Great holiday!

The hotel was beautiful. The staff was amazing. Food was good and there was lot’s of it. The daily activities were very loud - announcers and bands had amplifiers turned up to the max. We had a problems with our first room. We were given a new room for the second week.

Going back!

We stayed at the Riu Guanacaste resort from December 25, 2017 - January 1, 2018 and can't say enough about the resort, the staff and the food. The night shows were impressive, the beach party new years was fun and the excursions were perfect for my 3 boys and myself. The have a variety of excursions to please all from young to old. It was our first time to Costa Rica and loved the atmosphere and culture there. I will definitely be going back and trying to work on a plan to get back there on a re [... read more]gular basis. There were mostly Canadians from what I could see with the people that I talked to, some European's and the odd American. The word is out up here and people are flocking there for good reason.

Great trip

Nice staff all around. Loved our view of the jungle and the morning sounds we woke up to. This was awesome, and unique compared to our previous trips as we could hear / see Howler monkeys. Our room was a good size, clean, well kept and no issues with it. We had a great time at the pool while relaxing in the loungers or enjoying the atmosphere while in the pool. Drinks were good and service at the swim up bar was quick. Swim up bar area is 18yrs and over. Pool has several built in water loungers, [... read more] jet tub areas and a hot tub. Beach was nice (dark sand, not caribbean sand due to volcanic rock). Pacific side so no crystal clear waters off the beach. We did a boat tour and snorkeled elsewhere no problem. The food was fine, you wont go hungry. My best meals were at the Italian restaurant. Some elevators were down our whole 1 week stay.

Ok resort

The hotel was good. rooms were very clean and everything worked and it was air conditioned well.... the grounds were immaculate and kept up. The distance from the hotel to the pools, some restaurants and beach was a far walk in the heat. Found that there was not enough washrooms outside the pool area. The food was just ok repetitive. The pool could have been cleaner in my opinion.. it should be sparkling and it was not. The beach water and sand was black.. I knew that going there but it was to [... read more]o much.. The staff was just ok.. did not find them very friendly... the service was ok too but I felt not enough staff for such a big place. The a la carte restaurants were not that good. I found on the Friday and weekends a lot more locals were there and the pool and everything was busy and too many kids and too much people at the pool. There was always enough towels, chairs and great places to relax it after the swim. Overall we had a good experience but I would not go back.. The wine and liquor, beer was not the best brands.

Lovely place and people

Room was large and nicely decorated.In room wet bar was a bonus! grounds are nice, beach was great; food was always good in the buffet-restaurants were not superb except for the steak house. Hotel itself needed some maintenance (painting and repairs)but didn't affect our trip quality. I would go back for sure!!

Riu Guanasaste

Hi Julie, re trip to Costa Rica it was fantastic the hotel service, room, meals, grounds and staff was amazing, only one draw back is the communication. We enjoyed everyday. Thank You Pearl/Mytle/Monica/Liz

Great vacation

The Hotel was nice. We enjoyed our vacation very much. The rooms were clean and well looked after. We had our dinners mostly in the Italian Restaurant. The beach was clean sand was black and course. We walked along the beach every morning.

Fabulous

My husband and I went for our honeymoon. It was our first time to Costa Rica. Overall we had a wonderful time. Hotel staff were all friendly, helpful and hospitable. We were upgrade to an ocean view king room free of charge. That started our trip off on a high note. We just returned, went during the rainy season. Therefore in the afternoon or evening it rained, sometimes poured. However we were up early to enjoy the sun. We enjoyed the buffets: a couple you could choose from, food was de [... read more]licious. The hotel entertainment in the evening was very enjoyable. Our room was cleaned every morning. The pool was kept clean with activities during the day, aerobics was lots of fun. The beach was nice. Hotel staff member was there to bring a lounge chair to you. The sunwing representatives at the hotel were friendly and helpful. Sunwing shuttled us to the hotel and back to the airport. I found that very beneficial. We went on a few excursions; great to get to see different parts of the country.

Best Trip Ever

This resort was phenomenal! The excursions available were so fun. The pool and beach were gorgeous. The drinks/food were delicious. The location of the resort was perfect. We fell in love with Costa Rica and the Riu, in fact we are going back in December.

Great resort

beautiful grounds, great staff, amazing food washrooms were very clean although if you were in the pool, at the beach or at the buffet the washrooms were a bit of a walk. rooms were ok, we had a beautiful view of the jungle behind the resort. often seen monkeys and beautiful birds and butterflies

Not my favourite...

