JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort and Spa

Nice resort but need to drive between 2 to 4 hours to see waterfalls, rain forest and most activities

Loved it was there with my family!

This was a very mediocre resort experience and we do not plan to go back. Pros: Pretty beach Large pool Relatively close to Tamarindo (30 minute drive) Cons: Slow, poor service Mediocre food for very high prices Not enough pool chairs Often windy & cannot use umbrellas A long way from anywhere else to see or do We came for a conference so the resort was selected for us. I think the biggest concern that I had was the service. I would spend hours at the pool without anyone coming around to take my order, and then if they did eventually come around, I could never hunt them down to sign for said order. The food at the resort was very average leaning towards disappointing and everything seemed sparse - towels were rarely available at the pool, staff was hard to find, water was difficult to track down. Every food/drink bill has a 10-13% service charge on it, but I don't know how much of that goes to the staff. Also, the buildings are an odd design, and can feel like a maze navigating to and from your room. The beach has lava flow in front of the hotel with a swimming area to the north. There is a rather significant rip current in some areas and signs warning of crocodiles. We walked South to the Beach Club where the lifeguard told us not to swim too far out due to recent croc sightings. Not the resort's fault, it was incredibly windy several days we were there so shade (umbrellas) was no available at the pool. This meant we were not able to use the pool. I would recommend they invest in permanent shade structures so they don't have to worry about the high winds. We have been to many other resorts that don't claim to be as high class as a JW, and we were very disappointed by the low quality. We expected more from Marriott and more from an exclusive resort like this.

Our experience at JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa was incredible! From the moment we arrived, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. The pool is stunning, and we loved the water aerobics class with Bryan—his energy made it so fun! He also taught Latin dance, which was a great touch. The restaurants served delicious food, and a walk down the beach was the perfect way to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. A highlight of our trip was the wine tasting with Morlyn and Luis—they were so personable and made the evening unforgettable. Every staff member truly went the extra mile. We can’t wait to return!

We were excited to spend part of our 30th Anniversary trip to Costa Rica at the JW. I have always liked the JW brand over any other Marriott brand, even the Ritz Carlton's. Sadly, this one missed the mark. In honor of our special occasion I paid the top rate for an Oceanfront room, which, in fairness this was, if seeing the ocean isn't the goal of that booking. This room should never bill at anything more than a Garden View room. We could only see the ocean if standing, which kinda kills the vibe of coffee with an Ocean View. Completely feel like we did not get what we paid for on this one, which as Marriott Bonvoy members felt even worse. Took a couple of days to shake the bait and switch feeling, but will say most of the staff came on strong, and were delightful. Compared to other reviews we felt like the food was pretty good, and affordable. As another reviewer mentioned......what is up with the pool bathroom (no bathroom) situation? There is exactly one stall---at the Azul Restaurant....not even really the pool, for hundreds of pool chairs. Only positive to our bad room, was that is was close, but makes you wonder where all these other people are going?? :( We loved Costa Rica, but doubt we will be back to this hotel anytime soon.

Almost 5 stars! Cannot give 5 stars as it felt more like a Marriott and not the luxury of a “JW” property. The bathrooms are very dated and I know you can do better. The pool and beach amenities are poor for a 5 star resort. There are no cabanas to rent and the staff at the pool is sparse with uneven service. With that said the property is beautiful and housekeeping is great

Where do I begin? This is a $700 per night stay in a dated hotel that desperately needs updating. We had no hot water for 3 of the 4 days we were there and management did nothing to fix the problem or contact me about it. The grounds are nice and well maintained with plenty of local plants. Food and beverage service and quality is barely average, and many times your order is taken and never received, but billed, so monitor your check. Food is very expensive for what it is, $20 chicken wings, (That we waited 75 minutes for), $ 22 hamburgers, and $24 fish tacos that are worth $5. Drinks are also expensive and there is a 10% service charge included so watch your check. The breakfast buffet is awesome and worth the cost. Lots of fresh fruits, eggs, and local favorites. The resort is isolated and transportation can be difficult. If you're planning to go into Tamarindo for dinner or at night, make sure you have transportation back. Finding a taxi to take you back is difficult and expensive, the later it gets. I do recommend Tamorindo as there is something for everybody and plenty of great food, drinks and nightlife. I would be remiss if I didn't say that after several complaints I was given a 50% discount for food and beverages which amounted to about $200. Considering we had 9 rooms at $700 per day for 4 days, I think they could have done better but I appreciate the courtesy. Special thanks to Gabriel at the front desk and Nelson the F&B supervisor who worked hard for me and took time to listen and entertain my comments. They couldn't have been more courteous and professional. I loved Costa Rica and Tamarindo and will return for sure. As for the JW Marriott, one and done.

Our stay at the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort was nothing short of perfect! The property was beautiful & well maintained, the staff was friendly, the food was delicious, & the excursions were well organized & fun. Our room was cleaned & restocked to perfection each day & we were so happy we’d thought to reserve a room with an ocean-facing balcony. Each night, the sunset was an event not to be missed! In addition, the serpentine, infinity pool was large enough to provide guests with varying levels of enjoyment. A water volleyball game at one end of the pool went unnoticed by guests looking for quiet relaxation in another area. Over the course of our week-long stay, we got to experience the warmth & friendly service of the resort staff. We looked forward to being greeted each day by hostess, Karen, who greeted us by name & easily recalled our dining preferences. In addition, Josue and Gustavo, stand out for their exceptional service & sincere interest in our comfort & enjoyment of the property’s many amenities. As vegetarians/pescatarians & coffee lovers who do most of our own cooking, we were concerned that the resort would not meet our dining preferences. The opposite was true: the breakfast buffet at the resort restaurant, Pimento, had something for everyone. Local fruit, along with the biggest buffet we’ve ever seen, including egg & quesadilla bars, provided a substantial start to each day’s activities. Servers were friendly, attentive & refilled our cafe con leche until

Way over priced for what it was . Staff was short handed . Not paradise for theses prices ! Food was good nothing great ..

Awesome trip!! People were so nice and friendly