Occidental Grand Papagayo - All-Inclusive in Costa Rica Costa Rica

The upscale Occidental Grand Papagayo offers a complete all inclusive system in the beautiful Papagayo Gulf of Guanacaste. Only 35 minutes from Liberia (LIR) airport, experience this upscale beachfront resort as part of an amazing vacation to Costa Rica.Couples, family and friends will experience premium service, discover gourmet dining and choose from a wide variety of activities and sports at the Grand Papagayo, all part of an upscale all inclusive vacation experience. Read More About Occidental Grand Papagayo - All-Inclusive

Map & Directions: Occidental Grand Papagayo - All-Inclusive

Print Map & Directions From Liberia (LIR) Airpot

Exit the airport towards the beaches. Turn right at the sign for the Papagayo Gulf. Follow the road until you find the sign for the Occidental Grand Papagayo and turn left. Follow the road and signs to the hotel.

Occidental Grand Papagayo - All-Inclusive Distances to Popular Guanacaste Attractions:

Liberia International Airport (LIR

173 Miles

Distances shown above are loaded by the hotel and are for comparison purposes only.

Overall User Rating: Based upon 11 User Reviews

6.3

out of a possible 10

BookIt.com Verified Traveler Jeremy from Minneapolis, Mn

"Overall: Great location, but sub-par almost everything else. Definitely would NOT recommend.

Pros:
- Not very crowded at all (maybe others knew something we didn't)
- Fun activity personnel
- Mostly friendly staff
- Beach was pretty good....it is large but a good chunk of it is rocky.
- Good pool. Only one, but again not crowded
Cons:
- Transportation never showed up for pick up. Not sure how that happens.
- First room we got was infested with bugs
- Upgraded room was nice with a great view, but A/C didn't work properly.
- Main buildings rarely use A/C even at the hottest times. We were very uncomfortable in all areas.
- Called to complain and their response was 'it's out out today'. Said would send maintance, but they never showed.
- Don't serve alcohol until after 10 am
- Food and Drinks were a MAJOR disappointment. Not a lot of choices for food..the Buffet was better than the Snack Bar...but that's not saying much.
- No food available before 7, between 10-12, or after 8
- 'Snack bar' 2-5pm just had what looks to be left overs from lunch buffet
- No room service
- Drinks were terrible. I'm not sure if it's just the cheap local rum, but even a simple strawberry daquri or pina colada were just nasty and couldn't even take more than one sip. Stick with the beer, they can't mess that up.
- Some bartenders were not friendly at all and looked bothered at ordering drinks that required using a blender.
- Very understaffed in pool area. No cabana boys at all, however a bartender would come around once every hour or two. A lot of staff worked 12 hour days every day...and it shows in their service.
- Onsite activities are VERY limited. A few fun evening live music events though
- A lot of stairs to get to your room and to the lobby.
- Multiple wi-fi hotspots, but all very slow and poor quality when they actually connected... which was not very often."

Posted: Mon, Apr 22, 2013

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Would Return or Recommend?No

BookIt.com Verified Traveler Kara Sabatke from Minneapolis, Mn

"Let me just first say, I stayed at this resort over 5 years ago and had great things to say... this go-round, not so much. After arriving very late at night, our first room was infested by bugs, no, not a couple, an infestation of bugs! Guest services told us they had no rooms available for us to move to another room; however when I told them they would need to move us to another resort, suddenly an 'up-graded' room became available. Our new room had no working air conditioner. We called maintenance; they asked us if we realized it was HOT outside... really... I think we realized we were in 100 degree Costa Rica. Let's just say no one ever came to fix the air. Making reservations for the non-buffet restaurants had to be done first thing in the morning and tables went very quickly which meant you ended up with the buffet. Lunch was the same food day in and day out and the 'snack' bar isn't a 'snack' bar, it is the leftover food that didn't get consumed over lunch that has been left out all day. Feel free to get your own cocktails; because there isn't enough staff to bring your drinks to you, they are also tending the bar. The booze is low quality and the frozen tropical drinks you look forward to with the little umbrellas... hmmmm... let's just say... stick with beer. Staff is very pleasant, helpful and engaging, but the hotel is short staffed in most areas and people seem to work upwards of 12 hours daily. I hate to say, I went back because my first experience was great, but I wouldn't go back again and I wouldn't recommend it to a friend..."

