Hotel La Dolce Vita

Italy , Lake Garda
CAVAION VERONESE , Via Cà Nove, 9
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100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

16 Feb 2026

Varton

Our stay was wonderful. We were very comfortable from the moment we arrived and truly enjoyed the warm, attentive staff. Waking up to the ocean and having everything so close was unbeatable. We really enjoyed our time here and will stay at Hotel La Dolce Vita again soon.

Business_and_leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

29 Nov 2025

Kyle

The room needs to be upgraded. Many stains or burns on the counter. Old cabinets and floor had stains or dirt on it. I didn’t use the shower. The pool was nice and the location on the ocean was nice.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

16 Sep 2025

Carlos

Place quiet for a baby 1 year. Good

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

20 Aug 2025

William G

Very well run hotel, and very affordable entire apartments right on the beach. Would definitely come back

10/10

Exceptional

18 May 2025

Mhd louay

perfect for families

the hotel is very nice, the owners are friendly the hotel is perfect for a long vacation as it's on the beach directly plus has a full kitchen and even a living room.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 May 2025

Varton

Nestled right on the shoreline, the hotel offers breathtaking ocean views, a serene atmosphere, and warm, welcoming hospitality that made our stay truly exceptional.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Feb 2025

ROBERT

Nice, friendly owners. Only 7 units and the people who stay here seem to all like staying at unique out of the way places. Esterillos Oeste is an out of the way place but there are many expats living here. Nice breakfast brought to you each morning. No running hot water available but it's usually so warm outside, isn't much of an issue. I would stay here again.

10/10

Exceptional

15 Nov 2024

Joe

Best location in town of Esterillos Oeste for beach access, beach chairs, and awesome surfing from beginners to intermediate longboarding. Fantastic breakfasts every day with fresh fruits, variety and awesome Costa Rican 🇨🇷 coffee ☕️. Cool and fresh pool and all the needed room amenities: including Wifi, beds, TV, kitchenette w/ frig... and nice dresser, etc.
Joe Kernan, Park City Utah
👍 👍 👍 👍 👍

Business_and_leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2024

Joe

Excellent location by a beautiful beach with people enjoying the weekend. But it is peaceful and empty during the week, especially heading west for 10 minutes, where you walk along a thin strip of coastline between the ocean and the jungle, seeing rock outcroppings, birds, and surf while hearing all sorts of sounds from nature.

Business_and_leisure

10/10

Exceptional

12 Dec 2023

Verified traveler

We will come back!

It was a beautiful place, and we enjoyed every day of our stay. The hosts are lovely people.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Aug 2022

William

Apartment was clean and comfortable. Large bath.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2022

Audrey

Beautiful, quiet beachfront location with plenty to do in the area. Kind staff and well maintained, cozy property. Loved this place, would visit again!

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jan 2022

Niger

Tranquilidad cerca del mar

Buen lugar para estar en familia y a escasos metros de la playa. El personal nos atendió muy bien.

Business

10/10

Exceptional

11 Dec 2021

Varton

Very relaxing environment with great hospitality.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 Nov 2021

Sanyamin

We enjoyed our stay here, will definitely go back again.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

21 Sep 2021

Karen

The staff was very accommodating and friendly. The gardens are very well maintained and lush. The pool is very small but the beach is right there so a large pool is certainly not a necessity. The only MINOR negitive is the kitchen area needs a little TLC but touchup paint on the cabinet doors would fix that. Overall, we stayed a week and loved the place.

Business_and_leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

18 Sep 2021

Jude Patrick

It is located in local family oriented area.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 May 2021

George

Place was clean and quiet. Directly on the beach with good swimming and surfing. Staff was friendly and available. Light breakfast provided. Parking was a bit tight but available on site. Restaurant next door. I would definitely stay here again.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Apr 2021

Verified traveler

Hosts are very friendly and pleasant, and the continental breakfast was a great way to start the day. It was quiet, well appointed. The wifi allowed two of us to work, and have one phone connected, so it works quite well for standard communication and VPN (but slow for AutoCad or other highly demanding programs). Rustic charm, price point was very fair. Will recommend to friends and family.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

28 Nov 2020

Amy

The staff is great and the hotel is super cute and quaint.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

10 Mar 2020

Bryan

I was very happy over all. Not a fancy place, but comfy and good vibe. Felt like home.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

11 Feb 2020

Valerie

You can’t beat this location! It’s right on the beach and there’s a wave to surf there. It has a nice little pool too that my son loved. The rooms are clean and comfortable. It is an older building but it’s maintained. The staff is friendly. There’s a continental breakfast (toast, jelly, fruit, coffee and orange juice) included. It’s a few hours drive from San Jose airport so it makes a nice stop. There’s a few resident iguanas on the property and I have seen a flock of scarlet macaws come into the almond trees at dusk. We would definitely stay again!

