Riu Guanacaste Vacations

A resort chain worth staying at.

NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Don’t bother driving here to go to the waterpark because they won’t let you in unless you are staying at the hotel. Which, based on some of the other reviews here, doesn’t seem like a great idea as there are much better hotel options in Costa Rica.

Rooms - dated but clean. Has a safe for security. Bed was comfortable. Pillows weren’t the greatest (very small). No hand soap in the rooms which I found weird. They don’t refill your mini fridge every day. Only every other day. Our black out curtains didn’t close the entire way so with the sun rising around 4:30am, we were awake very early most days. Temperature is hard to regulate within the rooms. Wifi worked well.
Beach - very nice. People trying to sell things but not too aggressively. I didn’t feel unsafe once. Out toilet didn’t flush well. It flushed but the button was broken and hard to push in and hold in until it flushed. Also the outlets were an odd size and didn’t hold things into the plug well (such as a phone charger). Also some of our plugs were blackened from burn marks which is sketchy.
Food - we tried 3 out of 4 a la cartes and found them to be absolutely terrible. We went to the buffet after. The buffet was mediocre at best for lunch and dinner. Food was always cold, sitting out for too long, and a few times the meat was under cooked. Many people in our group had stomach issues and we were eating off resort by the end of the week. Breakfast was good. Loved the fresh omelet station. I did not like that the buffet didn’t serve alcohol (ex. Bailey’s in coffee or mimosas). The bathroom is also a pretty far distance to walk from the dinner buffet. No room service and the only late night/snack option is really gross old burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs that you can get out of a fridge and warm up. Also the food was never labelled correctly in the buffets. I literally put mayonnaise on a taco thinking it was sour cream. Also we were told raccoons were going on tables at the steak restaurant and taking peoples food. No air conditioning in the buffet as well which made for very uncomfortable eating temperatures when it was 38 outside.
Drinks - did not realize until day 5 of our trip that you could request “premium” (ex. Bacardi) liquor from a couple of the bars on the resort. Not the pool bar though. This made a big difference. The standard liquor they were making drinks with was really disgusting. Also didn’t like the one beer option.
Shows/entertainment - the shows were not good compared to other resorts we have been to. The only other after dinner entertainment option is watching sports on very small TVs in the bar or maybe playing pool or ping pong on the single table they have for a resort of 700 rooms. If you do play, the tables are in very rough shape. No casino. Water park is nice and not busy. My husband was hitting the bottom of the pool when coming out of the water slides which was a bit sketchy but it was fun. Spa is nice but very expensive. So are the shops. The gym is nice. The disco is open 6 days a week starting at 10pm. It is nothing special. You also have to pay for drinks in the disco. It is not all inclusive.
Other - resort staff keep it very clean. The staff aren’t overly friendly and don’t joke around with you like they have in other resorts we’ve been to. Pool could be cleaner. There is only 1 with a lot of people in it so hairs and stuff floating around which is gross. Weather is extremely hot. Only water bottles provided are very large and not practical to walk around with. The road going into hotel has the largest pot holes I’ve ever seen in my life. Made for very unfortunate bus and car rides. We also took the water taxi to Coco one day which was safe and fun. We also upgraded to an ocean view room which was a stretch. We had a balcony facing the ocean but very far away. Also the room keys are physical keys you have to carry around.

My wife and I are currently staying at the RIU Guanacaste and we could not be more miserable. We have been here for just over 24 hours and my wife is sick with food poisoning and the food has been awful since we got here. To the point that we are only eating beans and rice. There was a brawl on our second day at the pool and the restaurants are below average at best. The room is severely outdated and the service has been subpar. I would stay any where other than here as our experience has been terrible and it has not even been 2 days. The pictures on the site are nothing like the rooms.

The resort is ok but LOUD. I mean, like I could barely sleep on my vacation. When I complained about the noise late at night, the front desk attendant hung up on me. Stay somewhere else if you want to relax.

We had a great time at the resort

It's too cool from the facilities to the sea

It's a very clean place. Food needs some work. But very nice.

I do not know why this hotel has an above four star rating or why it is considered a five star hotel. They don’t offer room service in any form and the food is like a crappy high school cafeteria buffet.

The pool water isn’t clear, they don’t have enough towels for the pool area, they don’t stock the mini fridges with enough water and if you want more then you have to go to the front desk to get more.

The toilet paper is like sandpaper, and their shower/bathtub combo is a death trap. The beds are hard and the linens look to be the original ones they used when this place opened up. Don’t bother trying to shop in their local store as they mark up everything by over 500%! Also, you won’t be able to get an Uber to leave the hotel so either rent a car or be ok with paying their per person fee of $18 for a van to take you somewhere.

They don’t even have outlets by each side of the bed and your shampoo is one of those dispensers on the wall and it’s also your body wash.

If you are expecting a bougie five star experience, you won’t get it here. It reminds me of a 3 star Vegas hotel that is pretending to be a five star.

Also, don’t bother waiting for a specialty restaurant. We were there 8 min after it opened and had to over an hour and a half to eat really bad Italian food. The only decent food has been the ice cream and the fruit (the fruit that’s ripe at least).

