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Reviews of SoulShine

3 out of 5
SoulShine
Playa Avellanas de Santa Cruz, Tamarindo, Guanacaste

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 34 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 38 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 38 reviews" "

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Tina

This property is not only beautiful, but definitely has a lot of soul. The location is amazing and the owners were so personable and inviting. The food was amazing as well. I will definitely stay there again and I highly recommend this beautiful boutique hotel experience.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024
Response from Yaela on 2024/3/3
Thank you so much Tina, we will see you very soon :))

10/10 Excellent

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
My secret path from SoulShine to Lola’s
Nice people, nice pool, lots of monkeys. I like to walk to Lola’s on the beach via this path: left out of Soul Shine gate, walk about 300 yards, right down Las Olas driveway, (stop for a piña colada at Las Olas bar for cutting through their property) follow the signs to the beach, walk over the elevated wooden walkway through the mangrove, left on the beach. Enjoy
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

6/10 Okay

Katsiaryna

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
SoulShine was a great option to stay with a toddler. Every cabin has its own little jungle garden which provides privacy and makes you feel part of the nature. Monkeys come visit you regularly there which our toddler loved. It’s really convenient to have a little kitchen with everything you might need in our case right next to our cabin. The room is on a smaller side but cathedral ceiling makes it feel larger. I thought bed linens and towels including pool/beach towels needed an update. They were very visibly dated. What we didn’t like is that the hotel is located on a long dirt road. Since we wanted to explore various areas of Guanacaste during our stay, we had to drive on it every day and it wasn’t a fun experience at all especially if it rained. Same with walking there. Other than that the area has a nice vibe and some good places to eat within walking distance.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bernadine

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023
Response from Yael on 2023/6/25
Thank you Bernie 3

10/10 Excellent

Fei

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Wonderful stay, wonderful hosts
I had a lovely stay and was very comfortable, and felt very safe. The breakfasts are as amazing as everyone says! The owners live on site, so they are around for any special needs. Yael was so kind when I realized that I had brought the wrong phone charging cord. She left me use hers to charge up my phone and even bought a new one for me when we went into town the next day. They also helped to arrange transportation to town and arranged a private surfing lesson for me. If you are looking for a lovely, secluded place, this is it!
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2023
Response from Yael on 2023/3/12
Thank you Fei, it was a pleasure to meet you, hope to see you again soon!

10/10 Excellent

Jemarie

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property was beautiful, breakfast was delicious, the owners were excellent, and the beach was amazing. We can't wait to come back.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2023
Response from Yael on 2023/3/1
Thank you for your great review.It was a pleasure having you with us, hope to see you again :), Shine On!

10/10 Excellent

Dale

Traveled with partner, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Owners and staff were hospitable, friendly and always so accommodating
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023
Response from Yael on 2023/2/13
Thank you so much, it was lovely to know you, enjoy your stay in CR!

8/10 Good

Alexis

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Property is laid out so everyone has a little hut with an outdoor shower and seating area- it is very quiet, including the general area itself. Playa Avellanas is a very quiet town because it is so small. Staff is very nice and knowledgeable of the area and getting around to the different towns along the coast. They even have property cats! The only thing is their beds aren't that comfortable, including their pillows- they seems way too small and no support.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023
Response from Yael on 2023/2/13
Thank you for you review, we will look into the bed and pillows in the room you stayed in .

10/10 Excellent

Lea

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We really loved our stay; very small and cozy. Lovely grounds and a great vibe!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023
Response from Yael on 2023/2/13
Thank you so much!!Hope to see you again in the future.

10/10 Excellent

carli

Traveled with family and small children, Traveled with partner, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Response from Yael on 2023/2/13
Thank you!

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I can't say enough positive things about soulshine. There is something very special about this place. The owers energy, the food, the magic of nature(monkeys, iguanas, hummingbirds, butterflies, ect.), the confort of the rooms, and so much more. Ive stayed there twice in the past year post Ayahuasca ceremonys and find the right balance of peace and connection. I highly recommend any Rythmia people looking for post ceramony integration to check it out. Weather you're a family with kids or a solitary traveler such as myself Soulshine provides something special. Magic!
Response from Yael on 2022/12/28
Thank you Benjamin, we love you and always enjoy your stays with us, can't wait to have you with us again. Much love from all of us.

