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Reviews of Pensión Santa Elena

2.5 out of 5
Pensión Santa Elena
Santa Elena, Monteverde, Monteverde

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 164 out of 341 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 129 out of 341 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 32 out of 341 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 9 out of 341 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 7 out of 341 reviews" "

8.4/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.2/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Cecilia, austin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Pension was good the breakfast was perfect, the kitchen worked well too and room was great. They had free yoga and they helped us book tours and things to do.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Eszter, Gloucester

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Basic but well kept property in a very convenient location. Staff were friendly and helpful.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Fraser

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Friendly, convenient and good value place in the centre of Santa Elena
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

6/10 Okay

Maria

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Excellent location, well equipped and clean common area, free breakfast. Paper thin walls, squeaky bed.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

6/10 Okay

Erika

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The concept is interesting. Makes for a lovely youth hostel. Was surprised it was so much in the city. Breakfast was very good.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katherine

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lee

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

4/10 Poor

Bryson

Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Definitely a hostel in terms of quality of facilities. Very small rooms. Loud since it is located on a busy road.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

LAURA

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
We really enjoyed our stay at the pension. We had the chance to meet with beautiful people and share parts of our trip with them. The place is very well located, but the area is quite busy and get somehow quite noisy with traffic noise in the background.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Louise

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great stay in Santa Elena
Great hostel close to restaurants. Easily walkable. Great breakfast. The staff is amazing.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

6/10 Okay

Hilla

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Check if it is what you are looking for
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Alice

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I am a senior traveler and was trying to bring the self-indulgence of a solo trip in on a budget. Staying at Pension Santa Elena helped. I had a Garden Standard Room with private bath. Location in the town in very good for a traveler without a car. As noted by others staff are pleasant, informative and helpful with making travel arrangements. Room was basic but comfortable, shower was good. Found the pension quiet at night, though an early start to motorcycle traffic in the am might be a problem for some. Satisfied with the breakfast. If you are out and about before it is offered at 7 am, Panaderia Jimenez just up the street opens at 0500 and has good coffee.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Staff were very helpful and friendly. Good central location
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Aaron

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect for our 3 Monteverde nights
Excellent family experience. Easy walking to city. Comfortable amenities. Loft bed for one kiddo - very exciting. Wonderful daily breakfast. Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

MacKenzie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The staff were very nice and helpful. I enjoyed the courtyard.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Isabella

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Marie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place was great for our family. Helpful knowledgeable staff, great breakfast and perfect location in the center of Santa Elena.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Meredith, Sandy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is our 4th time staying at the Pension Santa Maria. Staff and guests are super friendly. Location is very centralized. Beds are comfortable (but bring your own pillows).
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023

8/10 Good

Mukhtar, Brooklyn

Great location! Near a lot off restaurants!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Abby

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
friendly staff, easy access to town, slept awful
The hotel has a lot of personality and staff was super friendly and helpful. The included breakfast was great. Hotel is easily walkable to a bunch of good restaurants and super market in the area. Beds were not comfortable and there is no sound proofing in the rooms-- we could hear everything on the main road all night long. We slept really poorly but otherwise were happy with the hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Hinna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The place I stayed at during my stay in Costa Rica. The staff are beyond helpful and they make everything easy. They helped me book tickets and transport and it was more reasonable than anything I found online. It's not a fancy place, it's pretty basic but great for what it is. The rooms don't have TVs and the beds are too soft for me personally but I didn't mind any of that. There's a common kitchen for everyone's use and free tea/coffee available all day. There's a little courtyard on the property that was really nice to have. The included breakfast has three options and they're all pretty good. There's plenty of restaurants in walking distance and a short drive to Santa Elena cloud forest or Selvatura adventure park. Most tours to the park should include transportation from hotels/hostels nearby. Definitely recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful hostel, lots of people, glad we had a private room. Staff really helpful, especially MJ. Loved the free breakfast with donations for the community. Santa Elena & Monteverde have many activities to offer, in town & surrounding area.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

2/10 Terrible

David

Travelled with partner, Travelled with group
Disliked: Staff & service
We arrive at 10PM due to terrible traffic only to find no one to receive us. We had called earlier that evening to warn them we would be late and was told there would a security person to provide us a room. Nope. Took us an hour to find another hotel. Warning! The whole town of Monteverde shuts down early!!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023
Response from Pension Santa Elena on Feb 5, 2023
Hi David, we're sorry to hear about your experience. Our night guard waited on our front porch until 12:30AM with the keys to both of the rooms and never found you. Did you come to the right place? We are located in the center of town.

10/10 Excellent

Marisa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loves this whole place! It was in a perfect location, the room was nice and the staff was awesome. Felt super homey
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Grace

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Had a lovely experience staying here! Has a great location -walking distance to restaurants and shops. Staff were welcoming and helpful with booking us a shuttle and recommending places! Very cozy and comfortable sleep, clean and cute place, tasty free breakfast included. Pretty garden lounge area outside too!

