Riu Guanacaste - All Inclusive

More variety at buffet. Bacon, hashbrowns only one day out of seven. No real tortilla chips. Adult swim up pools need cleaned. Bugs and leaves every day all day. Fix the elevator! One was broken the entire seven days.

We really enjoyed our stay at the Riu Guanacaste. The rooms were very clean and comfortable. The shower was a little slippery and would be difficult for anybody w any limitations or small children. The restaurants were average. Tucan and Tuscana were the best. The drinks were delicious and plentiful. Staff was kind and helpful. The beach was beautiful! The ocean is clear and we were able to see many different types of fish. The grounds at the hotel were clean and also well maintained. The pool was spectacular! We will be back!!

This resort has nothing to do during the day or evening cannot stay in the pool all day and nothing else to do and spend some time like in a casino or some games etc within the resort was good before the casino was closed so we guests could spent some time and enjoy the stay

The customer service was exceptional, the restaurants however were always closed early or long waits. They need to work on the beach front and amount of locals hassling you when you try to relax. The spa is beautiful but casino is closed down.

We enjoyed our stay here. The grounds were beautiful. Pools weee really nice and fun. Beach area was nice. Rooms were kept nice. Food was not really good at the specialty restaurants but we liked the main dining. Elevators were a little gross and hot. Other than that, we would go back.

Construction noise and construction work all at entry to hotel.

The amenities at the property was one the highlights of the visit. It is an all-inclusive resort with plenty of dining options. One of the biggest pools I have seen, There is also a water park for kids to enjoy.

Wrong room, no a-c. Took forever to get room changed. Horrible alcohol! And poor food!! Pool needed major repairs

Loved the property , the only thing this property is in need of is new gym equipment and in the activity room the pool table table tennis etc.

Completely remodeled rooms and property! Food was fabulous! Bar tenders were fast, and nice! Very family friendly. My children LOVED thewater slides! I highly recommend!

Hotel check in didnt take long, but they forgot to give us towel cards. Our room was clean, yet outdated. Towels in the bathroom looked so used that they changed color to washed up brown and quality deteriorated significantly. Shower curtain was old and disgusting, and shower head was old, rusty and unevenly pouring water. Water pressure is an issue at this property; some days there would be no warm water pressure at all. 2 elevators close to our room were under construction and every day we had construction noices from 7am till about 3pm. Locals who sell souvenirs at the beach are rude and pushy, they call hotel guests names assumung that gueats do not speak spanish. A la carte restaurants did not accept reservations, so guests had to line up in front an hour before the place opens up in order to eat there. Front desk did not have enough money for the money exchange. There was no WiFi in hallways and closer to the beach, only in Lobby, Main Buffet, and rooms. No WiFi on the beach. Beach chairs were very dirty, many of them broken and just sitting at the beach. Rooms were spacious and dis not have smell of mold like in ther Caribbean Destinations, but things like switches, lamps, safe were either broken or banged up badly. Road to the hotel is vwry bad and bumpy, traffic driving there added additional 20-30 min of transit time. Hotel Grounds were clean, well kept and beautiful.

Don’t have enough plugs in room to charge gadgets Tub is old model. Difficult to use tub. Slippery floors. Not enough elevators for customers. Swimming pools have lots of dead bugs and flies. Should be cleaned everyday. Food is same every day. When we have lunch in afternoon, chef was rude to Answer about rices . When rice was over, He replaced with white rice and told customers its all same. Very very rude. Unacceptable behavior. Breakfast supposed to be until 1030 am . But everything was cleaned up by 10 am . Disappointing .

Clean

Room had bad odor- musky/ mold. Overall rooms need to be updated.

RIU could improve on the check-in time and the process. It took me and my 1 hour to check-in. The desk staff could be helpful when being asked for assistance. The room was not clean properly. When we asked to change our sheets it wasn’t done. The floors were not cleaned everyday. The food was just okay. They had the same breakfast items everyday.