10/10 Excellent

Laura

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing Boho Chic Vibes
Our stay at SoulShine was amazing! We were in town for two days and had an incredible time. The hotel is walking distance to pretty much everything and is in a sleepy little beach town :) we walked to the beach and restaurants right from our room and loved that there was a pool to cook down in as well! On top of the beautiful room, the gardens were gorgeous and we saw a ton of wildlife in the property and nearby! We hope to come back again and will definitely recommend it to friends visiting the area as well!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Response from Yael on 2022/12/28
Thank you guys for the beautiful review, we hope you enjoyed the rest of you travel in CR and hope to see you with us again.

10/10 Excellent

Michelle

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such a great vibe at SoulShine!! Located in a small town away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Tamarindo, which was about a 30 minute drive in our rental car. Avellas beach is an easy walk over a boardwalk through mangrove trees, and there are a few restaurants beachside. The lobby area, landscaping, pool, and bungalows were all very well manicured. Rooms had a comfortable bed and couch, A/C, blackout curtains, WiFi, a big shower. A wonderful little beach jungle oasis! The shared kitchen had a fridge with designated spaces, but was a little anemic in silverware and dish supplies. None the worry though, because the food at the attached restaurant was THE best I’ve had in a long time! Make sure you can eat there if you stay. I would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Response from Yael on 2022/12/28
Thank you!We took your comment seriously and restocked the shared kitchen with silver wear and new supplies, that was very constructive :)Hope to see you with us in the future!

10/10 Excellent

Charles

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our stay felt super authentic to Costa Rica, fantastic vibe and friendly owners, we arrived late in the evening and was no problem. Fabulous breakfast the best eggs and tortillas ever.
Response from Yael on 2022/11/30
Thank you so much Chas!!!! It was a pleasure having you and getting to know you, hope to see you soon, a big kiss to Aspen :)

10/10 Excellent

Sonia

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
SoulShine is a welcoming hotel with delicious brunch everyday. It has a very laid back atmosphere, which is just what you need at the beach!!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022
Response from Yael on 2022/4/15
Thank you Sonia, was a pleasure to meet you and your family, till next time, Shine On

10/10 Excellent

Bryan

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful property in a great area Playa Avallenas. Just a short walk to a beautiful beach with good surf spots. Also short walk to some great local restaurants. We loved this location as its a quieter than Tamarindo. Breakfast at the hotel is amazing also.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022
Response from Yael on 2022/4/15
Thank you so much for your review:) Hope to see you again, Shine On!

10/10 Excellent

Laylah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely oasis.
Lovely place and staff. Beautiful grounds. Food was great. Beach & good restaurants near by. Cute casitas in garden setting.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022
Response from Yael on 2022/4/6
Thank you Laylah, it was so nice to know you, hope you enjoyed the rest of your travel in the mountains, and hope to see you again in the future, Yael and Soulshine staff :)

10/10 Excellent

Sarah

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Seth

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was a great place to stay if you are looking for a chill vibe, its nice and close to Playa Avellanas for good surfing and beach going. The restaurant at Soulshine was really good and convenient! The owners and staff were very friendly, we are glad we found this place...will for sure be back again!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2022
Response from Yael on 2022/4/6
Thank you so much, hope to see you again in the Future!

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great place to relax
Soulshine was very nice. It was clean and the staff were friendly. The food is really good and so is the ambiance. They play music and there was a nice pool right by my room. There was a friendly orange cat hanging around who kept me company. They offered to have somebody come and administer my Covid19 test before I return to the airport, which is really helpful. I’m going to stay here again!
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022
Response from Yael on 2022/1/30
Thank you so much for your review, hope to see you with again soon , Shine On!! Yael and all of us here at Soulshine

10/10 Excellent

Luzoralia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best customer service & hospitality!
Yael and her husband are awesome! They are super sweet and accommodating. The restaurant is excellent! Best food we had during our stay was at their restaurant. Also, Yael set up a driver to take us and pick us up to and from Tamarindo. She also put a beautiful flower arrangement for me as my bf wanted to get flowers for me. I will definitely come back and stay with them again next time I go to stay in this area of Costa Rica.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2022
Response from Yael on 2022/1/22
Thank you Luz!!! I so appreciate the time you took to write us this beautiful review. Hope to see you next time

10/10 Excellent

vivian s

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This beautiful hotel is nestled in a quiet beach town area away from the hustle and bustle of tourism, all you need is your flip flops and swimsuit. The restaurant is regarded as one of the best in the Avellanas Beach and the food was delicious. Thank you Yael
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2022
Response from Yael on 2022/1/13
Thank you so much for finding the time to write this beautiful review. Hope to see you with us again!

