Riu Guanacaste: Beautiful Resort

The Riu Guanacaste was a beautiful resort with lots of amenities. The rooms were spacious and the cleaning staff was excellent. The grounds were nicely manicured. The pool was fabulous with lots of chairs in both sun and shade. The beach also had lots of chairs and you could seek sun or shade there as well. The beach was nice, but there were lots of rocks in the water. If you walked down the beach 5 minutes, it was much easier to get into the water as there were much less rocks there. The [... read more] food was quite good, and there was a lot of variety each day. One thing I would like to see improvement on is the way the restaurants handled reservations. We saw monkeys on the grounds and just 10 minutes down the beach, we were able to feed the white-faced monkeys. Lots of excursions to choose from. A fabulous and memorable family vacation!

Occidental Tamarindo: Beautiful sunsets

Beautiful sunsets on the beach. It is a very clean resort with staff willing to go above and beyond to ensure a home away from home. I did not order the wifi and was told it was sketchy due to high winds. Food was amazing. No al la carte restaurant due to private booking and I was entitled to 2 reservations so I was disappointed with the service. Evening entertainment was lacking and very rushed. Do not go to this resort to swim and snorkel as the beach had high winds and rocks, more of surf des [... read more]tination. Lots of touristy things to do within a couple of hours and Tamarindo has a beautiful beach to access via bus 5min or walk the beach when low tide.

Occidental Papagayo: Has potential but not well run.

Beautiful property and location. Check in was really late and unorganized. Guest services was not available nearly enough. You had to go through them to make a la carte reservations but could only book 24 hours before. Because they start late and finish early, if you are on an excursion you can't make a reservation. We were able to eat at the Italian and it was good. The wait Staff were lovely but didn't know anything about wine in terms of what kinds they had to offer. We came back late after a [... read more] 17 hour excursion and we could get nothing to eat. We were told by one employee that there was nowhere to get food, then another employee told us to go into the disco and we would find finger food there which was adequate. We ran out of hot water in our room and had to have keys redone 3 times and the safe re-keyed once. Rooms were clean but air conditioning was very poor considering the heat. Wifi was scetchy at best. Nightly entertainment was one man with a sax in the lobby. Entertainment staff were great. The only bar around the pool was only for show. It wasn't functional and only one staff member taking drink orders for the entire pool. Again they were great doing the best they could to keep up, there simply were not enough staff. The pool was cloudy and murky all week. Food was good but a very small buffet. The Grille by the pool had good food as well at lunchtime. The bar "by the beach" is nowhere near the beach or the pool. It is in between the two and there are no toilets close by. When we checked out we paid our bill in cash and they had no change available. Do not book tours with Benito from Air Transat. He is misleading and uses scare tactics to get your business. He shows you one tour and you think that is the one you are buying then you go on a different one day of. Very disappointing. He just walked away when we questioned him at the airport. That was the first opportunity we saw him after the tour. All in all not a terrible place and it has so much potential. We got a good deal in terms of cost and I feel it was good for what we paid. Just needs some TLC.

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Costa Rica is Awesome!

Sunny and hot every day in Liberia. The Riu Palace is a First Class Resort: the food is delicious, the restaurants don't require a reservation, the Brand name Liquor is excellent and the Staff is very friendly and happy!

Best Western Jaco Beach: Always a great time

My partner and I have stayed at the Jaco Beach Best Western several times. We winter in Jaco every second year at a condo nearby and have our kids (5 couples) stay at the JBBW. Always a great time for all. The staff are so kind and respectful, never a hassle about anything. The food is varied, hot, nutritious and served with pride. The rooms are spotlessly clean and comfortable. With a/c and heavy curtains to provide shelter from the sun during peak hot hours. I heartily recommend the TripCe [... read more]ntral Jaco Beach Best Western All Inclusiveness packages for value and Costa Rica as a destination for couples or families.

Hotel Villas Playa Samara: Excellent resort

Highly recommend this resort. No complaints about anything. Resort is small, staff very accommodating, clean. Relaxing atmosphere, beautiful beach. Quiet, lots of day excursions available. Very hot, not a drop of rain. Keep hydrating. Food good, much better than Cuba or Dominican. Might be a little too quiet atmosphere for some.

Barcelo Tambor: Very nice resort

The resort was very clean, the rooms cleaned daily and the mini bar refilled. The food was AWFUL.If you like rice with beans or plain rice go to this resort. Every meal was very bland, WE ATE OFF OF THE KIDS BUFFET. We asked for fresh fish for lunch one day and received a processed white fish you would get out of the freezer section at your local grocery store.At the AL-a-cart restaurant we had a hard time making our self's understood because most of the staff could NOT speak English.We would  [... read more]not go back to this resort, it is not a 4 star resort, we would rate it at maybe a 3.

JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort and Spa: Everything we hoped for.