8/10 Good

ian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Basic but perfect
Very basic. but super friendly and convenient, the staff are great, the breakfast is really good local food.. you have to try the local ice cream at the front of the hostel it was amazing. great base for town and trips. also the hotel helped us with our arrangements when our plan were changed due to flight issues.. thank you Pesion Santa Elena.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

THOMAS

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was very helpful they arranged my ground transportation when I left
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Axel

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Vanessa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Great location. Friendly staff. But not very easy to book activities or to know what is available or discounts in the area due to the booking. The rooms are okay, but underwhelming. Very basic accommodations.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

tara

Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Martin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
There just seemed to be a really good vibe to the place. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. I extended my stay an additional day. Rooms were comfortable.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

8/10 Good

Meredith, Sandy

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The amenities are very basic but the staff and breakfast are fantastic!!!!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great value for the price
Very cool Hostel/Hotel! Staff is really friendly & helpful, property is clean and the breakfast is very good, traditional.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Shadi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
What a pension
A real nice and cozy pension in the heart of Santa Elena where everything is within walking distance. Breakfast was good and the guys on reception always helpful and can book you whatever tours or transport you need which make life easier. Highly recommended hotel
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Julia

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jenna

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2021

8/10 Good

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff and service are amazing, and the breakfast and coffee in the morning is really good. I liked my room a lot, but definitely bring bug spray for the mosquitoes. All in all such a nice place and very central to Monteverde. I can't wait to stay again someday!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
First time at a hostel and I liked it. Not fancy, but very homie, close to restaurants and bars (literally all around), very nice people, quiet.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Staff are really nice , friendly and very helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Small place with a big heart
Bare bones pension with a big spirit. Everyone so friendly and helpful. Big free breakfast "just as a gift". Very cool stone shower. Cozy clean rooms
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2021

2/10 Terrible

Ebrahim

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

nicholas

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great staff and clean comfortable room
The room was great clean and comfortable. The staff on the desk were awesome so so helpful , so friendly and were happy to help with anything from booking trips , advice on places to eat , calling people for us. So good .
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Julie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Parfait
Cuisine propre et fonctionnelle, chambre propre et assez grande, thé et café gratuit en tout temps! Personnel serviable et enjoué. Déjeuner parfait!Bien situé, tout se fait pieds
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

LoriL, Chicago, IL, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I LOVED everything about this property. My room was decorated with bright colors and a fun flower chandelier light. The bed was extremely comfortable. My room had a private bathroom with a stone shower. Breakfast was included and cooked to order every morning. There was complimentary coffee and tea available at all times. A wonderful fully equipped kitchen was at your disposal to cook your lunches and dinners. Michael, one of the front desk staff, was extremely thoughtful and carried my suitcase up to my room. The reception staff was always there to answer questions, help with problems and/or assist with tour or transfer reservations. A calm and serene place to chill and enjoy the beautiful sounds of nature. I’ll definitely be back!! *If you work remotely, the WiFi here is not strong enough and has an intermittent signal.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Staff very friendly. Good breakfast. Great location. Only negative is the bed. Needs to be replaced.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020
Response from Diego on Feb 22, 2020
Thank you for your feedback,we are going to check our beds and we will work on that. Pura Vida

8/10 Good

Lee, Canada

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Conveniently located in the centre of Santa Elena (the town). 2-minute walk to the shops (supermarkets, pharmacia, cafes and sodas, tour offices, souvenirs, restaurants). 6min walk to the parada / bus station. 5km to Monteverde forest preserve. ($12 taxi or 700 C on the public bus). The courtyard garden in the back is lovely: quiet, sunny, with plenty of outdoor seating. Staff are friendly and proactively helpful. There were a half-dozen of us arriving at the same time, so Diego gave us an orientation session, including tours and activities to consider. The kitchen is well-used -- remember to label your food, if you want to see it again! Breakfast is fantastic. Choose from tacos, toast & eggs, or yoghurt with fruit & granola. I enjoyed the breakfast tacos (scrambled eggs, beans, potatoes, grated cheese) every morning. Night-time is quiet... until the rooster and early morning traffic (trucks, motorcycles) start.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Response from Diego on Feb 4, 2020
Thank you for taking your time for reviews us! We are happy that you had a great time! Pura Vida!

8/10 Good

Kris, U.S

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The front desk staff were very helpful in giving information and recommendations about different activities in the area. Also, tour buses stop right at the hotel to pick you up. The room was basic, but overall comfortable. The entire complex was comfortable. The front sitting area feels like a cozy coffee shop. There was hot water in the shower. It is in the center of town, so walkable to many things. It was nonetheless relatively quiet- the one instance of loud people was not very long, but it was clear the walls are paper thin in that regard. A couple improvements would be to include a shelving unit in the main bedroom of 16. Also, the curtains are transparent- I could see my family through them at night when the lights inside the room were on. Lastly, the only lock was the twist lock on the handle. Would love to have a chain lock or something that only operates from the inside. Overall, we would stay here again if we were to ever come back to Santa Elena.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020