayaking etc. that are advertised on a board by the poolside bar, but found these times were often subject to change or not done every day. Check with the entertainment staff for more info. The kayaking in the estuary was super fun and we did it twice. Also, you can eat in the restaurant once during your stay if you're there for a week, but you have to get a ticket from the front desk, then reserve a date with the dining staff downstairs, and this fills up quickly. We were unable to do this because all reservations had been made in the time we had left - I'd do this right when you get there if you want this option.

Dining staff were attentive and excellent, and I found that everyone there appreciated my attempts to communicate in Spanish. Entertainment staff tried hard to get people to participate in activities but would not push if you said no thanks. Some knew me by name after the first day and would go out of their way to greet me and my family.

Tours: there are several outfitters in the main lobby offering generally all the same tours. We went to Arenal (spectacular lava flows, also a rainforest tour and hot springs but long trip on dusty Costa Rican roads). By the pool, Iguana Surf has a little shop for aquatic adventures. I highly recommend their outrigger/snorkeling/walk through the dry forest trip. Guides were great and found all sorts of sea critters for us to hold while snorkeling. Also they charged less for scuba diving than some of the tour companies in the main lobby. Ask around before you buy. I did not go into Tamarindo because it looked like a place designed to relieve tourists of their money.

We ended up tipping a lot and I would recommend taking small bills (1,5, 10, 20) to tip your guides, waiters etc. We did bring some colones but found that most places accepted US dollars, and ended up using them to pay our departure tax at the airport. The hotel changes cash at a reasonable rate. You can pay your departure tax through some of the tour companies at the hotel, but they need 3 days to do it, so take care of this early if you choose this option.

Brevity is obviously not my forte. Overall, a relaxing week. The only reason I would not stay at the Barcelo again is that next time I go back I plan to explore more of the country. Costa Rica is just beautiful. Pura vida!

“Great Place!! Nice staff”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
My husband and I stayed here from Jan 13-20, 2007, this was our first visit to Costa Rica. We have been to Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic. We have always stayed at 5 and above all-inclusive resorts. So I was a little scared with this being a 3 rated. But everything was GREAT!! It was a small resort, so when you meet people you will see them all the time and hang out with them if you want. Every thing is so close to walk to. Our room happened to be right by the pool so we just were right by our room all the time. The only thing was, was this building was right by the band that starts at 1:00 in the afternoon. And then you have the evening entertainment. So it was very loud in our room. But we were never in our room and we were always at the entertainment at night, so no problems there! If you do not want to be that close do not get building 800. 

Front Desk: This was the fastest check in we have ever had. No problems and the staff was very friendly.
Food: Good Food. They had a BBQ one night and I had the best steak every.. very flavorful. I could always find something to eat. And Im pretty picky. 

Beach: It has a lot of , I guess lava rock in front of the hotel, but you just walk a tiny bit and you have sand out into the water. The rock did not bother me, in fact I thought it was very nice. You can walk out on it when the tide is low. I did not go in the water because it has very strong waves. If you are a surfer this is a great place for you lots of surfers. If you like to play in the ocean than you may want to go someplace else. I would not recommend hanging out in it. But you can. Also this beach has the best sea shells!! And the best SUNSETS ever. 

Activities staff: Great staff, Juanqin is great. The shows are on a small stage not big like other resorts. The staff works all day and then they put on shows at night. They work very hard on the shows. They did great dances. Not alot of people participated in the shows, so help them out and volunteer, they will get to know you and call you by name when they see you. 

Excursions : We did the Buena Vista Combo tour. It was alot of fun. You do the zip lines, and then a water side( which I did not like and I would never send a child down it) I had the water at a medium speed and flipped over in my tube when I hit one of the bumps in the slide. After the water slide you have lunch and then go on a horseback ride. It was great I thought, the trail is so neat. The mud bath was not as I had imagined. It was a bowl of hot mud and you put it on your body, let it set for 15 min then rinse off, go down to the hot springs (Which is like a big hot tub) and relax in the water. . The worst part was the bus ride there. The roads are horrible. If you get motion sickness make sure to take your pill before going!!
We also took a sailboat for a sunset cruise, it was a 3 hour tour!! They served you appetizers, beer, champaign, wine, pop. It was very nice.
You will have a great time in Costa Rica and Barcelo is a very nice ,small, and fun resort. I can't wait to go back. 
I would not recommend this resort if you like lots of activities, night time dancing, and lots of restaurants, and swimming in the ocean. I would not take kids to this resort either, there is not a lot for them to do. I think they would be bored. Take the family to Iberostar Costa Dorada in the Dominican Republic for a great family resort. Also go into town one night and eat. We went in twice and had a great time. Any questions email me at Go and have a great time One more tip make sure to take your own wash clothes they never put any in your room. I took mine because I had read that in a post. 
PURA VIDA

“Much Better Than Expected”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Check in at front desk went smoothly
The room no524 was spacious with two queen beds, bath, shower plenty of hot water.towels etc.Nice balcony.
Dining room,pleasant staff,great choice of food,plenty of fresh fruit,veg,salad,meat,fish etc,good choice of sweets.
Large swimming pool with plenty of recliners,towels provided.
Nice poolside bar for drinks and snacks.
The only down side for me was the loud music blaring out.
Apart from the beach Tamarindo is a complete shambles,building work,bad roads,as are most of the roads in in the area.

