Riu Palace Costa Rica: Mother-daughter getaway with two teen girls (15 & 18)

Overall Vibe: A solid resort with stunning views, strong margaritas, and just enough quirks to keep things interesting. ? The Good Stuff (a.k.a. why we didn’t book an earlier flight home) • Jaw-Dropping Scenery: The grounds are lush and green — think "Jurassic Park intro" but without the dinosaurs (unless you count the howler monkeys). The pools are beautifully maintained and there’s plenty of space to sprawl out and do nothing, which we fully embraced. Beach is hot dark sand and warm wa [... read more]ter. Monkeys in the trees near the beach were fun to watch and feed if you have fruit with you. • Genuinely Great Staff: Every staff member we interacted with was warm, helpful, and seemed genuinely happy to be there. • The Riu App – Surprisingly Useful: As someone who likes a plan, I lived on this app. Everything from restaurant hours to daily activities and weather updates — all in one place. My teens found it annoying; I found it life-saving. • Always Something to Eat: Food is available pretty much around the clock. Whether you need a burger by the pool, a late-night pastry, or caffeine to survive another sarcastic teen comment, you’re covered. • Poolside Drink Service: Top-tier vacation vibes. Nothing quite like having someone hand you a cocktail while you pretend not to see your kids filming TikToks from the lounger next to you. • Clean Rooms & Comfortable Beds: Rooms were well-kept, beds were comfortable, and housekeeping stayed on top of the sand trail we brought in daily. ? The Not-So-Great (aka: “It’s not a dealbreaker, but...”) • The Food – Hit or Miss: The buffet was fine at first, but by day four, we were all craving variety. We did manage to get into the Italian, steakhouse, and sushi à la cartes — all very solid, with some standout dishes. But it came with a catch... • À La Carte = Line Up or Miss Out: There’s no reservation system, so if you don’t line up early, you’re heading back to the buffet. A couple nights we tried and couldn’t get in, which was frustrating — especially for hangry teens. A little more structure here would go a long way. • Awkward Room Layout: The bathtub in the middle of the room was... a choice. Not ideal with teenagers. Also, the bathroom lighting was weirdly dim and made everything feel like a scene from a moody indie film. Big thumbs down from anyone who needs to apply make up or has over 40 year old eyes! • Slippery Floors: The tile floors in our room were absurdly slick when wet. Two near-wipeouts later, I was navigating the room like a figure skater. Pack non-slip sandals. • Construction “Garden View”: Our room faced the construction site next door. We knew about the renovations beforehand, so not a total surprise — but the 7 a.m. jackhammer wake-up calls were not part of the dream vacation. It was so dusty and loud I wasn't able to sit outside at all on the balcony for a morning coffee. • TV + WiFi Frustrations: The Smart TV wasn’t smart (or working), and the WiFi was hit-or-miss. Fine for unplugging, but not great if you’re trying to stream, video chat, or keep teens entertained in the room. ?‍♀️ Could Be Better... • Room Service: Food arrived in basic takeout containers — no plates, utensils, or presentation. We made it work, but it felt like an afterthought. • Lighting at Night: Some of the walkways were poorly lit. I ended up using my phone flashlight regularly, which made it feel a bit like a scavenger hunt to get back to the room. ? Final Thoughts: Would I return? Possibly — with a better room and a more laid-back approach to the dining scene. The resort is beautiful, the staff is excellent, and there’s enough to enjoy if you’re okay with a few quirks. It's not a foodie destination or tech paradise, but if your goal is to relax, disconnect, and soak in the sun (while occasionally muttering about the bathtub), it’s a pretty solid place to do it.

Reserva Conchal: Fantastic resort!

Beautiful resort in an excellent location! We found there was lots to do along with lots of space and locations for rest and relaxation. We took walks on the beach, joined in for the water aerobics each morning, walked the nature trails, and enjoyed the guided bike tour. All of the staff were very friendly and helpful. We had a fantastic time!

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Amazing Resort with great All Inclusive services and fantastic weather , too!

One of if not , the Best place and vacation -- go for it! I could not imagine working day in day out, in such lovely hot weather (usual temp was about 31:c) but the great employees at the Hotel RIU do all the time. Kudos to them all from the front desk; to the great room maids; to the great bar service; and food service people. Great tours provided by Nicolas and by YuuGo at NEXUSTours (Vardala and Palo Verde tours). We our family of 5 adults stayed for 7 days. Great weather (only had a rain d [... read more]ownpour for about a hour one late afternoon). Had working AC but did not use as ceiling fan was just perfect (the more Eco friendly way ). And the Monkeys were a Bonus! :-}

Barcelo Tambor: Not A 4 Star

The hotel was a disappointment, although not the country nor the people. They have serious issues with communication--they prevented us from leaving the hotel in our rental car even though we showed them the papers and did not adequately explain afterwards. The food is NOT 4 star level, but basic Central American cafeteria, i.e. rice and beans. On the good side, the grounds are immaculate and the staff are friendly, but they don't speak English. The entertainment is only in Spanish. Loud mu [... read more]sic at the pool ALL DAY and disco loud until 2am. All clients need to know these issues before they think they are booking a 4 star. 2.5 star or at best.