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

28 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

Disappointing

Poorly maintained and very much in need of an upgrade.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Oct 2019

Verified traveler

Fantastic place to stay. The staff/owners are very friendly and welcoming. Breakfast is simple, but very good. The kitchens in the rooms are very functional and useful.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

13 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Overall it’s good, on the beach and local with really awesome staff. However, don’t expect anything too fancy and the WiFi barely works. The bed and futon were 4/10 but we only stayed one night and got the job done.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2019

Verified traveler

Amazing beach! This place is very clean and laid back. Garden is beautiful and well maintained! Cleanest pool I've seen at a hotel in a long time. There is a bar next door that can get loud but it just added to our experience! Highly recommend!

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

10 Aug 2018

BruceB

Hotel La Dolce Vita has comfortable, clean efficiency apartments on the Pacific beach. The area is relaxed, not crowded. I noticed the hotel can hook you up with almost any type of Costa Rican tour, however the beach crowd was largely surfers and boogie borders. It is an excellent surfing spot, but also great place to unwind, read, write, walk. Wifi was great. The apartment has everything you need, well thought out. The AC was very cold. The staff were regular, good local people. A great Costa Rican hotel and you can't beat the price, I know I live down here half the year.

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2018

Joshua

Do stay at Hotel La Dolce Vita

Was looking for a place to stay on the central coast but not too noisy. Hotel La Dolce Vita was more then I was looking for, including kitchen and fridge. Definitely recommend
.

8/10

Excellent

24 Apr 2018

Kayla

Right on the water!

This may not be the fanciest hotel, but the location makes it a winner. We stayed in Esterillos for 3 days and enjoyed daily walks on the beach and laying out by the pool. The room had okay Wifi, great A/C, and even a little kitchenette, which I didn't realize until we got there. Staff was helpful and called us a taxi when we left and helped up pick up a broken bottle of sangria one night (oops). Do note that there are no ATMs and only two restaurants in Esterillos Oeste. We highly recommend Los Almendros -- we ate there for dinner every night. There's also a small supermarket with the basics. Enjoy!

8/10

Excellent

04 Mar 2018

Paula

Nice hotel on the beach

The owners were absolutely wonderful, helpful and super accommodating!
It was nice to have a kitchenette (hot plate, fridge, microwave, coffee maker, etc.) in the room.
Charming property with everything you'll need for a comfortable, inexpensive stay in Esterillos Oeste.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Nov 2017

Fulkom

Pleasant Stay & Close to the Beach

The service was great. Clean room with all the equipment: air conditioner, microwave, kitchen, dish plates, utensils, etc. We chose the breakfast deal which was great. You can even choose which hour you'd like your breakfast. The pool was always clean and ready to be enjoyed. The beach was just a few steps away. The safety was good. They have a family in charge and there is a front door to the beach, which it's opened in case you want to go out. In general, it's a great pleasant experience and we stayed between Oct 30th and Nov 4th (not many people around). We will definitely visit again. Great choice for Esterillos stay!

6/10

Pleasant

25 Apr 2017

Verified traveler

Nice tiny hotel in front of the beach.

Good: pool, kitchen, in front of the beach, close Herradura and Jacó.

8/10

Excellent

18 Dec 2016

Don

Great Value

Room a little dated. But has a small kitchenette. Brand new Bathroom.
good for the price and location which has direct access to the beach.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

17 Nov 2016

GEORGE

I had stayed there in May and decided to come back in November but this time there was construction in the units beside ours,they would start at 6 am until 4 pm with noise and dust,i came for relaxation and found stress if i had been informed of work being done i would not have come,i am disappointed with this booking and feel i should be refunded my money

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Apr 2016

Lopa

Gem of a find in Costa Rica!

We discovered this charming hotel 2 years ago when we visited Costa Rica for the first time and were lucky enough to be able to return. My husband loves to surf and Hotel Dolce Vita is right in front of several nice surf breaks mostly filled with locals which is a good sign! The hotel is managed by a young family and they are always smiling and helpful. Their English is limited but they are more than willing to assist with anything you may need or desire. The hotel is located about 15 minutes from Jaco which we really liked and it's a mostly local area so you get a real feel for the country. Everyone was extremely nice that we met. There is a local place to eat and a small grocery store to fill up on supplies. It was really nice having a small kitchen to make meals especially with kids who want to eat at all different times. Your stay also includes a yummy and fresh continental breakfast that is brought to your room daily. Overall, if you want a local vibe with beautiful, remote and private beaches this is the place for you. We drove about 5 minutes away to Esterillos Este and it had the best boogie boarding beach we have ever been to. Ideal for kids and there were never more than 1-2 people on a huge sandy beach-pure heaven and hard to find when you travel these days.

4/10

Poor

10 Apr 2016

Jasmine

Felt like camping with ac but without clean water.