“First time at an all-inclusive”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
For our winter getaways, we have always stayed in privately owned properties. Being at an all inclusive is seductively simple.
The four of us got a great price on an air/hotel package. The TAM repsentative met us at the airport with an a/c bus and after about a hour ride we were at the Barcelo. Check in went smoothly. Two of us were in building 4 and two of us in building 2 both on the second floor. Our room 422 had a large balcony that overlookded the landscaped walkway between the row of buildings. Great for morning coffee(provided in your room) and evenings sipping wine while listening to the live music drifting from the pool area.
Room: two queen beds, nice closet and drawer space.Deep bathtub, lots of hot water, a/c always worked. Nice touch: hair dryer and makeup mirror on the wall.
Maid service: outstanding, had plenty of towels, washcloths, two bathrobes and each day an artistic arrangement of the towels with flowers and flower petals on the bed, sink and tub area.Secret: I introduced myself to the maid the first day. Asked her in my halting Spanish if she would be cleaning our room all week. I told her we wanted to give her a "propina". Left her 2000 colones each day and always had brief conversations with her whenever I saw her. It works wonders. It is my belief that the support staff in any enviroment needs to be acknowledged and appreciated.
Food: great variety, loved the options at breakfast: made to order omelets, crisp tocino,waffes, pancakes, fruit and pasteries.Dinner: always choice of fish, shrimp.great pasta one night, two nights they grilled meat to order, steak and chops. Tried plantian and fried yucca. Good house wine-very dry, but I figured that a Spanish owned chain would get this right. Love the beer, rum drinks too sweet for my taste and the margaritas are better in Mexico.
Pool area: lots of lounge chairs both in the sun and under shady palapas. Like the piped in music during the day and early evening. It was hot the week we were there(Jan27-Feb3), never saw a cloud during the day but always a breeze off the ocean.
the staff was very helpful and the social staff had lots of energy and put on a funky review each night. Twice they had a live band and they were great. The sax player really knew how to play jazz.. 
Went on kayak trip down the river that runs along the side of the resort. it was fun. Lots of surfers on the beach , kids rented boggie boards from the resort. Loved walking the beach at low tide early in the morning. By afternoon the sand on the beach was blistering. The last day we were there an group of howler monkeys camped out in the trees by the pool. They were fascinating to watch. There were iguanas in the pool area and one who lived on the roof of building three. Walking to the lobby at 5am for our day trip to Nicaragua, an armadillo ambled across the sidewalk in front of me.Also saw a wedding on the beach at sundown. It was a great way to end our vacation.
Overall, the resort was a great value and I would stay at another Barcelo again.

“Some updating required”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We were here in Jan of 07 for a week. We chose it based on previous experiences at other Barcelos. It appears to be an older property and it shows. We were in building 4 and the door frame to our room was warped requiring major pushing and pulling to get the door open and closed. Once closed, there was a gap along the latch side of the door. Also the door and lock box were not electronic, they required old type keys on a heavy key ring clearly marked with the Hotel name and room number--if we had lost it that could be a big problem. The inside lock was a turn knob in the center of the handle.

The room faced the pool area where the entertainment is held until 11:30 most nights and generally played at maximum volume from the amp--it was impossible to talk to each other or listen to television and forget about going to bed early to get up for an early tour.Anybody booking should request building 6 unless they really like noise.

We found the food good and contrary to some of the reports here, it was varied and not the same every night, also we found the staff helpful and acceptably friendly. The maid problem was solved by our old Latin American practice of leaving a small treat on the pillow each day--it works wonders.

All Guanacaste coastal resorts are an all day trip from the rain forests and Arenal so don't single out this one for a complaint but I can't argue with the comments about the evil roads although we generally had quite new vehicles including 43- passenger buses.

Summary: not as bad as some of the reportts claim, but only average

“Loved the Barcelo”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
My husband and I just returned from Costa Rica (Nov20-27)and we stayed at the Barcelo Langosta and couldn't have asked for a nicer hotel. The service was excellent and the staff were top notch. The rooms were very clean and quite nice. We had a ground floor room, close to the pool and the buffet restaurant and it was kept beautifully clean by Carmen. We only had to ask for something once (like extra towels) and the request was never forgotten.
The pool was great, the activities around the pool were fun and again, the staff made it all happen. They couldn't do enough for us. 
We did some excursions, such as seeing the volcano, visiting the hot springs and walking through a rainforest, going on a river trip and seeing all kinds of wild life and a shopping excursion to Liberia. Really, there was too much to choose from and we had to limit our trips to three when we knew we could've gone somewhere everyday!! It's a beautiful country and the weather was perfect. Our only problem was having to spend so much time on the bus travelling to these places. It was a long and bumpy ride as the roads aren't that great. Other than that, it was wonderful. We also didn't spend too much time on the beach as it was pretty rocky, but we tried to get in a few sunrises and sunsets on the beach as they were truly spectacular.
The hotel is small, but the service is BIG and we would go back in a heart beat. Pura vida! Happy couple from Canada
P.S. The food was great too!! We never had a problem finding good things to eat!!