Im very disappointed with Rui Guanacaste, costa rica. The place is in overall 3, rooms need updated as an emergency, the bathrooms are dirty and stinks like sewer, in Our first day mini bar was completed empty, we called the front desk and their answer was... you allready finished everything, really! The second day the cleaning crew was taken the beers or the mini bar... unbelievable. The elevator was broken every other day and one of this days we were inside OMG it was scary i went to the Front desk to let them know and all what they have to said is oh well that happens.... really! Ok now, food in general is good except for furama asian restaurant .... not worthy at all. Restauran services was ok with a couple servers with outstanding and super nice service that mades our stay comfortable "Aida" from liberia restaurant really mades a diferent she is a 💯 value for Rui hotel The grounds are pretty, the pool area was gorgeous along with the entertainment team WOW!!they are good 👍 Beach area not good at all

Saw roach crawling in Asian Resturant while dining. Rooms had bad smell- moldy/ musky. Overall rooms needs to be upgraded.

Firstly, the cleanliness of our room was far below acceptable standards. Upon arrival, we discovered roaches and other pests in the room. Additionally, the shower curtains were ripped off and hanging, the blankets and sheets were stained, and the room was extremely dusty. These issues not only made our stay uncomfortable but also raised significant health concerns.

The Riu Guanacaste hotel is the most disgusting Riu hotel I have ever stayed in. Where do I even start!? There was roaches in my room! We killed the roaches and the cleaning people never bothered to remove them from the room. There were dead roaches just laying there in the bathroom for 5 days! Next- the bed had bugs too!! I could not tell if they were bedbugs or baby roaches. Thats the worst part of it all. Next! The restaurants are first come first serve. We never got to experience any a la carte restaurants. The wifi was horrible!! It barely worked. The staff was rude! When we were checking out there was another lady complaining that her room was full of bugs.bugs. She had taken a picture and showed staff and they didnt even care. The beach!! Oh dont even get me started lol. The beach was horrible!! Dirty as hell. This was the worst experience ever. Please do not book this hotel its trash! No wonder it was so cheap to go there . If anybody wants to see videos of the roaches look at my tiktok video where I talk about this horrible experience - @shrexytron Disgusting!!!

I\'ll start with a good- the grounds are beautiful and really meticulously maintained-- staff is constantly out there working on landscape and the facility itself is beautiful. The beach was well maintained and was also gorgeous and an added bonus here. The rooms could use some updates, Cockroaches were crawling out of the bathroom drains overnight. We found out 2 days later that there was a completely new side that opened the week before we were there. If it we had known that I would have requested that side, or if it weren\'t for the inconvenience of moving. The drink selection was terrible. There was only 1 beer option, one each red and white wine. Liquor was below bottom shelf and some was nearly undrinkable. Drinks were inconsistent-- I ordered a margarita 5 different times and got 4 different drinks, one of which I couldn\'t even drink. The food was AWFUL. Even breakfast was below par-- how hard is it to make an omelet at the omelet station? Zero flavor, overcooked, definitely far from "resort quality". That said, again on the brand new side-- food was edible at the mexican place and the 2 pool side food stands. The entertainment was lacking- musician plays for 1 hr only and then there is kid programing on the main stage. The main shows were good but the poor dancers shoes were falling apart and their costumes mended together. I felt bad for them and their lack of proper outfitting. A budget resort- but I cannot say I would try a RIU again anywhere.

The air conditioning in rooms are terrible and almost all fans around the lobby and theater doesn’t work.

The grounds are very well kept. Most of the staff is bilingual, which is a plus for non Spanish speaking tourists. Shuttle services are easy to book. The rooms have a BERY damp smell, almost moldy. I have stayed at a few RIU resorts and they have that dank, damp smell. This resort chain really needs to revamp most of their properties, as they are very dated and not well maintained.

The location right on the beach is fantastic and the pool grounds are beautiful. The rooms are good for what they are but the bathrooms could use a little upgrading. Overall a good value all inclusive.

The Riu Guanacaste All-Inclusive Resort provides excellent service, clean and spacious rooms, and a beautiful setting. Our room in the quiet new building was ideal for relaxation, though the long walk to the beach and bars might not suit those with mobility challenges. The mini-fridge was restocked every two days, and we had no issues using the in room safe. Meals were fresh and flavorful, even at the buffets, and the drinks were great. The pools were warm, like bath water, and the ocean offered warm swimming conditions with occasional large waves. A major highlight was the wildlife—howler monkeys were abundant in the trees, and gentle capuchins even took fruit from our hands. Excursions required travel, with most over an hour away. However, the Diamonte Eco Adventure Park was just 10 minutes by bus, and the water taxi to Playa de Coco offered a unique experience, despite the challenge of docking boats amid waves and riptides. The Monkey Bar, a 10-minute walk along the beach, was a must-see with plentiful and friendly monkeys, though better trail signage would be helpful. Entertainment catered to children, making it great for families but less so for adults seeking variety. The resort is somewhat isolated, and the air conditioning didn’t meet North American standards, so bringing a fan is recommended. Overall, Riu Guanacaste is a fantastic choice for families, couples, or adventurers seeking relaxation and memorable wildlife experiences.

