JW Marriott Hotel and Resort & SPA, Guanacaste Reviews

Beautiful facility. Nice rooms with comfortable beds. About 1.5 hours from the Liberia airport. Choice of several excellent restaurants, the Marriott Burger was very good.

This was the best Marriott I've ever stayed in!!!
Service, cleanliness and scenery where Magnificent!!!

The grounds to this hotel are absolutely amazing. It was basically dead while we were there but I have heard that they have huge crowds and huge parties there on occasion. It would be great for families with small children that would like to stay in the hotel area more often than not. Not too far from tamarindo Beach, but if you are a partier it would be better to stay closer. Pool is open 24 hours as well which is a plus.

It is a romantic, beautiful place. You can rest a lot

We absolutely loved our time here. A couple of notes to know so staying here will not be disappointing. 1st this hotel is isolated, there is a shuttle from the hotel to Tamarindo for $20 round trip per person, but that is a very small town with a more crowded beach. 2nd the beach right off the hotel is very rocky and not worth trying to use, however if you take the free shuttle, or simply walk less than a mile along the beach, to the clubhouse the beach "Playa Avellana" is my all time favorite beach and we spent many days here. 3rd this is not some cheap central/south American country. Everything here is more expensive than in the states. Most items in the hotel restaurants are 25-35$ and one bottle of sunscreen will cost you around $30 so stock up before going. Once you are prepared for what you are getting it is absolutely amazing.

We had a wonderful experience at The JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort and Spa. Everyone on staff was very prodessional and accommodating. We celebrated three birthdays on 2/7 at Sabanera Restaurant. Even with having a party of 40 people, they took us early. Raquel was our wait person and she was so professional and accommodating. She made sure everything came out hot and perfect. Food was delicious. The restaurant provided us with a cake and sang Happy Birthday. It was a special night.
My husband and I went back on the 11th for his actual birthday and once again we had a wonderful experience. Santiago waited on us and he also was very professional, pleasant and attentive. Again great meal and wonderful staff.
One other waiter I would like to mention was Randall from Azul Grill. He was very pleasant, great to talk to and again accommodated our every need.
It was a great vacation and I would definitely come back.

Great resort with even better staff. Thousands of miles away from home they made me and my family feel like they were part of our family for a week. Truly amazing experience. Pura Vida

Positive: Great looking resort, very friendly staff, one of the best resort we have visited, very clean, always smells fresh , rooms are clean but small for family of 4 , we stayed in 501, beach view room.View is awesome. Room service is very good and fast. I have not seen one person with a sad face here, everyone seems to be content and happy. Spa is awesome, we used it daily. Pools are great for old and younger kids, its huge but only 2 to 4 feet depth.
Swiss travels were amazing, we did a private tour for 4 , whole day adrenaline tour with volcanic mud bath and hot springs. we had loads of fun, our tour driver was Mario, one of the best, very informative, friendly and trustworthy.

Negative: Far from everything, Beach is full of rocks, so cannot enjoy the beach, small place to swim but water is jerky and not much fun, we had to go to Playa tamarindo, conchal and flamingo to enjoy the beach
food is not great, very expensive and limited restaurant availability.
Activities like yoga, cardio dance , sports are basic and tuned to older people, badminton and tennis weren't available , taxi to airport is 140, insanely expensive.
snorkeling trip with swiss travel was not so great, the boat and drinks and people were amazing as usual but the snorkeling experience was dull, hardly any fish, no reefs left, murky waters. I would not do it again.
Bus service to Tamarindo is $20 per person, renting a car helps.
Recommendations: If I go back, I would rent a car near the airport, drive down to the hotel. they charge 45 per day with navi, ( at the hotel its 100) get a SUV, it may be 65 per day, but worth it. it will pay for itself. you can drive to Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal. Tamarindo is a great place to eat and shop.Beach is awesome and great place to surf. have to visit the beaches with only shells-conchal, and the flamingo beach where the water is perfect for enjoying the beach, sand is almost white and soft. they are all 15 to 25 kms, away so an hour of driving. Stop at Auto Mercado, a large grocery store and get what ever you want at much cheaper price. There are few more grocery stores between the resort and Tamarindo. Driving is fun not scary as some people have said, people are very cool and easy going and its safe. just done leave anything in the car visible to others, put them in the trunk. I have driven in india, so this driving is very easy.

