Sandos Papagayo Beach Resort

We booked this hotel based on glowing reviews and its high 4-star rating, but we were highly disappointed. While it isn’t a bad hotel, it lacks the polish, organization, and service of other 4-star resorts we have stayed in.

It is incredibly overcrowded and poorly managed.

Arrival & Check-In The 3 PM Lockout: Reception strictly refused to give us our keys until 3:00 PM, meaning we wasted our first day lingering around in hot travel clothes. Meanwhile, we watched other guests from our same flight get their rooms early. Chaotic Luggage Room: The temporary luggage room is tiny, packed with hundreds of bags, and completely unsupervised. We had to carry all our valuables with us for hours.

Daytime & Evening Entertainment Biased Entertainment Team: Unlike other hotels where staff interact with everyone, the daytime entertainment team completely ignored us and the vast majority of guests. The team—which is entirely made up of young men and lacks any gender balance—only seemed interested in approaching and acknowledging the young ladies. Poor Nightly Venues: The evening entertainment area is entirely too small and crammed next to the adult pool. If you stay for dinner, it is nearly impossible to find a space to actually see the stage. Endless Karaoke: Most of the nightly schedule is just low-quality karaoke. It is incredibly loud and can be heard everywhere, even ruining the atmosphere on the main bar terrace.

Pool, Sunbeds, & Overcrowding Sunbed Wars: Despite a rule stating no sunbeds before 9:00 AM, most are completely claimed by 8:00 AM. Parasols are heavily limited. Beds are crammed row-after-row right on top of each other, despite plenty of empty space elsewhere in the resort. Unswimmable Pools: Two of the pools are so packed with splashing kids that it is physically impossible to actually swim. Unfair Rule Enforcement: Our older teens were kicked out of the jacuzzi for just sitting quietly and talking, yet rowdy adults throwing balls and splashing in the adult pool were completely ignored.

Food & Understaffed Bars Average Buffet: The food is okay but nothing special—very similar to a standard Wetherspoons pub. Tip: Book the Oriental and Mexican à la carte restaurants on your very first day; the Oriental was excellent. Bar Chaos: Bars are severely understaffed. Expect massive queues at night for just two bartenders. The 11 PM Price Trap: Premium drink fees triple after 11:00 PM. The only other option is the self-service pool bar, which results in watery soda machines and rowdy, underage drinking.

Rooms, Noise, & Amenities Shoddy Maintenance: Rooms are reasonably clean but drawers were falling apart, the air conditioning barely cools, and it was filthy under the bed and fridge. 8 AM Wake-Up Call: If your room is near the beach, you will be violently awoken at 8:00 AM every single day by staff dragging heavy kayaks/canoes across the promenade. Broken Teen Areas: The pool tables are missing balls (ours only had two), and the teen lounge is just a stuffy, unappealing room with a TV and consoles that are never turned on. Security Issues: Unsupervised teens obtaining self-serve alcohol became a major nuisance, even shouting abuse at us while we sat on our private patio at night.

Final Thoughts This hotel seems to attract a crowd that is used to a lower-tier star rating, which explains the high reviews. If you are used to a polished, relaxing 4-star experience where facilities match the capacity of the guest list, look elsewhere.

Just had 10 nights here with 2 children. Hotel was fantastic. Food was great, loads of choice - fresh meat and fish cooked all evening, fresh eggs and omelettes in the morning and plenty for fussy kids - bolognese and pizza every lunch and dinner time. Busy restaurant but never trouble getting a table. Staff always attentive. Pools were great, lovely temperature and big enough to not feel too crowded. On a Tuesday and a Thursday they got the inflatables out for the kids and had a foam Party which the kids and the parents reminiscing their Ibiza days loved. Such a sociable feeling about it, and that is largely down to the animation team. From around 10:30 there are activities for adults and kids but they are not pushy about getting people involved. Every night there was a certificate ceremony for participants and there were as many adults as kids! The mini disco was great for the kids, with a choice of 2 entertainments for the evening - a more kid friendly one inside (acrobatics or magic) or a music act / show outside each night and both were always booming with guests and made for a great atmosphere. The outlook from the hotel over the sea is spectacular, especially around sunset. Beds do start filling up about 7:30-8 am, but likely the same everywhere. Adults only pool as well if you’re not with kids. Two shops, spa and pool tables, ping pong, mini golf and beach access from hotel with kayaking, snorkelling etc. Snack bar available all day with good choice and drinks on tap from various locations all around the pools. Room was kept spotless every day and the reception staff were lovely and helpful. Can’t fault the hotel at all. The area is quite quiet but there is a lot to keep you entertained in the hotel and Playa Blanca a short taxi ride away. Would definitely recommend.