Absolute perfection! Our family of four (two boys ages 6 and 9) stayed for 4 nights but would get stayed forever! The resort, rooms, grounds, staff and amenities are out of this world! Rooms were very comfortable pw and we loved the Tico bar. So many animals on site (sloths, Macaws, frogs, lizards etc) the boys were in heaven. A very family friendly and comfortable resort with plenty to entertain the kids and relax the parents. We did have a few issues with red carbs (one in our room) but the staff (especially Alexander) were immediately attentive and helpful. You are right next to the state park and we had a “monkey parade” on our deck each morning when a family of moneys came by. This place is truly magical and one of the best parts was that it never felt crowded or full. We could always find a place to sit by the pool or beach and never had to wait long for a golf cart or food/drink. What really makes it superb is the staff- they all know you by name and are truly engaging and A+. We can’t wait to come back soon!!…
Arenas del Mar is the best complete hotel experience in Costa Rica. The hotel is ideally located on property facing the ocean, surrounded by the jungle, and with access to the beach. The rooms are well design meeting a perfect balance between luxury and sustainability. Out suite had comfortable beds with top-of-the-line sheets and towels, a beautiful balcony with an outdoor jacuzzi, and 180-degree ocean views. Complimentary: tico-bar with beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks, laundry, and activities at no extra charge. Local and international calls are free of charge. We took the Sustainability Tour and were very impressed about all the effort and commitment of Cayuga Collection and Arenas del Mar to maintain this balance between Luxury, Hotel, Community, and Environment. The staff: friendly and professional, every person we met appeared to feel proud to be a part of this hotel. The quality of the food, the services, and all the vacation experiences was outstanding. Since the day we arrived in Arenas del Mar, all the staff ensured to provide the best experience ever. Excellent chefs and staff guarantee a whole gastronomic experience every time we ate there. When you get to Arenas del Mar, you forget that the rest of the world exists, and this paradise melts into your soul. The hotel offers a shuttle to the national park, Quepos, and surrounding areas for a low fee. The hotel can also arrange transportation from the airport and to the hotel. Directors of Operations, managers, drivers, housekeepers, front desk, restaurant and barternders, and all staff work as team members, and make sure your vacation is a complete success. We will be back!…
Overall a great experience, please see below some highlights of our experience. Here is what we liked: *the staff - great customer mindset, very professional and friendly. made us feel included and seen. always checking on us and going the extra mile. Julio, Walter, Anita, Ryan, Manuel and Julian were amazing to us, but really everyone there was excellent. *the rooms - we had a suite that was cleaned daily, and had everything that we needed (and more!). Great design and decorative taste, very spacious, awesome beds/bedsheets, laundry done and fridge restocked every day. The view from the room was breath - taking. *the location - close to everything, restaurants, beaches, national park. The property is very well kept, super clean and well managed. Here is what we thought that can be improved: *overall atmosphere is quiet - we would’ve liked some live/local music or events at least in the evenings and at least by the beach bar; we would’ve liked to dance (ok, maybe not every night) and to hear some local artists. *restaurant menu can be more varied and affordable - main dishes start at $25 and yes, very beautiful and well executed, but we needed some more/cheaper/simpler/ healthier options for us and the kids. The bfast was amazing, I just wish that dinner and lunch had more affordable options. For this reason we drove to town and ate there - again, not bad and we enjoyed exploring the local cuisine, but we would’ve liked not to have to leave the resort. …
We stayed in suite 601. 601 is on the ground floor, so I recommend a higher floor for better view and privacy. The resort is a monkey and sloth paradise. No need to go to Manuel Antonio Park! Plenty of entertainment from the animals at both pools. Vegan dining options only available at the main upper level restaurant. The beachfront restaurant is buffet style and all fish, so we were told to dine only at the main restaurant. It would have been nice to dine on the beach. The 'Ocean Breeze' suite that we were assigned had a 'jacuzzi tub'. Please note this is not heated. It is simply a bathtub that takes 2 to 2-1/2 hours to fill. It does not stay warm. In suite 601, if you sit in this tub, you are in view of people on higher balconies at the next building, so not the best design/layout. Also, we had a landcrab coming in our bedroom through the baseboards (there was a really wide gap and it was not sealed), so I think this resort is starting to show some signs of age. The staff fantastic and always made us feel very welcome with great big smiles and willing to do anything we asked. Remember you are in a tropical rain forest... so bugs happen!…
My husband, 14-yr-old daughter, and I had an absolutely amazing time at Arenas del Mar. The property was gorgeous and well-maintained but also very sustainably built and run. The wildlife all around was fascinating to watch- iguanas, white-faced monkeys, sloths, macaws, agoutis, green herons to name a few. Our room was very comfortable and well appointed- tiles and decor appeared to be updated from pictures I had seen on website, which already looked nice. We thoroughly enjoyed the complimentary snacks and house-made beverages in the mini-fridge. The view from our room (302B I think) was spectacular and we loved letting the waves lull us to sleep at night. The food was outstanding. Breakfast every day started with a plate of fresh fruit and Costa Rican coffee... and all the offerings were fresh, locally sourced if possible, and quite healthy. We ate at the beach for Costa Rican night, which was lots of fun, as well as at Mirador. Fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables, all so well prepared. However, probably the most memorable thing about Arenas del Mar is the staff. The servers were kind, helpful, and professional- we loved talking to Brian and Cesar, who always sported big smiles and helped us pick the best food items. The concierge staff was super helpful in arranging a spur-of the- moment trip to a nearby secluded beach where we were able to paddleboard and snorkel in crystal clear waters while enjoying lots of wildlife. In addition, they gave me some medicine to help with nausea for our ride to La Fortuna when we were leaving- a life saver! The golf cart drivers were attentive and so friendly- especially Farlen (who tolerated our Spanish without complaint and was the most cheerful guy ever) and Christian. Everything about our stay was perfect and we were so sad to leave!…
We LOVED our stay at Arenas Del Mar, where we started our Costa Rica vacation (we then went to La Fortuna). Our son specifically mentioned that he would miss Arenas because of how kind everyone who works there is. Here are some things that make Arenas special: AMAZING ocean views (recommend room 701A), delicious food, a private beach PLUS access to a public beach that is somewhat removed and therefore not crowded, monkeys (and sloths, parrots, etc.) living on the property .... I could go on. Our children especially liked the surfing lesson and fishing expedition that Arenas planned for us - ziplining was also a hit! Thank you to Krishna for everything he did to make our perfect family vacation happen!
Had all three grown children with wives and friend with us. One very active 7 year old grandson. We all had a great time. Beautiful full service beach resort. All the women loved the spa. Food was excellent and staff great. Lots of surrounding activities. We would all like to return and see the sloth again this came in through the bar roof for “happy hour” one evening!
Wonderful, family friendly resort or great for couples as well. We saw so many sloths so close it was wild! Lots of monkeys, lizards, agouti, sloths, Halloween crabs, hermit crabs, basilisk lizards, iguanas, hawks, toucans, macaws, and more! Tons of neat animals to see right from our balcony. Easy walk to the beach. Food was fantastic at every location. Staff was all exceptional as well. Would definitely return and send other folks. Great work!
A stop at Arenas Del Mar was a perfect way to cap our tour of Costa Rica. The service was excellent, so helpful and attentive. The golf carts to navigate the property worked perfectly. We can’t wait to return.
This resort is among the very best: from check in to check out, the food, the service, the rooms, the views …. Top notch all the way around. Our second time here and wish it were more. Can’t wait to come back
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