The Hotel and stafe or amazing. This resort is verry quiet not much night life but for some that will be perfect. The beach is beautiful and you can swim in designated areas. Make sure you check out Black Stalion ranch for Ziplining ATV Horseback riding and dont skip the bbq it's only 10 min away.

Excellent. I won't say any more it check it out yourself. Highly recommended.

Great stay, you would expect nothing less from a JW Marriott. Thanks to your staff for an amazing stay!

Beautiful resort with awesome views. A bit isolated no eateries around other than those at the resort. The concierge is excellent got us a great private tour package.

Excellent , good beach , extremely clean, good food. Pools beautiful. The best sunsets I have ever seen in my lifetime.Yoga instructor Adriana the best. Bicycles tours. Mixology classes. I am going to go back. Excellent mojitos.

Excellent hotel. Beautiful architecture and decoration. 5 star service.

Food was disappointing. Eat at local establishments. Better yet, find another hotel because for the money you pay it should be better

Okay, so this resort is beautiful and the staff were accommodating and friendly. The pool was amazing. The food was top notch. The rooms were clean and very comfortable. I have zero complaints about what was there.

The only negative is that you are 20 minutes from the nearest town. That town is an odd mix of tourist and local beach scene. If you don't have a car you're pretty much stuck at the resort (there's a shuttle into town but it's something like $20 per person -possibly each way, we had a car so I don't recall). The tour company in the hotel is not cheap if you're going to book through them. We found the exact same combo tour for 1/3 of the cost if we drove ourselves. There are a handful of restaurants. I didn't eat anything I couldn't rave about... But expect to pay $25-35 avg for an entree (more if you go to the steakhouse).

Basically, it's amazing as long as you know what you're getting into.

Not worth the trouble. Thousands of better things to do in costa Rica

Excellent experience. The resort is beautiful with the large pool, plenty of dining options, and spacious rooms. Staff is excellent and attentive. Don't be shy and try to speak some Spanish as the staff will appreciate it.

Best stay ever,rooms were awesome! Great food,pools,beach..

I was only on the beach, I was not at the hotel but it looks very nice.

I loved staying here, the views were so pretty and the restaurants were amazing. The pools and rooms were nice and I had a lot of fun! However, the drive into the resort is quite long and confusing. It takes a while to get to, but is totally worth it. I recommend going ziplining, there are a few locations nearby that are good. The Marriott beach is not amazing, but again there are some beautiful beaches very close to the resort.

I love that hotel, nice laid back! I brought my family to enjoy vacation

The only one that I did not think was the buffet dinner, which he says is international and it seemed very simple, that is, it was not worth anything. The truth or presentation is ideal

Super clean hotel situated on private grounds. The roads leading in are rocky, oh well so are all the roads in Costa Rica. After the drive you arrive at a well run and well maintained property. The staff greeted me immediately and took great care of me. It was a great experience and so nice to find a place to relax. I was able to unwind and they even had a place to get a Covid test 3 minutes from the hotel. Great trip, we really had a great time! Thanks JW Marriott for everything!

The best experience for travelers. Category, service and luxury. A perfect combination.

Great place. Beautiful rooms, huge pool, wonderful beach and excellent food. Perfect

We had a great experience here. The pool is amazing, Beach front Access, and the staff is incredibly friendly.

The service is what made this property stand out. Fantastic staff who strive to provide high level experiences. Grounds are beautiful. Could spend day after day at pool

This is a very nice resort. The buffet food was excellent, and they mixed good cocktails. Good pool area and right on the beach if you want to swim in the Pacific. Nice large rooms. Would recommend the place, but not cheap.