“Too Far Away from Everything Given the Horrible Road Conditions...”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
stayed at Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo the week of Thanksgiving in 2006 with five other adults. As is the case with most borderline-third-world tropical settings, the advertised “four stars” is really about a two-star equivalent by typical U.S. standards. Rooms were of a good size, though somewhat dingy, with ample closet, shelf, and drawer space. You might want to consider bringing along a small ant trap due to the number of red ants! Thanks to prior reviews here, I knew to request in advance a room as far as possible from the noisy pool area. We were placed on the third floor of building 6 and were fortunate to be able to hear only the bass line of late night music. The view from our balcony was quite nice, with the ocean visible in the distance. Other members of my party were assigned to the second floor of building 7 (there is no third floor in that building). They similarly benefitted from limited noise, although their balcony looked out only on a wooded area. There were frequent brief power outages at the hotel, so I would highly recommend bringing a battery-operated alarm clock to serve as back-up to the electric one in your room. We also lost water on a couple of occasions. The showers offer only a trickle of water even when “working.” We were provided with several bars of soap, a bottle of conditioner, a sewing kit, and a shower gel and shampoo dispenser in our room. Some of our travel companions received robes in their rooms, and one was provided with a single face cloth, but we had neither in our room. Maid service seemed reliable, although we did note that a plastic wrapper remained on our floor for the entire stay, as did some of the ants we’d squished, so I wouldn’t characterize the cleaning services as thorough. Our air conditioner was functional (minimum setting was 17 degrees C [~63 F], though our alarm clock/thermometer revealed that it never got below 70 degrees F in our room), but our ceiling fan was too far out of balance to use if we were trying to sleep.

If you’ll be arriving late at the hotel, be sure to pack a snack. Food is available only until 10:00 p.m.. (Breakfast is 7 to 10 a.m., lunch is 12:30 to 3 p.m., and dinner is 7 to 10 p.m.; the snack bar serves food from 10 a.m. to either 7 or 10 p.m., I forget which.) After a full day of travel by plane, a lengthy wait at immigration, and a more than two-hour ride from the Liberia airport, we were not impressed to find that our 10:30 arrival at the hotel meant no food until morning. Another reason you might want to pack a snack is that the food in the buffet-style restaurant is quite terrible. As a semi-vegetarian (I do eat poultry), I found myself eating a LOT of white rice and fruit. There were nearly always steamed or roasted veggies available, but most had a bitter taste and looked as though they’d not been cleaned. I expected to have somewhat limited food options given my distaste for meat, but my poor husband found that even though he’ll eat almost anything, there wasn’t much worth eating. Health standards are definitely lacking - for example, deli meats and cheeses sit day after day out in the open, “cooled” only by small fans. We didn’t try the al a carte restaurant, as it seemed stupid to pay money for the same disgusting food we were getting for free. Breakfast is your best bet, as there are tastier options such as made-to-order omelets, waffles, and a larger variety of fruit. We also ate a lot of nachos at the snack bar, as the tortilla chips were fabulous! Alcoholic drinks were blah (it was like something out of a bad movie, simply ordering a “beer,” “red wine,” or “white wine”), but we were very happy to learn that sodas and bottled water are also included. Certain mixed drinks and items such as ice cream bars are not included. There’s a mini-fridge in the room for storage, and I’d suggest always keeping some extra bottled water on hand. Hotel staff were generally helpful, but the real stand-outs were those in the dining room; Vivienne, Marlon, and Evan were particularly remarkable servers.

The best part of the trip was the weather. Daytime highs in Tamarindo are generally 85 to 90 degrees F year-round. That caught me by surprise, as I’d been watching the much cooler temp forecasts for San Jose! Late November is the very start of the dry season, and we experienced only a brief shower one afternoon, with the rest of the week filled with pure sunshine. This proved to be the perfect time of year to go, as we got the benefits of dry weather before all of the plants died off as a result. One of our guides indicated that the country is essentially completely brown starting in late December, but everything was lush and beautiful while we were there.

My biggest complaint about this hotel is the poor location. Yes, it’s technically on a beach, but it’s quite rocky...swimming requires walking for a bit away from the hotel. As a result, most people opted to hang out by the pool. I was grateful that lounge chairs were relatively easy to come by in both sunny and shaded areas despite the fact that the resort was reportedly sold out, and none of the guests took advantage of the all-inclusive drinks to the point of being disruptive. The hotel’s “entertainment staff” organized some obnoxiously loud activities (they used the exact same soundtrack for one-hour water aerobics sessions twice per day all week) but thankfully were happy to accept a “no gracias” as they circled the pool attempting to recruit participants. The nearby town of Tamarindo was quite disappointing. It was a tiny, malodorous dirt strip filled primarily with souvenir shops and surf schools. We timed the walk to town - we’re fast walkers and found that it was about 25 minutes along the road or 35 minutes along the beach. The latter route is preferable given that there’s a lot of construction trash and poor drivers dodging potholes along the road. We were told that a taxi into town cost $5 from the hotel, although we never bothered to use that option.

