Loved the property..stayed 7 nights in a deluxe ocean view room. Appreciated the free bottled water as it was hot. The staff was very responsive to requests (repair guy even gave us directions to a locals only style rodeo in Tempate..awesome!). We had a rental and ate all meals at the local sodas..Las Palmas was the closest and best menu. Surfing was great at Avellanas just a 5 min drive or 15 min walk down the beach. Saw numerous turtles out in the water. The only improvement is in the checkout process...it took 20 minutes. Normally 2 minutes in any other hotel. Contrary to other reviews, the menu prices were close in price to other touristy restaurants in Tamarindo. Bottom line..great base camp for tours and surfing or a day at the pool relaxing. See you again soon.

I stayed a few days in this hotel - the rooms are very spacious and well appointed (large TV screen with many channels), large mini bar, coffee machine, great linen and shower products.
Swimming pool huge and relaxing at the same time. due to configuration , and very good quality sunbeds. IN addition, a very light zen music makes the whole experience incredible.

Many different restaurants within this 310 room complex (6 i think) - every one very friendly and good service. Really enjoyed that aspect.

The only BIG down side is that every thing is outrageously priced - no shop around to buy a coke or some drinks.. every thing has to be purchased in house at the restaurants - bottle of Evian water at $7.50 (and that is for starters) gives you an idea on how every thing is priced. The beach was somewhat disappointing as well - quite small, many stones... can not really bath in it.. just need to stay at the swimming pool


OVerall great stay (as long as u are ready to pay for all the extras).

Outside of that aspect, i enjoyed

The JW Marriott is a fabulous property - simply beautiful - right on the Pacific - unbelievable pool - great rooms - fantastic bedding - you will not want to get out of bed. If you stay here - you stay here - no town within about 50 miles - not even a small village - enjoy this great property - your not going anyplace else. You will have to eat and drink here - it is 5 star and you will pay 5 star prices. Fill up an extra suitcase with your favorite beverage - we did and enjoyed the great views and great weather on our balcony. We did purchase drinks by the pool and ocean. If you don't mind the isolation - you will love the JW Marriott.

We stayed for 5 reward nights. The room, partial ocean view, was lovely and luxurious. Separate spa tub, shower and toilet compartment. Comfortable bed. Balcony. The pool is lovely (though lacking in features) and particularly nice at sunset when the infinity edge makes it seem as though the pool and the ocean are one. We enjoyed the Asian Fusion restaurant.

BUT - there is little to do during the day and NOTHING to do at night. No dancing, no live music, let alone anything else. And the hotel is a drive through a development then long bumpy dark dirt road away from anything else - figure a half hour on mostly bad roads. The hotel itself has bad maintenance issues. Many elevators were broken. The room is damaged and under construction. And the concierge staff is worse than useless. They were surly and gave incorrect advice several times. Their sole role seems to be to sell the overpriced tours listed in the brochure they hand out. The front desk staff was alternately obsequious and sneering. Our best advice was from a waiter in the steak restaurant (unfortunately the restaurant wasn't great). There is no place on property to buy food - e.g. a yogurt, a coke - other than the hotel restaurants (note that this is different from the Marriott Los Suenos down the coast).

Overall verdict: Since the stay was free and since we had a car and free internet (we're Marriott Gold) this was an okay place. I wouldn't pay to stay here and even if it's free - you need a car and to visit a supermarket before you come. And to rely on tripadvisor for help - the hotel won't be any in terms of trip planning.