Occidental Tamarindo: NOT WORTH THE MONEY

I don't normally rate trips because truthfully you can't make everyone happy. However when you can't get a coffee cup, or the pop fountains and cappuccino machines don't work. Nor have to ask for a glass of water to have it smacked on the table because you are an inconvenience oh and lets not forget getting napkins. There was truthfully ONE great server there who was happy to help. Bar staff unfriendly and short staffed often....which I get why they may not be happy. That though is not my fault. [... read more] Now according to the girls that booked this part of the promotion for booking early was Bathrobes, champagne in your room upon arrival, premium alcohol. Of which none of that was given. When questioned about it the response was I don't see that. Would I go back to Costa Rica yes would I go to that resort no and would I use trip central again. JURY is out on that. Even our Rep indicated this hotel has more complaints then any other hotel.

Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica: Fantastic Costa Rica vacation

Absolutely beautiful hotel and grounds - we enjoyed the constant bird noise of many different species and having monkeys on our balcony. While the hotel is 1.5hr from airport and many excursions you truly are immersed in Costa Rica views, mountains and biodiversity at this resort. Our room was beautiful and well kept daily and we loved every meal at every restaurant.

Riu Palace Costa Rica: RIU Palace, Costa Rica

Great place, good food and entertainment. A lot of walking to get from point A to point B if one has mobility issues. They could use more public washrooms around the pool area as you have to make your way to the Papagayo Restaurant or inside by the theatre which is a distance.

Occidental Papagayo: Quiet resort

Beautiful grounds, nice selection at buffet. Nice main pool, didnt spend any time at swim up bar. Friendly staff. Rooms are a little dated but well kept. Beach was nice. Monkeys , iguanas and lots of birds

Riu Guanacaste: Great trip

The newer side was beautiful and clean. But with the upcoming renovation the main pool was always dirty and tiles were falling apart. Sometimes the a la cartes were closed. We’ve stayed here before and there were never issues like this. So I can’t wait to see the full completed renovations But other than that. The service was great. Weather perfect. I’d recommend going once the Reno’s are done

Azura Beach Resort Samara: Pure relaxation

Beautiful beach, amazing sunsets and great food. Grounds were clean and well manicured and staff were friendly and helpful. Very much enjoyed the 30 min walk to the nearby village of Samara. We also went bird watching with a professional guide ( Bernie) and were quite pleased.

Hotel Arenas en Punta Leona: Punta Leona a paradise on earth

This was our 11th vacation in Punta Leona since 2003. Jungle, beaches, wildlife … it is paradise. Clean, comfortable accommodations. Efficient and friendly staff. We obviously love it! Planning to come again

Planet Hollywood Costa Rica: Good Resort

Overall the resort is good. We booked a room with 2 queen beds and ended up with a king and sofa couch for 3 people. Not at all what we booked and was told they do not guarantee a room with 2 queen beds. My husband is in his 60’s and had to sleep on a pull out couch that was not comfortable at all! Not impressed that they didn’t even care. The food is great and staff is friendly. The best part was feeding monkeys on the beach every morning!

Riu Guanacaste: Impressive Resort

This hotel was very nice, staff kept it exceptionally clean always!! Check in and out smooth and easy. Lots on offer at the buffets especially for picky kids.The specialty restaurants were confusing. Sign said open hours but it was closed. Extremely long waits for the restaurants so we gave up and left. Need a better system. Room was very nice. Service at the bars and pool was great.The shows were a lot of fun too. Would definitely go back and also recommend to family and friends!! Thanks for su [... read more]ch a great experience. Pura Vida Costa Rica ?? ♥️

