We spent some nights at the Nayara Arenal Resort in mid January 2012.
The property is really beautiful, lush gardens with lots of little birds flying around. The bungalow itself was tastefully decorated and provided all luxury you might expect from it. But....upon booking and before arrival we wrote to the resort asking if there are mosquito nets in the rooms and the windows -they wrote that there were no mosquito nets covering the beds, but that there are mosquito nets at the windows and doors -surprisingly there was only a net protecting the toilet window and the shower door at the front side of the bungalow and no nets at all on the rear side windows and doors. So be aware of this.
The breakfast buffet was absolutely excellent. They serve a large variety of delicious items, warm and cold dishes, freshly prepared omelets, different cakes, fruit, cheese, fresh vegetables, even readily-prepared sandwiches for take away. Unfortunately, most of the restaurant staff was quite arrogant and unfriendly. Reception staff, however, was very friendly and extremely helpful all the time.
At mid of January the construction site was still there. You could not really sit by the pool and relax during their work time (till approximately 4.30 pm on most days), workers walked through the place carrying things without any regard to guests. Besides this, there was several maintenance work in progress: we one day left our bungalow finding some workers directly at our front door pathway telling us that they are printing some parts of the bungalow's wall today. Next day, they were painting the hot pools with a strongly smelling color that could be smelled all over the pool area's place.
One very sad point -last, but by far not least: all the parrots around the pool area can not fly because the resort decided to cut their back wings which can be clearly seen. We were told that the parrots used to fly around in former times but then started to fly into the restaurant which bothered guests. For us as bird lovers unbearably sad to see these beautiful birds just sitting there waiting to be taken for a photo or to be put (in)to the next tree. We talked to the staff concerning this and we recently also contacted one of the resort's owners -he obviously did not know about it and told us that the practice of cutting the birds feathers will be immediately stopped -sounds like a turning point. Let's hope. Future guests will see.
We can recommend staying here, if it becomes true that the parrots will fly again. If not, as too sad to see, we would not return.
- Arenal Nayara Hotel Gardens