Jesus Gonzalez
General Manager
J.W. Marriott, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Dear Mr. Gonzalez,

I want to express my appreciation for the wonderful service and professionalism of your staff. From check-in for our first trip here, and throughout our stay, the experience has been nothing short of what one can expect from the premier J.W. Marriott brand.

I wanted to highlight one particular staff member named Marco, who assisted us at the Azul Restaurant on the beach. On December 20th, I reserved a cabana on the beach, with plans to propose to my girlfriend. After letting Marco know my plans, he went above and beyond to make the experience truly unforgettable.

Our cabana was perfectly prepared with chilled water, towels and delicious cocktails. Dinner was served quickly and exactly to order, right before sunset, just as planned. There were many congratulations from the staff and a celebratory round of champagne. It is a night we won t ever forget.

Marco s kind demeanor and attention to detail are traits that make J.W. Marriott a place where people want to return again and again. Please let him know how much we appreciate his service!!

Best regards,
Kim Archer & Sandi Funk

Great experience here , room cleaning staff especially good. We forgot to remove a serenity sign on our door when we went to the pool. As soon as we got back in the late afternoon they knocked on the door and got us cleaned and towels replaced before I had a chance to call housekeeping.

Great time hanging out by the pool, the spa and massage services were first class.

The Hotel was great! The Staff were so friendly and helpful to us. The Breakfast buffet was amazing. I really liked the fruit juice they give to you when you check-in! Since I like to surf I tend to also really like the location on the pacific side of Costa-Rica. It is really close to the beach. The service was great! I am not the person who wants to complain or anything but I thought the bed sheets were a-bit rough. I highly recommend to stay at the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort And Spa!

Great Hotel. Really enjoyed our time there. The Grilled Chicken sandwich at the Azul Grill is awesome. Thanks Roberto.

Family and I had a great time here. So much to like. Staff, beach, rooms, pools, landscaping. I take one star of because it's in too secluded of a location. Closest town is miles away.

Editing my review to talk about the spa. The full-body Swedish massage was simply *amazing*. No doubt the best massage I've ever had. The masseuse had the hands of God. And done in a relaxing semi-outdoor environment with real birds chirping and all. Sigh, I want to go back.

excellent customer service. A delicious birthday surprise for my mom in her day. Thank you for such an excellent detail.

Superb. Top class rooms, excellent restaurants, superb beachside setting, great swimming pool complex, big but still spacious. Lovely evening lights. Expensive!

amazing property amazing staff and all in paradise! Reasonably priced!

Awesome! My daughter and I ate lunch at one of the restaurants. Adolpho gave us wonderful service. The food and drinks were excellent. And the prices were surprisingly reasonable.

Nice hotel, very luxurious with a beautiful beach to enjoy the sunsets, with live music every night!

From the arrival to the farewell the attention is very good, the staff is prepared to attend in a timely manner and quickly. Variety of restaurants and meals, if the menu does not meet the desired expectations, please the guest's wish. Overall cleanliness excellent, comfortable and modern facilities. Everything is built according to the most attractive and environmental vision, highlighting the iconic of the Guanacaste province.

The view, the beach, the hotel in general and the staff are perfect. Note that some of the restaurants are a little overpriced.

A little remote from civilization but the service is excellent

Great Suite! Service is fantastic! Food is acceptable, views outstanding. Nice and calm venue...pura vida!

Spectacular setting. Gorgeous flower & palm landscaped grounds surrounding a fabulous enormous infinity pool. Buffets were delicious with a wonderful variety for all tastes & treats. Perfect Pina coladas to enjoy while watching a magnificent Costa Rican pacific ocean sunset or pelicans diving for fish. Our room was palatial, immaculate & exquisitely appointed. Huge bathroom suite. Friendly caring staff. Petal strewn bed. Perfectly pampered

Terrible, just for being a driver, while waiting for some customers, a bellboy told me that I could not sit in chairs waiting at reception, what I think is discriminatory, what a pity, I do not recommend it to anyone. More

Great Hotel, very good food.
Good swimming beach. Other water areas Rocky and a strong downbeach current.
Maps of hotel and area poor.