Water was brown, so we were unable to shower or wash any dishes.

Family

8/10

Excellent

08 Apr 2016

Ronald Jack

Nice place

Best beach area in Costa Rica that I have seen. The pool was very small but clean and neat. Red Macaws in the trees slways. Nice shade at beach edge. Legends of mermaids here and a statue in the water maybe 40 yds out. Small market near, nightlife at Jaco 15 minutes away.

Family

4/10

Poor

23 Jan 2016

Dan

Nice beach

This place would be good for young surfers who want to spend most of the day in the surf, have a beer in the evening, go to sleep, and then, do it all over again the next day. My wife and I are in our 70's. We came, we saw, and we left to book another hotel in Jaco.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Nov 2015

Rufino

Picky People stay in Jaco please!!

Email communication with the Owner Nick was excellent! The Mgt. couple on site were awesome! The Wife washed and ironed my shirt (small fee). Emilio, the husband (Dude is Huge/ not fat) nice guy, got me my own Independent Taxi service, when ever I needed him (Ricardo) even picked me up to go to the Airport at 5AM! Who does that?! Lol! I loved my stay here! 200 ft. From the Ocean?! Loved the local bar, where I made friends and loved the local restaurant! Grocery store is only 2 blocks away! Now, if you are a Picky Person or is planning to take a Picky Person here? You or they my not like it? It's the Tropics! There are bugs and things that get inside your Apt! I had no problems but I love adventures and new experiences! Also, you are 20 miles from the Tourists in Jaco! I went to Jaco twice. The Red Cab with a Meter ( Called a Maria) will cost you $32 one way. Ricardo ( Independent Taxi) was $20 keep that in mind. Also you are 1:43 mins. from San Jose. Cab will cost between $100 to $140 from Airport or San Jose to get to this Motel. I plan to come back in March of 2016 I found this Motel to be very safe and all the ppl were very nice to me! The ocean water was about 82 degrees! I'm gonna learn how to Surf when I come down again! Ernie from Phoenix, Az.

8/10

Excellent

19 Oct 2015

Jeff

Close to beach and many great towns!

The staff there was excellent and was always willing to help in any way possible. The location was great and we were close driving distance to many great towns such as Jaco, Quepos, and of course Manuel Antonio.
The town was also very nice and had stores and restaurants where we could relax after being out an about.
The room itself was very nice, comfortable, and very clean.

Partner

2/10

Poor

30 Sep 2015

oscar

bad motel

there is no paved road acces and can go nowhere
no store or nothing near by

8/10

Excellent

07 Sep 2015

nurse

Right at the beach

A perfect lil place to surf all day and watch the scarlet macaws! It's remote but there is a lovely little town and restaurant too! The hotel is exactly as you'd expect for the price and that's right up our alley

8/10

Excellent

13 Aug 2015

Janet

Live on the beach

This hotel is great if you want to be 50 yards from the waves! This budget hotel with kitchen is comfortable, in a beautiful setting, and right on the ocean. The little pool is relaxing after a day in the ocean or out on a excursion. We stayed 4 nights and had breakfast each day.

8/10

Excellent

02 Aug 2015

Jeremy

Remote area, close to beach, beautiful location

If you are looking for a remote area away from everything then this hotel is great. They bring you a continental breakfast each morning and leave it on a table just outside your door, which consists of toast, jam, butter, orange juice, coffee, and a different fresh fruit daily. You can order other foods but this will be extra. The pool is small but clean. The beach is extremely close. If you walk south from the hotel, the beach is typical sand with plenty of pretty shells and great for swimming but if you travel North the beach becomes mostly rocks and tide pools, which were great for pictures! There were quite a few local surfers in this area each day. Most everyone we encountered here were local to Costa Rica, little to no tourists outside of the hotel. Everyone was extremely nice and friendly. The hotel staff was easy to get along with and very helpful with directions and calling us a cab. I would recommend renting a car if you stay in the area. There is one grocery store within walking distance of the hotel and 2 restaurants. The grocery store is small and does not have a large selection of foods but is great for gathering snacks and drinks. The restaurant we ate at served good food in large portions but was a little expensive in my opinion. The nearest town is Jaco and is approximately a 20 minute drive from the hotel, which is 60-70 dollars round trip in a cab. There are lots of restaurants, souvenir shops, grocery stores and family activities in Jaco.

