Timarai Bamboo Resort

Where should I begin. For starters, you must know exactly how to get there before you go. THIS PLACE IS VERY ISOLATED. There are no signs on the main road in Parrita to point you in the direction to this hotel. It is very easy to get lost. At the hotel, be aware that there is no hot water in any of the cabins. A cold shower to start your day is a very eye opening experience. The staff was very polite but not at all equipped to accommodate American tourist. We saw no organization in the way the business was run. We informed the owner and the reception personnel the night before that we would have an early checkout on the day of our departure. When we arrived at 7am to check out, we were greeted with gross disorganization. The receipts for our meals at the restaurant were in another office that the reception clerk did not have access to. So we had to think about all our meals/drinks during our stay, write it down and total the bill ourselves. The entire process took 45 minutes. During our stay, we were the only guest for the entire 5 days. There was an abundance of staff, we counted 8-12, not including the staff's children. One evening, I made the mistake in leaving the windows to the cabin open (the windows were 6-7 feet up from the ground) locked the door and went to the restaurant for approx. 30 minutes thinking we were isolated and safe. When I returned, my backpack on the sofa was open and my camera and ipod were missing. The owner was apologetic. Go figure, isolated hotel with numerous staff; we're the only guest for days; our valuables are taken...it really makes you wonder. Please save yourself a headache.....DON"T STAY HERE!!!!

If you have seen the pictures, this hotel is beautifully designed. It has a great setting....very remote and near the beach. We were very excited before we arrived; however, the standards this hotel is setting for itself a far too low. We stayed 2 nights during a rain storm (it was rainy season so that happens) and there was NOTHING to do. By this I mean no activities (not even cards), no beer (and a lack-luster assortment of alcohol) and no tv. These are not reasons for coming to Costa Rica, of course, but when it rained all day we were literally left to fend for ourselves by joining forces with the only other couple staying there to go get drinks and snacks. Yes, they also ran out of food to the extent that whatever they made us was what we got...one such thing they called "something like nachos" which consisted of beans, gaucomole, swiss cheese and saltine crackers! Seriously? And this is all while we see the family that lives there eating food that actually looked good. There was no interaction with the owner or manager...the only person who ever bothered to speak to us was a 22 year old "jack of all trades" Nils. Nils was the only thing that made the trip bearable, but even when we thought he was making up for things by offering us a cigar, he later charged our room $30 bucks for it! Either way, I would stay away from this hotel until it is under new management, which hopefully happens soon because it truly is beautiful...or bring your own groceries and things to do.