I’m sure that Costa Rica has much to offer, but Barcelo Langosta is simply not the place to be if you want to access the country’s attractions. We decided not to visit the Monteverde cloud forest or Arenal volcano when we learned it would be a four- to five-hour ride each way. I can’t stress enough how horrible the roads are. I was deceived when we first left the Liberia airport on a paved road, but that soon turned to nothing more than a barely passable dirt path. And it’s not as if the vehicles are chosen accordingly - we were generally traveling in beat-up minivans from the early 90s. Driver habits and speeds are highly variable. During our ride from the airport to the hotel, I felt relatively safe (it took more than two hours). Yet when we returned to the airport, I felt we were likely to crash at any second (it took only an hour!).

For tours, we ended up booking through CAT (Central American Tours). They were one of three tour operators set up in the hotel lobby, the second of which was the much more expensive Barcelo desk and the third of which was nearly never open. The CAT representative at the hotel was fabulous and kindly answered our party’s extensive array of questions. I would highly recommend their combo Palo Verde river cruise/Diria coffee plantation tour. We paid $85 per person for a full-day excursion, which proved to be a bargain. There were only four of us on a new, high-quality, well-maintained bus that seats nearly thirty, and there were three staff members accompanying (not including those who joined us for the cruise and lunch) - not a bad tourist to staff ratio! There were two hours of driving each way, a two-hour boat tour during which we saw crocodiles, iguanas, monkeys, and a variety of gorgeous birds, an included lunch, and a truly astounding tour of the coffee plantation. Our primary guide, Rodrigo, was very knowledgeable and provided an array of information about Costa Rica. His co-worker, Miguel, seemed particularly enthusiastic about spotting wildlife, while our driver, Eduardo, was refreshingly confidence-inspiring.

In addition, we signed up for the leatherback turtle tour (nesting season is October through February). There is apparently only one company in Tamarindo authorized to run these tours, so booking is done indirectly. Our CAT representative made arrangements for $28 per person - we learned that others on our tour paid as much as $40! We left at 11:00 p.m. and sat on a bus picking up other passengers for 45 minutes, making us a little angry when we found that our final destination was really only a 5-minute drive from our hotel. Be prepared for a somewhat disheartening talk from the guide once you arrive at the starting point around midnight. The procedure is that you take a boat across about a 50-foot channel to a beach, sign in with your passport number at the ranger’s station, and sit there waiting to be told that a turtle has been spotted by a researcher. You then race across the beach in total darkness for up to two miles. If four hours pass without a sighting, you go home as the sun rises! Fortunately, numerous turtles came to nest immediately as we reached the beach, so our journey paid off, and it was truly amazing to see. (Note that no photography is allowed.) It was also a lot of fun to race across a deserted beach guided by only the moon and starlight.

Other tours that people in our party took included a $50 per person three-hour snorkeling trip, booked through the hotel’s Iguana Surf desk by the pool. They reported that it was a pleasant boat ride, though they saw few fish when snorkeling. We also took advantage of kayak rentals through the hotel ($5 per hour per person, single and tandem kayaks available) to explore the river that runs in from the beach, which was a nice trip. Check your equipment before you head out, as one of our paddles snapped in half. The hotel’s casino was quite small, but it was great for killing time as most of the slot machines were 50 colones machines (about 10 U.S. cents). Unfortunately, all it takes is one smoker to make the whole place unbearable.

A few random things I should mention: Bug spray was helpful a few nights but by no means necessary. Dollars were widely accepted, but you may want to bring a small amount of colones (we brought about $150 worth and found it to be slightly too much). Most people speak English, though it is appreciated if you at least make an effort to use some basic Spanish phrases. Some signature souvenir purchases are coffee and wooden items (bowls, carvings, etc.), and bargaining is acceptable. Electrical outlets are the same as those in the U.S.. Pool towels are provided by the hotel. Bring lots of reading material, as there’s not much to do at the resort; also consider bringing a small lantern, as there’s no lighting on the outdoor balconies.

Ultimately, I am unlikely to return to this hotel or to Costa Rica unless they repair their roads!

“good location,excellent price”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We just returned on November 20th,2006. This hotel is as advertised. Nice-not fancy.The staff is extremely friendly from check-in to check out. They tried to make any problems right quickly with a smile. The rooms were nice-again - not fancy. I would recommend getting as far away from the main building if you like to sleep early to avoid the nightly music which goes on from 8-11 six nights a week. It is loud-really loud. Try building 5 or six- top floor for least noise-best by far view. Our room no. 532 was outstanding. The food was OK. Local flavor. The pool snack bar had very good hamburgers:) , popcorn, and cheese doritos for snacks with good Imperial draft beer and good gin and tonics. The pool was excellent and the beach outstanding. They are very close so you can easily walk from one to other. Lounges are available for the beach as well as pool. Walk the beach and watch the surfers-this is surfing heaven. Monkeys also made an appearnce one day at the pool. I would caution however that I feel this hotel-resort is not-I repeat not for senior citizens with any mobility problems or eating problems. This resort is on a dirt road-really-with large pot holes and mud. It is an hour and 10 minute ride to the airport in Liberia 1/2 on said road. One really nice thing is you can drink the water here without worry. For the price-$1780 American for 2-all-inclusive taxes included it was a fine week in a beautiful country. Remember-November is rainy season. Play and enjoy the mornings because it will rain in the afternoon-guarantied. You are safe here. You do not feel threatened on the resort,beach or in the town nearby.

