We spent two nights at the JW Marriott Guanacaste as part of our 4-day Costa Rica itinerary. This oceanfront resort was the perfect place for our family to unwind and soak up the Costa Rican sun and pura vida vibes. Here’s our full review of the hotel, from the spacious room to the amazing pool, the wonderful buffet breakfast, and more!
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JW Marriott Guanacaste Review
Our daughter’s one wish for our Costa Rica trip was to swim every day so we figured the JW Marriott Guanacaste would be the perfect place. Its huge pool and beachside location were just what she was looking for.
Location
The JW Marriott Guanacaste is located in Guanacaste province, not far from Tamarindo. Located within the lovely gated community of Hacienda Pinilla, the resort sits right on beautiful Playa Mansita.
The closest airport is Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, located about 75km away. We rented a car at the airport and found the drive to the hotel to be easy and straightforward.
We had read some other reviews that complained about the location of the JW Guanacaste, saying that it is too isolated. It’s true that there is not much within walking distance, but if you have a rental car, it’s easy to leave the resort and explore nearby towns and restaurants. We never felt isolated at the hotel.
JW Marriott Guanacaste Address: Hacienda Pinilla, Guanacaste Province, 50309, Costa Rica
How to get to JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort
The JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort is located 75km from Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) and 246km from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO).
The hotel does not offer shuttle service so you need to either arrange a private airport transfer, take an Uber, or rent a car.
By private transfer
Go Costa Rica Vision provides private airport transfers to and from JW Marriott Guanacaste in comfortable sprinter vans and luxury cars. For a van, the cost is $158 USD one way for up to 4 passengers from Liberia. The luxury car is $268 USD for up to 3 passengers.
From San Jose, the van is $300 USD and luxury car is $450 USD.
By Uber
When I checked Uber, the one way cost was not much different than arranging a private transfer. From the airport in Liberia to the JW Guanacaste, it was about 71,000 CRC (roughly $145 USD).
By car
The drive from Liberia to the hotel is fairly easy and takes about 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic. Roads are in mostly good condition. We rented a car from Avis and enjoyed the drive and appreciated the flexiblity to go wherever, whenever. At less than $100 USD/day, including the mandatory insurance, it seemed like the best option for us.
Parking
The hotel offers complimentary self-parking, or you can pay $10/day for valet.
We never had any issues finding a spot to park whenever we returned to the resort, even at night.
Booking JW Marriott Guanacaste
Nightly rates start at about $500 USD depending on the date and how far in advance you book. You can check rates here for your dates.
If you are a Marriott Bonvoy member, you can use your points and/or Free Night Awards here. You can find rooms for as low as 43,000 points per night, which would make good use of a 35K or 50K award certificate.
For our stay in December, we used a total of 95,200 points (two 35K FNAs topped up with addtional points). The cash price was $1466 USD, so it ended up being an excellent points redemption.
- JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort Phone Number: +506-2681-2000
- JW Marriott Guanacaste E-mail Address: concierge.sjojw@r-hr.com
Arrival and Check-in
We arrived at the resort just before 5pm and parked our car in the on-site lot, just outside of the lobby.
Walking to the lobby, we admired the beautiful, large courtyard with fountain. As we approached the door, a bellman took our bags and led us to the check-in desks.
Check-in was inside a large room with formal desks and comfortable chairs. The staff were very friendly and thoroughly explained the resort activities and various restaurants. We were given some paper printouts with a map of the resort and schedule of activities, which we appreciated.
They also had a very special gift for our daughter – an adorable sloth stuffie with a JW Guanacaste bandana! So sweet and thoughtful.
- Standard Check-in Time: 3:00pm
- Standard Check-out Time: 12:00pm
Bonvoy Elite Status Recognition
During check-in, our Platinum Elite status was recognized and we were thanked for our loyalty. The front desk agent explained to us our welcome gift options: two beers, two snacks, 1000 points, or the breakfast buffet. The breakfast buffet was the clear choice.