Dreams did not disappoint. We wanted some isolation and that is what we got. Everything was exceptional. Sure, some of the chairs around the pools were taken early but we never had problems finding some. The food was exceptional and the nightly entertainment was exactly that, entertaining. The beach was beautiful and we'll maintained. Sand as far as you could see and great for swimming. I really liked to be able to stand on the beach, loòk left and right, and not see another resort. I would g [... read more]o back in a heartbeat.!

Riu Guanacaste: Riu Guanacaste

This was our second visit in 3 years to this hotel. And the third time we have stayed at a Riu in the past 5 years. We found the Guanacaste again to be impeccably clean, nice gardens and very friendly staff. All morning long each staff member that you pass along your way greets you warmly and with smiles. FOOD: We have not been fond of the food choices at any of the three Riu resorts we have stayed in. Seems repetitive and caters more to the North American Palette rather than offer more  [... read more]local food tastings. They have set up a efficient egg station for the mornings. A griddle cook continuously makes several over easy and sunny side up eggs and places them on a plate ready for one to pick from. However, I did find the cook was a bit rushed and heavy handed with the eggs and the yolks often broken. The Asian buffet was as good as our first visit. We did not try the other al la carte. Terrific environment for non smokers. There is no smoking on the property with the exception of your own balcony, the beach and the 3 smoking gardens they have provided for the smokers. They are cute little enclaves with trees and granite benches and picnic tables. One is reasonably close to the amenities set off to the side near the theatre. A second is located behind the lunch buffet. The third is off beside the parking lot in front of the hotel. A bit buggy at this one. It was actually quite fun to be there makes one feel like they are back in high school hanging with the cool kids. Terrific opportunity to bond with other guests. We had booked the same room as our last visit as we had such fun watching a large 30 member community of Howler Monkeys traversing twice a day along the trees besides the property line fence on the mountain view side. 3 years ago the zip line eco park was under construction and now that it is operational the monkeys seem to either have moved or the pack has dwindled. There were still a small handful but not the hour long show. There is a spot about a mile walk down the beach named the Monkey Bar that is such fun. Here you will get a close up interaction with Capuchin (white faced) monkeys that will eat out of your hand. It is best to go very early in the morning around 7am to beat the crowds. The first time we went we walked up the little road a to a trail just across from the restaurant that is there. It is a very short walk in to find about a dozen monkeys playing in the trees and the younger ones wrestling on the ground. Feeding the monkeys: We were advised by a biologist we met early in the trip not to feed them bananas as too much potassium is harmful to their health. This was back up by an elderly local gentleman we met who stated that he has banana trees in his yard and they never eat the bananas but from his other varieties of fruit trees. We were told it can even abort terminate a mother's pregnancy. We did find they like grapes and papaya but prefer the red grapes. We actually had green ones tossed back at us but never the red grapes. There is an opportunity to book a visit to the Riu Palace but we did not bother. Over all our stay at the Guanacaste was what we expected. Terrific staff with long memories and happy friendly dispositions. Three of the waitresses recognized us 3 years later. Count on it being very hot in February with 34-38celsius temperatures. I suspect that the guest room air conditioning, although quite comfortable, is controlled by the hotel as the thermostats do not seem to affect the room's temperature. But it is kept at a comfortable temperature. You can however turn the a/c down if you find it too chilly. We did notice that on the cooler days the a/c was not as strong. Local short excursions: Expect to pay higher than you are used to in other countries for taxi fares. Keep in mind that Costa Rica is a modern country with a reasonably high standard of living. The taxis are on a set rate and the hotel provides a shuttle service to visit Coco Beach and Tamarindo. Both fairly close to the resort. Both are cute little towns with plenty of souvenir shopping and restaurants. Each has a lovely beach to visit. On the previous vacation we saw the most amazing golden sunset from the beach in Tamarindo. Do not expect to view sunsets from the resort as there is a mountain blocking the view at the resort. The sun rises behind the mountains beside the resort where the eco park is located. All in all the Guanacaste is a nice place to spend your vacation. If you are the type who enjoys lazing in the sun around the pool then this is the place to go.

Beach Break Resort: Cozy,friendly resort

We thought the resort was nice..It is in transition of changing owners at this point so,the 2 weeks we were there you could see changes every week,for the better.It is a no frills resort so if you are looking for a 5 star resort from a 31/2 it is not the place for you..Small buffet that could have been a little bigger but the food was good( no complaints)..The staff was very hard working and put a lot of hours in and still had smiles on their faces.The grounds were nice,flowers blooming everyday [... read more],very hot and dry so grass never got enough water,even with them watering and sprinklers.Up grades have been done to the water front rooms of the resort (side views)and were told the rooms in top part by the round pool were going to be renovated soon..Rooms we had were a bit dated but AC worked very well(had 33% and higher weather for two weeks of holidays)which we welcomed to get relive from the high temps.. Could use nightly entertainment as there is none..Good bang for your buck to see Costa Rica..