“Friendly hotel”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
I took my wife and children to this beautiful place the last week of August 2006 along with a group of my children’s school. The hotel is moderate and comfortable, with good service. Ask for Willy at the restaurant, he is very nice and helpful.
The beach is a little rocky so I would just recommend it for experienced surfers. The town of Tamarindo is just 5 minutes away by car or 15 minutes walk. My children really liked this place, specially the pool area.

“Better than advertised”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Had only seen photos on the hotel's website -was much nicer than expected. Ocean access is thru the hedges from pool area which is plenty big. Tamarindo is 20 minute walk so location is good. Grounds were lush and well maintained. Big enough to accomodate large groups. Food service average or better for all inclusive. And bonus stage show and band every night. I love this area of the country-will definitely stay here again.

“Fun at Barcelo”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
The Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo was perfect for us - lots of activities, food and drink. Great pool and very close to the water. The staff was very friendly and helpful with booking tours. Ask them to get a hold of Diego Sandi for tours - he was exceptional!

“Loved the hotel and staff, will go back !!!!!!!”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We just returned from staying 7 nights and 8 days at the Barcelo Langosta. It was wonderful. Yes, the price was a factor when we chose the hotel, but we knew others who had stayed there and loved it. Tthe staff was great, the food wonderful and what beautiful grounds. Our room was nice. I know others had an issue with their room but were moved in a very timely manner. 

The beach was beautiful and my husband and grown son and 8 year old daughter enjoyed playing in the ocean. The morning walks along the beach were terrific. 

We will go back to Costa Rica and we will stay at the Barcelo Langosta again. Thank you Victor, Wilma, Noel and Melissa. Juse was great too. 

Satified Oklahoma Family

“Nice, average hotel”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We stayed at the Barcelo Playa Langosta for a total of 5 nights in mid-June 2006.

The staff at the front desk were okay, however we saw huge lineups of people waiting for at least 30 minutes to check in a couple times, so maybe they need more staff to deal with groups. 

The lobby is a large open-air area overlooking the pool area. There are a couple different sitting areas, tour desks, and a bar that is open in the evenings. There is also a small gift shop and a tiny casino located up a flight of stairs.

The rooms were a good size, although bathrooms were a bit small. There was a separate sink / vanity area outside the bathroom which is nice for getting ready in the mornings. The balconies were large with a couple chairs and a table. Ours overlooked the surrounding rainforest, which was nice and private. We both liked the room.

I wasn’t crazy about the food at this hotel. I will admit I’m a bit picky (but not that bad!), but most days there was almost nothing I would eat from the hot food station. There wasn’t much hot food selection there either. For cold food they had various salads, fruit and veggies which was good. They always had lots of cheese out, but it wasn’t really kept that cold and ended up getting hot and gross from sitting out in the warm, open-air climate for more that 30 minutes or so. Desserts were all right, but they had these huge tubs of ice cream they kept putting out for every meal. Every meal they would not be kept cold enough, and get all melted and soupy. Then they would put them away for a couple hours between meals and bring them right back out again for the next meal. I thought that was a bit gross. Most days they had customized food stations where you could make omelets, waffles, smoothies, and fried rice. I thought the create-your-own fried rice station was a strange concept, however it was quite good and I had it whenever it was available. The drinks served at the hotel were good, although not as fancy or as varied as other hotels I’ve stayed at in Mexico & the Caribbean. There was only one restaurant there, and it was split into two. Half was the buffet, and the other half was a la carte. The a la carte was not included, although people staying at the hotel got a 50% discount off their bill. The hotel wasn’t full when we were there but sometimes it was hard to find a table at the restaurant, so I might advise taking a late lunch or dinner so you don’t have to deal with the crowds.

The pool area was quite large and there always seemed to be pool chairs available. If you want the best chairs though, you would want to reserve them in the morning. The staff at the hotel are out part of the day around the pool starting volleyball games, pool games, etc. They will leave you alone if you would rather not participate, and for the most part the pool area isn’t too loud and/or crazy.

The beach area is a bit on the small side and one side is all rocks. The beach itself is nice and not too rocky, and because the waves are so strong, it’s normally much less busy than the pool because many people don’t want to swim in the ocean. The hotel also has boogie boards, which are great for the waves. Definitely not great for people with small kids. There is also a beach volleyball court if you’re interested. The beach is public, but because it’s quite isolated it’s not used by people not at the hotel that much, especially during the day. Most people not staying at the hotel use it for surfing or walking their dogs.

Tamarindo is about a $3-5 cab ride away (roads are terrible in Tamarindo) and has some restaurants, shopping, surfing lessons, etc. Very much a young surfing town. We took surfing lessons here, but the waves were really strong on the day we were out so it was hard to learn.

Overall I liked the hotel and would consider it a 3.5*. The only thing I didn’t like was the food.