Room: 6.5/10 (Our room was cleaned well, decent view, but sound echoes throughout hallway make it hard to sleep) Restaurants: 2/10 (First come first served.. want to eat dinner at 6pm.. show up at 5pm to get in line, food is mediocre at best) Staff: 7/10 (Our interactions with staff was warm and friendly) Amenities: 5/10 (We enjoyed the close proximity to the beach) Overall: 5.5/10 - The hotel and surrounding area is absolutely beautiful, the locals are friendly and helpful, but we really felt like there was nothing else spectacular about the resort. We came as a part of a wedding party and they had their own issues with the entire process.

The TV in the room needs to be updated. The elevators need to be updated. I got stuck twice and the display inside the elevator was not functioning.

We enjoyed our stay with its proximity to the beach and we loved the pools. However, the beds in the rooms were terrible and not comfortable.

The A/C did not work the whole stay. Aside from that, no complaints.

Everything was clean. The food is not the best. Check in was terrible. So is the wife

We like to go to bed early but we’re unable to sleep until music ended at 11:00pm. Would have preferred a room not facing courtyard if you have them. Otherwise liked the resort.

The hotel staff at the Riu Guanacaste made our trip super comfortable. They were timely in meeting all of our needs. The “Michael Jackson” show is a must see, as we were thoroughly entertained. And you have to visit the onsite steak house restaurant! The salmon is the best thing in the menu. However, there were two things that took away from our stay; (1) the check-in process. It took us over 2 hours to check-in. We thought that after flying over 5 hours and then catching a 45 minute taxi that the check-in process would’ve been more streamlined. However, this was not the case. The Riu has to do better with their check-in process. (2) The food. Aside from the steak house restaurant, the food onsite was mid at best. We found ourselves longing for McDonald’s, which is something we rarely eat. All in all, this trip was a success but we are not sure if we would revisit this location again.

Checked someone else into my room at 10PM while my granddaughters are asleep. At 10PM a complete stranger opened the door to my room and walked in. My 12 and 13 yr old granddaughters were asleep in there. Thankfully, their mom was in there with them and awake.

We have been to the RIU Guanacaste twice in the last two years. The team members at your property are excellent. Moises is a great and fun bartender at the pool. David, from the entertainment staff, called us all by name. We booked two tours with Pablo at the Scuba Caribe booth and he was excellent to work with. The staff at your resort is really what makes it a special place to visit. I work at a resort in the United States, so I really notice the little touches that set the RIU apart from other resorts we've visited. From the coconut drinks at the pool, to the nightly entertainment in the theatre, your team makes the experience fun for your guests.

Property was good - no issues. But the hotel staff gave us a group of 7 folks random rooms across several floors, was very very inconvenient. Walking between rooms took up most of our time at Riu. Not cool! We made reservations months ahead for double-beds, but still we had to negotiate to even get our selves basic rooms - ended up with one king bed and far off locations....not close to each other. Unacceptable !! When I quoted expedia guaranteed rooms and double-beds they suggested we talk to Expedia....not to them !!

RIU could improve on the check-in time and the process. It took me and my 1 hour to check-in. The desk staff could be helpful when being asked for assistance. The room was not clean properly. When we asked to change our sheets it wasn’t done. The floors were not cleaned everyday. The food was just okay. They had the same breakfast items everyday.

The staff have been amazing, so friendly and helpful. The service is top notch. The app was neat, but also takes away from connecting with humans :-) Rooms are very clean, amenities are great and the new renovations are fantastic! Great Resort.

