Hotels With Pools in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Just returned from our stay at the Planet Hollywood and have mixed feelings.  There were some excellent aspects… but also a few areas for improvement!  Let’s start with the good stuff: Edu (bartender at the lobby bar) was a STAR.  Trust him to make your drinks, just tell him the flavor or preference for liquor) and he will spin you up something completely magical!! We LOVED spending our nights sitting at the bar watching Edu make peoples evenings.  We also loved the included watersports like paddleboarding and kayaking ( unfortunately the big water tricycle was out of order).  The Fuel Coffee bar is also a fabulous addition and great place to escape the heat for a cold coffee.  Now, the negatives - the front desk staff was pretty subpar and didn’t seem to communicate very well - one girl was actually very rude when I was trying to sort out a room situation and I wish I got her name.  The pool drinks are SO bad.  Not sure what type of bottom shelf alcohol they use at pool bar, but we tried so many different drinks and they were all disgusting.  The only thing somewhat drinkable was the Mojito.  I ended up switching to non-alcoholic drinks after day 1 and they were much better at the pool.  Did my real drinking at the lobby bar with Edu in the evenings.  Otherwise, the room was clean - resort was nice and entertainment was entertaining.  The food was decent but the buffet was SO hot and humid without any air conditioning. Overall, this was far from the best all inclusive experience I’ve had, but, we still made the most of it and had a nice time.

We had read many great reviews before booking this property, but were a little apprehensive about if it would live up to expectations. Oh yes it did! The staff are friendly, helpful and welcoming and the property is very well maintained. While lounging by the pool, expect a lizard or two and your morning alarm could be the howler monkeys. This property is centrally located allowing you easy access to the beach and town, but the gardens and pool offer pure tranquility. You can physically feel the energy change as you cross the road and walk up the path up from the beach back to your room. There are steps into reception, down to the pool, restaurant and into rooms, so consider this if not mobile. The breakfast buffet was delightful and the evening meal offered two starter, two main and one dessert option that varied each day. The room was big, comfortable, toiletries provided and strong Wi-Fi throughout, even on the beach. We thought this property was great value for money and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Had a 2nd floor balcony room (206) x 2 nights. Pros outweighed the cons: very helpful, nice workers; strong shower water pressure; great mattresses; fabulously cool and quiet A/C; decent Wi-Fi; lovely natural grounds with birdsong amid exquisite sparkling pools; nice breakfast buffet included with room; Santa Rosa Plaza across the road with a fine grocery store and a great crepe cafe, among others. Cons: a lot of truck and car noise on highway as others have said; traffic congestion in Liberia during the main part of the day; and noise from people in the pool area late into the night. But I’d totally want to stay at Boyeros again - for the real Costa Rican experience - ear plugs not to be forgotten.

Tamarindo is a fun beach town, lots of restaurants and of course the beach. The pros: incredible view, free shuttle to the town, access to the Langosta Beach Club, helpful staff. The cons: location a little far from town, can’t walk it. And the BIG con were the locusts. They were everywhere, especially at night. This are huge (8-10 inch) insects that look like huge grasshoppers. My kids freaked out because these things fly around and land on you sometimes. The Wyndham staff can’t control it, but they are helpful to remove them from your door. If you’re grossed out by large insects, just be aware.

Excellent and pretty new hotel. Breakfast is very good and abundant. Hotel staff very friendly. The only cons are the thickness of the walls. We had noisy people next door that disturbed us early in the morning. The room is a little small for a family of 4. Special mention to Daniela, our housekeeper. She has been great!!! Super recommended hotel.

Breakfast is average; the cost is relatively high compared to local reservations; there is no service after nine o'clock in the evening, the hotel directly locked the door, and there is no place to buy water.

This is your typical Hilton hotel you would find in America, honestly if you just came here you would think you are back home. Also, they have amenities such a restaurant, pool and fitness room at this hotel. Restaurant food is okay, nothing like the food you have probably have enjoyed while traveling around Costa Rica. Lastly, the room was clean and standard, no fuss! It is also very close to all the rental car return places. Breakfast is not included with reservation, it is something you pay out of pocket. Overall, very great option for someone traveling in or out of Liberia Intl Airport.

Magaritaville is conveniently located near the marina where you will find several restaurants and shops and is located on the beach. The hotel is smaller than I imagined for an all inclusive. I opted for only breakfast but if you are a drinker, the all inclusive might be a good choice, the pool has a swim up bar. The staff was friendly and helpful. Overall experience was good. If you are looking for convenience, I definitely recommend.

The Golden Palms resort in Papagoya is heavily. The staff are outstanding and kind. The pool is so clean and big. It’s so big it never feels crowded. The rooms were clean and had a mini fridge, which was great. We appreciated the complimentary breakfast but it would be nice if the menu varied from day to day. I highly recommend The Golden Palms resort. We’ve been there twice and will return again.