Beach Break Resort: A Superb Winter Retreat

I stayed at Morgans Cove Resort (in transition of new ownership) Feb 22-Mar 8/17. The weather was very hot, 90 degrees night and day. A great winter getaway. The resort was an hour and half ride from the airport. The journey to the resort allowed all to see the area in the comfort of an air-conditioned bus. Everyday one saw the changes in progress under new ownership. The resort is small and quaint. Under 100 guests can enjoy the resort. The rooms are clean and modern with a/c. Bars ha [... read more]ve a great selection of drinks. The food was made fresh everyday. The buffet selection was awesome for all three meals. A menu selection was available every Monday with three very delicious choices for supper. Everyone went home with a weight gain!! The beach was beautiful to walk on. Rock free with black sand that went as far as the eye could see.. The staff were friendly and catered to every request . No complaints from myself nor my husband.

JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort and Spa: A Little Piece of Paradise

It is a well maintained property located in a beautiful setting. Their eye for detail was evident in terms of the upkeep of the grounds, the pools & the restaurants. The staff was always smiling, very pleasant & helpful. The lighting on the property was poor which was a safety hazard. We didn't have any hot water in the shower for the 1st 5 days of our 7 day stay. Items were often overlooked by housekeeping (fresh glasses, packets of coffee) & the mini bar was not stocked every day. Not a [... read more]n ideal setting for the elderly or someone with mobility issues.

JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort and Spa: Amazing resort

Outstanding food and service. The pool is amazing. We really appreciated the Preferred section and all the restaurants. Yoga on the beach in the morning is very nice. Would go back anytime and I would refer my best friends there.

JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort and Spa: Great resort! 5 stars rated in all!

The greatest client experience i have never had. Excellent food, wonderful pools, nice location, extraordinary staff, great site! No negative points to say. I dream about living a future Dreams hotel experience soon!

JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort and Spa: Costa Rica Experience

Dreams Las Mareas was definitely a fantastic resort. Zero complaints, very cozy, delicious food, spacious rooms. Definitely in my top 3 destinations globally! I would return in a heartbeat! Staff was amazing too. Although we booked just 3 weeks ahead of time, we realized we might not get double beds in the room but the hotel upgraded us free of charge to a swim out room to accommodate. Although the upgrade was great, it doesn't bare directly on the review - it's the fact that the staff alw [... read more]ays wanted to ensure you were comfortable and enjoying yourself. They went above and beyond. We especially enjoyed the fact that it was a completely non-smoking resort - very rare.

JW Marriott Costa Elena Resort and Spa: Great resort

Grounds and rooms were beautiful, the staff very friendly. The food was good but not amazing. The bar tenders Tony and Orlando were so good at their job and made it seem effortless and always with such warm smiles!

Hotel Villas Playa Samara: Great resort

This resort was more than I expected. When we arrived it was sunset and I must say It was breath taking. The beach was fantastic. The wild horses on the beach where so great to admire. They where right at home. The room was great. It was a type of small villa. Only 25 min walk to the village of Samara on the beach. Food was ok. The staff at front desk and for the tours where fabulous, they really know how to make you feel at home.

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Definitely the best Rui yet

We have stayed at a number of Rui Palace resorts. Although we have not had any complaints about any of the Rui Resorts, the Rui Palace Costa Rica is by far the best yet. The grounds were meticulously manicured, the staff everywhere were very helpful, courteous accommodating and pleasant, the rooms were modernly decorated, clean, spacious and comfortable, the food was outstanding from the specialty restaurants to the buffet. The new set up of first come first served at the specialty restaurant [... read more]s is a much better way than standing in line for reservations. There never seemed to be a problem with getting a decent seat around the pool even without going down early in the morning. I would highly recommend this resort.

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Clean new Riu

Great location lacking in friendly customer service lack of entertainment thru the day and also at night completely dead at 11 PM unless you leave the resort for disco (way to loud) or the casino both of which you must purchase drinks food adequate at best ,dinner only between 6-815 with no reservations permitted. this is too restrictive, offering no flexibility pool nice spa was nice

Beach Break Resort: HOT COSTA RICA WEATHER

STAFF IN THIS HOTEL ARE EXCEPTIONAL. FOOD LEAVES TO BE DESIRED AS IT IS MOSTLY THE SAME EVERY DAY. A FEW ROOMS HAVE BEEN RENOVATED BUT THE MAJORITY COULD USE A FRESH COAT OF PAINT AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A FRIDGE NOR A CLOCK. MOULDINGS NEED TO BE RE-INSTALLED. BEDS ARE HARD BUT YOU GET USED TO THAT. GROUNDS AND POOLS ARE WELL MAINTAINED. LOUNGE CHAIRS ARE HARD TO FIND. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS HOTEL IF IT RENOVATIONS WERE COMPLETED AND FOOD WAS IMPROVED.