Sandos Papagayo Hotel

Rob Randell

Just returned from a week’s stay over the October half-term with a party of 10 people including 4 children ranging from 13 years old to 3 years old. We booked a part of a package holiday. Upon check-in during the early hours of the morning initial impressions were one of some grandeur in the reception area. Blurry eyed, we managed to find our rooms through what initially felt like a labyrinth of apartment blocks and outdoor areas. However, as the week progressed, finding our way around got easier. I felt the room was adequate and of a standard quality, if a little tight on space for a family of four with two young children. Going all-inclusive, the buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner offered plenty of choice and generally the food offered is good but I would not say it was outstanding. We were a little disappointed that we could not book the Mexican restaurant until our last night at the resort when we enquired early during our stay. It was a busy half-term week though so perhaps this was to be expected. However, the food in the Mexican bar was certainly a cut above the buffet and worth the wait. The outdoor pool bar and snack bar also has a good variety of drinks and food providing refreshment throughout most of the day. The pool areas were all good, although you will have to be quick to grab a sun-bed early morning plus it is a bit of trek from the kids pool areas to the spa to get towels. I would suggest that parts are a little tired, cracked tiles around the pools and along the edges of the pools. The kids playground is at the opposite end of the complex to the kids pool areas and certainly not worth the walk as it is just a climbing frame so certainly this is an area in need of some attention. Plus, if you want to get away of the bustle of the main pool areas, there is access to ‘adults only’ pool area and a quieter beach area. Around halfway through the week one of the lifts closest to our room had clearly broken down in our block meaning it was a little congested for the breakfast ‘rush’ and caused a problem when checking out with our luggage, we either just used the stairs or tried another set of lifts further on. Although WiFi is provided freely, I found it very patchy outdoors and in some areas of the interior of the complex, clearly there a few ‘dead’ zones. It was easier to switch to mobile data when outdoors as the wider area of Playa Blanca is well covered by a 5G signal. I found the staff friendly and informative through the few interactions I had with them and I have to mention the ‘animation team’ who were enthusiastic in staging the various activities for both kids and adults including a Halloween disco and Pool Foam party. The evening entertainment was also decent, obviously some bands/singers doing the resort circuit throughout the season. Sometimes, it felt a little repetitive but it was clear that knew the audience they were catering to. In all, a very enjoyable stay and the kids throughly enjoyed the pools and entertainment each day. I certainly would consider staying again. Thanks to the team at Sandos for a memorable week.

Matt Pearson

We had a 4 night stay here in November to catch some winter sun. We were a little nervous after reading some of the reviews but we were pleasantly surprised! I'm not sure why some people are so negative! Yes some of the male bar staff were a bit grumpy (verging in rude) but most of the staff were lovely! Especially Kareena in the Canary Bar, she made us laugh and smile every night! Everything else was perfect! Food was great, drinks were high quality (better than 5star hotels I've stayed at), the rooms were spacious, modern and clean too. The only slight imperfection was the music playing in the pool areas. Even though it was only playing in 2 pools, the sound travels to the other pools. It got pretty annoying some days. Wonder if management should do a customer survey to see if they get rid of the pool music altogether? Thank you for a lovely holiday, we are thinking about coming back next year 😊

Steve Armatage

In July 2024 my wife and I stayed at Sandos Papagayo on the Royal Elite basis, and had a front sea view room in block C. We were very happy with the room facilities and position, and the overall service, food and drinks at the hotel and gave a 5 star rating. We returned to the hotel in October 2025, with our daughter and son in law, to have a relaxing holiday before their baby is born at the beginning of 2026, and again booked the Royal Elite service. We were however disappointed to find one of the rooms was on floor 11 of G block, a side facing view of the sea, overlooking the noisy pools and not as advertised in the hotels own information "guaranteeing" a front sea view room. We raised this with reception, who stated that G block was part of the Royal Elite service, but after rejecting this, we were told that we could change rooms the following day to B block, a front facing room in a quieter part of the hotel. We had to live out of our suitcase on the first night and moved the following day. We also raised this with our Jet 2 rep, who spoke to management and she was told that floor 11 of G block was being used for Royal Elite, as that level had clear views of the sea, even though it was side facing, not front facing, as advertised in the hotels information sheet and as shown on the Sandos web page. I feel that the hotel and management have added part of G block to increase the Royal Elite capacity and extra income it brings, even though it does not have a guaranteed front facing view, and they are being disingenuous to their customers and letting themselves down as a 4 star hotel. The service in my opinion is poor and we shall not stay at this or any other Sandos resort in the future, as their guaranteed service is not met, it is misleading and disingenuous. We are totally disappointed, comparing the service we received on this visit, to that we received last year. The guaranteed service advertised is not met and this in my opinion should be reviewed or advertised honestly. Beware if you are paying extra for a Royal Elite room, as you may not get a front facing sea view as "guaranteed" We also experienced a leak from the air conditioning system and a maintenance engineer came very quickly to sort it, however we had the same issue a few days later, at 1.15am and when we called reception, they said they would send a security guard with a towel to catch the leaking water ! No one attended the following morning to fix the leak, so we again reported it to reception on check out. The hotel has great restaurants and bars, but is let down by management decisions and poor maintenance, with patio and wardrobe doors that stick and loose shower fittings etc.

jane Price

Although there isn't alot around you 5 euros will get you to playa blanch in a taxi. This is the 2nd time we have been this year. The hotel has everything you need. We never left the hotel grounds this time to hot to walk about in it.would definitely recommend it for couples not a lot for children today. But the hotel it's self do have entertainment on at night. I will definitely be going back again. The food is fantastic so are the pools. Staff very friendly nothing is to much bother for them.

Matt Plain

Very nice hotel, bit confusing to navigate at first. Not sure why all the serving staff are so unhappy and rude. Barely a smile, a hello or a thank you between them! Also hotel feels really understaffed. Rooms are big and spacious, well cleaned. Unfortunately the room I stayed in had a few niggles, gap in the floor between laminate in the toilet, no covers on the door handles. Just little niggles where it's not been finished properly! Massive pool areas, all poolside drink's are served in paper cups, so bring your own reusable if you don't like paper cups. Entertainment is mixed, 2 areas, one is usually a show the other is live music. Some of the musicians are good, others you can see why the do the hotel circuits! Seaview is a must, beautiful views from the room!