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JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica: Traveler Reviews

4.5 of 5
Hacienda Pinilla, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica
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JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica
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899 reviews from our community

Traveler rating
    479
    231
    102
    60
    27
See reviews for
Families
273
 
Couples
411
 
Solo
16
 
Business
56
 
Rating summary
  • Sleep Quality
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Location
    4 of 5 stars
  • Rooms
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Service
    4 of 5 stars
  • Value
    3.5 of 5 stars
  • Cleanliness
    4.5 of 5 stars
Date Rating
Oslo, Norway
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
4 hotel reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“Had a great stay”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed January 6, 2013

A luxurious hotel with a not so good location, unfortunately. The hotel is located in a gated community, a 10-minute drive from downtown - with horrible roads. The beach was average, plus for the opportunity to get tasty food served on the beach and pool area.
The staff was extremely friendly, polite and helpful! Breakfast was brilliant, and the resort had several high quality restaurants. Beautiful pool-area with a relaxing atmosphere. Rooms were great, but could have been bigger.
To sum it up - perfect hotel, not so perfect location.

  • Stayed December 2012, traveled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 2 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Ask ALER113 about JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
GM_JWGuanacaste, General Manager at JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica, responded to this review
January 8, 2013
Dear Guest,

Thank you for share your comments with all of us.

I am glad you liked the Hotel and Service since is the most important for us.

Sunsets by the pool is the most relaxing and beautiful moments that you can experience at our Hotel.

Kind regards,


Jesus Gonzalez
General Manager
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
NJ
Senior Contributor
31 reviews 31 reviews
13 hotel reviews
Reviews in 23 cities Reviews in 23 cities
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
“Great Resort”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed January 5, 2013

Great resort, not the best beach but right next to one of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches - Avellanas - the service at all restaurants and bars is GREAT. Difficult to get there but worth the effort.

  • Stayed January 2013, traveled with family
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 3
Ask LoveToTravelNJ63 about JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
GM_JWGuanacaste, General Manager at JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica, responded to this review
January 8, 2013
Dear Guest,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review.

I am glad to know that you enjoyed our restaurants. I share your opinion about the Avellanas Beach.

We will be waiting for your next visit.

Kind regards,


Jesus Gonzalez
General Manager
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Winston Salem, North Carolina
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“Heaven in Costa Rica”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 31, 2012

I really can't say enough about this hotel. The staff is top notch. From checking in, baggage, maid service, everything. This place is really great. The property is still fairly new, only a few years old and is very, very clean. Everyone there works really hard to maintain the property and the sense of pride really shows. There was always some one sweeping, cleaning, dusting, etc. The staff really make the property a wonderful place to visit. Our bellhop, Carlos, was quite charming. We flew Copa Air and they lost 7 people's luggage. We waited for 3-4 days for our luggage and every time he saw us, he gave us an update on the the status. He really truly made us feel like he cared about our trip. We rented a car and each and every time we pulled in, they would race to open the doors. You get what you pay for at this property. The beach was gorgeous. There is an area to swim and the sandy beach is clean. Not to mention, a very short walk away is a very beautiful beach with less rocks. I was concerned about the other reviews of the beach, but it's nothing to worry about. The pool was so clean, the towels easy to get to. Roberto was our pool guy. Very friendly. We travel a lot and most often find, if its not on the menu then you can't get it. But Roberto knows customer service. If we asked for something, he got it for us. I mean, after all, that's what you are paying for. It's not an inexpensive resort and they run this place the way it should be run. I never met the manager but kudos to him for hiring the right people and putting customer service first. I did not waste one moment chasing luggage, towels, food or anything. They do it all for you. The staff always was smiling, helpful and really made our family feel like we were on a vacation. I don't remember all of the names of the people who work there, but I can say, they were all wonderful to us. Kudos, JW. Kudos. Now, head on down to Los Suenos Marriott and teach them a little about customer service, honesty, and how to keep the property maintained.