Posted: Mon, Apr 22, 2013

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Would Return or Recommend?No

BookIt.com Verified Traveler Errik Lemler from Tulsa, Ok

"The staff is super and ensure do a wonderful job of ensuring a memorable stay."

Posted: Sun, Apr 21, 2013

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Would Return or Recommend?Yes

BookIt.com Verified Traveler Trish

"There were a few of the dinning staff that were excellent, but the other staff overall were not really friendly. I'm not sure if it was due to a language barrier or what. One day while at the pool 'official looking personnel walked through without even making eye contact with any of the visitors. The trip from and to the resort was confirmed in an email prior to leaving home, but when time to leave they had no reservations or plan to get us back to the airport. It took a lot of our time the last day and we ended up having to leave much earlier for the airport and pick up people from another resort on the way. The room was cleaned everyday, but no fruit or restocking of refrig........ Not enough activities available without having to hire for tours and drive hours. Fun time was had because of family and friends I was with."

Posted: Sun, Jan 20, 2013

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Would Return or Recommend?No

Stan from Blackfalds Ab, Canada

"arrived at 4:00 in afternoon . was taken to our OCEAN VIEW room that was not ready quite away up a steep hill. they quickly decide to give us another room farther up the hill and told to just call the front desk and they would send transport to take us where ever on the grounds except the phone didn't work because they were having to put in new underground wires. so they knew they weren't working but tried to give us the room any way!! we are now told to go have supper and they would work it out. it's now 9:00 pm we are told we could have a POOL VIEW room NOT WHAT WE PAID FOR. we go there becuse it is getting late and we are tired. open the door to strong mildew smell. it is allthey have. ground level patio door does not lock,broke and missing tile in bathroom,walls blistering from moisture, 1 face cloth for 2 of us for a week even after talking to staff get home and lodge a complaint and after a 9 week wait recieve complimentory certificate for a 3 day stay on them any time other thanDEC 15 TO APRIL 25 or any holiday and to be denied at their discretion, .The OFF season (our summer/ thier rainy season) Never again travet TRANSAT TOURS or their parteners THOMAS COOK and stay OCCIDENTAL---------"

Posted: Fri, Apr 13, 2012

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Would Return or Recommend?No

Jaime Garcia from Chesapeake, VA

"The hotel was beautiful, the beach leaves something to be desired. The food was good (although not fabulous). If you want to eat at one of the restaurants other than the buffet restaurant or the snack bar, you have to make a reservation by 11:00 Am the day you want to dine in. It is sort of inconvenient, because you have to specify a time, and you almost always have to wait, even though most of the times the restaurants are only half full at best. They need to become more efficient at seating people at all the restaurants. At the buffet place if you are not there right when it opens, you will be looking at a 30 to 60 minute wait, even though, as in the other restaurants, there is plenty of seating available. The accomodations, However, werer great, the staff is extremely frindly and ready to please you. Overall it was a pleasant experience."

Posted: Tue, Jan 10, 2012

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Would Return or Recommend?Yes

Craig Stachowski from Minneapolis, Minnesota

"We understand that Occidental just bought this resort but come on. The air in our room didn't work the last two nights we were there and they could barely get it fixed, food options are very limited, the beach isn't worth the time, they only fill the mini fridge every other day and you can't get any soda of any kind in your room, they persue you with vigor to get you to view their timeshare presentation, and they water down the booze. Wow, how bad is that!!? On the plus side the staff is amazing and the scenery is wonderful. We had a good time but they need to update this place in a major way, some of it was under construction, the walking uphill must nearly tire older folks and the van used for transportation was a joke! Like I said, not worth the money. Go to a Barcelo or a Riu property instead. You'll have a better time."