Due to our Platinum Elite status, we are also entitled to 4pm late checkout (subject to availability at resorts) and complimentary room upgrades (including suites based on availability). We were advised to double check availability for late checkout the morning of our departure day. When we did, it was no problem to have the 4pm checkout.
As for the room upgrade, we were upgraded from the base level Garden View room to the Oceanfront room. While we didn’t receive a suite, the upgraded view was much appreciated.
Resort Grounds
We loved the hacienda-style decor of the resort. The hammocks around the open-air courtyard by the lobby was a nice touch and a great way to relax in between activities.
We also enjoyed the rocking chairs.
In addition, since it was December, the hotel was festively decorated for Christmas. The kids loved the large Christmas tree and other festive displays.
The gardens around the resort were lovely and very well maintained. We’d often encounter large iguanas wandering about, which was especially entertaining for our daughter. The staff did warn us to keep our balcony doors closed at all times as they could come into the room.
Rooms
This sprawling hacienda-style resort offers a variety of room and suite options:
- Garden View Deluxe Room, 1 King or 2 Double Beds
- Pool View Deluxe Room, 1 King or 2 Double Beds
- Ocean View Deluxe Room, 1 King or 2 Double Beds
- Oceanfront Deluxe Room, 1 King or 2 Double Beds
- Garden View 1 Bedroom Suite, 1 King with Sofa Bed
- Ocean View 1 Bedroom Suite, 1 King with Sofa Bed
- Oceanfront 1 Bedroom Suite, 1 King with Sofa Bed
- Garden View 1 Bedroom Suite with Plunge Pool, 1 King with Sofa Bed
- Ocean View 1 Bedroom Suite with Plunge Pool, 1 King with Sofa Bed
- Oceanfront 1 Bedroom Suite with Plunge Pool, 1 King with Sofa Bed
- Presidential Suite, Oceanfront, 1 King, Plunge Pool
Room Review: Oceanfront Deluxe Room with 2 Double Beds
We booked the lowest tier room available using points, which was the Deluxe Garden View Room with 2 Double Beds. Upon checking in, we had been upgraded to an Oceanfront Deluxe Room which had a stunning view of the ocean and was just steps away from the beach. We owe this upgrade to our Bonvoy Platinum Elite status.
We were in Room 325, which was quite a long walk from the lobby, but it was worth it for the ocean views.
Entryway
Upon entering the room, the bathroom was to the left, and there was a hall table on the right with a lovely basket of fresh local fruit and bottled artisan water.
Bathroom
The bathroom was quite spacious, with a bathtub that looked out to the bedroom area (with optional sliding door), separate shower, and toilet room.
I appreciated the wide counter space and makeup mirror.
Inside the drawer was a hair dryer.
Complimentary bottled water was provided by the sink. As for toiletries, there were body lotion, mouthwash, and bar soap.
Inside the shower was body wash, shampoo and conditioner. I was impressed with the strong water pressure in the shower.
Bedroom
The double beds were comfortable with decent pillows. I just wished the beds were queen size rather than double, but the options were only one king or two doubles.
Between the beds was a bedside table with lamp, alarm clock and phone. There was one outlet available for charging our phones.
On the wall opposite the beds was a large wardrobe. Inside were bathrobes, slippers, hangers, iron, ironing board, and an extra pillow.
Next to it was the TV on top of the large wooden cabinet. Inside the cabinet was the safe on the right side, and the minibar fridge on the left side.
The room had both AC and overhead fans which cooled the room perfectly. We didn’t find the AC to be loud at all, which was a plus.
Minibar
Inside the minibar fridge were some beers, juices and sodas.
In the drawer above were some chips, nuts, and candies. All were chargeable, though.
Coffee and tea were complimentary. The coffee maker was a pod-style machine and we were given 6 coffee pods, 2 of which were decaf. I appreciated that in addition to the coffee mugs, they also provided handy to-go cups.
Desk and Sitting Area
There was a large desk and chair by the sliding door. On top was another phone, lamp, and a few more charging outlets to the side.
Between the bed and sliding door were a lounge chair and floor lamp.