6/10

Pleasant

17 Jul 2015

harinder

Average small hotel right in the. Each

This is a very small hotel 7 rooms right on the beach. It is a small village of about only 500 people. 10 miles past Jaco. Rooms have kitchen. There is a grocery store and 3 restaurants in this town it's a get away from everything with simplisty nothing fancy

10/10

Exceptional

19 May 2015

lorena

Great hideaway

We arrived at the hotel a few hrs before check-in but they let us use the room regardless, and they also let us check-out 3 hrs late without any charge. The 2 people at the front are super friendly and very helpful w anything you need. The room is fully equipped w a kitchen, sofa bed in the dining room, and the bedroom has a TV, AC, and double bed. The grounds are clean and pretty w flowers and a small pool for when you've had too much of the ocean. Great location also right on the beach so you can soak in the pool while looking at the ocean and listening to the waves. The included breakfast is simple w toast, fruits, juice and coffee but that was more than enough for us, and you have the option to add items at just a few bucks if you want. Stay here! We would go back again

Family

8/10

Excellent

17 May 2015

Will

Great apartment block in an outstanding location!

This place truly is a little hidden gem. Set back 1km from the main highway in Costa Rica, down a dirt trodden track, you can almost be forgiven for thinking you were going to be staying in a hut! However, it couldn't be further from the truth. The apartments are set in a complex of 7 apartments. The apartments themselves are basic but clean and have everything that you need!

The town itself is very quiet so if you like somewhere with a nightlife, this is not the place! There's a great little restaurant/bar nearby (Mi Surf Cafe or something like that) and a supermarket but other than that, there's not much else to see.

However, it's the location that makes this place truly special. Set just 10 yards from a beautiful beach, you really couldn't be closer! There's also a nice little pool in the apartment complex itself, perfect for cooling off in.

The owers of the hotel are very friendly and more than happy to give you information when asked.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Mar 2015

Ryan

Great hotel near beach

Great hotel by the beach. Very modest but I didn't come to Costa Rica to stay in hotel room. Great pool to take a dip in to cool off. The beach is just steps away which makes his place amazing. The beach is gorgeous and you can walk for miles it seems. The staff are nice and make you feel welcomed. Would definitely recommend to friends.

4/10

Poor

09 Mar 2015

melissa

only good thing was location

pros: on beach, ok pool but very small
cons: room was a dump, duct tape on patio doors that barely locked, dated, daughter got shocked touching shower head, very run down surrounding area, ants all over room, power went out, dated.

Family

8/10

Excellent

08 Dec 2014

Greg

Decent hotel right on the Ocean Beach.

Nice place for beach walking and Ocean watching. Breakfast and small pool are PLUS! Close to Jaco and Quepos.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Nov 2014

Verified traveler

best hotel in the area

Service was really good, more than helpful and on time with the breakfast they take to the room.
They were really nice people and the location was great!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Aug 2014

Great Beachfront Location

Great place, disappointed with the breakfast but otherwise it was good.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Aug 2014

Pam

We had an excellent time here -

You can't beat the beach location for the price. As stated previously, owners are on site, there is lush tropical foliage and it is right on the beach. The upgrade breakfast was awesome and this little place had a kitchennette with a bedroom. The door could be closed off to the bedroom so that the room stayed very cool at night. There is a restaurant and grocery store nearby - this place is a hidden gem! Would stay there again in a heartbeat - thoroughly enjoyed Costa Rica and this hotel.

8/10

Excellent

09 Jun 2014

Kon

Our get away

This was a excellent choice for us to stay here. I have to tell you that Emelio and his wife were great! Great customer service as our hot water broke and he fixed it immediately. His wife will cook breakfast for you if you wish and believe me, it's better than any other restraunt around.
The room is small but has everything you would need. It's not a \"posh\" place to stay but everything is functional and the service makes the experience top notch. I would definitely stay here again in the future. My husband surfs so he could wake up in the am and head right out front to surf.
Thanks again Emelio for everything! See you in the future!!!

6/10

Pleasant

30 May 2014

Adri

Beach is your backyard!

Hotel need a lot of care ,new furniture, new kitchen cabinets and appliances, breakfast is nice, small pool but clean, beach is the backyard! !!

10/10

Exceptional

18 May 2014

Rachel

Great hotel, friendly staff, fantastic location

La Dolce Vita was exactly what we were expecting: cute, beachy, and comfortable with friendly accommodating staff and an amazing view. We ended up with the best unit in the hotel, and ate our breakfast with an unobstructed view of the beach every morning. Cleaning was thorough, the air conditioner was powerful, and the full kitchen was a great feature. It is the perfect hotel to use as a home base for day trips, or to laze the day away on the beach or in the pool. We had a phenomenal trip and will be back as soon as possible!