10/10 Excellent

Maia

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had an amazing stay on this lovely property. Can highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021
Response from Yael on 2022/1/5
Thank you Maia! It was so nice to meet your beautiful family :) Hope to see you soon.

10/10 Excellent

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I came here to relax by the pool and at the beach as much as possible and this place did not disappoint, I never wanted to leave! Such a beautiful property and you can walk to the beach in just a few minutes. In fact I extending my stay for as long as I could!! The owners, Yael and Roy, live on site and are really friendly and personable and make sure everyone is always happy throughout their stay. Breakfast is amazing (I still dream about the chunky avocado, so good!!!), and everyone staying here was really friendly as well. Overall, just an amazing experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2021
Response from Yael on 2021/12/26
Thank you so much, we had the best time getting to know you and we appreciate the time you took to write us this beautiful review. We wish you guys a beautiful healthy and happy year, and hope to see you again soon, Shine On!

10/10 Excellent

Alexander

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021
Response from Yael on 2021/12/25
Thank you

6/10 Okay

Sandra, Miami

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Melissa, Hackettstown

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with family and small children, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Family friendly, owners were on site and super personable. The hotel is really part of the jungle and 10 minute walk to playa avellanas and beach bar.. community kitchen access. THE BREAKFAST IS EXCELLENT!! only complaint was the hot water wasnt hot.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021
Response from Owner on 2021/7/19
Thank you so much for your lovey review!! We are sorry about the hot water, next time please let us know if any kind of problem and we will attend it immediately:) Shine On!!

10/10 Excellent

Maggie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best Hidden Secret at Playa Avelinas!!
Roy and Yale were amazing hosts. They were so welcoming and wanted to make sure we had everything we needed! We absolutely fell in love with there Pura Vida vibe of a boutique hotel. The rooms were amazing, your own bungalow and had access to a shared outdoor kitchen if you needed it. But you didn’t need it because the restaurant is the most amazing foods we had on her entire trip. The food and the presentation was truly outstanding!!! The French toast will be the best you’ve ever had! We started our trip here and missed our bungalow by the end of our trip for sure. Everything about our stay was magical! Private, low key and a wonderful family running it, a must stay!!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Magical Place
We loved our one week stay at SoulShine. Yael was awesome. Her recommendations for restaurants, sites, and directions were flawless. The property is lush with a gorgeous pool area, fantastic food and a beautiful walk through mangroves to the beach. We hope to return.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2021
Response from Yael on 2021/3/7
Thank you! We had a great time having you with us, the buggy boards are wating till next time :) All the best, Yael and all of us at SoulShine, Shine On!

8/10 Good

Stéphanie

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nous avons adoré l’emplacement (pas très loin de la plage, d’un petit quartier avec plusieurs option de restaurants et de jeux pour enfants) la piscine accessible à n’importe quelle heure, la trampoline pour les enfants, le petit marché d’artisans locaux à proximité de l’hotel les vendredis soirs, les chambres sont confortables, le personnel est sympathique et la propriétaire est attentionnée. L’endroit est sécuritaire et donne en envie d’y retourner un jour assurément. Le seul point à améliorer serait, selon moi, les commodités de la cuisine commune. Par exemple, la cafetière n’était pas fonctionnelle et il n’y en a pas dans les chambres. Merci pour le séjour!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Adriana

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Exc
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Topadresje als je wat rustiger wil zitten
Als je van een rustig plekje houdt met op wandelafstand een gezellig strand en verschillende leuke plekjes om te eten dan is soulshine the place to be. Super lekker ontbijt en lunch beschikbaar en de sfeer is top net zoals de eigenaars! Geen massatoerisme en auto nodig om naar Tamarindo te gaan maar echt topadresje
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Ignacio

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
El lugar es precioso la dueña es muy buena gente y definitivamente los cuartos no solo son amplios sino que estan totalmente equipados y son increibles
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022