Balcony and View
The sliding door led to the balcony with a beautiful view of the garden and ocean.
There was a table with two chairs, as well as a comfy lounger, and an overhead fan.
Housekeeping
Housekeeping seemed to be very minimal compared with other luxury resorts we’ve stayed at. There was no turn down service which was a bit of a surprise as we’ve always had it at other JW Marriotts around the world. Not a huge deal, however.
Our beds were made daily, but that’s about it. I noticed not everything was replenished. We received new bottled water, but no new coffee pods. We hung up our towels to be reused, but not even one new towel or wash cloth was given.
Also, I found it a bit surprising that the fruit basket was not tidied up, at least to remove the fruit peels that were starting to attract flies.
A Note on Insects
The room was very clean overall, but if you or your kids have any issues with insects, please note that this is a tropical hotel and it is inevitable that you will encounter some small bugs in your room.
We noticed they’d come out in the late afternoon/evening – small flies and tiny black bugs that looked like beetles and grasshoppers. We even found a live crab crawling in our bathroom! Our daughter is afraid of bugs but she got used to squishing the little ones during our stay and it wasn’t an issue.
We didn’t find any mosquitoes or spiders in our room, thankfully.
JW Marriott Guanacaste Restaurants
The JW Marriott Guanacaste has a number of on-site restaurants:
- Sabanero Steak House
- Tamarine Asian Fusion
- Azul (Mediterranean)
- Palapa (Poolside Grill)
- Pimento Italian
- Barracuda (Poolside Bar)
- Sandbar Lounge
- Rum Bar
- Waves and Cream
One of the biggest complaints we read about this resort before staying here was that the food is expensive and not that great. While it is true that the food on the menus we looked at was very expensive, we can’t comment on the taste as we chose to mostly eat off-site.
The only dining establishment we visited, other than the Pimento Breakfast Buffet, was Waves and Cream for some gelato.
This little shop in the courtyard by the lobby had a variety of gelatos, coffees, and a few grab and go snacks.
A scoop of gelato was $7 USD and croissant was $7.14 USD, to give you an idea of pricing.
It was delicious, though.
JW Marriott Guanacaste Breakfast Buffet
Always a highlight of our Marriott stays is the breakfast buffet, and the JW Marriott Guanacaste breakfast buffet did not disappoint.
The breakfast buffet is held in the Pimento restaurant on the ground level by the pool. This restaurant is quite spacious with both indoor and outdoor seating, and large tables to accomodate larger families.
Thanks to our Platinum Elite status, our breakfast for three was complimentary. In addition to the buffet, we were also entitled to order two items off the menu and specialty drinks.
There was a wide variety of stations on offer, including both Western and Costa Rican options. From fresh fruits, to a display of pastries, a live omelette station, tortilla and salsa station, there really was something for everyone.
Some standouts for me were the hot chocolate with cinnamon, warm cinnamon buns, and chilaquiles.
Our first morning, we were full from the buffet so we chose not to order off the menu, but the second morning we ordered the acai bowl and huevos rancheros. Both were quite good.
- Hours: 6:30am-11:00am
Facilities and Activities
Lagoon Pool
The standout feature of the JW Marriott Guanacaste is hands-down its incredible lagoon pool. It features an infinity pool by the beach, a couple bridges, and shallow kids areas. There are also separate hot tubs.
There are ample lounge chairs surrounding the pool so we never had any issue finding one to use. Towels are provided on each chair but if you need more, there is a towel shack where you can grab some more, along with pool toys and floaties.
Each chair had an umbrella for optional shade.
Since the pool is so massive, it never felt crowded at all. It was also the perfect temperature.
The only downside is that it is only open until 7pm. Our daughter was pretty disappointed to come back from dinner and find out she couldn’t go for one last dip in the pool.
- Lagoon Pool Hours: 6am-7pm
Beach
The hotel sits on Mansita Beach, a beautiful and peaceful stretch of sand.
There are lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beach.
However, the ocean immediately in front of them is not safe for swimming, according to the posted signs, due to rip currents.
