Occidental Papagayo: Hidden Gem

We recently stayed at the Occidental Papagayo for a week and everything about it was great!! This hotel and it's grounds are absolutely stunning. The buildings built into the cliffs makes it very unique. We were in building 6 and had incredible views of the ocean, the mountains and volcanoes. The staff were always smiling and very friendly and helpful. The food at the snack bar, the a la cartes and specifically the breakfast buffet was great. The beach was nice, a little rocky but good. Very  [... read more]warm and fun at high tide. We would absolutely not hesitate to return in a heartbeat. We had 3 amazing tours with Frank the Tank tours that were incredible from start to finish, absolutely flawless. A truly amazing and unforgettable week

Riu Guanacaste: Great resort

Grounds were expansive, well kept, and very lovely. Our family group of 15 all had activities to enjoy from the kids waterpark to the adult only bars and pools and we all loved the foam party and the neon party and especially the viewing of the World Cup games and celebrations. The steakhouse had the most delicious steaks and the Liberia restaurant had great selections. Near the kids slides and pool the tacos were a hit with everyone as well as the ice cream “store”

Riu Guanacaste: Great resort for families!

Something for everyone in the family. Waterpark was fun! Rooms were nicely updated, food options in big buffet were good and the Steakhouse restaurant was excellent! Lots to see and do nearby too - do not have to travel far from the hotel which was great. First trip to CR was a success!

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Much need of repair

This is the 4th time we've been to this resort. It's been one of our favourite places to go to relax and enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica.The resort is closing down in August for 6 month for renovations and they have let a lot go. Our first room was a maintenance nightmare, closet doors wouldn't close the main door to the room and sliding glass doors wouldn't lock. The fan made a terrible noise and the sink backed up with water. There was a lot of wear and tear in the room. The manager moved us [... read more] to a different room, we still had a few issues there but it was much better than the first room. It's unfortunate that RIU allowed the resort to get so run down. We spoke with people that had been there for the first time and they have no intention of going back. Food was not the same. The RIU Guanacaste has been completely redone and looks fabulous. But it's huge there must be over a 1,000 rooms, plus they've added a Water Sports Centre with a lot of jet skis..which makes for a busy noisy beach.

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Excellent hotel

The hotel is beautiful, great rooms, excellent food and friendly staff. The pool and grounds are well maintained. Variety of dining options and high quality buffet. Sea view rooms are well appointed,clean and spacious. Tripcentral staff very helpful with booking and providing additional info about the area,tours etc Beach area is public and less attractive.

Riu Guanacaste: RIU Guanacaste CR

Great resort in Guanacaste province, Costa Rica. Very nice, modern rooms with balconies. Rooms were spotlessly cleaned everyday by hotel staff. On the whole. this was probably the cleanest resort my wife and I have been to and will definitely be returning some day. We really have nothing major to complain about. Fantastic service, food and drinks. The restaurants were all good, except for one in my opinion. The one a la carte I'm referring to is the Mexican restaurant Algave which didn't match t [... read more]he standard of the hotel. I am not alone with this assessment as we noticed that many patrons never stayed very long and many plates of food were hardly touched. Very disappointing to say the least as we had high hopes following dinner at the Steakhouse the night before which was outstanding. The amenities were all very good. The pools, pool bars. lounger availability were all top notch. Nightly entertainment was top notch for both the kids and the adults. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. All in all, a great vacation. We will be back.

Riu Guanacaste: Anazing resort

Hotel grounds were beautiful and the rooms were very nice. We didn’t like location of the original room we were in and they accommodated us with different rooms with no problem. For the most part the food was good especially at lunch and dinner but a bit repetitive. Breakfast was lacking a lot especially bacon. Service was good at the à la carts and the reception however, it at was terrible at the buffet. We had to wait a long time to even get coffee in the mornings and at times we had to get it [... read more] ourselves while the managers stood around. No service at the pool and the room sometimes was not cleaned properly, With all this being said I thought the resort was beautiful just needs some improvement as far as service. If not for the service I would give this resort 5 stars

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Great resort

The palace resort does need up grades. But we did have a great time. A large group can’t be taking over the pool area . We encountered the Red Hat Society Ladies -117 ladies. They were loud and disrespectful to other guests. This type of group needs to book a conference centre, not a resort . This group of ladies were out of control. Making me and my family uncomfortable.

Occidental Tamarindo: Great Resort

The public areas are good, dining area is great, swimming pool is great and the room is good as well. Enjoy all the facilities and our stay over there. Great location and it walkable to downtown Tamarindo

CC Beach Front Papagayo: Peace and tranquillity

We found our resort !!! This small but quaint resort brought so much to the table . The rooms where modern and lots of area to move around . The food was amazing . Always a wide selection for everyone’s liking . The chef went above and beyond to cook a catch we had off deep sea fishing and presented it in 6 different ways that we could taste . The pools and beach are quiet , perfect for what I look for in a week away . Seadoos and boat tours could be found right at your feet on the beach . This  [... read more]was by far my favourite vacation. We will be back !!!

