El Establo is an extraordinary hotel in Monteverde, which includes most of the amenities one could ask for while on a Costa Rica vacation, including maid service, a restaurant, a tour desk, 2 swimming pools, and even its own canopy tour. The elegant wood paneled rooms were extremely clean and appeared to be next to new, while the staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful in every manner. Included in the room rates is an all-you-can-eat breakfast comprised of simple but tasty breakfast items such as eggs, omelets, fruits, and toast.

While the basic aspects one would expect in a luxury Costa Rica hotel were well covered, there were some major drawbacks. Though the massive size of the hotel property was quite impressive, getting to the restaurant, pools, or even just the rooms requires a strenuous hike. The hotel does offer on-site transportation, but it can be bothersome to have to call the front desk and wait for the driver just to get around the hotel grounds. This hotel definitely should not be recommended for the elderly or others who have trouble getting around.

Another drawback was that the hotel was located a little too far outside of town for a comfortable walk. Getting to town from the hotel requires about 20 minutes of hiking up and down steep hills, and a taxi into town costs around $2, which can quickly add up if you go back and forth a few times a day. The cloud forest reserve is out of walking range for most, but a taxi there is quite affordable. Another minor drawback to the hotel was that the rooms were poorly lit, but this doesn’t take away from the overall quality of the room’s appearance.

I really enjoyed my stay, overall it was a great weekend!

Reviewed by: Matt

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Filed under: Hotel Reviews on August 1st, 2007