“Don't bother with this hotel”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We just returned from a 10 day self driving tour of Costa Rica and I wanted to add my experience to this list of reviews. Yes, Langosta is an affordable option, I can not deny this fact, but I would strongly suggest looking into other options. We drove from Arenal to Tamarindo and got a taste of true Costa Rican rainy season. Upon our arrival at Langosta, we were greeted by the night desk clerk. We waited patiently for his help and when he finally decided to check us in, ever time a Spanish speaking guest approached, he dropped what he was doing for us to address their issues instead. It was very frustrating, but we figured things would change once we got into our room. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning. Our room was old and smelled like mold. The A/C (which is much needed in the Costa Rican heat) was broken. We returned to the desk to request a different room and were told by the same gentleman that "there were no alternatives and everything was sold out." We asked what our options were since we booked a room with A/C and were told he would "send someone to fix it." We also inquired as to what would happen if the A/C couldn't be repaired and were then told "He would see what he could do." He was not helpful at all, so the following day, we asked the morning desk if there were any other rooms available and they were able to show us another room, without the moldy smell without any hesitation. The hotel was far from sold out, he just did not have any desire to put in the extra effort to help us. 
The food was mediocre. Breakfast is the best option. For lunch, I suggest eating at the bar. The tropical drinks were all sugary and terrible at the hotel, so stick to beer or the basics. We ended up eating out for several of our meals. The pool, which my boyfriend unfortunately had goggles on in, was completely filthy. Stick to the beach or go the beach in town which was much nicer and not as rough. The roads in Tamarindo are terrible and the drive is far from Arenal, Manuel Antonio and San Jose. I found the beaches in Manuel Antonio to be much nicer unless of course, you are a surfer or hoping to learn to surf.
We had a really unfortunate experience at what we hoped would be an affordable option, but with basic services and a nice pool we desired. Really, we are not picky people and only hope for a clean room and some customer service. We could deal with the food and drinks, but really it was the customer service and the poor attitude of the night desk that soured our experience. I would highly recommend a visit to Costa Rica, but would definitely not recommend a visit to Barcelo Langosta.

“Gimme just a couple more days...”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
First of all, the roads are not THAT bad, but we would recommend travel by bus or large van (avoid compact taxis). We loved the country and were pleasantly suprised with the resort; very clean and well appointed rooms and grounds, delicious food and friendly staff.

“Hotel was good, Costa Rica was great”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Visited from June 7-14, 2006.
The hotel was 3.5 out of 5, but it was very reasonably priced.
The staff was fine.
The food was all well prepared and tasty (especially the fresh fruits), but sanitation was a problem. Flies were always on the food. I thought the cereal was Raisen Bran but it wasn't. It was bran and flies.
The omelet/waffle ladies had flies on them and they didn't care. 
A stray cat and raccoon ate at the table five feet away and the staff laughed, I didn't.
Be prepared that iguanas, snakes, lizards and crabs travel along the walkways with you throughout the resort. Take bug spray for the ocassional ants in the room.
Plenty of drinks in paper dixie cups. We took "Bubba Mugs" - 52oz cooler mugs from WalMart and the bartender filled them up w/drinks. It's worth the space in your suitcase. We got offers of $25 for the $7 mugs.
The beach is a nice sight at sunset, but don't expect to get in the water. The area is bad for swimming and surfing because of the rocks and the nearby river. If you want to go in the water, stay somewhere in Tamarindo.
We rented a car at the hotel for about $70/day total and traveled everywhere on our own and stayed at other hotels, too. It was cheaper for four people than tours and more fun. 
We traveled to San Jose (6 hours) and went on Rio Tropicales white water rafting in Pacuare River - $95/person (GREAT));
Arenal Volcano - Tabacon Resort ($200/night) and went in the hot springs (GREAT) (free for two days if you stay at resort, otherwise, $45/day); canopy tour ($45/person) (GREAT); 
La Fortuna Waterfall on our own (steep steps up and down. Too rigorous and not worth it although we did have fun;
Hanging Bridges - saw a couple of monkeys and lizards - barely worth the $20.00); 
At Barcelo, went on Lazy Lizard catamaran for $75/person from 12p.m. - 7p.m. Well worth it for the snorkling (even though water is not clear), nice sandwich dinner, plenty beer and rum punch and excellent captain & crew.
Suggestion: Make the Barcelo one part of your stay in Costa Rica. Don't be afraid to tour on your own and stay at different places. You don't have to pay extra for the tours
Overall, the activites were fantastic and the hotel was good.

“Awesome”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
I have to say that if you are looking for five star prissy treatment you need to go somewhere else. There are plenty of those there also and there is nothing wrong with wanting that. I believe this is well priced for the purpose it serves. If you are a fun person and wants to have fun, that's definitely what you'll get. The entertainment staff is awesome and they work very hard to make sure everyone have fun. We only did two tours, the Buena Vista Combo and then we went Scuba Diving. We had a great time on both but did not want to be away from the hotel for all that long. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to go bac

“Better than Expected”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
Wasn't really sure what to expect but I must say we we're pleasantly surprised. Landscaping was beautiful. Rooms clean and nice. Everything worked fine, A/C, T.V, water pressure etc. Food had a little something to be desired but "okay". Phase you may want to learn to say if you don't know spanish " bien hecho" translate to "well done". Or "cook a long time" translates to "cocinar un de largo plazo". Staff was very nice and accommodating. Taxi to town was worth the $5. Most things were priced in US so we didnt' really have a need to exchange much money. Beach was a little disappointing, Red flagged the entire time we were there due to rip tides. Volocano rocks and sand. Okay if you're laying out catching sun, but not too good for swimming. Short walk to an okay area for swimming. Evening entertainment kind of korney but we had fun with it. All in all it was a nice property and for the money I would recommend it. If I were to go back to Costa Rica I might stay there, but I typically like to try new things/properties when I return somewhere.

