Tamarindo is very upscale (translate: expensive) it had a lot of shopping and restaurants and cool food trucks but I felt like I was in southern California in some ways. Tons of rich tourists. But the evening farmers market was really unique and fun. Samara was more rustic but had a perfect swimming beach and a few nice restaurants. Just my 2 sats. We didn't go that many places so I don't have much else to comment on.