Overall Ratings & Reviews Barceló Tambor

Didn’t like that we had to ask for everything in the dining area. Had to ask for water, coffee, utensils, and napkins. Simple English unknown. Had to ask for a fork 3 times before needing to point to one. Pool bar staff seemed uninterested in helping us and ignored us.

The property is on the older side but was very clean and mostly well kept for what it is. The buffet was not very good. Minimal options and if you asked for anything you wouldn’t see the staff again. Example, pancakes with no options for syrup. Overall it felt safe and most staff was fairly friendly. There was zero effort on the part of most staff to attempt to speak English. It was all in Spanish. I’m always up for learning and practicing a new language, but the shows, kids club and any outdoor activities there was no English at all.

Rooms dated, staff not friendly and food below average

The room was not ready on time, the staff was not helpfull at all.

The location of the hotel is absolutely amazing, along the Tambor bay. However, the rooms were very old and the buffet quality average.

Beware that this is 4.5 hours away from the San Jose Airport! They do NOT inform anyone of this and you need to get to the Ferry to cross over to Tambor which is not 24/7 You need to plan very carefully so you don't lose a day like I did and so many others did that I met at the Hotel. They are also very aware of this and have done nothing about it!! The buffet food is ok. Not the best, but not the worst. You will find something. The Italian ala carte restaurant is excellent! Alsoif you don't speak Spanish, you will be disappointed during the nightly show as they only speak spanish :( The actual entertainment is great though. The funny parts inbetween though, all in spanish so you will be at a loss at what everyone is laughing about

Lovely location and good facilities but poorly run. - You queue to check in, you queue to eat, you queue to get a drink, you queue to report problems to reception. Why you need to get up before 7a.m. to queue to reserve an a la carte restaurant makes no sense. - There was no running water for 12 hours during our stay. No explanation and no sight of the hotel management. - Tambor beach is lovely, but remote. There is little phone coverage and the hotel wi-fi is pathetic. - Not sure why the children’s entertainment at 8pm is turned up with such amplification so you get the full audio experience of the Okey Kokey whilst eating in the restaurant. On the positive side the beach is gorgeous and the hotel itself and rooms are good. Especially impressive are the food & beverage staff who must fight what verges on a losing battle all day supplying food & drink for all the guests.

We enjoyed Tambor Varcello so myst we stayed 3 mmextea bughts!

Disappointing Stay Our stay at Barcelo Tambor was a major letdown. The resort is old and in disrepair—our mattress was literally coming apart at the seams, the bed was uncomfortable, and the pillows were lumpy. Housekeeping was nonexistent for three days, and despite asking four times, we never got clean towels. Requests took days to be answered. The food was disappointing—overcooked, fatty meat, and very limited options. The only decent reservation restaurant was the seafood/steakhouse. Otherwise, I stuck to fruit, salad, and rice and beans. Room service isn’t included, and even basic activities like playing pool cost extra. The resort was overcrowded with kids, even in bar areas, and personal space was not respected. Almost all guests were locals, and no employees spoke English except at check-in. If you don’t speak Spanish, this is not the place for you. Getting there was a hassle—we flew into San José, had to rent a car, take a ferry, and drive even more. Shuttles are an option but are longer & expensive. There’s not much nearby, though we did enjoy visiting Montezuma’s waterfall and swimming in the bioluminescence. Entertainment was subpar, resort was loud/party-club music til 1-3 am each day, drinks were only decent if you paid for premium, and overall, the experience was frustrating. I’ve stayed at many all-inclusive resorts, and this was by far the worst. I loved Costa Rica when we visited Liberia, but after this, I have no desire to return. Would not recommend.

So many people, it felt like a cruise ship. Long lines at the buffet. Mediocre food. Could not reserve a table for an evening meal at any of the restaurants because they were booked solid. Overall, it did not feel luxurious. I’m glad we only booked a room for one night.

I suggest better food, other than that ok

This was our second time at Barcelo Tambor. The staff was just as friendly and helpful as the previous time. This time we elected to ride the horses on the beach which was my wife’s life long dream, this was also excellent and thoroughly enjoyed.

-The personnel at reception were rude and the aea dedicated to persons with disabilities was not respected. -There were no hand towels nor facial tissues in the room when we arrived. -Shower towels were not changed every day, we had to ask for that -We noticed missing weet floor signals in many areas of the hotel during rainy days. -The main restaurant was overcrowded almost every day and there were not enough personnel to serve drinks.

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Convenient

The property landscaping is beautiful. Long lines at bars and guests confused where lines begin/end…perhaps some signage could clear the confusion

The reception area was nice. The restaurant staff were (mostly) very good. The reception staff were very good. The bar staff were not good. They all looked thoroughly grumpy all the time, as though they didn't want to serve anyone ever. Only at the lobby bar in the evenings were the staff pleasant. At all bars the drinks were weak, poor quality and the cocktails bad tasting. Their idea of rose wine was to mix red and white. The hotel was fine, the rooms are dated but clean and the air con worked well. I don't like all the disclaimers you have to sign about not being sick in the pool or rooms and the associated fines - how much are they allowing people to binge drink that this happens often enough that all guests have to sign waivers? You see the bar staff just pouring endless quantities of liquors into people's own flasks and then wonder why people are smashed drunk and sick??? Yet it takes forever to get served just one glass of something if you are behaving normally. There are nice features at the hotel - mini golf, a climbing wall for kids, trampoline and a nature park with lots of parrots to see. The playground would be nice but it's very broken and needs repairing in lots of places. You can't swim in the sea because of crocodiles and stingrays. It's also quite pebbly and not soft sand. The food was pleasant but limited choice and rather bland. The hotel is very far from being a 5 star. Our family rates it 3* at best. I wouldn't come back.

Nice hotel, needs updating. Beach was somewhat dirty and plastic waste could be seen in the sand. Not the hotel's direct responsibility but cleaning campaigns in the area might help.

Getting onto the resort our car check in was thorough, which gave us a sense of security during our stay. We booked a room with one king bed, but were given a room with two queens pushed together. There was a nice hammock attacked to our room which was private and had a beautiful view of the water, but the room itself was slightly dirty. The pool was beautiful!! Our only complaint was that they closed the pool at 7pm so swimming was often cut too early. The food was... ok. There were plenty of options but the quality was not what you would think for an all inclusive.

the hotel is very dated and could do with an upgrade, food was mediocre and there isn't anything close to the hotel anything touristy is a bit of a drive away.