“Fabulous Trip”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We stayed at Barcelo from April 28-May 8. Our entire stay was excellent. We rented a car at the airport from Liberia which was about 1.5 hour drive. Parking at the hotel is free and they have a 24 hour guard who keeps track of the vehicles that leave and enter. The hotel is located about a mile from town, we walked there and back several times, both by road and by beach. The check in went smoothly, our room had no problems. We kept our AC on the entire time as low as it would go and never had a problem. The pool is larger than the pictures, has a kiddie pool attached as well as a bubbling pool, which i assumed was a spa and couldnt figure out how anyone could sit in a spa in 95+ degree weather. Turns out its a COLD spa :) It feels really good and most of the time is tad cooler than the pool itself. We never had a problem finding chairs around the pool or on the beach. The chairs in the shaded areas get taken first so if you're a shade person, get there early to reserve. Me, being a tanorexic, had no problem finding a chair in the sun. I think the beach is best in teh morning. It seems to be hottest from 8am-noon, so we would start out on the beach where the wind kept us cool. We didn't fly to paradise to sit by a pool anyway, we have one in our backyard :) 
The beach is HUGE, I don't understand the negative reviews about it. At low tide, you can walk for miles. There's a river that flows through to the ocean and eventually becomes unnoticeable at high tide. We did a FREE kayak tour through up the river and into some swampy areas, it was fun and relaxing. Victor, the tour guide said he has seen crocidiles on the kayak tour, so if you're up for excitement, try it out :) You can get free boogie boards from the towel gal for the entire day or rent a surf board at the hotel. The surf rentals are 10 bucks for 2 hours. There are some rocky areas in the ocean so keep an eye out when swimming etc. 
The food was good, its not a five star buffet, but i was always full. They had the delicious omlet bar each morning as well as waffles and fresh squeezed OJ. I love all the fresh fruits and veggies served at every meal. Also you have got to try the mashed potatoes. I only saw them once at lunch, but man they are delicious, i polished off several plates full :)The meal times seemed a bit odd.. breakfast was from 7-10am (which comes early when you party all night) then lunch from 12-3:30pm and dinner didnt start til 7pm. The bar has burgers, pizza, chips, salsa, and fresh fruit to hold you over until dinner. The best dinner is BBQ night which is Thursday and Friday nights. Basically you pick your slab of meat and they grill it up for you. The line is usually long, but its worth the wait.
The drinks were good, then again we only drink vodka. WE had a good buzz going after 2-3 drinks, depending on who was pouring them :) The beer is also really good, Imperial.. and I am NOT a beer drinker. The bar also has bottle water which is free, so drink up!
If you are looking for night life, talk to Wilma, Noel, or Victor. We went out with them several nights. Each club seems to have it's own night where the action is. We went to La Barra for salsa dancing, Rey Sol (which they refer to as California) its open til 3am and fun, but HOT inside :), Monkey bar is friday night, its a Huge 3 story club with some live music and a DJ after a certain hour. Most of the clubs are outdoor and its REAL hot so be prepared to do some serious sweating. We also hit up La Bodega a few times but it was never packed with people. 
We took a cab once into town it was 5 bucks one way for a car load of people. The rest of the time we drove ourselves or hitched a ride with other fellow Barcelo visitors. 
We ate out a few times, we ate at Etcetera which is right in the middle of town. Good food there, also we ate at Pasatiempo which had really good food, I got filet mignon for 12.00 american that came complete with choice of potato and veggies. Also they have great Caprese salad. 
We only did one tour this time, the canapy tour. its 45 bucks a person, its really fun if you havent done it before. We had done one last year which I felt was more fun. Last year we did the Combo tour Bueno Vista, its complete with horse back riding, waterfalls, hiking, canapy tour, waterslide, mud bath, natural hotsprings, natural steam room, and meals. I highly recommend this tour! WE had such a great time and it is well worth the money.
We had a really fun time, the employees that work there are very friendly and fun. They make 8.00 a day so even 1.00 tip is a huge bonus for them. We made several friends with the people staying at the hotel. There was a large number of Canads at the place, as well as europeans which all seemed to be heavy smokers...I guess being from the west its not quite as comon. We did however buy some cuban cigars from a vendor on the beach, they are real tasty :) 
I highly recommend this hotel to anyone and everyone! WE had a fabulous time and can't wait to go back. As for the negative folks perhaps they just needed some more liquor, this is not a 5 star hotel nor did we pay 5 star prices. If that is what you are looking for, theres a four seasons close to Liberia full of very exciting people i am sure :) I feel we got more than what we paid... Have fun, PURA VIDA!!