We split our time in Costa Rica bw the JW and Marriott Los Suenos. I wish I wouldn't have burned my money or time in the latter of the 2. Los Suenos, you have a looong way to go before you can compete with the JW.

Room Tip: I had a perfect room. View of the pool and the ocean. Choose the tower farthest away from the rece...
See more room tips
  • Stayed December 2012, traveled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 4
Ask 189jazzyjac189 about JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
GM_JWGuanacaste, General Manager at JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica, responded to this review
January 4, 2013
Dear Guest,

I am so glad that your time spends at our Hotel was enjoyed and reading your review we exceed your expectations and that is very valuable.

I will let know Roberto and Carlos that their names were mentioned in Trip Advisor by you, who express they made the difference and their stay.

We regret that your experience at Los Suenos wasn’t pleasing.

I hope to have the pleasure to meet you for your next visit.


Kind regards,


Jesus Gonzalez
General Manager
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Brooklyn, NY
Top Contributor
50 reviews 50 reviews
35 hotel reviews
Reviews in 34 cities Reviews in 34 cities
107 helpful votes 107 helpful votes
“Almost Perfect”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 30, 2012

Spent two nights here on a tour. When we arrived at the hotel, I was impressed by the beautiful grounds and the hammocks just waiting for you to lay down on - an inviting indication that you are meant to relax at this lovely hotel. My room was on the 1st level (reception is on level 3). When I walked into the room I realized that this was probably the nicest room I had ever stayed in (and I have stayed in a lot of hotels!). The bathroom was very large. It had a shower with a separate marble tub. Above the tub was a "window" with sliding wood doors so you could open the doors and even watch television while soaking in the tub. The toilet was behind a wooden door. Furniture was all high end, beautiful and in excellent condition. There was a flat screen television, a mini-fridge, a safe and even a dvd player. The room was extremely clean, Each room has a nice sized terrace or patio.
The property boasts one of the largest swimming pools that I have ever seen. If you stay here, you can enjoy watching the sun set into the Pacific - a magnificent sight. I had five meals at the hotel and the food was very good. Dinners were at the Mansita restaurant buffet and I there was an extensive salad bar, carving station, hot dishes, a dessert bar and a station that changed every night. One night it was a paella station and another night it was a pasta station. The food was included as part of our tour price but food was quite expensive at the hotel if you were staying on your own.
The staff was very polite and friendly. The Costa Rican people are amongst the friendliest and nicest people I have had the pleasure of meeting.
The negatives? It was impossible to get a beach chair. Yes, it was Christmas week but there should be some sort of system to prevent guests from dropping a shoe and a towel on a beach chair and then leaving for hours at a time. It was frustrating not to be able to enjoy the pool because I had no chair. There seemed to be a problem with napkins. Tables were reset after guests had used them but minus napkins. Seems if you weren't the first guest to use the table for a meal, then you had better eat neatly and keep your hands very clean! There weren't enough workers manning the stations. One night the poor chef at the pasta station did his best but there was no way he alone could serve all the guests expediently and the line was very, very long. Also, my room was not cleaned until after three. I was gone from the room for a lot of hours and wanted to take a siesta in the afternoon but I had to wait until the room was cleaned as I didn't want to be interrupted by housekeeping. Also, like most of Costa Rican hotels, be prepared to deal with a few bugs. I even had a little lizard in my room. It was very cute but I was petrified that it would find its way into my bed! Luckily, my husband caught it in a glass and we set it free outside.
The positives more than outweighed the negatives and I would have no hesitation about staying at the JW Marriot in the future.
The hotel is pretty isolated so if you want to go to town, you need to take a taxi

  • Stayed December 2012, traveled with family
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask JLW05 about JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
GM_JWGuanacaste, General Manager at JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica, responded to this review
January 3, 2013
Dear Guest,

Thank you so much for your positive comments sharing in this review.