This hotel was okay...but I wouldn't stay here again. I wanted to call our travel agent and switch to the Palace the first day we arrived. Pros Lots of food and things to eat so you won't go hungry, (not the best food, but not the worst.) Beautiful grounds. So well maintained. It is clear that the grounds people are the hardest working people at this resort. They were also so kind and accommodating if you asked for a coconut. Beach is beautiful & clean. I am not sure why people are both [... read more]ered by the colour of the sand?! (bring beach shoes as sea urchins are a problem). Beach vendors are very polite and don't pester you if you say no thank you. If you take a walk down the beach towards the monkey bar you can find local vendors who have better prices for souvenirs than Coco Beach. Cons Check in line up was insane, way too busy and not organized at all. Old fashion keys that have been cut so many times it is difficult to unlock your room. Rude pool staff...A person named Gallo working at the pool bar, shouldn't. He is rude and clearly hates his job. I also witnessed one server telling another server to look at a young girl in her swimsuit...she was perhaps 15, made me sick! Sergio at the sports bar was the exception, he was always helpful and polite. Fridge is NOT filled up in your room as the website indicates. We had to go to the front desk several times just to get water. Rooms towels are ripped and old. Not what I would expect at a RIU There are not enough washrooms around or close to the pool. Snacks in the sports bar are pretty discussing so don't count on that if you're hungry after breakfast, lunch or dinner hours. The hotel is way too busy! If you want piece and quiet, this is not really the place to stay...we went during the slow rainy season and it was packed with locals. There were people everywhere and you could not get a recliner near the pool. Not that you really want to since there is no convenient place for people to get out and use a toilet. It is really far from other places so if you want to see anything, you will have to book excursions. The best prices for the excursions were not from the people on the beach as I have read in other reviews. My partner is from Central America with Spanish as a first language and well versed in the art of negotiation so I am sure the price she got was quoted from "Alex on the Beach" and others was rock bottom. It was still more than what we paid for excursions we booked at the front of the hotel. The restaurants are difficult to get into as you have to line up like cattle at least an hour before they open. If you don't, they will be booked for the night within the first hour they open. I don't want to go on and on about the cons, but I could. Overall, if I was to visit Costa Rica again, I wouldn't stay at this hotel. I would recommend maybe a few nights in one region of Costa Rica then a few in another. I would also buy all of my alcohol at the duty free shop that you pass when you come through airport security in CR, it is so cheap. I would also eat locally or hire a person to cook as the beans, rice and the plantains was the best food the resort had to offer. You could use the money you save from not doing all inclusive to pay for the food and drinks and it would be A LOT better, in my opinion.

This resort is not a 5 star more like a 3.5

I was very excited to stay at the Riu Guanacaste. I had stayed at the Riu in Aruba and loved it so was looking forward to my stay at Guanacaste. The food and drinks were a disappointment. The breakfasts were the best meal of the day. Dinner's were best at restaurants and not the buffet. I also found it very hard to find drinks that I really liked. The rooms were clean and nice and staff were good. Overall I think it was an ok resort . It just should be marketed differently to se [... read more]t expectations

Really Good Value!

Loved the amount and variety of food! The resort is great, with a beautiful pool! I specially loved the entertainment - the quality of the performances and entertainers was top-notch. I would recommend 100%! Note the basic rooms did not include shampoo or lotion which was unexpected...

Perfect Vacation

We had an awesome time recently visiting Costa Rica. Riu Guanacasta was an excellent resort with spacious rooms. Can't say enough about the service as the hotel staff were great. Definitely would visit again and strongly recommend. I would like to thank Jessica again at trip central. This family vacation was terrific.

Riu Guanacaste

The hotel was nice and had very good restaurants. The disappointment is that there is only one swim up bar for the entire resort. This made waiting for drinks unsatisfying. The hotel was clean. The people working at the bar are very obvious when they are talking about people in a bad manner thinking that others don't understand Spanish. The beach down by the monkey bar has no rocks and is actually enjoyable to swim unlike the one in front of the Riu.

Beautiful Resort

The hotel was beautiful and the grounds were absolutely stunning. I walked around on our last day and took many pictures of the grounds. I love taking pictures and do catalogue them. The staff were very courteous and helpful. Really enjoyed the entertainment in the evening. Your representative at the hotel from Sunwing "Oryan", was very knowledgeable and helpful " hope this is the proper spelling of his name". Overall our family really enjoyed our vacation.

Riu Guanacaste

Amazing 5 star all-inclusive resort in Costa Rica. Nothing to complain about, extremely clean and safe, food was good, staff was cheerful, lots of room so you never feel crowded. The only negative was the evening entertainment which was very amateurish. You should also be aware that the beach sand has some stones and extremely hot thus not a beach where you would lay down on the sand to sunbathe. Would certainly would go back but would not fly with Sunwing. Stay away from this airline.

Decent Resort!

Hotel was super clean and well-maintained! Staff were really friendly. Lots of fun poolside... entertainment staff were really good at getting people involved and including kids. Food was okay.... would have liked more snacks (cookies, French fries, ice cream etc) available around the clock

Great Resort!

The grounds were well groomed and beautiful. The the public areas - washrooms were always cleaned. The staff were always nice. The only downfall was you weren't able to reserve the restaurants. It was first come, first serve. Also the resort was a bit far away from the main attractions- volcano,rainforest etc. Overall we had a great time!

Riu excellence

overall a fine experience - our second visit in 2 years. staff are friendly and well trained. food was good, managed to visit all the restaurants even though you cannot make reservations ahead. the staff at The Toucan made sure a birthday celebration was fun and memorable. the birding and wildlife around the resort are plentiful -saw about 50 species of birds including our favourite, the turquoise browed mot mot. the Diamante nature park next door is worth the visit.