Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique ★★★★★

"My partner and I just returned from a three-night stay at the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, and I'm still in awe of this resort. Yes, it's brand new. Yes, it's perched above one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. Yes, the grounds are absolutely immaculate. But what truly makes this one of the best resorts I have ever stayed at isn't the architecture or the views…it's the people and the incredible attention to detail. The experience starts long before you reach the lobby. As you drive down the nearly two-mile entrance road, you know you're headed somewhere special. The gated entrance with security immediately gives you a sense of exclusivity and privacy. By the time we pulled up to the arrival area, we were greeted by some of the warmest, friendliest people we've ever met. Our personal concierge, Freddy, along with the valet/door attendant (I believe his name was Raul), made us feel like family from the very first minute. We were welcomed with fresh coconut water, and after I casually mentioned how much I loved coconut water, another one magically appeared a few minutes later without me even asking. It wasn't a grand gesture; it was simply someone listening and caring. Those little moments are what separate good hotels from truly exceptional ones. Although our room wasn't ready because we had arrived early, Freddy couldn't have handled it better. He asked what brought us to Costa Rica, and I mentioned that seeing sloths was at the top of my bucket list. He assured us he'd personally come find us once our room was ready, took care of our luggage, gave us a golf cart tour of the property, and dropped us off at the pools so we could start enjoying our vacation. True to his word, he came back himself later that afternoon to let us know our suite was ready. While relaxing by the pool, we met one of the pool attendants, I believe his name was Yock, and he was phenomenal. He placed branded towel covers over our lounge chairs, asked if we'd like an umbrella, and when we said yes, he happily walked what felt like half the resort to bring one back. I actually felt bad asking because it was such a distance, but his genuine smile and attitude made it clear that making guests comfortable was something he truly enjoyed. He also took our drink orders and made us feel completely at home. One moment that really stood out was when Freddy introduced us to Loreana, the Director of Guest Services. She took time out of her day to personally welcome us, chat with us, and let us know we had been upgraded. She made us feel less like guests and more like friends visiting her home. Throughout our stay I continued seeing her walking the property, stopping to talk with guests, asking about their vacations, and making sure everyone was having a memorable experience. That's the kind of leadership that creates an incredible culture, and it shows throughout the resort. When Freddy finally escorted us to our room, we were blown away. The suite wa"

Suitree Experience Hotel ★★★★

"One of the best experiences we had in Costa Rica. Very professional and friendly staff. They showed us everything and they drove us around with their electric cars. Beautiful place to relax and experience something different. The road on the way to hotel is pretty bad in some areas but it worth the drive."

CC Beach Front Papagayo All Inclusive ★★★★

"It's not all-inclusive! It only includes breakfast and dinner! Be careful!"

Siwõ Art Guesthouse ★★★

"The B&B is clean, well-kept, and the staff is friendly, which I appreciated. The location is about a 6-minute walk to the beach, which is great. However, there is nothing else nearby. To get coffee, food, or essentials, you need to either drive 8–10 minutes to the next town or walk 35–40 minutes through hills. One disappointment was the breakfast policy. Breakfast was not offered to us because it was only included for guests who booked months in advance. I offered to pay an additional fee for breakfast, but that option was not available. I was told they needed to make sure there was enough food for other guests. While I understand planning limitations, it was surprising that basic items like coffee, tea, or water were not available to all guests. As someone who works in aviation and has traveled extensively worldwide, these are typically standard offerings. Especially at a bed and breakfast and in a country known for its coffee. Not all rooms have TVs, which was not an issue for us since we mainly returned to sleep. However, dogs barking at night made it difficult to rest, which affected the overall comfort. In summary, the stay was pleasant due to cleanliness, friendly staff, and proximity to the beach, but clearer breakfast policies, access to basic amenities would significantly improve the guest experience."

Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica ★★★★★

"Room was clean, modern, comfortable. Service was really wonderful and enhanced our stay here - it makes such a difference when people are nice to you when you are away from home. There were plenty of excellent food choices for us (one of us being a vegetarian). The hotel has a "normal" side with bars and poolside music, as well as a "quiet" side near the spa without the music...so it was good to have the choice of vibe to sit in. Altogether its a really well run hotel: one we were pleased to have stayed in and one we would definitely return to."

Glamping Tortuga Verde ★★★★

Nacazcol Hotel y Villas ★★★

"We stayed here for one night as a last minute booking because our flight out of Liberia was cancelled and we needed a place for a family of five to stay. I regretted it the minute we arrived. The staff were not welcoming to us. The villa was not clean (our socks were dirty after walking on the floors and there were cockroaches in the kitchen). The bathrooms were in need of major updates. Car alarms went off four separate times that night waking us all up. We left as soon as we could the next morning. I'm confused by some of the decent reviews -- just am not seeing it in the actual amenities or the staff."

Riu Guanacaste - All Inclusive ★★★★

Riu Palace Costa Rica - All Inclusive ★★★★★

"The staff was semi-friendly. The food was horrible at almost all restaurants. Barely any pool chairs available by 11am. A friend was discriminated and harassed by under aged guests that were drinking alcohol. The resort believed young kids and forced my friend to remain in her room her entire trip till her stay was over. Total ****** and discrimination against security! My room key deactivated every single day! My phone was never near it. Restaurants closed way too early around 9pm. Woke up to a roach staring me in my face the night before leaving. I highly doubt NOT recommend this resort. The don’t believe in compensating for bad experiences at this resort. I love the country but will never be back here again. If you’re black steer clear. Lots of ****** onlookers like you’re living in the 50s. Was even flipped the bird for no reason whatsoever. Photos online are very deceptive. Not real furniture. Seem like bad wood work. Not a real couch or headboard. Best thing to eat was at the bakery."