Instead, you have to walk a few steps to the right where the beach is a bit safer for swimming. Our daughter still found the waves to be too much so she preferred to swim in the pool.
What I loved about this beach is that since it’s only really accessible from the hotel, there were no vendors at all on the beach. You can truly enjoy relaxing on the beach without any interruptions from people trying to sell you things.
Fitness Centre
The resort has a 24/7 fitness centre with cardio equipment and weights. However, we totally forgot to check it out since our daughter was so excited about the pool and wanted to spend all her hours there.
The Spa at JW
If you’re interested in some spa treatments, below are the options offered by the JW Spa.
- Hours: 8am-10pm
Recreation Activities
Every day there are a variety of fun, free activities put on by the resort from morning til night. Many of the activities need to be booked in advance at the concierge desk, so make sure to check the schedule and reserve as required.
Some of the free activites offered during our stay were yoga, aqua aerobics, Latin dance, coffee class, mixology class, family movies, and marshmallows on the beach.
I really wanted to participate in the aqua aerobics and Latin dance but unfortunately just didn’t have the time with all our other planned activities. The only resort activity we did particpate in was the Bonfire & Marshmallows on the Beach.
This was super fun and all the kids loved roasting their own marshmallows on the beach.
JW Adventure Kids Club
Another big draw for families staying at the JW Marriott Guanacaste is their wonderful Kids Club.
The Kids Club is not a daycare service – it is a series of supervised daily activities. Every day there are fun activities planned from 9am to 5pm for kids 4-12 years old. Kids under age 6 must be accompanied by a parent.
Our daughter was looking forward to participating in a few of the activities, such as the bracelet-making and creative painting, but we ended up spending all our time at the pool instead.
Bikes and Trails
If you’re looking for some fun outdoor activity, you’ll be pleased to know the resort offers complimentary bicycle rentals. They even have kids bikes so it’s perfect for the whole family to go out and explore the trails around the resort.
You can also participate in the free bike tour put on by the resort every morning at 9:30am.
Hacienda Pinilla Golf Club
As mentioned, the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort sits within the gated community of Haceinda Pinilla, home to the Hacienda Pinilla Golf Club.
The 18-hole, par 72 golf club is just a short drive from the hotel and resort guests can play at discounted rates.
It’s a beautiful course, weaving through tropical forest and along the Pacific ocean shores.
Ryan rented some golf clubs and enjoyed a round on our last morning.
Tennis and Pickleball
The resort has tennis and pickleball courts available for rent for $20 USD per hour. Rackets are $5/rental.
Horseback Riding
The resort also offers horseback riding. This was strongly recommended to us, but we didn’t have enough time, sadly. The ride takes you through the resort’s lush tropical forest and ocean-view trails.
- Cost: $60 USD/person
- Duration: 90 minutes
Car Rental
There is a National Rent-A-Car on-site at the resort, which is very convenient if you’d like to go explore on your own. We already had our rental car from the airport so we didn’t check it out, but it was nice to see this available.
Nearby Attractions
The only place somewhat walkable from the hotel is Lola’s restaurant, which you can reach during low tide by walking along the beach for about 30 minutes. It’s a popular beachside restaurant.
Other attractions a short drive from the hotel are:
- Hacienda Pinilla Golf Club (2.4km)
- Pinilla Canopy Zipline Tour (6.1km)
- Tamarindo Beach (16.7km)
JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort Video Tour
Coming soon – stay tuned!
Final Thoughts on JW Marriott Guanacaste
Having read not so stellar reviews of this resort before coming here, we had lowered our expectations. However, the hotel ended up being much better than we expected.
The staff were very friendly and welcoming, we loved all the activities put on by the resort, the buffet breakfast was awesome, and the pool was outstanding. Yes, the hotel is not as new and modern as other luxury JWs around the world, but it’s certainly not run down.
It’s an excellent place for a family vacation spent relaxing by the pool and beach. Kids will love the resort activities and there are lots of fun outdoor activities for the adults as well. We would definitely stay here again! I think a 3 or 4-night stay would be perfect here.
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