8/10

Excellent

09 May 2014

aceman

Great beach location and quiet small town

A real treat was that the breakfast was delivered to our balcony at the arranged hour we had asked for. Very nice breakfast. The manager was very nice. Good nearby restaurants for dinners and lunches and good grocery store, all within walking distance. Playa Estrillos Oeste is right past the pool and out the gated courtyard and is a wide sandy beach with rock outcropping on the north end near the turtle sanctuary and was guarded by a mermaid statue, La Sirena. Los Almendros Restaurant was a great choice with a laid back atmosphere and really fresh fish

Partner

4/10

Poor

05 Apr 2014

Verified traveler

close to the beach, but too small and dirty

ant and roachs in the sink and bedroom
poor management

6/10

Pleasant

14 Mar 2014

brian

Great Location

The location was my favorite thing about this hotel. It was relatively easy to find but parking was scarce (but well managed). The hotel is right on the beach and a 2min walk from the SuperSol Market. The room was clean and reminded me of living with my brothers 10 years ago. The safe was free to use and the owner was ready with the wifi password. Wifi was sort of slow but I was able to check emails and send a few texts. The owner was very friendly and spoke English well enough to help me. I opted to upgrade my breakfast for just $3 more and had flapjacks.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2014

melody

Love this place

Not enough space to write all I would like to. Emilio and Jasmine will make your stay absolutely amazing with their hospitality. The hotel is average but clean and maintained well. Safe. Loved the pool. Great location. Fell in love with CR and made some new friends in Emilio and jasmine. Very lovely people. Hope to come back!

8/10

Excellent

03 Feb 2014

Phoenix

When I arrived the owners/managers were right there and carried my bags right to the room. It was very close to my car, which I prefer, if possible, at all hotels/motels. It wasn't the owners fault, but the electricity was out for over 2 hours in the whole town. The owners were very accommodating and gave me a candle until the electricity was restored. The beach is right in the back yard and it was a very convenient location, close to the market. I would definitely return.

8/10

Excellent

30 Dec 2013

Claude

nice hotel on the beach.

Nice hotel, peaceful and away from the Jaco busy pace. Not much expectation of luxury. Fully efficient kitchen and utensils for any cooking needed.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Dec 2013

opechandi

Small, nice, close to beach, nice amenities

Not bad at all! With a super helpful staff, humble bfast, top notch a/c, great clean beds, two separate small rooms, nice fan and a decent kitchen facilities, everything we wanted!

10/10

Exceptional

29 Nov 2013

Rob

Nice as we hoped

I loved the hotel and had a lovely stay. I found it as it was described on the web and discovered that it is on wonderful beach. Kind staff, simple but good breakfast, rooms complete of everything you may need (but not luxury.. of course, considering the price), location on the beach. If you love nature you will enjoy La Dolce Vita.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Nov 2013

Verified traveler

Beach an hotel to love

It was a happy stay. I loved this hotel, the staff was extremely kind and helpful and prepared a good breakfast.
The hotel is on the beach, in front of the ocean, and every day I took a walk and enjoyed this paradise. My apartment was spacious for my needs and had everything I needed: kitchen to cook, tv, wifi, AIR conditioning (good), hoy water. The bathroom is small but with a huge shower. In the evening a good place to relax was the little, elegant pool.

6/10

Pleasant

02 Nov 2013

joanne

Good place to overnight

The room and pool were clean and the breakfast was good. Good location on the beach.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Oct 2013

frank

Nice and private, Nice local beach

Nice and comfortable. Had an issue where I overbooked due to a misunderstanding with my partner, Emilio was very understanding and gave me a credit for a future stay. I plan to return.

2/10

Poor

23 Aug 2013

Steve Dee

Great expectations, tremendous disappointment

Based on reviews, ratings and pictures, we were ready for La Dolce Vita. Once you get off the main road, you're treated to about a 1 km ride that makes moon craters look smooth. The rooms are small clean, but in need of repairs and general maintenance. The pros are the wifi, TV and fridge, which froze everything we put in it. The cons are that you're next door to a dump for debris from the beach; the AC struggled to cool just the tiny bedroom; tiny and large ants and roaches were in the kitchen (we sprayed DEET around the bedroom door in hopes of keeping them out); the continental breakfast consisted of 'tropical fruit' - a banana, 2 pieces of very dry toast, a small glass of a Tang-like drink and a cup of coffee; the swimming pool was like an oversized jacuzzi; the beach was okay, but nothing special; and when we checked out, they tried to charge us for the room again after we had paid an exhorbitant price. Three young French backpackers arrived at the same time as we did, and left 15 minutes later. You have to leave the area to get anything, nothing nearby or onsite. This place might be okay for surfers, but I would not recommend it to anyone. Worst and most expensive place we stayed in Costa Rica.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

05 Aug 2013

Alyssa

Away from crowds.

This is located in a small little area. If you want to be away from the crowd, this is the place.

8/10

Excellent

21 Jul 2013

Verified traveler

Right on the beach.

The location is great. A little out of the way but right on the beach. It's not a big resort so for a small hotel it was perfect. Rooms have a little kitchen and living area, that has a futon that can sleep 1-2. An easy drive to Quepos or Jaco. Lots of activities nearby.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

21 Jul 2013

Verified traveler

Nice hotel, near to the beach...