Riu Guanacaste: It was great! But be wary

We stayed at the Riu Guanacaste between 03/01 and 03/07. I'll try to keep this short and sweet. The good: The staff were nice and the resort was clean for the most part. Pools were well maintained and fairly clean. There were ton of activities during the day and evening. The staff definitely entertained. Food was pretty good with ample selections. The Asian a la carte restaurant was amazing and would highly recommend. It's also nice that you don't have to reserve ahead of time. The beach was  [... read more]lovely although we had to deal with pushy locals trying to sell you stuff. Everyday we had to repeat multiple times that we're not interested. Water was fantastic and fairly clean. The scenery and landscapes are beautiful! The bad: Rooms are quite dated. We also smelled sewage coming from the toilet in the bathroom. It wasn't bad, but we talked to someone else who claimed the smell was unbearable and they had to switch rooms. There is no bank at the resort which I found shocking. I've been to way worse places and at least they had a bank where you could with draw cash in case of emergencies. The closest bank was at Coco Beach which turned out to be a dud since the ATM didn't work. For Riu, that's quite disappointing. We've heard from others that their minibar in their room was not stocked and they had to ask several times before management did anything about it. BEWARE!: We met one couple who claimed their room was robbed of possessions totaling $500. They said that someone a few weeks ago was robbed of $1500 in cash! Beware of your belongings! Note that room safes are not at all that safe. We didn't experience anything missing but we were put on high alert after that information.

Fiesta Resort: Good Value for Money

It needs to be updated badly. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Azura Beach Resort Samara: Relaxing resort

Such a wonderful small resort to relax, on the beach or by the pool ! Beautiful beach for long morning walks in the sunshine. The food was delicious and the staff were very friendly! The beds were very comfortable and filtered water in the rooms was great so we weren’t using plastic bottles!

Riu Guanacaste: RIU Quanacaste

Grounds, public areas all good. Foods left something to be desired. All restaurants had similar buffets. Very little a la carte. Construction was noisy. Evening entertainment only fair. Location is far away from everywhere for tours.

Occidental Papagayo: Great Resort for a couple's gettaway

We found the grounds to be beautiful eventhough it was the dry season. Our accommodations were up to par and spacious; loved the comfort of the bed and pillows. Room was cleaned every day. It looked like all rooms had a balcony to sit out morning or night to admire the view of the gulf. Although it was the norm to fill the fridge every day with 2 waters, 2 sodas, 2 beers, we did need to call once as they forgot to refill and another time to provide a bath mat. The staff was very very courteous a [... read more]nd accomodating. The pools were awesome, as well as the beach, with aerobics mid-mornings and other events in the afternoon. I loved that we didn't need to get out there at 6 am just to reserve a chair. They were always available any time of the day. Don't expect much in terms of nightly entertainment. There was just a little stage with a couple of amazing jazzy musicians (one saxophone artist, another guitare player). In terms of food, we did enjoy the variety from the buffet trying something different every day (but do expect the rice & beans every meal). The 3 a la carte restaurants were very appreciated, especially the Italian one - it was totally a great experience. I give it a 5 star rating. Except for the stairs from the main pool to the hotel lobby, the walking was very manageable at this resort. There were always shuttles around but we didn't feel the need to hop on.

Riu Guanacaste: Wonderful Resort

This resort was safe, clean and staff wonderful and very accommodating. Customer service desk in main lobby very organized, professional and thorough. The restaurant system is skewed because you have to wait in line to get your name on a list. I prefer reservations. We managed to get in at La Toscana and the manager, Jesus was courteous, service above and beyond and all staff under his management proficient and likeable. Room service was good, at times you did not get complete  [... read more]towel set and or your fridge was not always stocked with water beer or soft drinks but the immediate fix is contacting customer service desk. When it’s hot and humid two bottles of water is not enough. The private excursions were a miss, catamaran could not dock at the beach when wavy and fishing boat had to transport groups at a time to catamaran, not safe, lost two hours and not conducive for the disabled. Huge fail! The sun wing representatives were disorganized, no system in place, even ‘first come first served’ is a concept not practiced. The food in the lobby quite good. The restaurants were clean, had great variety of food. Everyone did their job with a smile and eager to help, perfect! If in need, the medical office for the resort is good, english spoken by the young doctor and prescriptions delivered to lobby. No wait period. The bar pool water should be tested more often for obvious reasons and fresh water should be added daily, otherwise beautiful and special visits from iguana included! One elevator is down but a secondary working. When our return flight was rescheduled more than once, this resort did not displace us and we enjoyed all amenities at no extra cost. SUPERB! On the last day when you check out, you have access to the restaurant’s until 1:30pm even without a bracelet The ride in from Liberia is long and the road rough! We were very happy with this resort. The Liberia airport is organized, systematic with plenty of staff to assist, no hesitation. Make sure you have $29 US ea to pay for the departure fee. Highly recommend!!!

Riu Guanacaste: Great resort but for a few things

Resort was nice, grounds were beautifully maintained and staff were friendly. Buffet was good, we did not try the a la cartes. Beach is beautiful. My only complaint was that the Sunwing Rep. told us on the bus on our way to the resort that the water was safe to use. This was NOT TRUE. One of our group members ended up needing medical treatment and was told by the doctor that he has seen multiple cases of people getting sick from the water. Sunwing should NOT be telling people the water is safe!! [... read more]! Use bottled water in the room and do not drink the water from the restaurants!