My family and I just returned from a 4 night stay at the Las Brisas hotel. It was very nice and right on the beach. the hotel has 2 pools and they have little huts with lawn chairs on the beach if you want to be in the shade. Our room had a great ocean view. there are a lot of stairs to get to the upper rooms with the view so if you don't want to or can't climb the stairs you should stay in the ground level bungalows.we had A/c which I would recommend as it was about 90 everyday and doesn't cool off a lot at night. The staff of costa Ricans were very friendly. The owners are German and not as friendly unless you are German or speak German. we didn't have any problems so we really didn't have to deal with them.The hotel price included breakfast. the town of Samara and the beach is very nice and very layed back. we found lots of good places to eat with a lot of variety which was important to us as we had teenagers with us.The town was about a 10 minute walk on the beach and many of the restraunts were right on the beach.I would stay at this hotel again.

There is nothing special about this hotel other than its location right on the beach.
Our room was located right above reception, which actually turned out not to be as bad as we thought it would. Room was sparsely furnished but with nice bathroom. The lower level rooms and cabins seemed to be more populated with the upper level "sky rooms" and pool more like a ghost town. The place was crawling with kids so if you don't like that then you won't like this. Breakfasts were not that good. At all of the other hotels in Costa Rica we were served freshly squeezed OJ. Not here. Service was a little sparse as well.
A little disconcerting peculiarity--there are signs posted all over the property indicating that the hotel will not be responsible for thefts...??

We first stayed at this hotel two years ago, the service was not good and the personnel unfriendly. Returned on Jan. 24th, 2006 for my wife's birthday dinner, as we recalled that the food, at least, was pretty good. Again, terrible service, extremely rude personnel, they closed the kitchen and cashier without warning and then demanded payment in cash. Very bad experience, with administrative and security personnel treating a family in a downright hostile manner.

My partner and I just completed a long weekend at Las Brisas. I had scooped out the property prior to making our reservation and selected it due to the location ON the beach, the two swimming pools and NO kids! The resort is right on the beach! The pools are a great change from the surf and it is peacefully quiet. There was only one family with kids, two German boys that were well mannered and a delight to watch play in the surf. (I think they were family of the owner. They always sat at his reserved table.) I must say that the place is full of Germans and Americans so if you are looking for a real Tico experience this is not it. The staff was adequate and the facilities the nicest on Samamra. The a/c was nice on those warm afternoons! Caution that all rooms do not have a/c and you will pay for this feature. Aviod the rooms up the hill, its a real work out to get up there. The ocean view is great from there, but unless you plan on staying in your room, book downstairs and hang out by the pool or on the beach. We experinced no theft problems as mentioned by others. We did pay $3/day for the safe. There was no noise from construction or anything either. I really liked the tranquility of the place! My partner and I felt very comfortable there...most gays are accepted in Costa Rica without judgement. Our ocassional touch or hand holding was not an issue, anywhere in Samamra for that matter. BTW, there is a great local artist two doors down. Look up the work of Jamie Koss if you stay anywhere in Samamra...worth a look.