We love this hotel, it is small, family friendly and the family in charge of is fabulous...

Family

6/10

Pleasant

15 May 2013

Verified traveler

Right on the beach

A/C not cold enough in room 7. Good value. Everyone was helpful. It would be nice if they would fix up the stove top and frig. Good utility for what they charged about $35/night for a 6 night stay. I would pay any more for this. It is a good 23km south of Jaco so you do need transportation.

2/10

Poor

28 Apr 2013

la dolce vita is anything but sweet

When I arrived at the hotel, it was late, otherwise I would have left and found a different hotel. It was rundown, in an inconvenient area, and the people were not friendly. I didn't even want to shower there & couldn't wait to move on in the morning.

6/10

Pleasant

19 Apr 2013

Tif

Amazing Beach Access, Friendly Staff

This hotel is a wonderful option if you care mostly about beach access. If you are seeking posh comfort then this is not the place for you. The resort is older, a little run-down, but in an AMAZING location. I personally did not mind the place at all and the staff was very helpful. I felt safe, was able to do what I came to do (go to the beach) and also lounge in their sweet little pool after the ocean. It was perfect. The \"suite\" was air conditioned in the sleeping quarters and there was a small bathroom as well as some kitchen amenities. If you plan to stay long, you will need to grocery shop either before you arrive or at the little store up the road. There was an AMAZING little restaurant w/in walking distance called Restaurant Los Almendros (meaning, the Almond Tree) where we ate dinner. Overall, I'd come again for the beach.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Mar 2013

Chris Adams

If you're looking to unwind this is it!

I really liked it here. The staff is great and the owner couldn't be more helpful. It is not a new property but things are well taken care of and you get great value for the money - especially if you book for multiple nights. One point, this is a very quiet town so if you're looking for lots of bars and nightlife then it's not a good choice. However if what you want to do is sit out on your room's patio (or wander down a few feet to the beach ) and listen to the waves then this is the perfect place.

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2013

Gigi

Newly renovated hotel

Lovely boutique hotel, with only a few rooms, on the beach of Esterillos Oeste. The hotel has been recently renovatedl. Our room was just painted and every detail was fine, including air-conditioning, hot water, wifi and Tv. Breakfast was fine, as well as the service. The position on the beach is just superb.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2013

Alison

La Dolce Vita--low key Pacific paradise

The owner Stefano and the kind Tican couple who take care of the small hotel were very friendly and helpful. The town is 20 mins away from the bustling and commercial Jaco and it is the exact opposite--at least for the weekdays that we were there. The room is actually a small apartment with some nice touches---bedspreads and light fixtures and a functioning kitchen so it is possible to buy local food and cook at home. The location is perfect---right on the ocean with a shady spot to hang out right outside the gate. There is also an impeccable and pretty but tiny pool and outdoor shower to helpful with cleaning after ocean swimming. This is a great spot for surfers and body surfers---both experienced and not. We had a great time. The owner is working on gradually improving the hotel---our bed was uncomfortable and he was grateful to hear this feedback so that he can put it on the list of things to improve. And I believe he will do so.

10/10

Exceptional

19 Feb 2013

Richard

Excellent location, fine hotel

The hotel in on a beautiful beach, surrounded by palms and almond trees, full of sea birds, coloured lapas birds, squirrels just in front of a good and easy surf spot. The hotel fits well the beautiful nature, has apartments composed of a living room, bed room, bath room with hot water, two patios and air conditioning, Tv, wifi, kitchen, refrigerator. My room was clean and in good conditions, despite being a few steps away from the ocean. Breakfast fresh and good, served in my room balcony by a smiling staff, plent of good will. The swmming pool is small but clean and very nice, being in front of the ocean.The price of the hotel was good with an excellent quality/price ratio.

2/10

Poor

09 Jan 2013

Verified traveler

what a dive

this hotel is really run down and in dire need of a renovation. it was probably nice about 20 years ago. good place for backpackers but if you have kids and enjoy cleanliness and security look somewhere else. its a 1 star at best. great location on the beach though.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 Oct 2012

Mark

Very good!!!

Good value for money. Room fully furnished of what I was looking for: kitchen, located on the beach (..amazing place..), in the middle of pacific area perfect for discover place and parks of that zone of CR..
Beyond this characteristics we have A/C, TV satellitar and WiFi in the room, all this services for this money, trust me, is good value!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

26 Oct 2012

L.T.

Nice beachfront hotel

Nice little beachfront hotel. Perfect for travellers looking for quite and natural vacations.
our room was clean, and the structure was well maintened. The staff was a couple of locals, very friendly and helpfull. At the bars steps from the hotel, we met funny locals and american people that organized beach party in the evening!!
If we'll return in Costa Rica,for sure I'll choose again Esterillos!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Oct 2012

Ann & Carlos

Great beach side hotel

We had a very relaxing visit at this cute small hotel. There is a great restuarant around the corner down the dirt road. The beach is lovely, not too many people and very quiet. Very difficult to get to, but worth the effort.