Terrible worst RIU I ever stayed at canceled our transportation back to the airport without notice my party of 14 all had to pay for taxi. The maid that cleaned our room 4074 never swept the floor just made the bed and left towels no soap, shampoo etc. If the kids left a paper on the floor we would find it there when we returned. Front desk staff is rude especially Angel and Angie and a few more. Lets talk about the keys to get into the room many nights I had to go down stairs for them to come open the damn door. Seriously which hotel uses regular door keys and not the cards. Food salty and terrible all around. The only positive is Alan on the beach went on an amazing tour with them put a smile on everyones face. Massage on the beach from Rebecca best 45 dollars spent. Otherwise that particular RIU needs to be shut down.

The hotel itself was lovely, however, they charged us almost $1000 extra for our children even after we paid for them. They said it was an "administrative mistake" and we had a balance. This is predatory behavior. Completely ruined the experience.

I would never ever recommend this hotel to anyone! Not only did I pay my booking in full with Expedia on the second day the hotel locked us out of the room with all our medications and belongings they also demanded we pay extra money( a lot) After telling them no I don’t have anymore money to give them they said I can give you a discount (half of what they offered which was a lot) . We had a horrible experience. Then the old people on our floor had all their traveling funds stolen from them and the hotel offered them a tee shirt and said sorry can’t help you. They are deplorable. Do not take your family here!

Staff was very friendly.

Property was gorgeous. Staff was very friendly. Lots of new construction going on in front of Property. The only road leading to the property has very hazardous potholes due to the heavy equipment traveling through.

We loved our staying at Riu Guanacaste. The hotel was in a nice location. They have monkeys right next to the hotel and the beach was very nice. The staff was amazing and the food was very good, they have a wide variety of options at the buffet, the only thing I would say is that the other restaurants are a little difficult to book because you have to make a line before they open to get a spot. The road to get to it needs to be paved. Im glad that they will be updating this hotel because it needs it, but I will say that I loved everything about it. The entertainment crew is really great. I will definitely recommend people to stay here and I will definitely come back again. Pura Vida!

We stayed at this property for a week and had a wonderful time as a family. Our kid enjoyed the pool, slides, and also was very fond of the staff at the Kids Club (Riu Land). The grounds were very well kept and we enjoyed our sunset strolls on the beach. Diamanté Adventure Park (the Animal Sanctuary) right next door is recommended - take the free shuttle bus. Other than Diamante, there's nothing around the resort so I suggest renting a car if you want to explore beyond the immediate area.

The Riu Guanacaste All-Inclusive Resort provides excellent service, clean and spacious rooms, and a beautiful setting. Our room in the quiet new building was ideal for relaxation, though the long walk to the beach and bars might not suit those with mobility challenges. The mini-fridge was restocked every two days, and we had no issues using the in room safe. Meals were fresh and flavorful, even at the buffets, and the drinks were great. The pools were warm, like bath water, and the ocean offered warm swimming conditions with occasional large waves. A major highlight was the wildlife—howler monkeys were abundant in the trees, and gentle capuchins even took fruit from our hands. Excursions required travel, with most over an hour away. However, the Diamonte Eco Adventure Park was just 10 minutes by bus, and the water taxi to Playa de Coco offered a unique experience, despite the challenge of docking boats amid waves and riptides. The Monkey Bar, a 10-minute walk along the beach, was a must-see with plentiful and friendly monkeys, though better trail signage would be helpful. Entertainment catered to children, making it great for families but less so for adults seeking variety. The resort is somewhat isolated, and the air conditioning didn’t meet North American standards, so bringing a fan is recommended. Overall, Riu Guanacaste is a fantastic choice for families, couples, or adventurers seeking relaxation and memorable wildlife experiences.

It is a beach front resort, but it has black volcanic sand. Swimming in the ocean is impossible. There is not even a life guard. There is nothing else nearby. Nothing. If you want to leave the resort, you have to book an activity.

Great location for our family to play and enjoy the beach and pools at the end of our Costa Rican vacation. Very family friendly and plenty to do on the property and lots of options for local and travel excursions.

We really enjoyed our 5 day stay at the RIU Guanacaste.The weather was great and the resort was very pretty.We just would like to see a few more restaurants that offered sit down dining without buffets.The food was good not exceptional.The beach was not the prettiest but we enjoyed the pools.the staff was very nice

The property is definitely a drive and a little in the middle of nowhere but honestly well worth it. Had an amazing time there and was very relaxed.