Also, if you eat by the beach, you can expect the local raccoons to join you.

And if you try and ask to speak to the manager they will tell you that you need to wait an hour while he unpacks a delivery.

We have traveled all over the world and very rarely have been this disappointed in our accommodations.

Let me start by saying I came for a wedding. Everything they tell you they give is a lie. Private check in. A welcome drink. The rooms have no air conditioning. The people that work here are rude. The toilets done flush and the food is horrible. Go somewhere else where people treat you right. The Excellence is probably the best I’ve been on vacation with. For the money you spend here. You get bare minimum.

Nice place, nothing special. Has a water slide for the kid and plenty of options to eat. I was expecting more or the wow factor, it didn't have it for me

Great location, grounds, service, food and beach !

You're in the tropics, so expect bugs. Suite is nice and spacious. Staff is courteous and professional. Location is 45+ minutes from attractions but the transport is reliable and comfortable.

I would like to say thank you to everybody who make our holiday great, We are in Riu Guanacaste since 13th March and really had a great time. I want to mention a special girl Hazel, she is one of the best masseuse ever.I really had part of wonderful and relaxing massage. ❤ I will have some more before going back home.

Encourage everyone to come to experience a higher quality of life!!!!

Great service ,best food I've had at a resort .very helpful staff

I am completely disgusted in the treatment I just receive by not one but both front desk managers Angel and Angie. I explained I had called at 2pm to please refill the bar and that I would pay extra for the other half of the bottle as they only fill the bottles to the half point. They said give us half an hour and we will be right up. I waited three hours then went to front desk I asked again and they said it would be sent right up. I called half n hour later asking how long as I was trying to shower and didn’t want to open in a towel. Angel rudely assured me no more liquor would be sent to our rooms as only half bottles are what they provide. I said I wish I would’ve known this hours before staying all this time waiting in my room. He said well you didn’t have to wait in room. At which point I stated well I have my passport and such in room and if giving me conditioner for myself and my girls hairs in a 5 star resort is extremely difficult because both days they said they are only allowed to give two bottles of conditioners by Angie I can only imagine if something is misplaced. Angie got aggregated at my comment and jumped from her chair and said the bar guy is coming down to right a report since there is no liquor in either of your rooms. I said please don’t place words in my mouth I said I am mourning my brother and if I want to drink all 8 bottles no one should judge me which I didn’t it was half bottles not full bottles. She said oh see so you drank it oh well. I turned to another young lady and asked can you tell me what time I called for the service she said of course it was 2pm. I said okay so it’s 6pm now that places me 4 hours waiting for a service I was assured would be brought up in half an hour (mind you these bottles are literally about $2!) so instead of helping a family whom is mourning they decide to make us sit in room for 4 hours. I’m very upset at this point. Angie then came up to me hands in air accusing me and making me feel as I have done something wrong by asking for more liquor, conditioner extra towels and pillows for my daughters crib. It’s just very distasteful. I couldn’t find the words in Spanish so she said say it in English I started speaking English and she said I have no time for this and Angel said just stop talking to her she’s a alcoholic. (Mind you I’m the only one whom has not drank as I’m on medication and unable to) They even had the audacity to mumble she should be mourning not drinking!!!! Her attitude as well as his is completely uncalled for and their customer service etiquette is definitely far from a 5⭐️ resort. I don’t even want to come out of our rooms for the remainder of the trip I am crying historically in the room while the three young boys whom just lost their father on Saturday and recently lost their mother as well, try to console me along with my daughters. It’s very distasteful as when we checked in we made sure to let staff know we were losing a son, brother and father of three children whom are now all alone with neither of their parents and we live in Boston, Ma. They do not even own passport so we need to figure out how to get them to come live with us. They keep worrying about being alone and this distasteful attitude is the last thing they need to worry about! 😭😭😭😭The fact I just received a automated reply disgusts me even further as it shows these reviews are not even taken into consideration completely no one is reviewing or even caring I have read several comments about the lack of empathy given by the front desk management from others which shows nothing will be done about these two individuals whom believe they can and should conduct themselves in such basic level behavior my young children have way more manners and empathy then these two individuals. If we had not mentioned at check out the reason for us being here I would understand but we made sure we told them we were here mourning our loss of my parents first child my older brother and three young children’s only parent left! This is horrible to know how little empathy there is in this world.

Do not stay here. The room is nice. I upgraded to a suite, so it should be. The service is decent, nothing over the top for sure. The food is basically the worst. The drinks are mostly the worst bar pour you can imagine. And you can't go anywhere. There's nothing here. I wanted an uber 15 minutes away and they won't allow uber on property. I MUST use their shuttle and it's $120USD for a 15 minute ride! If you don't being your own car you are a locked in our they will fleece you for every penny trying to get a ride. Do not come here.

This was the best time I ever had there and will go back soon !!!

Really good hotel. Rooms a little dated. Buffet food was excellent with huge variety. Staff were amazing. Had a great two weeks.