RIU Guanacaste - All Inclusive

The review for this hotel can really vary depending on what you are looking for in your trip. The atmosphere is definitely more of a spring break feel with a lot of people, sub par rooms and sub par food. We ended up moving from this hotel to the Palace after two nights of really uncomfortable sleep. That being said I am pregnant and not drinking and wanted a more relaxing atmosphere and the Palace was perfect. So if you are just looking for a party and not too concerned about food, relaxation or your sleeping area then this hotel is agreat deal. Just depends what you are looking for.

was pleased with my location of my room an the whole hotel was great!!!

We checked in and were at the Riu Guanacaste for about 5 hours before we decided to pay the $50 per person per night to upgrade to the Palace next door. The rooms were crowded and uncomfortable, there were tons of kids in the sports bar, and the pool was over-crowded with "spring breakers." The staff was much friendlier at the Palace and the rooms was much bigger and more comfortable. The restaurant reservation system and hours was a disorganized mess.

My husband and I had a great week at the Riu Guanacaste. We had been considering the Riu Palace next door before we booked, so we took a stroll through their grounds and lobby while we were there. It's like Vegas over there, so unless you like you're in the mood for a lot of neon and glass, don' bother. The regular Rui next door with the open-air lobby feels much more appropriate to its surroundings. Lots of reviews mention the food and the difficulty with getting reservations for the restaurants. We ate at the main buffet every night but one and we were consistently happy. There was always a great variety of food and everything we had was tasty. The only place that took reservations was the steak place and yes, you have to get in line at some ridiculous hour and they book a day in advance. Just relax and ignore it. Frankly, if you're going to Costa Rica for the great steak restaurant, you're probably missing the point. Don't miss: Walk all the way to the end of the beach and then into the jungle just before sunset for a great view of a troop of Howler monkeys.

We finally settled for the third room which was acceptable the rooms at this resort are not big or luxurious. The food was ok not enough variety. Fish was only one type and not tasty. Beef was also not to an American standard. The service was good, the fruits were delicious and so were the drinks. We were forced to leave at 955 AM to leave for the airport which took 35 minutes and the boarding was at 150PM. We would never go with Grey line others felt the same way.

Do not stay here. It's HORRIBLE. My husband and I took a group if 40 people here for our wedding and it was the worst day/ week of my life. We got here and the rooms were messed up. We had a wedding package that included hair, nails, couples massages and breakfast delivered to the room the day after. We scheduled the above for the day of the wedding however when we went to our appointments they did not have us on the schedule and were booked. I showed them the confirmation email so they quickly squeezed me in and my hair and nails were horrible. I ran back to the room 20 min before my wedding and had my girlfriend fix everything. Then the breakfast next day never happens not did the massages. They also tried to charge me double for the rooms so I was in an argument the entire time with them over price. I signed a contract stating one price and out of nowhere they tell me I owed double. The internet you pay $80 for barely worked and disnt work at all on some days. My husband and I had such a horrible time we left 4 days early just to get out of here. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE place to stay.

From the moment we arrived we were delighted with the amenities and the staff. We were given a room with a 'garden' view......would have been better to have an ocean view, however, we did not spend that much time in the room so it really did not matter. The many restaurants were all of good quality and excellent selection.....we especially enjoyed the El Toucan which is the gourmet restaurant. We did not encounter one person on staff that was not friendly and accommodating. The beach was lovely as there were many trees for shade if needed. Water was warm and refreshing. The shops are small and have limited inventory......clothing shops tend toward the size 6 & 8 female and smaller man.....so, bring with you the proper size as you most likely won't find it if you are larger than a 6 or 8. Could have had more local artwork available. Tours were available and varied......suggest at least 2 tours during a 7 day stay. Getting a lounge chair around the pool is not a struggle as there are plenty. All in all, I would consider this a '5' star experience!

We loved the riu guanacaste. The food was very good. Loved the asian restaurant. Always a good variety on the buffet. The remote location was great for us. We really enjoyed going walking on the beach each morning and getting to see the monkeys.

Pleasant with ample room and plenty of pool space. Food was ok. Steak house was quite good, and the Italian restaurant was fine. Package included a $35 spa credit per person, but the hotel would NOT honor them. Overall ok.

We were looking for a resort with delicious drinks, beautiful beaches, and a lush environment. The RUI had none of these. The food was barely tolerable. The only redeeming qualities were the pool and the weekend shows.