Eating anything but the main buffet is kind of a pain unless you want to stand in line at 530pm everyday. Food not labeled properly for dietary restrictions. No understanding of vegan restrictions. Only wine and beer with all meals, no cocktails in restaurants or buffet. The road to the resort is long and in terrible condition. If you leave the resort you will get stuck in major traffic…like hours waiting. The hotel app didn’t even have our entire section of the hotel on it, no map available. Hotel was reasonably priced, clean and the rooms were large.

The property is very close to the eco-park, but otherwise a little remote.

The hotel staff at the Riu Guanacaste made our trip super comfortable. They were timely in meeting all of our needs. The “Michael Jackson” show is a must see, as we were thoroughly entertained. And you have to visit the onsite steak house restaurant! The salmon is the best thing in the menu. However, there were two things that took away from our stay; (1) the check-in process. It took us over 2 hours to check-in. We thought that after flying over 5 hours and then catching a 45 minute taxi that the check-in process would’ve been more streamlined. However, this was not the case. The Riu has to do better with their check-in process. (2) The food. Aside from the steak house restaurant, the food onsite was mid at best. We found ourselves longing for McDonald’s, which is something we rarely eat. All in all, this trip was a success but we are not sure if we would revisit this location again.

Nice hotel, good food options and facilities. Restocking the mini bar (water) occured sporadically and the glasses were potentially never cleaned. Theres only soap in the bathroom, no shampoo/conditioner/moisturiser in the bathrooms (4 stars?) Unpleasant aroma outside at certain times of the day (dodgy plumbing) The process of booking a restaurant (que 30 minutes in advance and hope theres a seat) is dire. I would however, go back. It was nice, and reasonable value for money.

What needs to be emphasized , and was not reflected in the above ratings, is the quality of the food. Our family of six was disappointed in the food served in the restaurants and would give it an average rating. We all expected better based on your reviews.

The resort is beautiful, but improvements are needed. Our fridge was not stocked upon arrival. The bellman had to notify housekeeping to come refill. The male front desk staff seemed to not know much information nor have good customer service. It was my birthday trip so my spouse asked if there were any birthday services provided or that he could pay for (such as decorations or birthday cakes, etc.) and they told him no - but on our last night, there were several birthday celebrations done in the Liberia buffet. We didn’t know about this option, which was disappointing that it wasn’t mentioned when my spouse asked. The BIGGEST disappointment was that there was no food available after 10pm. The one restaurant “American County” that was supposed to have food available until 11pm, stopped providing food every night after approximately 9:50pm. They only gave out small snack items at the time of closing for the guests. The tortilla chips in that restaurant are stale and need to be changed out. I think it is dangerous and concerning to not provide guests with a decent amount of at least light food options, and continuously providing alcohol all night. There were no food delivery options available either. ANOTHER disappointment was the inability to make reservations at the restaurants. So much time was spent on lines and sitting around waiting to get into the restaurants. Many guest complained about this. A reservation system needs to be implemented for smoother experiences.

The beach is great and the opportunity to see a family of white-faced monkeys down the beach was fantastic. The buffets had many options to choose from. It was very hard to get into a restaurant - even when we arrived early, it was already booked up so we had to go with the buffet each time. There is no option to make reservations either. The rooms were in pretty good shape. Overall, it was quite busy and loud but that's to be expected with this type of all inclusive resort.

Not enough staff. Ran out of drinks multiple times. Terrible buffet food. No reservations for restaurants so can only wait in line for hours to possibly get table. Paid for upgraded room but did not get the upgrade. Horrible.

Good property conditions with recent renovations but main issue is the night dinners as there’s is only one seating time which demands to show up at 5:30pm for the line to have chance to find a seat

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!! Not a 5 star resort. dinning very limited. No reservations policy, had to make a 1 hour line to have one decent meal- the rest of the time I had to eat a the same buffet. Which at least was good but it’s the same food customer service IS HORRIBLE. employees are not attentive at all. WILL NEVER DO THIS AGAIN.

Mostly everything was okay, I just did not like the waiting period to eat at the other restaurants and that it was self service/buffet style.

The hotel is nice and newly renovated however the food options are terrible. You are unable to make reservations for the specialty restaurants so people have to line up 2 hours before they open hoping to receive a spot. The drinks are watered down and not a lot of activities to do on the resort.