Capitan Suizo

Review: June 2006

Hotel Structure When was the hotel built? 1991-1995 finished

How many rooms do you have? 30 total + a 4 bedroom apartment.

Types of Rooms and how many of each? 22 standard rooms (11 with fan, 11 with A/C), 7 bungalows, 1 honeymoon suite. + the 4 bedroom apartment.

Layout of Beds? 1 King size or 1 Queen size + sofa bed or a room with 2 single beds

Hair dryers/bathtubs/A/C and other amenities in rooms? Dryers: all Bathtub/Shower: Only in Bungalows .. jacuzii for two and there is a Bali style shower in each. A/C : 11/22 rooms and in some bumbalows

General location 700 meters from Tamarindo T’own Center, beachfront on Tamarindo Beach, the most Southern part of the beach.

Hotel Services and Facilities What services do you offer to guests? Internet for a small hourly fee which may change soon to be free, phone, safety box in rooms, restaurant, bar, gift shop, tours, bike rental, snorkeling equipment for renta, boogie and surf board rental, kayaks for rent, horseback riding center across the street, and info center. Guests can also get a manicure and their hair done for a fee. The lady will come to their room. They can also provide babysitting services for a small hourly fee.

What facilities are available to guests? Restaurant, bar, boutique, pool, beach equipment and horseback riding for an additional fee. Beach volley ball and Ping-Pong table on the beach. There are also table games.

Restaurant Where is your restaurant chef from (training, etc.)? There are two both are from Germany, the main one has worked 13 years with the hotel.

What meals do you serve (do they have breakfast. lunch and dinner menus) and general prices? Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. International cuisine Restaurant schedule and dress code (if applicable)? Open from 7am to 9:30pm and dress is casual.

Is breakfast included in the room price? Yes, and is buffet style.

Other important info What is your policy on kids? New rule is 3 people max per room (doesn’t matter if they are small kids) because they are trying to be more ‘tranquilo’ and have more comfortable rooms.

Who are the contact people (Reservations, Manager, Marketing)? Vinicio Hidalgo, General manager: Diego Arraya, Reservations

What aspect sets you apart from other hotels? The hotel is right on Tamarindo beach on the more tranquilo side. It is perfect for families and couples.

General Comments on Hotel: Very nice hotel. This is a great place for a honeymoon. The hotel is on the corner of Tamarindo beach. The hotel has a very tropical feeling, as it holds an internal garden of trees and flowers. Relaxed ambiance, good restaurant, great views from hotel, and a good value.

My family and I stayed at the Hotel Capitan Suizo this past weekend in Tamarindo and had a blast.  This a truly a hotel for families, couples and honeymooners.  It has a very tranquilo atmosphere and dress code is relaxed.  What impressed me the most was that the workers are very happy and enjoy their job and it shows in the service and their guest treatment.

We stayed in a standard room with NO AC and for us it was very comfortable.  We had a king bed and the girls slept on the sofa cama.  The only thing I don't agree with is their policy for only 3 people per room in regards to couples with small children.  I could see that policy for couples with older children but children under 10 I don't agree with.  The rooms are very spacious and the sofa cama fits two small children very well.  However, as my oldest detected the horse smell from across the street (as we didn't have AC) I would recommend reserving the rooms with NO AC on the other side as they are not across from the horse stables on the other side of the street.

The hotel is located on the most Southern end of Tamarindo beach, which is the best side and away from the scum that hangs out in Tamarind center or at the circle.  They have all sorts of beach equipment for rent.  They have a ping-pong table on the beach and beach volley ball.  The beach and pool chairs are made of wood and they have very comfortable beach style mattress to put on top of them. The hotel provides towels for everything ... bathroom, pool and sand sheets to use on the beach.

The hotel grounds are beautiful!  Lush garden with incredible flowers which invites the wildlife in.  We saw many large iguanas, a squirrel, monkeys and many beautiful birds on the property!  The restaurant is open air and is done really nice.  Buffet breakfast is a treat and the restaurant service in the morning is fantastic.  Different types of cereals, yogurt, cheese, many types of homemade breads and pastries, scrambled egges, gallo pinto, plantains and natilla!  Fresh juice milk, coffee, tea and lots of fresh fruit.  It was heaven!  On the bar there is a basket of bananas to feed the iguanas.  The only time the service was not great was when we ordered lunch the bar was pretty full so we ended up waiting for our hamburger for at least 20 minutes or more.

The hotel also provides a mirimba band on Wednesdays and Saturdays and during the dry season they have a beach BBQ.  We got to hear the mirimba band Saturday night ... oh, that is anther thing... if you have no AC you do hear your neighbors if they are on the terraza next door to you.

The bunglows are incredible and that is where I would put couples for sure1  They have king four poster beds, a sitting area with a sofa cama for a third person if needed, the bathrooms are very large with a jacuzzi tub for two and an outside Bali style shower.  The bungalows are located closest to the beach and pool area and are worth the extra money.  If we could hear the waves from our room I am sure the people in the bungalows feel as if they are on the ocean!  I could go on and on ... so I will stop here.  Lets just put it this way.. the place is great and makes staying in Tamarindo worth it.