“Thourghly enjoyable”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We stayed during the week of April 12 and had a great time. As most reviews have previously stated, the staff were excellent. The nightly entertainment was fun, we enjoyed the evenings when the guests participated - they had everyone laughing. Our room was always clean, no bugs (except no-see-ums), and our AC worked. Unfortunately some other guests weren't as lucky. Our daughter enjoyed feeding the lizards mangos and we even saw a shark one morning. We did have one complaint though... being Easter week we anticipated the bars would be closed on Sunday, however that was not the case. The bars were closed on Holy Thursday and Good Friday but we didn't find out until the Thursday morning at the meeting. The guide from Swiss Travel didn't mention it, nor did our travel agent. They did serve wine at dinner, but we felt a little sorry for the 2 wedding parties (their parties were on Friday). The pool was always clean and it was nice to have a ball or two to toss around. Word for the wise, put your towel on a beach chair early, they fill up fast. The food was good, we didn't have the lunch meats or cheese, they looked a little too oily and there could have been a few more vegitables. All in all a fantastic time and we would love to go back again.

“Excellent People!!!”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We stayed there the week of April 22nd-April 29th. I have never been out of the country until now and I was a bit nervous once I got off the airplane, but the people at the Barcelo made it worth my while. We loved the entertainment. Victor and Johnny were the best. Always a smile on there faces! We went there for a wedding on the beach and they couldn't have done a better job! So well set up, fresh flowers and the bride and groom had flowers in there room the night of there wedding. They really make it enjoyable. The food was ok, it filled your belly, but they always have the snack bar open, hamburgers, fries, hot ham and cheese, smoothies...For what you pay, it is well worth it. I would recomend this to anyone looking for a day of just relaxing &/or fun too. There was always something to do. The nightly entertainment was classic, not broadway, but something that really had a lot of time and effort put into and worth a look.

“Overall A Good Experience!”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We were at Barcelo Langosta from 4/10 trhough 4/16 of 2006; and although my partner and I have mixed feelings about our stay at this hotel I would still go back and stay there again. It's located on the beach next to an estuary that does have crocodiles even if the Kayak vendor says that there aren't any. We saw a 6' croc 4/15/06 during low tide. Warning, don't try to cross the estuary where it empties into the beach becasue the current is pretty strong there, I made that mistake and lost a toenail and some flesh on the rocks; the current dragged me over the rocks and I hit my toe on the rocks losing a toenail; rendered me out of the water for the rest of the trip:( --The food was excellent, they have a great veriety of foodstuff during all 3 meals and the fruits were just ripe and delicious. The staff are very nice especially the restaurant staff, but overall they are very nice people. The only problem we experienced was that the air conditioner in our room was broken and we got moved five different times becasue the room that we got after had a bad air conditioner, too, and the hotel was full so they sent us to sleep in a small bungolow in a property that the hotel owns next door, which was clean and same quality as the hotel, but I must say it was kind of a pain becasue almost every night we had to move to a new place to go to sleep. My recommendation is that you make sure that you get a room with a good air conditioner. Like I said, I would actually stay there again becuase for the cost and the gret food it is hard to beat. I am sorry that I missed out on the beach activities cuz of my toe. Good food, nice folks, I also would recommend that anyone who is thinking of going to this hotel arrange for an air transfer from Liberia to the Tamarindo airport becasue the road from Liberia International is unpaved and really rough for about 60% of the way and it's a 1.75 hour drive. Good luck.

“We were there the week after the following review!”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
All I can say is "more of the same". For Central America, this place is a jewel. Best beachfront location in the area (right at a freshwater rivermouth).... great waves right out front... great food. The staff was excellent. This place surpassed every expectation, and when you consider the "all inclusive" deal, it was fairly priced too. Would love to go back there...soon.

“Another day in Paradise!!”
Barcelo Langosta Beach Hotel Tamarindo
We just came home from here yesterday and I just had to write this! We loved this place! We did not have
high expectations after reading a couple of the reviews but it was available for a last minute reservation. Boy did we luck out. The rooms are not on
on the ocean but some like ours (536)have a balcony 
with a beautiful, somewhat distant view but we Never
even sat there. Too busy eating, reading by the pool,
renting boogie boards in town for 1.50hr, eating,
drinking fresh fruit smoothies, gambling in the small casino, did I mention Eating, and watching fabulous sunsets with a warm tropical breeze blowing. 
The rooms are clean, have a.c., ceiling fan & t.v. As
a vegetarian I can't comment on the meat but the 
variety and quality of the salads, veggies, and 
desserts was excellant. And the best fresh tropical fruit at every meal! I gained 4lbs even with 
swimming in the beautiful pool and boogie boarding at the town beach, (we're 52!). 
The best was the friendly, smiling staff. Just make an
effort to speak Spanish or ask what something is called and they have a laugh with you. Yes the entertainment can be....not Broadway material but hey
go with the flow or go to town or try the one-arm bandits. And TAKE the 2nd flight into Tamarinda airport, C.R. roads are horrible. Oh, and bring a bottle of dutyfree whatever-you-drink, if drinking is important to you, cause you'll never catch a buzz on what they're giving away, but that was fine with us. And bring a Spanish/English dictionary and the #30 sunscreen! Don't even Think of going without it.