We are glad to know that you enjoyed your stay and you liked your room. At the same time we regret about not find a sit by the pool. At this time of the year is very difficult even when we set up more chairs for our guests.

In this kind of situations is a little complicated have a control since you know in any Hotel in the world exist a system to avoid it, but any suggestion is welcome.

Thanks again for your feedback and we hope to have you again at out Hotel soon.

Kind regards,


Jesus Gonzalez
General Manager
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Montana
Top Contributor
58 reviews 58 reviews
20 hotel reviews
Reviews in 25 cities Reviews in 25 cities
62 helpful votes 62 helpful votes
“Luxurious place: I could live here.”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 29, 2012

I could easily live here every day . . . if I were a millionaire. Pura Vida! Nothing to dislike about it (except for the dirt road for some of the way in to it). That dirt road is trivial in my part of the U.S. The beach, pools, rooms, and food are all awesome.
Located on a Pacific beach, this excellent resort has just about everything you'd want: Excellent food, pools (with an infinity pool to die for), warm sunshine, and dry forest (with howler monkeys to ring your alarm in the morning if you listen for them). Although we had wanted an ocean view room, we appreciated the monkey howls and bird calls in the trees away from the ocean.
Rooms are spacious and excellent. Bring your own goods if you want to save money. Everything is pricey here--no surprise. You can buy just about anything at the stores in the mall in town--about a 30-60 minutes drive. Nothing else is near this hotel, but that makes it special and ideal. There is an international airport somewhat nearby.
Beware of the sand-colored, low rocks disguised as sand on the beach. They hurt feet and eat cameras.

Room Tip: Choose ocean view or tree view, up higher and nearer to the main lobby and pool is best.
See more room tips
  • Stayed December 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 2
Ask surfonmt about JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
GM_JWGuanacaste, General Manager at JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica, responded to this review
January 3, 2013
Dear Guest,


Thank you for sharing with all of us your recent experience at our Hotel. Which I am glad to know was great.

For been located inside the Hacienda Pinilla we are able to see a lot of wildlife and that is something a lot of people like to see.

The International Airport at Liberia is 1 ½ hour away from the Hotel and if you take a local flight from San Jose to Tamarindo is just 20 minutes away.

We appreciate your tips for our readers.

Kind regards,


Jesus Gonzalez
General Manager
Report response as inappropriate
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Additional Information about JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica

Also Known As:
Jw Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica Hotel Santa Cruz
Jw Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica Hotel
Jw Marriott Guanacaste Resort And Spa Costa Rica
Jw Marriott Santa Cruz
Marriott Santa Cruz
JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa Costa Rica
Address: Hacienda Pinilla, Santa Cruz, Costa Rica
Phone Number:
Region: Costa Rica > Province of Guanacaste > Santa Cruz
Amenities:
Beach Business Center Fitness Center Free Parking Restaurant Room Service Suites Swimming Pool Wheelchair access
Hotel Style:
#1 On the Beach Hotels in Santa Cruz
#1 Family Hotels in Santa Cruz
#1 Romantic Hotels in Santa Cruz
Price Range: $$$
Hotel Class:4.5 star (4.5*)
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
Exclusive beachfront property, adjacent to a world class golf course, featuring the largest pool in Central America and one of the best Spas as rated by the Spa Magazine. At JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa you will discover traditional Costa Rican warmth with world class luxury. Fast being recognized as one of the most magnificent in Latin America, this resort is located on the country's northwestern pacific coast, just 5 Miles away from Tamarindo and with convenient International access thru Liberia International airport. We offer the comforts and luxuries in an environment that is richly and authentically Costa Rican, designed for a family vacation or a couple getaway. Our 310 guest rooms provide a private haven of luxurious comfort with rich woods and fine linens. The resort is peacefully surrounded by the splendors of Costa Rican nature; with a choice of 3 beaches, equestrian center, 18-hole golf course designed by Mike Young and world classes Spa…will surely make your stay one to remember. ... more   less 
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