JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort and Spa

Customer ratings & reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

3529 reviews

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  A Peaceful and Delicious Escape!

  We stayed at the JW Marriott during a quieter time at the resort, and it was the perfect peaceful escape. Although we had a few passing rain showers, our five-day stay was filled with relaxing, sun-filled moments -- lounging by the pool, wading in the ocean, and enjoying delicious meals at the on-site restaurants. Our room was spotless, spacious, and beautifully appointed, with a large bathroom that felt like a private spa. The ocean view from our balcony was absolutely breathtaking — sunsets were a nightly highlight. Breakfast was a standout highlight. As a Marriott Titanium and Lifetime Elite member, the complimentary breakfast was exceptional, one of the best I’ve experienced at any Marriott property. The spread was generous, with both local and international options, plus mimosas and specialty coffee each day. Karan, the hostess, greeted us each morning with a warm smile and made us feel truly welcome. Elian at the pool bar and poolside service brought incredible energy and attentiveness that elevated our experience. I also really enjoyed an 80-minute massage at the spa, which was both deeply relaxing and therapeutic -- one of the best I’ve had. Take advantage of the lovely sauna, steam room, and private outdoor plunge pool and lounge chairs with spa treatment! The gym was also spacious and included all the free weights and equipment you could need -- great for any hotel. One thing I appreciated was the transparent pricing. Most menus included the standard 10% service charge, and prices were clearly listed in USD, which made things simple and clear. Do note that the resort is a bit remote. It takes about 10–15 minutes to reach the highway and around 25–30 minutes to get to Tamarindo, depending on traffic and road conditions (hello, potholes!). Overall, the JW Marriott offered a luxurious and tranquil getaway, with standout service and amenities that made our stay unforgettable. We’ll definitely be back!

  Sep 28, 2025
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  This hotel is the place to stay near Tamarindo

  My wife and I just spent a week at the JW Marriott at Guanacaste. It was an amazing experience from the arrival and our (sad) departure. The hotel is located in a secluded area about 15 minutes south of Tamirindo. The hacienda-style hotel is very spacious, and it maintains the architectural style in a very modern (updated) property. The gardens are beautiful, the pool is one of the largest in the country, and it looks out directly on to the beach (which is immediately adjacent to the pool). The restaurants are all excellent choices for dinner, especially the Italian and Asian ones (we tried all three), and the breakfast buffet was spectacular. The restaurants aren’t very themed for Costa Rican food, but there are CR items to try. The staff was the shining star of the hotel. The check-in process was easy, and the staff is there to help you at every moment. Guiermo, the lead concierge, was especially gracious and helped arrange several excursions we took advantage of through the hotel. The horseback riding is a must-do and has an excellent pathway to the beach. With every interaction with the staff, we were treated like family and greeted with smiles. The rooms are in excellent condition, and comparable to hotels of this class. Our (ocean view) room had a clear view of the ocean and the sunsets. Our furniture, mattress, and fixtures were all well maintained and comfortable.

  Sep 18, 2025
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  Great stay

  Great stay at this resort. The resort is beautiful. It’s about an hour away from the airport and we hired transportation prior to arriving which was great. The resort offers restaurants on property and spectacular sunset views. The breakfast buffet is delicious and the Costa Rican Coffee delicious. Try the homemade tortillas they are amazing! Staff at breakfast is the best! The rooms are comfortable and spacious. You can go into town, which we arranged a ride through the hotel which is not too far away and reasonbly priced. I would definitely recommend this resort for vacation.

  Sep 16, 2025
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  Pura Vida in Costa Rica

  We enjoyed a great stay at the JW Marriott. We loved the private beach with sunset views from our oceanfront balcony that were spectacular. The beach stretches out for miles with almost no other people and great swimming. You can borrow bikes from the hotel and ride all around the area, including about 20 minutes to another beach that is even more expansive and private. The food and drinks are above average with good room service. The breakfast buffet was a daily highlight with so many fresh and local options. The location of this hotel means you are fairly remote, so you will be adding 30min in each direction and some extra $$ to go on any tours or to get to Tamarindo from the hotel, but that is why the beach and grounds at the hotel feel so private. There are lots of options for tours and they were all good experiences. We booked through our hotel, through online tour providers, and through a local guy named Erik G. Erik was great to work with, and we enjoyed 2 fun tours through him that were some of the highlights of our trip. We also really enjoyed the horseback riding tour through the hotel that ended with a ride on the beach. Overall, it was a great experience for our first stay in Costa Rica!

  Aug 09, 2025
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  Beautiful and relaxing

  We had a fantastic stay at the JW Marriott Guanacaste! Every meal we had was delicious, but our favorite by far was the food at the Rum Bar – highly recommend trying it out. The staff throughout the resort were all friendly and attentive, but we have to give a special shout-out to Elian at the pool. He was exceptional – always making sure we had cold drinks and tasty snacks. He was always checking on us to make sure we were okay. We also really enjoyed the included bike tour, which was a fun way to explore the area and even spot some monkeys in the trees! Check-in was smooth and easy, but unfortunately, check-out was quite slow. After a long wait, we ended up just dropping off our key and didn't receive an itemized bill, which was a bit inconvenient. Overall, though, it was a wonderful experience and we would definitely come back!

  Aug 01, 2025