Posted: Sun, Dec 18, 2011

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Would Return or Recommend?No

TERRY from BUXTON, U.K.

"Thr hotel is great,the staff are wonderful, the animals are fun, THE FOOD has a lot to be desired !!!!!!. Take plenty of Mosquito spray you will need it,Make sue you book ROYAL CLUB the little perks are great and the rooms have amazing Views.......you will nevet get a hangover !!!!! the drinks are watered down.Saying all that We would return as the staff make your holiday"

Posted: Sat, Nov 12, 2011

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Would Return or Recommend?Yes

A Recent Traveler from Houma, Louisiana

"After reading a few reviews of the Grand Papagayo, my wife and I expected that this would be a great get-a-way. After spending 5 nights at the Grand Papagayo ,we can truly say that what we experienced last week far exceeded anything we could have imagined. We were treated like Royalty !!!!!!! The Staff could not have treated us any better. A TRIP OF A LIFETIME !!!!!! We highly recommend this DEAL !!!!!!!! Upgrade to the Royal Club, you will not regret it.......

Don't believe any negative reviews........... They probably were from the competition !!!!!!

First time Bookit Customer, but will use them again...."

Posted: Tue, Oct 11, 2011

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Would Return or Recommend?Yes

AJ Amy from ATL, Ga

"The Resort was beautiful, but not worth the price we paid. Most of the villas are far away from everything, they do have a shuttle (singular), and it could take up to 20 minutes for it to get to you. The food wasn't great, and we weren't able to eat at the two restaurants...we heard they were great, but they stayed booked constantly! Eating there was always a problem, so we just rented a car and went into the town and ate. Highly recommend!

The rooms were my problem. They need major updating!! Cracks in the wall, ceiling, etc. Major structural issues. Also, they had us on the ground floor, and the sliding glass door wouldn't lock. We complained three times, and it didn't help. It never got fixed! We met a few people that had the same problems! The staff is friendly...tip a little here and there and they stay friendly.

The spa...well, don't go! It wasn't worth the money! I felt worse after I left. All in all...it was okay, but for this price...go somewhere else. "

Posted: Thu, Sep 22, 2011

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Would Return or Recommend?No

A Recent Traveler from Flagstaff, AZ

"I would read the reviews about this hotel very carefully (the hotel usually ranks between 3 and 4 stars on other sites). The room was very nice. The food was very basic and lunch was extremely disappointing. Lunch was served outside and the food was constantly being dive-bombed by birds. I was very careful about what I ate for lunch. The a la carte restaurant was either asian or italian and the asian menu was your typical asian food, nothing special. Do not try the coffee jello dessert. BE PREPARED to be asked if you want to sit through the time share presentation, 'come listen to the time share for a free boat ride (which is a ten minute out and back ride).' The time share presentation will take an entire morning. Also, if you think you are going to have a relaxing time on the beach, think again. As soon as you walk onto the beach, be prepared to be swarmed by people trying to sell you tours, massages, pottery and jewelry. I did not feel safe leaving my beach bag to go into the water. Even if you tell the people to leave you alone, they will continue to ask you to buy things. Stick to the pool. Also, the business center is located in the gift shop and consists of one computer which you will have to pay to use the internet. "

Posted: Tue, Sep 20, 2011

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Would Return or Recommend?No

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Daily buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner
A-la-carte dinner at the specialty restaurants. Reservations required, please contact guest services; dress code observed.
Unlimited alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages
Unlimited juices and soft drinks
Unlimited use of sports facilities, gym and health club
3 Restaurants, 4 Bars
2 swimming pools: one for activities and one for kids
Snorkeling equipment, scuba clinic, kayaking
Daily activities program by the pool and beach
Nightly entertainment
Big Costa Rican theme day
Welcome cocktail
Weekly managers cocktail party
Taxes and gratuities (applicable to the package)

Please Note: Dress code at all the specialty restaurants: No t-shirts, sleeveless shirts or tank tops, no swimwear or swimwear shorts, no shorts except dress shorts, closed shoes and dress pants required for man