6/10

Pleasant

05 Oct 2012

Pat

Hard to find

Owners need to put up a sign at the highway so people know where to turn. Other than that, it was a nice beachfront location, and a good hotel for the money.

2/10

Poor

30 Sep 2012

cedric

hotel nightmare!

i would not return back to this hotel if it was free! don't get me wrong, the beach was foot steps away and the staff was nice! however, this hotel is in need of serious repairs! world's smallest swimming pool i have ever seen in my life for a hotel! broken down bar/tiki hut with a huge hole at the top! huge steel gate (shown on the picture) that locks you in at night! i thought i was in jail! no place to park if you have a car! i had to walk out the back of the hotel in a dark muddy road in the alley to visit a local bar and mini-mart! the hotel in next to a state beach where people come to enjoy the beach. several a abandoned business near the hotel and not to mention, animals all over the place! dogs and cats and everything else who can imagine! so bad my traveling partner took a lost and left and found another hotel in jaco beach!

8/10

Excellent

20 Sep 2012

Michael

Cute hotel on the beach. Only complaints are only one unit has an actual ocean view And one burner was non-functional.

8/10

Excellent

09 Aug 2012

Estrelle

Nice surfer hotel

For the money you aren't going to do much better than this hotel. The owners keep the hotel clean and the pool is a nice touch. The hotel is located perfect to step out and hit the break offshore. The rooms are a bit warm with the A/C struggling to work. Hermosa is a nicer location but this beach has the better waves and La Dolce Vita is plenty fine.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jun 2012

Verified traveler

Quiet getaway on the beach

I rated this hotel 5 all the way because I knew what I wanted, and got it nicely here at a very comfortable price. This is not a fancy star anything. It's a quiet, small comfortable hotel on the beach with air conditioning and wifi and a clean small pool.

A small adequate kitchen gave me easy home cooked meals. There are several stores nearby for all the basics. And with the continental breakfast included, and so many eating places less than 5 mins walk away, food was easy.

Esterillos Oeste is not touristy...that's why I picked it this time instead of Jaco. I wanted a quiet weekend for my birthday vacation. The beach itself seemed cleaner than Jaco, nice dark sand from the volcanoes long ago, and lots of sea shells for my art projects.

I will go there again. PS..karaoke, dancing near by for those that want..and a short drive to much more if wanted.

8/10

Excellent

18 Jun 2012

Verified traveler

Simple

The hotel is very simple. For a short stay up to 3 nights it is toatlly sufficent. Value for money is fine.

8/10

Excellent

11 Jun 2012

L.T.

Perfect little hotel in an amazing location

I had a 2-nights experience in Esterillos Oeste and La Dolce Vita hotel with my husband.
It was what we were looking for: A quiet place to stay without noise of mass tourism, a beach front hotel to avoid movement with so hot temperature, but complete with necessary services that feel our stay more confortable.
Our room was clean with no one insects (strange compared with other structures where we stayed!), the hotel was well maintained by a very kind and helpful staff ( a local couple always smiling and ready to suggest us place for rest and nice restaurants).
The location is unbeatable, five miles of amazing beach, pure jungle around town and hotel, very very good restaurants serving freshly caught fish, with cheap price!
great value for this price..for sure we'll come here next time!!

Special Thx to Emilio!!

2/10

Poor

17 Apr 2012

Dave

Never take your family to Osterillos Oeste...!

Not sure where to start. Ants crawling, no actually swarming, all over the space. Sleeper sofa was an empty loveseat frame with throw pillows stacked in it. Zero hot water in the kitchen and greasy silverware in the drawer. Sliding glass doors for the entrance with no tracks or threshold below so rain was seeping in. Location is beachfront but next door to a trashy campsite with farm animals crowing at all hours. Sketchy locals lining the dirt road entering the site, leering at my daughter. Even though I paid for two nights, I left the next day and paid for a room at the Best Western in Jaco Beach, which was paradise compared to La Dolce Vita...! Oh yeah, in less than 20 minutes the \"friendly\" locals of Osterillos Oeste Playa stole my sandles from under my towel on the beach while I swam.

8/10

Excellent

01 Apr 2012

Quaint Hotel On a Beautiful Beach

Great location on a quiet, scenic beach and in a small community which has a good grocery store, surf shop, bar and restaurant within 5 minutes walking distance.

The hotel is very tidy and cute. The staff were helpful and pleasant. They always appeared busy cleaning.

The kitchenettes were well set up however, the air conditioning and ceiling fan did not keep the room very cool. Aside from the warm rooms, we loved the place; scenic, private and tranquil with nice landscaping, good pool and a great rate.

