Hotel Riu Guanacaste - All Inclusive

“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 … more

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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“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 :-). T… more

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.

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“Great vacation!”

My daughter and I had a fantastic time, the hotel and grounds are beautiful. Our room was amazing with a gorgeous view of the Pacific and surrounding mountains. We were awakened every morning with the calls of the exotic birds. It's a very remote spot, so plan on excursions, the rain forest hike… more

My daughter and I had a fantastic time, the hotel and grounds are beautiful. Our room was amazing with a gorgeous view of the Pacific and surrounding mountains. We were awakened every morning with the calls of the exotic birds. It's a very remote spot, so plan on excursions, the rain forest hike, the visit to a coffee and cocoa plantation, the zip lining next door and the animal sanctuary were all just terrific. Howler monkeys on the beach were fun to see. Our room was kept spotless, everything worked well, beds were comfortable. The specialty restaurants were a bit of a challenge, but we're easy going, so lining up for a buzzer and then going for a drink at the Fiiladelphia Bar worked. The buffets had a good variety, drinks were great. It was very family oriented for Christmas.

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