Hotel Villas Playa Samara: Enjoyed the resort

I really liked the 1 Bedroom Bungalows.The buffet was up and down but mostly good.The a la cartes were in the Azure section of the complex are were good also. The drinks were excellent.it is right on the beach and I have to say No comparision to Cuban beaches which are the best. Waves were there everyday.It was hot all the times as the rainy season had not started yet. The Villas section closed Monday for a renovation to the rooms, pool and restaurants.I do not know what it will be like when it [... read more] opens in Oct/Nov but I expect the price will rise.Costa Rica is an expensive place mostly because everything is so far away.You really have to choose different areas and I should have gone when I was younger.

Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo: Great resort

The staff was very friendly and helpfull. The resort was clean and the food was good. I would go back again.it was very hot so had to keep our sandles on till we jump in the pool. If i could change anything it would be add another restaurant. I would also like to see a stocked fridge in out room, we had no beer only a couple of waters.

Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo: Great resort

The staff was very friendly and helpfull. The resort was clean and the food was good. I would go back again.it was very hot so had to keep our sandles on till we jump in the pool. If i could change anything it would be add another restaurant. I would also like to see a stocked fridge in out room, we had no beer only a couple of waters.

Margaritaville Beach Resort Playa Flamingo: Great resort

The staff was very friendly and helpfull. The resort was clean and the food was good. I would go back again.it was very hot so had to keep our sandles on till we jump in the pool. If i could change anything it would be add another restaurant. I would also like to see a stocked fridge in out room, we had no beer only a couple of waters.

Riu Palace Costa Rica: Wonderful Stay!

I had read some negative reviews about this hotel and was wary about staying here. However from the moment we pulled up to the resort to the moment we checked out, I was very impressed. The grounds, the pools, the rooms, the lobby! Yes, it is starting to show its age, people had trouble with the room keys etc., however we had no complaints. We were able to try all the a la carte restaurants, you just need to line up early. There was never any problem getting into the Italian restaurant at an [... read more]y time. The buffet was also very good. Food was abundant and so many options! The staff were also wonderful, so attentive. All in all we had a wonderful time!

Riu Guanacaste: Amazing resort

Well looked after property and the staff were friendly and healthful . Lots of pools to choose from and different views to enjoy . The hotel room was spacious in great location with a view of the green space behind with monkys playing on the trees . Plenty of food to choose from . Overall we really enjoyed our stay there .JV

Occidental Papagayo: All Good !

This resort was good for us … only complaint would be the stairs and hills . Good tasty food , lots of selection, good service …... So after you eat you get a work out with the walking . Beach was beautiful , rooms were clean , a bit dated , but only in room for a short time. We would return to this resort!

Riu Guanacaste: Large resort geared for families with children

I stayed for a week in March-April 2026. The resort is huge with lots of activities geared towards families with children. The grounds are fairly well kept but lots of litterbugs. The pools are not super clean. They allow people to swim all hours of the night so they don't get properly sanitized. There were cups and limes and lemon slices floating around daily. The beach is OK. Lots of currents and not great for young children. The sand is extremely hot and there is limited shade. The fo [... read more]od is fabulous. There is literally a buffet with something for everyone. There are 5 a-la-cartes but only reservations for one is permitted and that is the Steakhouse. The others are very difficult to get into and not well organized. Even with the app downloaded we were not able to reserve at the other restaurants. There is only 1 bar open 24 hours and it is indoors which was disappointing. We stayed in the renovated section and the rooms are nice and spacious. Cleaning staff were very good and we always had enough towels. The resort is remote so if you like to venture off resort, the nearest town is about 30-45 minutes away. You can feed the white faced monkeys with a short walk down the beach. The love grapes and hard boiled eggs. Although it is cute and very memorable keep in mind they are wild and food aggression can happen. Also if there are not tourists, the monkeys don't learn to forage which can be a bad thing. The staff are pleasant but not overly. If you smoke, there is literally one area to smoke in and it has concrete tables and benches so not very comfortable and other guests tend to walk through it as a shortcut and complain about the smoke. The bus ride from the airport is a little bump at times and takes about 30-45 minutes but no stops along the way which is nice. Overall I would recommend this resort with caution depending on the type of trip you are expecting.

Punta Leona Beach Club and Nature Resort: Paradise

It was our 12th time at this resort. We love it! Selvamar rooms are comfortable and clean. The white beach, Playa Blanca, is pristine. There is no place on earth as beautiful! The forest areas are complete with birds and monkeys. But the very best part is the staff: They are the greatest! Heidy, Randall, Carlos, Edwin, Christina, Aaron (chair rentals), Elia (golf cart rental). Much love ?

Riu Guanacaste: Great for the Family

Riu Guanacaste was an excellent choice for a trip with family and friends. The staff was very friendly, and I'd like to give a special shout-out to Jesus, the manager of the cafeteria in Liberia, who was incredibly helpful with our group dinners. We also found affordable excursions outside the resort, which are perfect for seniors who prefer not to engage in adventurous activities. This is the best-kept secret growing as a tourist destination.