2/10

Poor

24 Mar 2012

Verified traveler

Not for families

not great at least not for families. It is more like a hostel for me. Not suited for families. near local bars. it is near beach but you can fnd other hotels like that. The bathroom had a leak from the roof and I did see a roach.I told the care taker and he did not seem to care nor did he apologize. It was hard to find. It is an old building and not well kept. We had planned on staying 2 nights and I insisted on not staying to nights.

Family

8/10

Excellent

02 Mar 2012

wendy

a hideaway on the beach

La Dolce Vita was a charming and low key little hotel that is situated right on Esterellos beach. A little hard to find at first as the entrance was not well marked and the road in from the highway was alot rougher than I thought. We were comfortable with the unit, it had a fridge and 2 burner stove on the counter, TV, AC in the bedroom which was welcome. Also a fold out couch for extra guest, and a small patio with furniture. The shower seemed to have only cool water until we figured out what the electric switch was attched to the shower head - scary when you are standing there wet! The small pool was great for a refreshing dip. Emellio and Jasmine provide a small breakfast with coffee delivered to your room in the morning, and they will cook eggs and bacon for extra $. The beach is about 3 miles long and excellent for surfers with some experience. Not a good place to swim unless you are strong. There is a bar/restaurant right next door that plays canned country music and where people gather for an evening beverage or two. There was a surprizing number of other small restaurants in this small hamlet, all trying to make a go of it. The local rooster starts in at 3 AM (bring ear plugs) and watch for the large resident iguana. Check out the lady on the rock as you stroll barefoot in the soft sand along the beach in front of the casas in the evening. A large contingent of gringos (mostly Canucks) spend their winters here, they even have their own street named after them. This hotel is close to Jaco and about 45 minutes away from Manuel Antonio National Park, a must see.

4/10

Poor

15 Feb 2012

Javier

For surfers

small room, TV does not work. Pool was nice and very clean. For surfers the ubication is great.
Also the beach is very nice just in front of the hotel.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jan 2012

Verified traveler

La Dolce Vita

The staff was friendly, beautiful location, though it is a bit of a drive to surrounding cities. Overall, a very good experience!

10/10

Exceptional

08 Dec 2011

Verified traveler

Enjoied Esterillos Oeste

The hotel is located on a nice beach, surounded of trees. The apartment has free wi-fi, air-conditioning, fan and has a bed room with an enough confortable queen bed. There is also a living room with a kitchinette, to cook, fridge, coffee maker, etc. Brekfast is continental, simple and good, the staff is very kind and helpful. Considering the low budget paied I think that this place is really fine.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Dec 2011

Verified traveler

Excellent location

We had a nice stay in this hotel that is just on the beach in Esterillos Oeste. We got a simple but good continental breakfast at our room every morning. The service was fine, the rooms had fan and air conditioning, satellite TV, the bed room was not big but confortable. There was also a livin room with a kitchinette, fridge, coofee maker. The price of the room was the lowest we found and the total value of the stay was excellent.

2/10

Poor

28 Oct 2011

Verified traveler

The worth hotel in Costa Rica

This is hotel in located in a ugly town in the middle of nowhere. I stayed 2 nights there with no power and the hotel doesn't have a back up power generator. Noboby cleaned the room during those two days. I found a big roach inside of one of the kitchen cabinets. The breakfast was a joke: a slice of bread with scramble egg. The first day they did not offer breakfast because they had no power. That was a horrible experience. I won't return to this hotel never again, neither if the give me free nights there.

8/10

Excellent

24 Aug 2011

Sharon

Pura Vida on a Budget

My travel motto is \"Just Get There\" - the 3 best things about La Dolce Vita
Great bed, good pillows, FABULOUS beach. Don't know how you can beat it for the price. It is a little hard to find. If you are using GPS just type in Play Esterillos Oeste - the hotel isn't listed. Interesting note - Manuel Antonio National Park (great day trip from the hotel) is closed on Monday. The pizza next door is great - they are closed Monday and Tuesday. Bring food for snacking - grocery store close by that you can purchase things.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

11 Jul 2011

Verified traveler

Dolce Vita Stay

Esterillos Oeste is a very small town south of Jaco. There's good surf and a fun bar called the Lowtide Lounge but not much else.
We stayed there b/c some friends have a place there.
La Dolce Vita was an inexpensive stay that met our needs completely. We had everything we needed including breakfast each morning brought by the people who run the hotel. They were very kind and provided good information.
The area has a gate and night watchman and therefore felt very safe.
The beach is very close (just outside the gate) and there is a small pool, outdoor shower to rinse off in.
The room consisted of a living area, small kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. The bed was small (full size, but met our needs). It was nice to have a fridge to keep water cold and a few snacks. All basic utensils and kitchen supplies were provided, as well as bath towels.
Overall it was a good experience.