We loved our stay here. The entire staff was incredible and really made our stay. Alfred and Marlin in particular were standouts and we looked forward to seeing them each day.

Would certainly recommend staying here

One of the best places we have stayed so far. Amazing hotel, very nice views. The only thing which needs some improvement is the food. I might be biased though since am used to European food.

I hated to leave! Everything about this place is amazing. The grounds were beautiful, the pool was immaculate, the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. It is a little off the beaten path depending on what you want to do in Costa Rica, but it is like private Oasis on the beach. I am ready to go back and it hasn't even been a week!

This is a dream. Excellent service, food and entertainment. It is our second time here. The rooms are clean. Staff are so friendly. The beach extend to playa avellana which is never ending. The pool is huge and finish by the see where you can observe sunset everyday. I recommand this place to anyone who is looking for peace.

Nice hotel, very luxurious with a beautiful beach to enjoy the sunsets, with live music every night!

It is very far from the nearest town and does not have any entertainment.

We started in La Fortuna and did all our excursions, so We came to the Marriott at the end to relax and it was a perfect Ending. I could not decide which beach to go to, but I am glad we came here. The waves were amazing and the resort was beautiful. The only complaint if I had one is it is very secluded and taxis into town are expensive. We were fine just walking on the beach and staying on the resort, but if we would not have gone to La Fortuna 1st I would have been a little bummed. Also we ate at the Marriott, I loved the burgers and azul by the pool was really good. However it s probably nice to get into town for some more authentic food. Thank you Marriott for a great stay

Great location, a bit out of the way. 9 miles from the main road. Beautiful sunset. Great ice cream.

Of the best that exists in luxury hotels in Guanacaste. Beautiful rooms and facilities. The breakfast buffet is quite good. Remember that it is located within Hacienda Pinilla, so you need a means of transport to go to the farthest town or restaurants other than the hotel.

Was a great family time, the staff at the spa made the experience even better since we had such a relaxing time thanks to Adriana who took care of every single detail that would help us feel like at home, the hotel location is perfect and the food like always high quality!

Too quality 5 Star hotel with beautiful ocean views. Good and service are excellent.

This is a great hotel. Very touristy though. Breakfast is good with nice views.

There are better places to stay in the Guanacaste region. We stayed here for a medical meeting & were disappointed. Staff is nice but not properly trained. The concierge was not good at all. We LOVE Costa Rica but not the JW Marriott. If you can spend a bit more...stay at the Four Seasons in Papagayo.

Nice resort with there for the day had lunch had a couple drinks beautiful view gorgeous grounds we travel there from Tamarindo they do day passes

Parrots in the morning ... Iguanas in the afternoon.

Service, great food, exquisite location. Golf, tennis, beach clubs. Family friendly, gourmet dining. One drawback is the insulated experience. It's in Costa Rica, but it's NOT anything like Costa Rica, the country. If you want to tell friends at cocktail parties that you "did" CR, and you don't care what it costs, there are several themed ( Steak house, sushi, etc.) restaurants, all other amenities (spa, massage, yoga) , in an outstanding surrounding. This is where you would send your top sales rep of the year as a bonus...

It was simply beautiful and peaceful.... I'm already planning my next trip!

Very nice place ... near Tamarindo. .. Mansita Beach

Stay was as smooth as would be expected for a place like this. Service was excellent!

The best holidays with my family I have spent in this hotel

Good hotel, with an incredible view and beach in front of it

The usual service at a JW Marriott, good service and friendliness. Charm going out by Hacienda Pinilla for a bike ride, they are provided in the Lobby. Additional activities such as Observatory, Outdoor Movies and Mixology entertain you. Additional I can say that I ate the best burgers in Costa Rica.

Well, soon I will be working for them and because the place is beautiful, soon they will have images of the place

Just came from this hotel. Property is tired. Restaurants had poor wine selections, out of many bottles. Only two upscale restaurants.

It's a hotel pass, with luxury everywhere, the room is a dream, the pool is great and the beach, although it has rocks, you see a perfect sunset