Location
GuanacasteProperty Information
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Resort Details
Hotel Advisories
General Policies & Fine Print
Check-in Policy - Deposits or credit/debit card hold authorizations are not requested at check-in. Minimum age of 18 is required for check-in, an ID/Passport will be requested upon arrival.
Convention Policy - Individuals attending a convention cannot book this property for their stay. If found attending a convention, guests may be subject to higher room rates upon arrival.
Hotel Spring Break Policy- Student Groups/Spring Breakers (either groups or individuals, regardless of age) are not allowed at any time during the year. Guests disturbing or generating complaints from other guests or hotel may be removed from the property, at their own expense. Parties in rooms are not permitted.
Transfer Policy - A price may display when children stay free, if your vacation includes transfer to your hotel.
General Information - Room taxes and service fees are included in vacation price.
Minimum night stay restrictions may apply.
Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
- Early Departure Penalty: 1 Night Applies: Sunday - Saturday 04Jul24 - 23Dec26
- Early Departure Penalty: 2 Nights Applies: Sunday - Saturday 24Dec25 - 30Apr26
Customer Ratings & Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
10348 reviews
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Jan 11, 2025Wonderful Stay with a Few Hiccups
Service: The service was generally very good. One notable highlight was when we accidentally blocked the toilet, and the staff promptly resolved the issue. The dining experience was also impressive, with a large variety of food, including plenty of healthy options. However, there were a couple of minor issues. Towels were not always replaced, and we had to call room service a few times. Additionally, we encountered ants in the room, likely due to leaving food out with our kids. Rooms: The rooms were cleaned daily and done well. They were spacious and comfortable, and I slept exceptionally well, though the springs on the right edge of my bed were worn out. Unfortunately, some drawers in the room were broken and couldn’t be pulled out, which was a bit inconvenient. Location: The resort is somewhat remote. If you plan on renting a car for excursions, it might not be worth it, as there isn’t much nearby. The beach was okay, but the water wasn’t particularly clear or remarkable. Value: Vacations like this are always pricey, but I felt it was good value for the money. The overall experience, from the quality of the food to the accommodations, made it worthwhile. Conclusion: Despite a few minor issues, we had a lovely stay and would recommend Hotel Riu Guanacaste to others looking for a relaxing getaway.
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Jan 08, 2025Terrible guest service
The facility itself is nice. However, expect your meal times to be on the schedule of the resort. If you happen to miss a restaurant time the sports bar has some snacks available that I wouldn't feed a homeless person. All restaurants I have had dinner at are all buffet style. The pool, beach and spa are the only activities which are fine. My chief complaint is, we have been without air conditioning for 3 days and it isn't a resort wide issue and the hotel staff has done little to accommodate any changes to that situation. I have spent more time at the front desk than I have with my family. Honestly, the highlight of the trip has been the monkeys at the beach.
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Jan 08, 2025Holiday
Everyone has very friendly and respectful! The hotel is very good, the entertainment is great and there was lots of restaurants
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Jan 08, 2025
Warmth in the depths of Winter
My family of two adults and two young (17 & 20) adults visited 12/26-1/1. To get the negatives out of the way: 1) The elevator service was spotty - this was not an issue for us because we wanted to take the stairs to walk off the food anyway. 2)The beach had a lot of plastic trash on it - this is primarily the fault of inconsiderate guests. 3)The bathrooms have a slight odor of sewage emanating from the toilet; this can be mitigated by keeping the toilet lid closed. 4) The local vendors on the beach were a little intimidating to my kids who aren't used to being approached like that, but once you said "no thank you" they left you alone immediately. We did end up buying souvenirs from them at a cheaper rate than the resort gift shops (we bartered a bit on prices and were able to get lots of stuff including some beautiful colones). 5) I've never been to a resort that didn't offer complimentary shuttles from airport to hotel - I spent about $220 for private transportation. The positives are too numerous to list in entirety, but some highlights for us were: 1) The food selection was vast and good quality 2) The specialty restaurants were easy to get in to (we were first in line for every restaurant we wanted to try, you just have to send someone down about an hour ahead of time to wait) 3) The grounds were extremely well manicured and maintained (with the exception of the beach trash). 4) The pool area was clean and appropriate for the family or adults 5) The shows were a little cheesy, but we enjoyed the white party night. Staff has high energy and are very polite 6) The Renova spa is high-end and amazing (do not be fooled by the vendor offering spa services on the beach; maybe it is safe, but they literally take you to a tarp down the beach after they lie and tell you they're part of the resort) 7) Diamante adventure park (well worth the $ for the ziplining) is in close proximity and there's a free shuttle that picks you up and drops you off. 8) I felt that the atmosphere at the resort was just perfect. There were no drunken brawls, late night noise, or rude guests. Everyone we met was very friendly, and with a few exceptions at the buffets, the kids were mostly reigned in. 9) We could tell that the staff are happy with their jobs. I like to look at peoples' faces when they think no one is watching, and the staff's contentment surely sets the tone for the resort. Shout out to Moises at the pool bar for his great personality.
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Jan 08, 2025
Best all inclusive experience! Service 5*
Write 20 sentences about staying at RIU Guanacastw. The room was spacious and clean, pillows were a bit thick. We had a quiet sleep and bed was comfy. Check in was quick, welcome drinks always in reception. From arrival till you check out all you do is swim, eat and be entertained…tough life :-). Think mimosa Mondays, foam party Thursdays. Champagne and wine all day. Unlimited wide variety selection of cocktails at the pool. Sports bar always had nacho’s, coffee and drinks. The waterpark is super fun for ages small to big, closed on Tuesdays. There is a candy store next to waterpark that does delicious ice cream, cookies and macaroons, that’s what they serve. The beach is beautiful and have a few vendors with Greta prices for swim vests and souvenirs. There is also an Asian, italian and mexican restaurant…all amazing! Kids club staff are very friendly. Nicole (super friendly) activities specialist is always doing fun events at the pool, combined with pumped music to give that vacation feel! I lost my prescription glasses and Anderson and Kevin from reception found them, also helpful to answer any questions about the resort. If you need anything from Housekeeping, Arley is your guy! Moses at the pool bar is very interactive with the guests and has such a positive vibe. The spa is amazing for massages or facial also a steam room. The gym is great but opens at 8am. They have kids entertainment we went to Monday eve around 7:30pm, and dance shows for adults and kids at 8:30pm. The sports bar has a pool table and foozeball. Look out for the Iguana by the pool it actually swims. They lifeguards were very helpful when my little one slipped. It’s such a beautiful resort and staff are so happy..they even seem I’m vacation mode. The GM of this resort must know how to run things as we left wanting more and wanting to stay. Shuttle service can be arrranhed at reception unless you want a private shuttle which is extra.